Academics

Cara Miller

Associate Professor

Human Services and SciencesPsychology

202/618-6861 (videophone)

About

Dr. Cara Miller received her B.A. in Psychology at Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut, and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Gallaudet University in D.C.. After completing practica at Counseling and Psychological Services centers of Gallaudet and George Mason Universities, Dr. Miller completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Counseling Center at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and went on to complete her post-doctoral fellowship through the University of California Berkeley Counseling and Psychological Services in Berkeley, California. A generalist by training, Dr. Miller has worked with college students, young adults, and adults across the lifespan in higher education, counseling center, and inpatient settings.

With a specialty in the psychology of human-animal interaction, Dr. Miller has presented nationally and internationally to assistance dog industry professionals, legislators, trainers, and organizations in the public and private sectors on assistance dog partnerships, disability advocacy, and the human-animal bond. 

Currently Teaching

PSY-704 Research Seminar Credits: 1
PSY-800 Pre-Dissertation Research Credits: 1-3
PSY-836 Methods of Adult Psychotherapy Credits: 3
PSY-886 Clinical Psychology Practicum III Credits: 3
PSY-887 Clinical Psychology Practicum IV Credits: 1-3
PSY-900 Dissertation Research Credits: 1-3
PSY-986 Advanced Clinical Psychology Practicum II Credits: 1-3
PSY-987 Advanced Clinical Psychology Practicum III Credits: 1-3
  • GSR-240 Ethical Evaluations and Action (2014/01)(08)
  • PSY-495 Special Topics (2009/02)(01)
  • PSY-833 Adult Dev and Personality (2014/01)(01)
  • PSY-486 Sr Capstone: Curr Iss in Psych (2020/01)(01)
  • PSY-782 Foundations of Clinical Skills (2018/02)(01)
  • PSY-782 Foundations of Clinical Skills (2019/02)(01)
  • PSY-795 Special Topics (2019/01)(03)
  • PSY-800 Individual Research (2020/01)(03)
  • PSY-834 Adult Psychopathology (2018/01)(01)
  • PSY-834 Adult Psychopathology (2019/01)(01)
  • PSY-836 Adult Psychotherapy (2018/02)(01)
  • PSY-836 Adult Psychotherapy (2019/02)(01)
  • PSY-885 Clinical Psych Externship (2018/01)(01)
  • PSY-885 Clinical Psych Externship (2019/01)(01)
  • PSY-885 Clinical Psych Externship (2020/01)(01)
  • PSY-885 Clinical Psych Externship (2018/02)(01)
  • PSY-886 Clinical Psych Externship (2019/02)(01)
  • PSY-985 Adv Clinical Psych Externship (2020/01)(01)
  • PSY-800 Individual Research (2020/02)(03)
  • PSY-836 Adult Psychotherapy (2020/02)(01)
  • PSY-886 Clinical Psych Externship (2020/02)(01)
  • PSY-986 Adv Clinical Psych Externship (2020/02)(01)
  • PSY-800 Individual Research (2020/03)(03)
  • PSY-795 Special Topics (2021/01)(01)
  • PSY-800 Individual Research (2021/01)(03)
  • PSY-885 Clinical Psych Externship (2021/01)(01)
  • PSY-985 Adv Clinical Psych Externship (2021/01)(01)
  • PSY-800 Pre-Dissertation Research (2022/01)(3)
  • PSY-885 Clinical Psych Practicum II (2022/01)(1)
  • PSY-985 Adv Clinical Psych Practicum I (2022/01)(1)
  • PSY-800 Individual Research (2021/02)(3)
  • PSY-887 Practicum II: Summer Session (2021/02)(3)
  • PSY-800 Individual Research (2021/03)(3)
  • PSY-887 Practicum II: Summer Session (2021/03)(3)
  • PSY-800 Individual Research (2021/02)(03)
  • PSY-836 Adult Psychotherapy (2021/02)(01)
  • PSY-886 Clinical Psych Externship (2021/02)(01)
  • PSY-836 Adult Psychotherapy (2022/02)(01)
  • PSY-886 Clinical Psych Practicum III (2022/02)(01)
  • PSY-986 Adv Clinical Psych Prac II (2022/02)(01)
  • PSY-800 Pre-Dissertation Research (2022/02)(03)
  • PSY-712 Research Methods in Psychology (2023/01)(01)
  • PSY-885 Clinical Psych Practicum II (2023/01)(01)
  • PSY-985 Adv Clinical Psych Practicum I (2023/01)(01)
  • PSY-800 Pre-Dissertation Research (2023/01)(03)
  • PSY-900 Dissertation Research (2023/01)(03)
  • PSY-704 Research Seminar (2022/02)(03)
  • PSY-887 Clinical Psych Practicum IV (2022/02)(03)
  • PSY-704 Research Seminar (2022/03)(03)
  • PSY-800 Pre-Dissertation Research (2022/03)(03)
  • PSY-887 Clinical Psych Practicum IV (2022/03)(03)
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees (2021/02)
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees (2020/02)
  • Come, Meet Yourself: Polyvagal Theory in Practice (2019/03)
  • Advising Load 2020/01: Total:3 Doctoral:3
  • Advising Load 2021/01: Total:4 Doctoral:4
  • Advising Load 2018/02: Total:1 Doctoral:1
  • Advising Load 2019/02: Total:2 Doctoral:2
  • Advising Load 2020/02: Total:3 Doctoral:3
  • Advising Load 2021/02: Total:4 Doctoral:4
  • Advising Load 2022/01: Total:5 Doctoral:5
  • Advising Load 2023/01: Total:6 Doctoral:6
  • 2019 Faculty-Staff Leadership Award
  • 2019 Animal Studies Institute; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • 2016 Emerging LGBTQ Services Professional Award
  • 2016 Distinguished Staff Award, Student Affairs and Academic Support
  • 2012 Spot Award for Excellence of Service, Counseling and Psychological Services
  • 2011 Service Recognition Award
  • 2011 Larry G. Stewart Award for Outstanding Student in Clinical Psychology
  • 2022 Equity Scholarship
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees
  • Becoming psychologists: Barriers and bridges encountered by deaf and hard of hearing students in education and training settings.
  • Deaf LGBTQ Patients’ Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity to Health Care Providers.
  • Choices in Deafness: A Parents’ Guide to Communication Options
  • Medical and Psychosocial Care of the Cancer Survivor
  • Pet Loss, Grief, and Therapeutic Interventions: Practitioners Navigating the Human-Animal Bond
  • Deaf Identities: Exploring New Frontiers
  • Once Upon a Time: How Fairy Tales Help Us Understand Developmental Psychology
  • Moral Development in Intellectually Gifted Deaf Children
  • Health disparities among mid-to-older deaf LGBTQ adults compared with mid-to-older deaf non-LGBTQ adults in the United States
  • Working with transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer clients: using patient-reported data to inform culturally affirmative practices
  • Deaf People and Society: Psychological, Sociological and Educational Perspectives.
  • Hearing Dogs: A Partner's Perspective
  • Deaf Lesbian and Bisexual Women and Healthcare
  • What Patients Need to Know about Chemobrain
  • Deaf Identity and Attitudes Toward Hearing Dog Use
  • Counseling Center Greetings
  • Relationship between Deaf Identity and D/deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals' Attitudes toward Hearing Dog Use. Doctoral Dissertation.
  • Coming Out
  • Japan's Partners Conference: Second 2011 International Assistance Dog Partner Conference.
  • Emotional Support Animal Position Statement: American Psychological Association
  • Maintaining Assistance Dog Teams: Human-Animal Relationships
  • Time Management and Study Skills for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
  • Deaf Culture and Hearing Dogs: Where the Twain Shall Meet
  • Assisting Students in Distress
  • How to Better Assist People with Disabilities and Members of the LGBT Community
  • Life With A Hearing Dog
  • The Importance of Perception of Emotional Support and Service Animals, Handlers with Disabilities, and the Sources that Influence These Attitudes
  • Hearing Dog Partnerships and the Deaf Community
  • “Living with Hearing Loss: Cultural Competency and Sensitivity in Service Provision to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals
  • To Walk Between Worlds: Queering ASL
  • My Alarm Clock Has Four Legs and A Wet Nose
  • Towards a greater understanding for professional staff supporting veterans with PTSD.
  • PTSD and Suicide Risk: Increasing awareness and professional competency with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Understanding Mental Health History
  • Relationship Between D/deaf Identities and Attitudes Toward Hearing Dog Partnerships
  • Culturally-Responsive and Trauma-Informed Pedagogy in the Time of COVID-19.
  • Experiences with Deafness in K-12.
  • Growing Up With Hearing Loss
  • Perceived Level of Distractibility During Driving: A Comparative Study.
  • Maintaining the Disabled Person – Assistance Dog Team Through Behavioral Intervention
  • Maintaining Assistance Dog Teams: Human-Animal Relationships
  • Deaf Allyship 101
  • So You Think You Know Deafness? And Other Myths of Making LGBTQA Communities Accessible.
  • Double Jeopardy: Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Among Deaf LGBTQ Patients
  • Diversity, Disability, & Inclusion in Our Field: Re-Centering PJSA’s Mission for Inclusive Peace & Justice.
  • Double Jeopardy: Disclosure of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Among Deaf LGBTQ Patients
  • Working with transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer clients: using patient-reported data to inform culturally affirmative practices
  • Inclusion of LGBTQ and Deaf Community in Health Surveillance: Health and Mental Health Disparities
  • Animal Assisted Interventions: Competencies and Ethics
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees
  • Personality Assessment: Testing and Accessibility Issues for Clinical Psychology Trainees with Disabilities
  • Making Heads or Tails of Assistance Animals: Clinical, Ethical, and Legal Considerations for Mental Health Practitioners working with DHHDBDD Clients.
  • Come, Meet Yourself: Polyvagal Theory in Practice
  • Come, Meet Yourself: What the Polyvagal Theory Teaches Us About Us
  • Town Hall Livestreamed Conversation on Trauma, Grief, and Spirituality in the Time of COVID-19.
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees
  • Cross-sectional analysis of medical conditions in the US Deaf Transgender community
  • Cross-sectional analysis of medical conditions in the US Deaf Transgender community
  • Cross-sectional analysis of medical conditions in the US Deaf Transgender community
  • Inclusion of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals in Research
  • Untitled study of personal resilience among college students related to natural disaster
  • <span style="color:#222222;font-size:small;">Psychologists’ Attitudes Towards Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy: Survey Development</span>
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees
  • Building Inclusive Training Sites for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Clinical Psychology Trainees
  • <p style="font-size:11pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">The Effects of Animal Companionship on </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">Mental Health in Deaf and Hard of Hearing People During COVID-19</span></p> <span style="font-size:medium;"></span>
  • <p style="font-size:12pt;"><span>Applications of Somatic Experiencing with Deaf and hard of hearing people.</span></p>
  • <p style="font-size:12pt;"><span>Clinical supervisors’ attitudes towards working with deaf and hard of hearing psychology trainees.</span></p>
  • <p style="font-size:12pt;"><span>Obstacles to inclusion and threats to civil rights: insights into the social experiences of service dog handlers.</span></p>
  • <span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">Comparative study</span></span><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">of Personal Resilience: Mental Models of Community Resilience Planning</span></span><span style="font-size:medium;"></span>
  • <p style="font-size:12pt;"><span>Somatic Experiencing: A trauma-informed approach to treatment.</span></p>
  • <p style="font-size:12pt;"><span>Trauma-informed and somatic approaches to healing: ‘Tails’ from the field.”</span></p>
  • <p style="font-size:12pt;"><span>Somatic approaches in psychotherapy: Expanding our trauma treatment toolbox.</span></p>
  • <p style="font-size:12pt;"><span>Town Hall Livestreamed Conversation on Trauma, Grief, and Spirituality in the Time of COVID-19 with Gallaudet University President Roberta J. Cordano, Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Cara Miller, and Professor of Religion Dr. Kirk Van Gilder.</span></p>
  • Bias Reduction Intervention: Deaf Gain in Employment Settings- (Gallaudet University)
  • National Institute of Health: R01 Grant, Diversity Supplement, Sexual & Gender Minority Supplement- (National Institute of Health)
  • Visual-Centric Teaching and Learning (VCTL)- (Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)
  • Enhancing Access and Care Quality for DHH Trauma Survivors: Impact of Clinical Training on Quality of Life, Clinical Competence, Practitioner Overwhelm, and Clinical Outcomes.- (Canadian Hearing Society Global Partnerships for Research and Innovation)
  • Bailey, K.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2018/02
  • Fedlan, D.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2019/01-2019/03
  • Gallagher, G.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2019/01-2023/02
  • Hernandez, B.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2019/01-2021/02
  • Harding, V.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2020/01-2020/02
  • Holmes, K.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2017/02-2021/01
  • McLaren, C.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2019/02
  • Grillo, A.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2020/01
  • Holcomb, T.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2019/02-2021/01
  • Turner, H.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2020/02
  • Maynard, S.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2020/01
  • Wright, A.-Honors Program, English (Honors Capstone Committee) 2020/01-2020/02
  • Tabilan, D.-Clinical Psychology Program (Doctoral Committee) 2021/01-2021/01
  • Swanson, L.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2022/01
  • Sánchez Hernández, K.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2022/01
  • Nguyen, C.-Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (Doctoral Committee) 2021/01
  • Amdal, M.-Clinical Psychology (Doctoral) 2023/01
  • Faculty-Student Affairs Committee: Member 2019/01-2022/01
  • Faculty Search Committee, Psychology Department 2017/02-2019/01
  • Faculty Advisor, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Social Media Policy Working Group 2019/01
  • Faculty Advisor, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Diversity Committee 2017/02
  • Faculty Mentor, Department of Multicultural Student Development and Mentoring 2019/02
  • Faculty Mentor for New Faculty 2020/02
  • Faculty Online Training Team 2019/02-2021/01
  • Member, Campus Cross-Cultural Communications; Division of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion 2017/02-2020/01
  • Core Committee Member, Gallaudet University Field House Renovation Project 2016/02-2018/01
  • Committee Member, Gallaudet University Dialogue Training Institute 2015/02
  • Committee Member, selection and interview of Gallaudet University Vice President and Associate Provost for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer (VPAPEDI-CDO) 2015/02-2017/01
  • Committee Member, Gallaudet University Transgender Task Force 2014/02-2017/01
  • Committee Member, Gallaudet University Sexual Assault Resource and Response Team 2013/02-2018/01
  • Core Committee Member, Gallaudet University Field House Renovation Project 2016/02-2018/01
  • Case Reviewer, Clinical Psychology Program Alternative ASLPI Review 2017/02
  • Facilitator, Professional Development Week Breakout Groups 2020/01
  • Faculty Mentor, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program Adjunct Mentorship Program 2018/02
  • Visual-Centric Teaching and Learning 2020/02
  • Editorial Review Board, Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin: American Psychological Association Division 17, Section 13 2018/01
  • Reviewer, Human-Animal Interactions: American Psychological Association, Division 17, Section 13 2015/02
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development: Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 2016/02-2018/01
  • Maryland Responder: Maryland Department of Health Office of Preparedness and Response 2019/02
  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Committee: Human-Animal Interaction Board, American Psychological Association Division 17, Section 13 2017/02
  • Emotional Support Animal Position Statement Working Group: American Psychological Association, Division 17 Section 13 on Human-Animal Interaction 2017/02
  • Research Consultant: Colorado State University Human-Animal Interaction Studies 2020/02
  • Subject Matter Expert, Certification Exam Beta Testing: Pet Partners 2021/01
  • Committee on Disability Issues in Psychology (CDIP): American Psychological Association 2023/02-2026/02
  • Reviewer: Disability and Public Health Journal 2023/01-2023/02
  • Faculty Training Assistant: Somatic Experiencing International 2020/02
  • Psychologist in Private Practice 2019/02
  • Professional Development Week, Gallaudet University: Washington, D.C., District of Columbia 2019/01
  • Professional Development Week, Gallaudet University: Washington, D.C., District of Columbia 2020/01
  • Somatic Experiencing® Professional Development Training 2018/01-2020/01
  • Trauma Research Foundation Conference 2019/02-2020/01
  • Role Conflicts and Emotional Support Animal Certifications 2018/02
  • Interpersonal Neurobiology in the Consulting Room 2019/01-2019/01
  • Faculty Group Case Consult 2017/02
  • Social & Historical Trauma Workshop 2019/03-2020/01
  • Trauma Research Foundation Conference 2021/01-2021/01
  • Professional Development Week, Gallaudet University: Washington, D.C., District of Columbia 2021/02
  • Professional Development Week, Gallaudet University: Washington, DC, District of Columbia 2023/01-2023/01
  • Professional Development Week, Gallaudet University: Washington, DC, District of Columbia 2022/02-2022/02
  • Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT): Virtual 2022/02-2024/03
  • American Psychological Association: August 2013-Ongoing
  • Psi Chi: The National Honors Society in Psychology: 2003- 2005
  • International Association of Assistance Dog Partners: 2007- PRESENT
  • American Psychological Association, Division 53: Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology: 2007- 2008
  • American Psychological Association, Division 17: Counseling Psychology: 2013- PRESENT
  • American Psychological Association, Division 17 (Counseling Psychology), Section 13 (Human-Animal Interaction): 2013- PRESENT
  • Association for Psychological Sciences: 2018- 2019
  • Somatic Experiencing International: 2018-PRESENT
  • Canine Companions for Independence 2020/02
  • Clinical and Counseling Psychologists 2021/03
  • Gallaudet University Counseling and Psychological Services 2022/01
  • Contact Me

    Cara Miller

    202/618-6861

    By appointment.

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