Chansophal Mak (Sophal) is originally from Cambodia. Sophal received her PhD in Human Development and Family Science with Emphasis in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Georgia, USA, in 2023. In 2023-2025, Sophal completed a prestigious President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program at the University of Minnesota, USA. Her postdoctoral research focused on parenting practices of Cambodian refugees in the United States. Her goal was to have a baseline of their parenting practices with the purpose to do the cultural adaptation of parenting intervention to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of trauma. Currently, Sophal is an independent family therapist, lecturer, and researcher in Cambodia. I have known and admired the work of the founder of the Blue Pearl Institute (Dr. Carrie Herbert) since 2014 when I returned from the Philippines after completing my Master's degree in counseling. I deeply connect with her social justice orientation, trauma-informed care and strength-based leadership, and the value of holistic human growth. Therefore, I am thrilled to be a part of the advisory board with the amazing team of the Blue Pearl Institute.

Website:

https://sites.google.com/view/chansophal-mak-phd?usp=sharing