Varinder Kaur

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Assistant Professor
Director of Addiction Studies Program

Varinder Kaur
Contact Info:
Campus: McNichols Campus
Building: Reno Hall
Room: 238
Phone: 313-578-0392
Varinder Kaur

Degrees

  • Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision, University of Toledo
  • MA in Counseling, Punjab University, Punjab, India
  • BA, Punjab University

Biography

Varinder Kaur earned her Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of Toledo.  She earned a master’s degree in Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree from Punjab University in Punjab, India.  Kaur is currently chairing the Multicultural Addiction Counseling Committee of the International Association of Addictions and Offenders Counselors, and she is a licensed professional counselor.

Kaur has worked in a variety of clinical settings, treating children, adolescents, adults, couples, and older people with addiction, emotional and other mental health issues. She is experienced in both outpatient and inpatient substance use treatment, and in intensive individual and group therapy interventions. In addition, Kaur has worked in integrated health care treating individuals with comorbid primary and mental health care needs, as well as in outpatient practice with individuals with moderate to severe substance use and mental health disorders.

Kaur strongly believes that counseling educators and mental health professionals should spend enough time for self-care to prevent impairment and provide quality services to their students and clients. Her research interests include addiction-related issues, holistic wellness related approaches, mindfulness-based approaches, multicultural issues, and professional advocacy.  Kaur likes to stretch her mind in her free time by using different types of mindfulness and meditation practices. She enjoys practicing yoga, outdoor activities, spending time with her family, and reading topics on quantum physics and spirituality.

 Kaur joined the University as a full-time faculty member in January, 2022.

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    Research Interests/Current Projects

    • Substance use treatment
    • Holistic healthcare and integrated treatment
    • Wellness-focused interventions

     

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    Publications

     

    Recent Publications:

    Kaur, V., Lindinger-Sternart, S., & Grey, B. (2022). Public policy issues on integrated health care: challenges, opportunities, and implications for mental health counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 44(1).

    Lindinger-Sternart, S., Kaur, V., Widyaningsih, Y., & Patel, A. K. (2021). COVID-19 phobia across the world: Impact of resilience on COVID-19 phobia in different nations. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. DOI: 10.1002/capr.12387

    Manuscripts Currently Under Review and Works in Progress:

    Kaur, V., Lindinger-Sternart, S., Martin, T., & MacDonald, D. A. (2024). The inter-relatedness of trauma and substance use and the social determinants of health [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department of Counseling and Addiction Studies, Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ.

    Kaur, V., & Maleckas, O. (2024). Holistic integrated healthcare model for substance use  disorder treatment and its clinical and its clinical implications [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department of Counseling and Addiction Studies, Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. 

    Kaur, V., Lindinger-Sternart, S., Cheruvu, V. & Urom, C. (2024). Relationship between college students' self-compassion and perfectionism when controlling for fear of failure. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department of Counseling and Addiction Studies, Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. 

    Kaur, V. & Laux, J. M. (2023). The relationship between counseling students’ mindfulness and stress when controlling for rumination. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Department of Counseling and Addiction Studies, Áù¾ÅÉ«ÌÃ. 

    Kaur, V. (manuscript in progress).  Integrating Advaita Vedanta into counseling with refugees and civilian survivors of war. Proposal for manuscript accepted for a future special issue of the Journal of Humanistic Counseling.

     

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    Conference Presentations

    Kaur, V. & Lindinger-Sternart, S. (2024, April). Interrelatedness of Trauma and Substance Use. American Counseling Association. New Orleans, LA. 

     Martin, T. & Kaur, V. (2023, October). The Role of Civil Disobedience in Competencies for Ethics, Multiculturalism and Social Justice. American Counselor Education & Supervision. Denver, CO. 

    Kaur, V. & Lindinger-Sternart, S. (2021, June). Teaching anti-racist practices in counselor Education. Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development: Annual Conference. Virtual.

    Kaur, V. & Lindinger-Sternart, S. (2021, May). Applications of Buddhist-derived mindfulness-based interventions to counseling practice and counselor self-care. Michigan Counseling Association. Rochester, MI.

    Page, K., Woehler, E., Kaur, V. & Lindinger-Sternart, S. (2021, May). Closing the Addiction Treatment Gap in a Pandemic. The McLeod Institute on Addiction. Charlotte, NC.

     Lindinger-Sternart, S. & Kaur, V. (2021, February). Indigenous perspectives related to addiction, treatment, and recovery. Strengthening the Heartland. South Dakota State University, SD.

     Kaur, V. (2020, October). Mindfulness and its practical implications for mental health counselors. Great Falls Counseling Association. Great Falls, MT.

    Kaur, V. & Lindinger-Sternart, S. (2020, August). Prevention of burnout syndrome at individual                       and institutional level. Michigan Counseling Association. Rochester, MI.

    Lindinger-Sternart, S. & Kaur, V. (2020, August). How to cope with COVID-19 with mindfulness. Big Sky Health Clinic, Rocky Boy Indian Reservation. Box Elder, MT.

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