Highlen received her Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1975, where she received training in counseling psychology. Her current theoretical and research interests include transpersonal, multicultural, and sport psychology and qualitative research methodology. She is on the 1996-1997 Editorial Board of the Journal of Counseling Psychology and serves as an occasional reviewer for the International Journal of Sports Medicine. Recent work includes development of the Self-Identity Inventory based on the Optimal Theory Applied to Identity Development (OTAID) model and the application of transpersonal psychology to coaching effectiveness and vocational assessment with racial/ethnic minorities.

Selected Publications

Myers, L. J., Speight, S. L., Highlen, P. S., Cox, C. I., Reynolds, A. L., Adams, E. M., & Hanley, C. P. (1991). Identity development and worldview: An optimal conceptualization. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70, 54-63.

Speight, S. L., Myers, L. J., Cox, C. I., & Highlen, P. S. (1991). A redefinition of multicultural counseling. Journal of Counseling and Development, 70, 29-36.

Highlen, P. S. (1994). Racial/ethnic diversity in doctoral programs of psychology: Challenges for the twenty-first century. Applied & Preventive Psychology, 3, 91-108.

Highlen, P. S. (1994). Reawakening to the Co-Essence Model of Sport: Stanford's Tara Van Derveer leads the way. In P. J. Creedon (Ed.), Women, media, and sport (pp. 314-338). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Highlen, P. S., & Sudarsky-Gleiser, C. (1994). Co-Essence Model of Vocational Assessment for Racial/Ethnic Minorities (CEMVA-REM): An existential model. Journal of Career Assessment, 2, 304-329.

Highlen, P. S. (1996). MCT theory and implications for organizations/systems. In D. W. Sue, A. E. Ivey, & P. D. Pedersen (Eds.), A theory of multicultural counseling and therapy (pp. 65-85). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Highlen, P. S., & Finley, H. C. (In press). Doing qualitative analysis. In F. T. L. Leong & J. Austin (Eds.), Psychology research handbook: A primer for graduate student research assistants. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Sevig, T. D., Highlen, P. D., & Adams, E. M. (In press). Development and validation of the Self-Identity Inventory (SII): A multicultural identity development instrument. Journal of Counseling Psychology.