Susan Hastings

Susan Hastings is a Professor of Psychology and Counseling and serves as Chair/Program Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Hope International University. She is affiliated with the College of Graduate Studies and the Department of Psychology and Counseling, where she teaches in both the MA-MFT and DMFT programs.

Education:

• Psy.D., Applied Clinical Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
• M.S., Clinical Psychology, Vanguard University of Southern California
• B.A., Psychology, Vanguard University of Southern California

Her research and clinical interests focus on trauma, particularly foster care trauma, developmental trauma, and attachment theory. She integrates evidence-based practices such as EMDR and Trust-Based Relational Interventions (TBRI) into her work. Her teaching includes courses in psychopathology, lifespan development, and advanced family therapy.

Her recent publications and presentations (2011–2014) reflect her contributions to MFT training innovations and faith-integrated education. Though no recent journal articles are listed, her work centers on clinical training, therapeutic models for trauma, and the integration of psychology with spiritual values.

Scientific Awards and Affiliations:

• Delta Kappa – International Marriage and Family Therapy Honor Society
• Psi Chi – International Honor Society in Psychology
• American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) – Clinical Member
• EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) – Clinical Member
• Journal Reviewer – Journal of Feminist Family Therapy

Susan Hastings actively advises doctoral students, having chaired multiple dissertations on intergenerational trauma, parental emotion philosophy, and alternative discipline programs. She has not received mention of external grants, but her leadership in program development and supervision indicates significant academic mentorship. She is also involved in professional presentations, including recent 2024 talks on attachment theory and philosophical foundations in education.

She is associated with clinical and academic teams focused on trauma-informed care and faith-integrated therapy. Her work with Royal Family Kids Camp highlights her commitment to serving vulnerable youth.