Professional Biography

Dr. Sebastian Perumbilly is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), and a Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family therapy (AAMFT). Currently, he is in-training to be an Approved Supervisor with the AAMFT. His clinical-work-experience includes working with individuals, couples and families. He has received specialized training in working with a wide range of clinical population, especially symptomatic adolescents, high conflict couples, and individuals and families struggling with substance abuse and addiction.

His research focuses on multicultural and international research in marriage, couple, and family therapy (MCFT); treating substance abuse and addiction in the relational contexts of couples and families; treating substance abuse and addiction in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams of treatment professionals; exploring the voices of indigenous mental health professionals working in the field of addiction treatment in postcolonial settings; searching for the links between spirituality and psychotherapy; conceptualizing, planning and designing systemically-focused clinical assessment, treatment and prevention programs. Recently, he finished the first national study in India focusing on treatment providers and researchers associated with addiction treatment programs affiliated with all the eleven regional resource training centers (RRTCs) of the National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) in postcolonial India.His current research project focuses on substance addiction treatment programs in global contexts, and the role of families in addiction treatment. 

Sebastian has taught previously at the University of Connecticut, and Seattle Pacific University. As a clinician, he has worked both in intensive outpatient clinics and in inpatient psychiatric hospital settings along with multidisciplinary teams of treatment professionals. Between the years of 2005 and 2008, as a representative of the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at the University of Connecticut, Sebastian conducted many couple- and family-focused psychoeducational training programs intended to help divorcing parents with minor children. During those court-mandated psychoeducational programs held in several towns in the state of Connecticut, he trained parents to reorganize and restructure their post-divorced family-systems in child-focused ways, and to work collaboratively as coparents for the well-being of their children.

In the Department of Counseling Psychology at the Graduate School of Lewis & Clark College, Sebastian has been teaching and/or taught the following graduate level courses: Theories and Practices in Marriage, Couple and Family Therapy (MCFT); Ethical and Legal Issues in MCFT; Advanced Family Therapy; Family Development; Assessment and Prevention in MCFT & Counseling; Addiction Treatment in MCFT; MCFT Practicum Supervision; MCFT Internship Supervision; and Treatment Issues in MCFT & Spirituality.

As a licensed clinician, Sebastian maintains a small practice at the Samaritan Center of Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington.

Sebastian received a master’s degree in Bioethics from the Holy Apostles College and Seminary. His second master’s degree and Ph.D. are in the field of Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) with a focus on marriage and family therapy from the University of Connecticut.

Publications & Research Presentations (National & International)

Perumbilly, S. & McDowell. T. (2012). Treating addiction in couple relationships. An upcoming research-focused workshop presentation for the mental health professionals at the National conference of Indian Association of Family Therapy (IAFT), January 6, 2012, Delhi, India.

Perumbilly, S., McDowell, T. & Brown, A.L. (2011). Integrating couple and family therapy in the treatment of substance abuse and addiction. A one-day theoretical and clinical workshop for India’s addiction treatment professionals associated with Regional Resource Training Center, TTK Hospital, Chennai, India.

Perumbilly, S. & Anderson, S.(2011). Role of family in substance addiction treatment: Indian perspectives. National conference of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Dallas, TX.

Perumbilly, S. & Anderson, S. (2011). Substance Addiction treatment in India: innovative perspectives. National conference of American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Dallas, TX.

Sanderson, J., Kosutic, I., Garcia, M., Melendez, T., Donoghue, J., Perumbilly, S., Franzen, C., Anderson, S. (2009). The measurement of outcome variables in couple and family therapy research. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 37 (3), 239-257.

Khanna, A., McDowell, T., Perumbilly, S. & Titus, G. (2009). Working with Asian Indian American families: a delphi study. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 28 (1), 52-71.

Fang, S., McDowell, T., Goldfarb, T., MacDonald, A., Perumbilly, S., Gonzales-Kruger, G., (2008). Viewing the Asian American experience through a culturally centered research lens: do scholarship in family science and related disciplines fall short? Marriage & Family Review, 44(1), 33-51.

McDowell, T., Fang, S., Griggs, J., Speirs, K., Perumbilly, S. & Kublay, A., (2006). International dialogue: Our experiences in a family therapy program. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 25 (1),1-15.

Perumbilly, S., Titus, G., Khanna, A.& McDowell, T. (2006).  Family therapy from an Asian Indian perspective. Presented at the Annual AAMFT Conference, Houston, TX.

McDowell, T., Fang, S., Griggs, J., Kublay, A. & Perumbilly, S. (2005). Crossing borders: The transferability of culturally bound family therapy knowledge. International Family Therapy Association-American Family Therapy Academy 2005 Conference, Washington, D.C.

Academic Credentials

Ph.D.in HDFS	2011	University of Connecticut
M.A. in HDFS	2005	University of Connecticut
M.A. in Bioethics	2001	Holy Apostles College & Seminary
Th.B.	1996	St. Pius X College & Seminary