Addiction psychology grad works to overcome stigma associated with substance use
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable fall 2025 graduates.
Earning a minor in anthropology in addition to her Bachelor of Arts in psychology as an undergraduate at Arizona State University is what led to Vanessa Carney becoming interested in addiction. She will soon be graduating with a Master of Science in addiction psychology.
Carney knew for years that she wanted to work as some kind of counselor after college, and her undergraduate anthropology coursework on Native American tribes set her on the path towards a graduate degree.
“As my passion for learning about the various cultures and traditional healing practices grew, as well as my awareness of the stigma and hardships they continue to endure, so did my ambition to work with these populations,” she said.
The Department of Psychology graduate student in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences decided to focus her master’s degree thesis on how the language helping-professionals use to describe addiction can perpetuate the stigma that individuals with substance use disorder face so she could better understand her future patients.
“A focus of my thesis was shining the light back on individuals with substance use disorders, as the research literature has typically focused on the perspectives of clinicians and researchers, ignoring how the actual individual feels about and is impacted by stigmatizing language,” Carney explained.
After graduation, Carney plans to become licensed to practice in Arizona and hopes to work with tribal communities.
We spoke with Carney to learn more about her time at ASU and her goals after graduation.
Question: What inspired you to pursue a masters in addiction psychology?
Answer: I’ve always had a passion for psychology and anthropology, but my minor in anthropology is what drew me to the field of addiction. My minor coursework heavily focused on Native American tribes, and as my passion for learning about the various cultures and traditional healing practices grew, so did my ambition to work with these populations. Addiction studies were a natural next step after learning about the extensive impact colonization has had on these communities' mental health, particularly concerning the high rates of suicide, addiction and stigmatization they’ve endured.
Q: Why did you choose ASU, and how has that decision shaped your graduate experience?
A: I chose ASU because of its excellent reputation for psychology and anthropology programs. I feel this decision served me well in my undergraduate studies, so much so that I decided to remain here for my graduate degree. Sticking with ASU also allowed me to continue learning from Matthew Meier, clinical associate professor, co-director of clinical training, and director of the MS in addiction psychology, with whom I worked as an undergraduate research assistant and who continued to be my mentor throughout my practicum.
Q: Where did you complete your practicum?
A: I completed my practicum at the ASU Clinical Psychology Center under the mentorship of Dr. Meier and Nathan Velez, clinical assistant professor. Both Dr. Meier and Dr. Velez have been incredibly supportive throughout my academic pursuits and have helped me grow tremendously in my counseling knowledge and skills.
Q: Were there any experiences or applied projects that prepared you for your career goals?
A: As Native American tribes and persons with substance use disorders are both highly stigmatized populations, I chose stigmatizing addiction language as my thesis topic to better prepare me for working with these groups. I feel that doing so will help me better understand the impact that language can have on all individuals with substance use disorders and its influence on the treatment process as a whole. Expanding my knowledge on addiction stigma will enable me to be more cognizant of the language I use when practicing and its effects on the individual’s well-being.
While my findings have supported the argument that language can and does influence stigma, on a societal and structural level, they also revealed how little empirical evidence we have on individual differences in terminology preferences, from the “client perspective.” While the language addiction professionals use in published research, and when speaking to the public or amongst peers, can influence negative attitudes, beliefs and biases, the client perspective requires much more nuance to understand. For instance, some individuals find power in taking back stigmatizing labels when self-identifying, whereas others frequently use a form of code-switching that is context-dependent, making informed decisions about what language to use after assessing the potential risks and benefits. Thus, it appears a more individualized approach may be best when working with any particular individual with substance use disorder, giving them the space to communicate their terminology preferences.
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