Research Interests

systems thinking, hermeneutic research, cybernetic epistemology in family therapy, interactional therapy, intersectional relationships, intersectionality ethics in clinical practice, and cultural humility

Biography

Dr. Pearl Wong Abood is a group private practice owner with extensive expertise in systems relational thinking and marriage and family therapy. She previously served as an Associate Professor at a private university in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she oversaw the development and delivery of course instruction in systemic theory, research methodologies, intersectionality, complex family trauma, crisis intervention, career development, and therapeutic alliance. Dr. Wong Abood holds a strong passion for training the next generation of marriage and family therapists.

Her experiential humanistic perspective and critical thinking approach to teaching and supervision foster curiosity and self-critical reflection, empowering students to acknowledge their own experiences shaped by multiple identities. In addition to teaching, she has actively participated in multiple doctoral-level committees for doctoral candidates.

With a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy, Dr. Wong Abood has a specialized interest in cybernetics and the study of systems and their self-corrective behavior. In her private practice, she counsels individuals, couples, and families affected by intergenerational trauma, attachment issues, communication difficulties, complex grief, and self-led leadership. During supervision, she assists counselors in comprehending and addressing intricate systems, emphasizing feedback loops, circular causality, and equifinality. This approach highlights the significance of interconnectedness and values a system’s capacity to achieve the same final outcome conceived by differing various events or processes.

Originally from Hong Kong, Dr. Wong Abood’s family migration to the eastern coast to pursue the American Dream has not diminished the spiritedness of her upbringing in a small southern town as a minority grappling with self-identity. This experience became a catalyst for her attempts to assimilate while simultaneously learning to appreciate differences and concurrently listening to her cultural roots. She aspires to encourage others to construct their own narratives, contributing to a platform that fosters curiosity about their own intersectionality and self-identity, fostering greater connection within their families, communities, and the broader world.

Education

Ed.S., Marriage and Family Therapy, Converse College

Ph.D., Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Louisiana at Monroe

Awards & Distinctions

NCAMFT Organizational Award 

NCAMFT Training Award

Keynote Speaker for National Organization of Human Services Conference 

AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Clinical Fellow

Dissertation: Comparative Anatomy of the Biomedical Model and Family Systems: A New Way of Thinking and Its Convergence to Taoism