Lab Members
Principle Investigator
Dr. Joel Wong
Dr. Joel Wong, a Professor of Counseling and Counseling Psychology, at Indiana University directs the Gratitude Interventions and Practices Lab. Dr. Wong is interested in studying a myriad of gratitude interventions and practices that promote well-being in diverse populations. Please click here for a description of his other research interests.
Doctoral Students
Alexis Pandelios
Alexis Pandelios (she/her) is a fourth year counseling psychology doctoral student advised by Dr. Joel Wong. Broadly, Alexis’s research focuses on human connection. In the Gratitude Interventions and Practices Lab, she is engaged in projects which aim to examine the efficacy of gratitude-based interventions and uncover mechanisms underlying interpersonal gratitude exchanges.
Jonathan Kang
Jonathan is a 2nd-year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program. His research interests are focused on the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and societal impacts of power, privilege, and oppression on mental and emotional well-being for members of advantaged groups, marginalized groups, and their intersections.
Nayoung Cho
Nayoung Cho (She/Her) is a first-year doctoral student in counseling psychology. Her research interest lies in positive psychological intervention with a special emphasis on gratitude. Specifically, she is passionate about developing and evaluating gratitude interventions that can foster positive interpersonal experiences and have a beneficial impact on the community and society.
Master's Students
Tenzin Bhuti
Tenzin Bhuti (She/Her) is a second-year master student in the learning and developmental science-counselling psychology track. Her research interest lies in how fostering positive psychological constructs will serve the well-being and mental health of the immigrant and refugee populations. She is also interested in examining the cross-cultural perspective in gratitude expression and what guides an individual to express their gratitude.
Undergraduate Students
Bailey Brase
Bailey Brase (she/her) is a 3rd year undergraduate clinical psychology and counseling student. She is hoping to pursue counseling psychology to become a licensed psychologist with her own practice. She is interested in mental health within adolescence.
Cat Cohen
Cat Cohen (she/her) is a third-year undergraduate student studying psychology with minors in counseling and Spanish. Cat currently assists in research under Dr. Joel Wong through the Gratitude Interventions and Practices Lab. Her passions include mental health advocacy and mindfulness. With this, Cat hopes to pursue a career as a therapist in the future.
Piper Henson
Piper Henson (she/her) is an undergraduate student majoring in Psychology. She was accepted into the Emerging Scholars Research Experience for Undergraduate Women and paired with Dr. Joel Wong to help with his lab, the Importance of Gratitude.
Jayden Easler
Jayden Easler is a second-year undergraduate student studying psychology. Jayden is a Cox Research Scholar, so he has the opportunity to work with Dr. Joel Wong in his lab for early experience in research. Jayden assists in research under Dr. Joel Wong through the Gratitude Interventions and Practices Lab. His passions include positive psychology and teaching others. With this, Jayden hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologists or professor in the future.
Alumni
Jee Yoon Park
Jee Yoon is a Senior pursuing dual-degrees in Psychology and Counseling and Student Services at Indiana University. She is looking forward to learn more about the Counseling Psychology field in graduate school. Her some of her interests are in advocacy of mental health in diverse communities and multicultural competency.
Yangtian(Sam) Yan
Sam is a second-year student in his M.S.Ed. Learning and Development Sciences – Counseling Psychology program. Sam is currently working with Dr. Wong in the Gratitude Interventions and Practices Lab. His research interests include the efficacy of gratitude interventions for mental health in all age groups and cross-cultural groups, particularly with regard to improvements in mood disorders and anxiety disorders.
Sophia Goris
Sophia Goris (she/her) is in her first year in the master's in mental health counseling program at Indiana University. In the future, she plans to focus her studies in the realm of couple's counseling and, more specifically, on divorce and infidelity. In Dr. Wong's Gratitude Interventions and Practices Lab, she supports projects that examine people's general stance towards gratitude and how this can impact their lives.