Laura Frey

Biography

Dr. Frey’s work emphasizes the important role of family members during the recovery process for suicide attempt survivors. As a clinician and family scientist, Dr. Frey aspires to conduct research that has clear implications for both family life educators and mental-health service providers. All too often, the family environment is considered a treatment context only for children and adolescents, which limits our efforts in treating suicidal behavior within adults. Dr. Frey advocates for examining the family’s role in experiences leading up to suicidal behavior and the assets families can provide in the treatment process for individuals of all ages. Dr. Frey is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in both Kentucky and Indiana and an AAMFT-Approved Clinial Supervisor.

Research Interests

Dr. Frey’s primary interest is in the intersection of family processes and suicide prevention. Her research utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore the role of stigma and family interactions following a loved one’s disclosure of suicidal ideation or behavior. Dr. Frey’s work has demonstrated links suggesting disclosure and subsequent family reaction predict depression symptoms and the interpersonal needs that predict the desire to die. Moreover, she found that individuals with a lifetime history of suicidal behavior perceived the highest rates of stigma from close family members, which was the best predictor of subsequent depression symptoms compared to stigma from other sources (e.g., therapists, nurses, clergy.) Dr. Frey received funding from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to examine the effect of parental expressed emotion on adolescent disclosure of suicide ideation and how they impact treatment adherence moving forward. 

Degrees and Certifications

Publications

All Scholarly and Creative Works