Gisel Suarez Bonilla, Ph.D., is a counseling psychologist who teaches introductory psychology, research methods and statistics, and counseling psychology in the undergraduate department of psychology. She believes in fostering curiosity and making course content applicable to students’ everyday life. She also values student engagement and connection to support students’ goals in and beyond the classroom.
Dr. Suarez Bonilla will be starting her research lab in Spring of 2025. Her research interests include exploring the influence of social, cultural, and familial factors, and acculturation and enculturation processes, on mental health well-being among Latine/x adolescents and emerging adults in the United States. Further, she also uses a holistic and resiliency-based approach to further understand the intersections of identity and relationships, to help identify promotive and protective mechanisms to enhance well-being and address mental health disparities among this population.
Education
- Ph.D. Texas Tech University
- M.A. Texas Tech University
- B.A. Augsburg University
Primary Research Interests
- Traditional Latine/x values
- Familial dynamics
- Acculturation and enculturation processes
- Resiliency
- Mental health well-being
SELECTED SCHOLARSHIP
Publications
Jaramillo, N., Suarez Bonilla, G., Piña-Watson, B., Manzo, G., Garcia, A., Sanchez, M., Meza, J.I. (2024). The role of racial bias and pathways to self-harm outcomes for Mexican-descent college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000776
Coronado, H.*, Suarez Bonilla, G.*, Shircliff, K., Sims, I., Flood, E., Cooley, J. & Cummings, C. (2024). Considering the associations of adverse and positive childhood experiences with health behaviors and outcomes among emerging adults. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 244, 105932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2024.105932
Meza, J. I., Piña‐Watson, B., Lopez, D., Suarez Bonilla, G., Sanchez, M. R., Manzo, G., & Garcia, A. (2024). Examining the relationship between suicide ideation frequency and intergenerational acculturative conflict between Mexican descent college students and their caregivers using the interpersonal theory of suicide. Suicide and Life‐Threatening Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.13067
Piña-Watson, B., Suarez Bonilla, G., Manzo, G., & Gonzalez, I. M. (2023). Examining associations between value-behavior discrepancy guilt, anxiety, and suicide risk for Mexican descent college students: Resilience through self-compassion. Journal of American College Health, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2253916
O’Gara, J. L., Gulbas, L. E., Suarez Bonilla, G., Manzo, G., Piña‐Watson, B., & Zayas, L. H. (2022). Father–daughter relationships among Latina adolescents who attempted suicide: An exploratory dyadic analysis. Family Process, 61 (2), 890-905. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12679
Recent Presentations
Suarez Bonilla, G., Martinez, E., & Piña-Watson, B. (accepted). Navigating Acculturation Gaps and Mental Health Among Mexican Descent College Students Through Caregiver Connectedness. Poster to be presented at the 2024 National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Lozado, O., Suarez Bonilla, G., Martinez, E., & Piña-Watson, B. (accepted). Exploring Relationships Among Ethnic Identity, Perceived Ethnic Discrimination, & Self-Esteem in Mexican Descent College Students. Poster to be presented at the 2024 National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Martinez, E., Suarez Bonilla, G., & Piña-Watson, B. (accepted). The Role of Friend Social Support in Mediating Identity Affirmation and Mental Health Outcomes in Mexican Descent College Students. Poster presented at the 2024 National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Coronado, H.*, Suarez Bonilla, G.*, Shircliff, K., Sims, I., Flood, E., Cooley, J., Cummings, C. (March 2024). Considering the Links from Adverse and Benevolent Childhood Experiences to Health Outcomes Among College Students. Live Research Spotlight Presentation presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Suarez Bonilla, G. & Piña-Watson, B., (October 2023). ¿Cerca de la Familia? Familismo, Intergenerational Acculturative Conflict, and Mental Health of Mexican Descent College Students. Paper presented in symposium entitled Resilience Through Familismo for Mexican Descent College Students: An Examination of Moderating and Mediating Mechanisms (Chair: Suarez Bonilla, G.) at the 2023 National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
Suarez Bonilla, G., Barrientos, D., Trevino, S., & Piña-Watson, B. (October 2023). Tienes Apoyo de la Familia? The Associations Among Familial Intragroup Marginalization, Social Support, and Mental Health. Poster presented at the 2023 National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
Martinez, E., Suarez Bonilla, G., & Piña-Watson, B. (October 2023). The Role of Identity Affirmations with Intragroup Marginalization and Depressive Symptoms in Mexican Descent College Students. Poster presented at the 2023 National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
Mendoza, A., Garcia, A., Suarez Bonilla, G., & Piña-Watson, B. (October 2023). Associations Between Traditional Latinx Gender Role Values, Alcohol Use Issues, and Depressive Symptoms Among Individuals of Mexican Descent. Poster presented at the 2023 National Latinx Psychological Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
*indicates equal authorship
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- National Latinx Psychology Association
- American Psychological Association