Maria Teresa Coutinho

Dr. Maria Teresa Coutinho is a clinical associate professor in the Counseling Psychology & Applied Human Development Department at BU Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. Dr. Coutinho’s research focuses on the impact of cultural, social, and healthcare system factors on healthcare utilization for urban children of color and their families. Dr. Coutinho serves as the director of clinical training for the APA-accredited doctoral program in counseling psychology.

Before joining BU Wheelock, Dr. Coutinho served as clinical assistant professor in the departments of psychiatry and human behavior and pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and research staff psychologist at Hasbro/Rhode Island Hospital. Dr. Coutinho’s clinical experience is focused on early childhood mental health and supporting positive social emotional outcomes for urban children and families. Her work aims to support meaningful connections between preschool and early childhood care providers and families. Additionally, Dr. Coutinho has led several initiatives and workshops aimed at enhancing cultural competence for mental health professionals.

Dr. Coutinho’s research aims to highlight strengths and resilience related to racial and cultural identity that enhance healthcare engagement for children of color. Dr. Coutinho’s current projects explore the transition to adult healthcare for urban adolescents of color diagnosed with asthma and healthcare utilization for Black children with asthma. Dr. Coutinho’s research has been supported by several grants through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and she has been recognized as a National Heart Blood & Lung Institute–PRIDE scholar. Her work has been published in several prestigious journals including The Counseling Psychologist and Journal of Black Psychology.