Manijeh Daneshpour
Ph.D., LMFT
Academician, Clinician and Researcher
Manijeh Daneshpour, Ph.D., LMFT, is a professor and systemwide director of the Alliant International University Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs with more than three decades of academic, research, and clinical experience. Dr. Daneshpour, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, is a recognized leader in multiculturally sensitive therapy, third-wave feminism, and the foremost expert on family therapy with Muslim families. The themes that are central to Dr. Daneshpour’s career have shaped her influence on the field of family therapy. For example, she has emphasized the importance of family therapists being their authentic selves, being true to who they are, and never forgetting the importance of the person-of-the-therapist. Dr. Daneshpour has attempted to be a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures and has been willing to challenge the assumptions or stereotypes that each group has had about the other. As the majority of her education has occurred within Western cultures, she is perfectly positioned to be an ambassador between two cultures that historically and currently have little understanding of each other.
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What I Do and not limited to
Academician
As an academician, I teach various courses in family therapy theories, couples therapy, family in multicultural contexts, and supervise students’ internships both at the masters and doctoral levels. I provide mentorships and chair dissertations and engage graduate students to publish their research projects. I am also part of the ongoing program development within the couple and family therapy program, serving on faculty committees, and establishing collaborative relationships within the University and the broader community.
Clinician
I use family therapy theories as a lens to look at all interactions in the therapy room. My theoretical orientation is mainly Bowenian and contextual family therapy, but I use all models as I see fit. I use the self of the therapist, differentiation of self, as well as relational ethics as the core of my clinical work with individuals, couples, and families. I try to be authentic and trustworthy in my personal and professional work and believe that being true to myself and caring for others are the best ways for human to have meaningful interactions. I use a culturally sensitive approach to promote greater understanding, respect, and compassion for families’ relational realities within this era of globalization.
Researcher
My main areas of research, publications, and presentations have been centered on issues of premarital and marital relationships, multiculturalism, social justice, third-wave feminism, and Muslim family dynamics. I have spent more than two decades of training therapists to provide multiculturally sensitive therapy and had a grant training therapists to work with immigrants and refugees. I have spent many years working and studying Muslim families not as a religious group but as individuals, members of family units, and a distinct group within their own societal context.
An Interview with Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour – The MFT Feminist
Feminism is believing in the fact that patriarchy has dampened women’s ability to use their full potentials to contribute in many positive ways to their societies and both men and women should fight for women equality. I don’t believe that the U.S. is less patriarchal than many other countries and American women have more rights than many other places. I also believe that the feminist movement is very important because without equality between men and women both gender suffer the consequences of their gender socialization. I strongly believe in any praxis that can help women use their true and full potentials in any arena they want
Episode 10: Manijeh Daneshpour: Culturally Competent MFT
Dr. Manijeh Daneshpour is an LMFT with over 20 years of academic research and clinical experience centered around multiculturalism, social justice, premarital and marital relationships of Muslim family dynamics. Eli sits down with Manijeh as she tells powerful stories about her family of origin and her work with clients as it pertains to multiculturalism and cultural diversity. She discusses how being the only girl in an all-boys school has shaped her for her future. She defines what a third-wave feminist is and how it shaped her approach to the classic models of therapy. Lastly, she discusses what factors are important for the field to move forward in cultural competency.
Areas of Expertise
Multicultural Couples and Families
Gender
Race and Ethnicity
Couple and Family Therapy
Marital Satisfaction
Social Justice
The Movie Documentary
Testimonials
What People Are Saying
My Achievements
Professional, Academic, and Research Association Memberships
2024-Present
Editorial Board, Communication Psychology
2023-Present
Editorial Board, Women’s Studies International Forum
2023-Present
Editorial Board, Journal of Applied Family Therapy
2022-Present
President, Family Process Institute
2021-Present
Editorial Board, Journal of Family and Marriage Counseling
2020- Present
Board Member: International Accreditation Commission for Systemic Therapy Education
2017-Present
Board of Directors, Family Process Institute
2019-Present
Editorial Board, Journal of Preventive Counseling
2017-Present
Editorial Board, Journal of Family Process
2017-Present
Editorial Board, Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy
2013-Present
Senior Advisor for Clinical Research: Institute for Social Understanding (ISPU)
2013-2016
Minority Fellowship Program Advisory Board: AAMFT
2007-2012
Reviewer: Journal of Family Therapy Research
2005-2012
Minority Fellowship Program Advisory Board: AAMFT
2013-2016
Reviewer: Journal of Family Theory
2010
Guest Editor: Journal of Muslim Mental Health
2004-2008
Chair: Minnesota Board for Marriage and Family Therapists
2003-2011
Board Member: Minnesota Board for Marriage and Family Therapists
1994-Present
Clinical Member: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
2000-Present
AAMFT Clinical Supervisor: American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
2008- Present
Professional Member: National Council of Family Relations
2002- Present
Clinical Member: International Family Therapy Association
Other Professional Activities
Grants
2015-2018
Mental Health Cultural Competency Staffing Project. Recover Health Resources, St. Anthony, Minnesota. $550,000
1997-98
Parent-Child Reconnection Group. Intervention group for traumatized children and adolescents. Human Services Inc. Oakdale, Minnesota. ($38,000).
Scales Development
1998-99
Stress and Trauma Scale in partnership with Dr. Jim Wojcik Human Services Inc. Oakdale, Minnesota.
Honors Received
2019
Iranian Psychotherapy Association Appreciation Award
2019
KAIRE. Inc. Multicultural Clinical Contribution Award
2018
Kente Circle Contribution of MFT Field Award
2018
St. Mary’s University, Global Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy Field
2016
National Council on Family Relations, Family Therapy Legacy Award
2012
Iranian Psychological Association Appreciation Award
2011
Minnesota Association for Marriage and Family Therapists Distinguished Service Award
2011
Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Service Award 2003-2011
2008
Iranian Psychological Association Appreciation Award
2008
University of Shahid Beheshti Academic Contribution Award
Keynote Presentations
Daneshpour, M (2023).
Gender. Power, Global Social Justice: The Healing Power of Psychotherapy. AFTA, Baltimore, Maryland.
Daneshpour, M. (2020)
The State of Systemic Family Therapy. AAMFT Summer Institute. Hawaii.
Daneshpour, M. (2019)
Cross-Cultural Application of Family Therapy Theories. Institute of Psychiatry. Tehran. Iran.
Daneshpour, M. (2019)
Cultural Adaptation of Couple and Family Therapy. 2nd Annual Congress of the Iranian Psychotherapy Association. Tehran, Iran.
Daneshpour, M. (2018)
Not for Sale! Our Soul and Authenticity. Kente Circle Annual Conference. Minneapolis, MN.
Daneshpour, M. (2018)
Race, Class, Gender & Politics. St. Mary’s University. Minneapolis, MN.
Daneshpour, M. (2018)
Battle of Trauma Queens: Man versus Nature. I-MERIT Conference. Los Angeles. CA.
Daneshpour, M. (2017)
How Policies Shape Lives: The Impact of Immigration Policy on Children and Families. NCFR, Orlando, FL.
Daneshpour, M. (2016)
Examining Family and Stress: Theory and Research. International Conference on Stress and Mental Health. Tehran, Iran.
Daneshpour, M. (2016)
Whose Cross-Cultural Competency Is It Anyway? The Challenge of Social Justice and Ethic of Care. American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy , Indianapolis, IN.
Daneshpour, M. (2013)
Social Justice, multiculturalism, and self of the therapist. MAMFT Annual Conference. Brooklyn Park. MN.
Daneshpour, M. (2011)
Wrestling with Power, Privilege and Ambiguity: Application to Clinical Practice and the Self as the Therapist. MAMFT Fall Conference. Brooklyn Park, MN.
Daneshpour, M. (2008)
An Analysis of Family Systems Theory in the Cultural Context of Iran. University of Tehran, Iran.
Daneshpour, M. (2008)
Iranian Family Systems and Culture: Clinical Implications. Iranian Psychological Association. Research Center for Cognitive Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Daneshpour, M. (2008)
Mutuality and Difference in Family Relationships. Atyeh Hospital.Tehran, Iran.