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Seema Saigal

Seema Saigal
Biography

Dr. Seema Saigal is a Professor in the PsyD program at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University. She earned her Ph.D. from Northwestern University and her B.A. from Cornell University and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice. Dr. Saigal is passionate about student mentorship and fosters inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity and promote academic rigor, open dialogue, and critical thinking. Dr. Saigal was humbled to receive a Teaching Excellence Award in 2022 and a Faculty of the Year award in 2019. Dr. Saigal’s current research focuses on the process of implementing inclusive, intersectional, identity affirming pedagogy and the provision of culturally congruent supervision and clinical care. Dr. Saigal is also interested in close relationships and the ways in which personality traits, mental health symptoms, behavioral interaction patterns, and geographic proximity impact health and relationship satisfaction. In her private practice, Dr. Saigal focuses on the provision of culturally responsive care and utilizes acceptance and commitment therapy and strength-based approaches designed to promote growth and resilience.  

Professional Interests
  • Inclusive, identity affirming pedagogy
  • Culturally responsive supervision and clinical care 
  • Positive psychology
  • Evidence based therapies
  • Close relationships
Education and Certifications
  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Northwestern University
  • B.A. Psychology and Biological Sciences, Cornell University
Courses
  • Multicultural Psychology
  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy
  • Ethics
  • History & Systems
Scholarship and Contributions to the Field
  • Preston, A., Saigal, S., Barrie, R., McKinney, H., Mooney, S., & Padala, P. R. (2022). "Defeated No More: Meaning-Making After Military Sexual Trauma." Military medicine. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usab528
  • Du Bois, S. N., Woodward, H., Manser, K., Saigal, S., Santic, F., Tully, T., & Sher, T. G. (2021). "Examining Relationship-Level Predictors of Individual-Level Health in Long Distance Relationships." The Family Journal. doi: 10664807211054151.
  • Persinger, V. C., Whiteside, D. M., Bobova, L., Saigal, S. D., Vannucci, M. J., & Basso, M. R. (2018). "Using the California Verbal Learning Test, as an embedded performance validity measure among individuals with TBI and individuals with psychiatric disorders." The Clinical Neuropsychologist32(6), 1039-1053.
  • Vannucci, M. J., Whiteside, D. M., Saigal, S., Nichols, L., & Hileman, S. (2016). "Predicting Supervision Outcomes: What is Different about Psychological Assessment Supervision?" Australian Psychologist, 1-6. doi:10.1111/ap.12258