Research Interests
My overarching aim is to use research to develop inclusive practices and policies that leverage individual and community power to enhance mental health for oppressed people. My scholarship has three threads: 1) developing and evaluating psychosocial interventions that promote mental health and well-being among oppressed populations, particularly queer people of color; 2) digital mental health interventions and using online research methods; and 3) examining and increasing cultural humility and anti-oppressive practices among mental health professionals. My work has been published in journals such as Frontiers in Psychology, Frontiers in Psychiatry, and the Journal of Social Work and Social Research.
This area of interest has developed over the last 10 years through my experiences doing advocacy, clinical practice, and research. I have developed varied methodological skills and capacities in multiple forms of inquiry, including advanced qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, to support my program of research. With clinical research overlooking LGBTQ+ POC, I endeavor to use these skills to elevate and address the needs of these populations in this pressing and emergent area.
Publications
Selected PEer reviewed Articles
*for full list, please see CV.
Dawes, H.C. (2025). Self-permission and radical permission: The utility of permission slips for healing and transformation. Journal of Poetry Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2025.2458662
Dawes, H.C., Eden, T. M., Hall, W. J., Srivastava, A., & Williams, D. Y. (2024). Which types of social support matter for Black sexual minority men coping with internalized homophobia? Findings from a mediation analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1235920. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1235920
Dawes, H. C., Williams, D. Y., Klein, L., Forte, A. B., Gibbs, D. J., Wood, B., Hirst, L. E., & Hall, W. J. (2022). Experiences of Queer People of Color in Mental Health Care and Substance Use Treatment: A Systematic Review. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 000–000. https://doi.org/10.1086/721454
Book Chapters
Hall, W. J., Williams, D. Y., Dawes, H. C., Adams, L. B., & Merino, Y. M. (2023). Implicit attitudes and implicit bias. In H. S. Friedman, C. N. Markey, & W. Lu (Eds.), Encyclopedia of mental health (3rd ed.). Elsevier.
Hall, W. J., Dawes, H. C., Forte, A. B., Hirst, L. E., & Mora, D. (2021). Health policies and programs for children and youth. In W. J. Hall, P. Lanier, J. M. Jenson, & M. W. Fraser (Eds.), Social policy for children and families: A risk and resilience perspective (4th ed.). Sage.
Dawes, H. C. (2021). Healers in Need of Healing. In Mizelle, M. (Ed.), Prayers and Blessings for Healthcare Workers. Church Publishing Incorporated.
Editorials & Commentaries
Dawes, H. C. (2020, June 1). An invitation to white therapists. Medium. Retrieved from https://elemental.medium.com/an-invitation-to-white-therapists-a04cc93b1917
Dawes, H. C. (2018). Racial reconciliation: inviting curiosity to resist unintended racism. North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.ncscsw.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year=2018&month=05&day=30&id=23:part-2-racial-reconciliation-inviting-curiosity-to-resist-unintended-racism
Dawes, H. C. (2018). Valentine’s day: what we can learn from elementary school students. SASS blogs Work/Life February Relationships Series. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://blogs.sas.com/content/efs/2018/02/09/valentines-day-what-we-can-learn-from-elementary-school-students/
Dawes, H. C. (2017). Racial reconciliation: do white therapists talk to their white clients about race? North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.ncscsw.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year=2017&month=12&day=26&id=22:racial-reconciliation-do-white-therapists-talk-to-their-white-clients-about-race-
Dawes, H.C. (2016) Becoming a clinical social worker. North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work. Available from https://www.ncscsw.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year=2019&month=10&day=09&id=7:becoming-a-clinical-social-worker
Dawes, H.C. (2018) Racial reconciliation: do white therapists talk to their white clients about race? North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work. Available from https://www.ncscsw.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year=2017&month=12&day=26&id=22:racial-reconciliation-do-white-therapists-talk-to-their-white-clients-about-race-
Dawes, H.C. (2018) Racial reconciliation: inviting curiosity to resist unintended racism North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work. Available from https://www.ncscsw.org/index.php?option=com_dailyplanetblog&view=entry&year=2018&month=05&day=30&id=23:part-2-racial-reconciliation-inviting-curiosity-to-resist-unintended-racism
Dawes, H.C. (2020) An Invitation to White therapists from https://medium.com/@hcdawes_32629/an-invitation-to-white-therapists-a04cc93b1917
Media Appearances
Podcasts
Dawes. H. C. (2025, February). Meeting Yourself Where You Are. Podcast Guest. Social Work Journeys. Host: Mary Florence Sullivan
Dawes. H.C (2025, February). How To Give Yourself Radical Permission with Hayden Dawes. Podcast Guest. Listen To Your Body Podcast. Host: Steph Gaudreau
Dawes. H.C (2021, August). How To Give Yourself Radical Permission with Hayden Dawes. Podcast Guest. Listen To Your Body Podcast. Host: Steph Gaudreau
Dawes. H.C. (2021, May). Anti-Racist, Anti-Oppressive Mental Health - Hayden Dawes, LCSW. Podcast Guest. Doin’ The Work: Frontline Stories of Social Change. Host: Shimon Cohen
Dawes. H.C. (2021, February). Radical Permission for Parents and Professionals of Children with Autism and/or ADHD. Podcast guest. Autism ADHD TV. Host: Holly Blanc Moses
Dawes. H.C. (2021, February). Coaches Corner - Radical permission. Podcast guest. Over it and on with it. Host: Christine Hassler
Dawes, H.C. (2020, December) Doing the work: talking racism, self-compassion, and radical permission. Podcast guest. Smart Sex, Smart Love. Host: Joe Kort
Dawes, H.C. (2020, August) Colorblindness in mental health and the illusion of certainty. Podcast guest. Pure Curiosity. Host: Iris McAlpin
Dawes, H.C. (2020, June) Seeing ourselves in therapy. Podcast guest. Audience of One. Host: Monique Tuset