Ryan Petros

Ryan Petros’s research activities seek to promote recovery and wellness for people with psychiatric disabilities and co-occurring substance use disorders. His work prioritizes a deep understanding of recovery, fosters personalized self-management strategies, and supports the development and adoption of recovery-oriented evidence-based practices. Both his research and teaching are informed by self-determination theory, empowerment practices, and critical theories to confront the impact of racism, sexism, and heterosexism in service provision and clinical training.

Dr. Petros is a licensed clinical social worker with a background in community behavioral health services. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice. He received an MSW from the University of Minnesota and a BSW from St. Olaf College.

Select current projects include:

Collaboration with Innovative Programs Research Group (https://depts.washington.edu/iprg/) to develop and test cannabis-reduction interventions for young adults with psychosis

Randomized factorial survey investigation of reasons that adults with severe mental illness elect to take or abstain from psychotropic medications

Collaboration with the Goldsen Institute (https://goldseninstitute.org/) in the RCT of an intervention (IDEA) for sexual and gender minority older adults living with dementia and care partners

Promoting competencies in clinical supervision and recovery-promoting evidence-based practices through advanced clinical training and integrative continuing education

Researcher for the Northwest Behavioral Health Research Alliance