Travis Labrum

Associate Professor

Travis Labrum, LCSW, earned undergraduate degrees and an MSW from the University of Utah and a PhD in Social Welfare from the University of Pennsylvania. His primary research interests are issues affecting persons with psychiatric disorders and their families, including caregiving, conflict, and treatment services. He is particularly interested in research with implications for effectively supporting family members overcome challenges and support recovery among persons with psychiatric disorders. His secondary research interest is violence between adult family members, such as elder abuse.

Prior to becoming a researcher, he worked at a community-based mental health and substance use treatment center for 9 years, serving as a case manager, therapist, clinical supervisor, and field instructor for MSW students. He currently teaches courses in the Direct Practice specialization of the MSW program and is the coordinator of the Mental Health Certificate.  Having been a first-generation college student, he particularly enjoys witnessing students develop newfound confidence and surpassing their own expectations of growth.

Funded Research Project

Steven H. Sandell Grant Program, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College (2021-2022). Perceptions of beneficiaries with mental illness and family representative payees regarding satisfaction and challenges (Principal Investigator).

Accepting Graduate Students: Yes 

Students working with me will be involved in projects examining family caregiving and representative payeeship for persons with psychiatric disorders.   

Recent Publications

Labrum, T., *Luk, K., Newhill, C. E., & Solomon, P. (2024). Relationship quality among persons with serious mental illness and their relatives: rates and correlates. Psychiatric Quarterly. Advance online publication: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-024-10069-8

Labrum, T., Petros, R., Jacobs, L., Newhill, C. E., & Hawk, M. (2024). Recipients of representative payeeship with mental illness: Financial leverage, conflict, and satisfaction. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. Advance online publication: doi: 10.1007/s10597-024-01257-8

Labrum, T., Solomon, P. L., & Newhill, C. E. (2024). Involvement of guns in nonfatal conflict between adult children and their parents. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Advance online publication: https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241231621

Research Interests
  • Family relationships of persons with SMI
  • Elder mistreatment