Arpita Lal's Photograph
Assistant Professor
Counselor Education & Family Therapy
Contact
lal@ccsu.edu
Office
Biography

Dr. Arpita Lal is an Assistant Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Program within the Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy (CEFT) at Central Connecticut State University. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Connecticut and California and an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor. Prior to joining Central Connecticut State University in 2022, she served as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the MFT Program at Chapman University in California.

Dr. Lal’s research interests include self-care and burnout among MFTs, MFT training and education, families coping with chronic illness, immigration, and issues related to diversity. Her clinical experience includes work in community mental health agencies, university-based clinics, and inpatient settings in both the United States and India.

Education
Ph.D.- Human Development and Family Science
The Ohio State University
2006
M.Phil.- Clinical Psychology
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India
2001
M.A.- Applied Psychology
University of Delhi, India
1999
B.A.- Psychology
Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi, India
1997
Publications, Research & Presentations

Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications

Lal, A. & Glebova, T. (2026). Personal values of MFT trainees: Association with practicum work and burnout. Contemporary Family Therapy, 48, 35-45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-025-09748-w

Furtado, A., Lal, A., & Murray, D. (2026). Impact of empathic language in preappointment communications on appointment no-show rates. Journal of Healthcare Quality, 48(1): e0504. DOI: 10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000504

Lal, A. & Jonathan, N. (2025). Implementing an interprofessional education program in Marriage and Family Therapy: Preparing students for interprofessional practice. The American Journal of Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2025.2469169

Glebova, T., Lal, A., & Gangamma, R. (2025). Relational ethics in immigrant families: The Contextual Therapy five-dimensional framework. Family Process, 64(1), e13071. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.13071

Melendez-Rhodes, T. & Lal, A. (2024). ‘You’d still be you and I still love you’: Exploring the impact of breast cancer from a systemic perspective. The American Journal of Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2024.2431328 .

Lal, A. & Jonathan, N. (2023). Marriage and family therapy education and training: The        development of a competency-based model. Contemporary Family Therapy, 45, 295-306. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09600-x

Glebova, T., Lal, A., Girard, A., & Van Ligten, J. (2022). Burnout in MFT trainees: Impact of demands and resources. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 48(2), 908-926. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12561

Book

Lal, A. & Bijlani, R. (2015). The School Called Marriage: How to Graduate with Flying Colors. New Delhi: Hay House (India).

Courses Taught

MFT 552 Experiential, Intergenerational and Psychodynamic Family Therapies

MFT 543 The Family Life Cycle

CNSL/MFT 505 Counseling Through the Lifespan

MFT 555 Dysfunctional Family Processes

MFT 556 Systemic Perspectives on Mental Disorders

MFT 583 Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum I

MFT 584 Marriage and Family Therapy Practicum II

MFT 585 Marriage and Family Therapy Internship