Biography

González-Prendes has been a social work clinical practitioner with special interest in the applications of cognitive-behavioral approaches to the areas of mental health and addictions treatment, particularly as they relate to minority populations. He has extensive clinical and administrative experience in the field of mental health. González-Prendes’ research interests revolve around the investigation of cognitive, emotional and cultural dimensions of anger, particularly related to gender, racial, and ethnic minorities and specifically to Latino populations. He is also interested in the interface of mental health, addictions and the criminal justice system.

González-Prendes has served as consultant and trainer to a number of local agencies on issues of mental health and substance abuse treatment. He also served as chair of the Interpersonal Practice Concentration and lead teacher for the Cognitive-Behavioral Theory track of the M.S.W. program.

Click here to view Curriculum Vitae

Degrees and Certifications

• Ph.D., College of Education, Wayne State University
• M.S.W., School of Social Work, Wayne State University 
• B.S., Psychology, Spring Hill College, Mobile, Alabama
• Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW)     
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Certified Advanced Addictions Counselor (CAADC)

Teaching Interests

• Cognitive behavioral theory and practice
• Social welfare policy
• Human behavior and the social environment
• Interpersonal practice in substance abuse

Areas of Expertise

 

METHODS 

• Single case studies
• Quantitative research

TARGET POPULATION 

• Latino Women & Men
• African Women & Men

SUBSTANTIVE

• Mental health and substance abuse treatment related to gender and cultural diversity
• Cognitive-behavioral conceptualization and treatment of anger
• Cultural influences on anger expression
• Gender-role socialization and anger expression
• Emotional and cognitive correlates of alcohol and drug use and misuse
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Latino women and men
• African American women and men

 

CONTENT AREAS FOR MEDIA INTERVIEWS

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Anger treatment
• Culture and anger
• Gender-role socialization and anger

Research Project

Increasing access to and utilization of treatment by Latino clients with mental health and substance abuse disorders in Macomb County, Mich.

Role: Principal Investigator.

The purpose of this study is to train practitioners, who have access to Latino clients, in the use of brief motivational strategies to increase access and retention to mental health and substance abuse services for of Latinos in Macomb County, Mich. The project has three main objectives: (1) To train MH/SA providers who work with the Latino population in Macomb County in the use of the SBIRT (screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment), a brief motivational intervention; (2) To provide ongoing consultation/supervision services to ensure provider fidelity to the intervention; (3) To collect data from participating providers to assess the impact of the intervention on the access and retention of MH/SA services of Latino clients. This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Hispanic Mental Health Alliance of Macomb County, and is funded through a grant from the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation.

Culture- and gender-sensitive regulation of anger

Role: Principal investigator.

This study draws from González-Prendes research as well as from the current literature to identify cultural and gender factors that impact upon the experience and expression of anger for men and women. The study also addresses implications for practice and suggests culture- and gender-sensitive approaches to assess and treat anger problems.

Age differences in women's anger experience and expression

Role: Co-investigator. Although research has indicated that as people advance through the lifespan, they are able to regulate their emotions and reactions to problems more effectively, become less aggressive and experience increased levels of well-being, there is little evidence how age may specifically affect the experience and expression of anger. This lack of research is even more pronounced regarding women, as few researchers have compared anger responses in women across the lifespan. Yet, such information could provide significant implications for social workers working with this population. This study surveyed 240 women in the United States and Canada to explore differences in anger experience and expression across three distinct age groups (18-30, 31-49, and 50 and above) while controlling for other variables such as education level, country of residence, and relationship employment status. This study was conducted in collaboration with Poco Kernsmith and Nancy Praill, M.S.W.

For further details on other research, visit the Center for Social Work Research. 

Grand Challenges Project

Screening for Risky Substance Use

With $1 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the School of Social Work and the Wayne State College of Nursing are training social work and nursing students to assess patients in primary care settings for substance use with Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT). Similar to screenings for diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases, SBIRT helps health care providers identify risk levels for substance use and to employ early, appropriate interventions that can prevent escalation. These include education about related risks, motivation to change behaviors and — in the most serious cases — referrals to specialty care. The first university in Michigan to receive a SAMHSA grant to train students in SBIRT, Wayne State began the three-year initiative in 2015 and has trained 151 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. González-Prendes, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Anwar Najor-Durack, Assistant Professor Suzanne Brown and Associate Nursing Professor Feleta Wilson were part of an interprofessional team of nursing and social work faculty developing the training curriculum. The program has also trained more than 20 health care professionals at Detroit-area hospitals and treatment centers where Wayne State students trained in the screening tool are receiving field instruction. Learn more

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