Psychology's Thomas Le: Bridging Research, Practice, and Mental Health Equity
Assistant Professor of Psychology Thomas Les work intertwines clinical practice, research, and a commitment to addressing mental health disparities in communities of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.
As an assistant professor of psychology at 惇蹋圖 and licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, Thomas Le has dedicated their career to the intersections of therapy and research, with a special focus on sociocultural factors in mental health. Les journey into the psychology field is deeply personal and reflects a commitment to addressing mental health disparities in marginalized communities. From a young age, they were acutely aware of the mental health issues within their own family, which sparked a curiosity that has shaped their career.
Les interest in mental health is underscored by their drive to help others, especially within communities of color and LGBTQ individuals. They recognized a significant lack of mental health resources and a pervasive stigma surrounding mental health care, particularly in the Asian American community.
I noticed that therapy was not even a consideration in my family until I got to college. It was important to me to help normalize conversations around mental health so that other young and marginalized people may have greater access, says Le.
Through their research and clinical practice, Le aims to contribute to this cultural shift, making mental health a topic that can be openly discussed and that the voices of those often overlooked are heard and valued.
In a study published in October 2024, , Le and their research advisee, Xiaoyin Miracle Liu '25, examined the links between internalized racism, psychological distress, and disordered eating among 796 Asian American adults across the United States.
The findings revealed that Asian American individuals who experienced greater internalized racismnegative feelings toward their racial identitywere more likely to report disordered eating behaviors. Conversely, those with a strong collective racial self-esteem, or positive feelings about their racial identity, showed a decrease in disordered eating tendencies.
Mental health isnt a one-size-fits-all field. We need to account for the unique experiences of different racial and sexual orientation groups, as these experiences deeply influence mental health outcomes.
Mental health isnt a one-size-fits-all field. We need to account for the unique experiences of different racial and sexual orientation groups, as these experiences deeply influence mental health outcomes, Le says.
Expanding their focus to social relationships, Les study , centered on racial dating preferences within the queer Asian American male community. By surveying 180 gay, bisexual, and queer Asian American men across the United States, Le and their research team investigated how internalized racism and empowerment against racism impacted dating preferencesspecifically, preferences for dating white men, Asian men, or men of any race.
The findings revealed a significant pattern: queer Asian American men who exhibited higher levels of internalized racism were more likely to prefer dating white men and less likely to prefer dating Asian men. In contrast, those with greater resistance and empowerment against racism demonstrated a positive openness to dating men of any race and less of a preference for dating white men exclusively.
Le explains the broader implications of this study, noting that it challenges the colorblind approach often applied to discussions of dating and attraction. Society has started to accept that race can influence access to resources, but the idea that race also influences our personal relationships, including dating preferences, can be uncomfortable to acknowledge, they said. This study suggests that racialized preferences are real, yet they arent fixed. Theres potential for individuals to unlearn and redefine their preferences by resisting internalized biases.
Both studies highlight the pervasive effects of internalized racism on mental health and interpersonal relationships within Asian American communities. Together, they offer compelling evidence for adopting a strengths-based approach that promotes collective racial self-esteem and empowerment. This work contributes to the ongoing dialogue around mental health and social equity, emphasizing the role of cultural identity in shaping individual well-being.
At 惇蹋圖, Le teaches and mentors students who are passionate about mental health and eager to make a difference. This semester, they are teaching a laboratory centered on counseling psychology and a class called Helping Skills: Theory and Practice. Their teaching philosophy is simple: integrate knowledge from both therapy and research to create a holistic understanding of mental health care. By sharing case studies, research findings, and personal experiences, Le hopes to inspire the next generation of mental health professionals to consider both the individual and societal dimensions of wellness.