Welcome to the Sullivan Lab
The Family Violence Research Lab at Yale School of Medicine gathered on October 13, 2025, to wear purple in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a national campaign established by Congress in 1989 to raise awareness about domestic violence and uplift survivor voices and experiences. This year's theme, "With Survivors, Always," underscores the importance of centering survivor needs and experiences in our research and community efforts.
Dr. Tami Sullivan, bottom row, middle, Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Family Violence Research and Programs, and her team are dedicated to advancing research on domestic violence. The lab's research aims to promote survivor safety, recovery, and resilience. One in two women in the United States experiences severe psychological, physical, or sexual abuse in their lifetime. Participating lab members are, bottom row, from left, Ana Hernandez, BS, Tami Sullivan, PhD, and Alexandra Torres Arsuaga, BA; middle row, from left, Marley Herard, MA, Laura Callinan, MPH and Alexandrya Pope, LMSW, MSW, MS; top row, from left, Ashley Clayton, MA and Melissa Schick, PhD.
Our program of research is centered on individual- and system-level factors that affect the mental and physical health of women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV).
At the individual level, we conduct risk and protective factor research with a focus on applying micro-longitudinal designs such as experience sampling methods and research that informs the development of interventions to be implemented in community settings. Specifically, we examine
- precursors, correlates, and outcomes of women's victimization and their use of aggression in intimate relationships, and
- the co-occurrence of IPV, posttraumatic stress, substance use, and sexual risk with specific attention to daily processes (i.e., how experiences and behaviors unfold on a daily basis in their natural environment).
At the system-level, our research focuses on understanding the capacity of systems (e.g., criminal justice system and HIV service system) to meet the unique needs of women who experience IPV and how these systems influence the wellbeing of women. For example, a current study is examining the extent to which criminal orders of protection reduce domestic violence and influence the daily lives of women experiencing intimate partner violence, their offenders’ behavior, and their children’s wellbeing.
In addition to conducting federally-funded research, we are a statewide leader in the delivery of violence prevention services to adult aggressors of domestic violence. Our staff develops and implements psychoeducational groups for men and women to address domestic violence, and as appropriate, anger management. Further, we consult to programs and service systems regarding meeting the unique needs of populations affected by domestic violence.
Principal Investigator
Copy Link