Queer & TNB WAVE Lab
Well-being, Authenticity, Vitality, and Empowerment
About Us
Queer and TNB Well-being, Authenticity, Vitality, and Empowerment Lab [WAVE LAB]
The Queer and TNB WAVE lab is directed by Zak Clements, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology at Loyola University Chicago. The Queer and TNB WAVE lab conducts community-engaged research that aims to support Queer, Transgender, and Nonbinary (QT) people by promoting well-being, authenticity, vitality, and empowerment. This research aims to disrupt harmful systems that oppress QT existence. We center the lives of QT people, with special attention to intersecting systems of oppression and how they impact the QT people’s ability to thrive.
Research Approach
The research from this lab is informed by minority stress theory (Brooks, 1981; Meyers, 2003), intersectionality (Collins, 2019; Crenshaw, 1991; The Combahee River Collective, 1977; Galupo & Orphanidys, 2022), and positive psychology related to QT people (Rostosky et al., 2018; Riggle et al., 2013; Riggle & Mohr, 2015) which all emphasize the impact of societal stigma on QT people, while highlighting QT strengths. This informs our lab’s prioritization of well-being, authenticity, vitality, and empowerment. Our research is also informed by a Framework of TNB Well-being (Clements et al., 2026), which (1) posits that there are societal, interpersonal, and individual levels of TNB affirmation that facilitate well-being, which can also be disrupted (2) understands interventions are necessary at every level; (3) that intersecting systems of oppression impact TNB people’s well-being; and (4) promotes the vitality of TNB people through centering well-being and empowerment. Thus, our research aims to promote well-being, vitality, and ultimately empower QT people at all levels of the socio-ecological model (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) to provide a holistic understanding of QT experiences.
