Biography
I received my PhD From Stony Brook University in New York working with Dr. K. Daniel O'Leary. I received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hofstra University in New York. I completed 2 years of externship at Yale, as one of the therapists on the first and only NIH funded RCT of LGBT Affirming therapy with Dr. John Pachankis. I completed my Internship and Post doc in the VA focusing on Trauma-focused therapy (specializing in individuals and couples dealing with experiences of sexual assault), serious mental illness, and couples therapy. I also worked as a staff psychologist at the VA with an additional focus in sex therapy and educating clinicians about sexual orientation and gender diversity. In addition to teaching at Alliant, I have a private practice that focuses on these specialties in interpersonal relationships, and the unique stressors and considerations for bi-coastal creatives (i.e., artists, actors, musicians) in New York City and Los Angeles.
Professional Interests
- Minority stress and mental health outcomes
- Trauma Resiliency in intra/interpersonal relationships
- Impact of communication/self-disclosure about Sexuality (i.e., preferences, practices, kinks, sexual orientation, gender identity, pornography consumption) on relationship and sexual satisfaction
- Impact of internal processes related to concealment of authentic self on mental health disparities and relationship functioning
Education and Certifications
- PhD in Clinical Psychology, Stony Brook University
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist in New York
- 2018 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student, Stony Brook University
- Cognitive Processing Therapy Certified
- Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy Certified
- Gottman Method Couples Therapy Level 2
- Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP)
- Integrative Couples Therapist Certification (ICT)
Courses
Individual And Family Life Cycle
Social Basis of Behavior
Scholarship and Contributions to the Field
- Rashkovsky, K., Solano, I., Khalifian, C., Morland, L., & Knopp, K. (2022). "Interpersonal trauma histories and relationship functioning among LGB veteran couples seeking PTSD treatment." Military Psychology, 1-15. doi: 10.1080/08995605.2021.2016308
- Solano, I., Eaton, N. R., & O'Leary, K. D. (2018). "Pornography consumption, modality, and function in a large internet sample." Journal of Sex Research, 1-12. doi: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1532488
- Leary, K. D., & Solano, I. (2017). "Relationship Discord, Intimate Partner Physical Aggression and Externalizing Problems of Children." In Lochman, J. E, & Matthys, W. (Eds.). The Wiley Handbook of Disruptive and Impulse Control Disorders.
- Babcock, J., Armenti, N., Cannon, C., Lauve-Moon, K., Buttell, F., Ferreira, R., Solano, I. (2016). "Domestic violence perpetrator programs: A proposal for evidence-based standards in the United States." Partner Abuse, 7(4), 355–460. https://doi.org/10.1891/1946-6560.7.4.355
- Salwen, J., Solano, I, & O'Leary, K. D. (2015). "Sexual coercion and psychological aggression victimization: Unique constructs and predictors of depression." Partner Abuse, 6(4), 367-382.
- Askew, J., Rampasaud, D., Solano, I., & Donaldson, J. (2012). "An exploration of multi-systemic factors contributing to sexual risk taking in minority suburban youth." Vulnerable Children & Youth Studies: An International Interdisciplinary Journal for Research, Policy and Care, 1-13.
- Calderon, S., Elman, J., Eyler., L., Kangas, J., & Solano, I. (2020, May). Ally Skills Workshop for Trainees. Department of Psychiatry PET Council Professional Development Series, University of California San Diego and San Diego VA, San Diego, CA.
- Solano, I. (2020, March). The Affairs Model for couples and infidelity. Presented to the National Couple and Family Didactic series, Veterans Affairs.
- Solano, I. (2020, March). Military Sexual Trauma: Clinical considerations. Presented to Dr. Leslie Morland’s Scholar Seminar, San Diego VA, San Diego, CA.
- Solano, I. (2019, December; 2020, January). Transgender- and LGBTQ-Affirmative practices in the VA: Considering experiences of diversity. Presented to: Dr. Leslie Morland's Scholar Seminar, and Mission Valley BHIP Team, San Diego VA, San Diego, CA.
- Solano, I. (2019, May). Attributions of blame as predictors of relationship outcomes among men with alcohol use. Presented at VA Maryland Health Care System/University of Maryland, School of Medicine Psychology Internship Consortium 2019 Intern Research Presentations, Baltimore, MD.
- Solano, I. (2018, November). Romantic relationship pornography consumption: Associations with perceived partner acceptance, communication, and concealment of consumption. Presented in Some harm in looking: Implications of pornography use for relationship and sexual outcomes symposium (Chair: C. Huntington) at the 52nd Annual Convention for the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.
- Solano, I. (2018, May). Minority stress and intersectional stigma case presentation (Chair: J. Pachankis, & M. L. Hatzenbuehler) at ESTEEM case conference, Yale University, New York, NY.
- Solano, I., Rodriguez-Seijas, C., Bannon, S. M.,Eaton, N. R., & O'Leary, K. D. (2017, November).Mediation of the Association Between Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Alcohol Use Through the Transdiagnostic Externalizing System. Presented at the Association for Behavioral Cognitive Therapies Annual Convention held in San Diego, CA.
- Solano, I., & O'Leary, K. D. (2017, November). Negotiation of Pornography Usage: Implications for Romantic Relationships. Presented at the Association for Behavioral Cognitive Therapies Annual Convention held in San Diego, CA.
- Solano, I. (2017, May). Intimate Partner Violence. Guest lecture for Psychology of Women's Health, Stony Brook, NY.
- Solano, I. (2017, June). Couples Therapy: Addressing Personal Biases. Guest lecture for The Science of Intimate Relationships, Stony Brook, NY.
- Solano, I., Eaton, N. R., & O'Leary, K. D. (2016, September). An Empirical Definition of‚ 'Pornography' Across Differential Use by Gender and Age. Presented at the VIII Ibero American Congress of Clinical and Health Psychology held in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Solano, I., Bannon, S. M. & O'Leary, K. D. (2016, July). Gender and the Associations between Pornography Usage and Intimate Partner Violence. Presented at the International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference held in Portsmouth, NH.
- Solano, I., Eaton, N. R., & O'Leary, K. D. (2016, May). Individual Differences in the Prevalence and Appeal of Pornography Use: Navigating Relationships and Sexuality. Presented at the Association for Psychological Science Annual Convention held in Chicago, NY.