Zephon D. Lister, PhD, MS, MA, LMFT

Professor, Counseling and Family Sciences
Director, Systems, Families, and Couples PhD Program

Contact Information

Email [email protected]
Phone 909-558-4547, ext. 47007

Department of Counseling and Family Sciences
Loma Linda University, Griggs Hall, Office 205
11065 Campus St., Loma Linda, CA 92350

Degrees

PhD, Marriage and Family Therapy - Loma Linda University, 2010
MS, Marriage and Family Therapy - Loma Linda University, 2003
MA, Religion - Andrews University, 2001

Areas of Specialization

Couples and chronic illness
Medical family therapy/integrated behavioral health
Religion and family functioning
Global mental health
Low dose interventions for acute and low resource settings

Current Research Projects

CRM International Meta-analysis
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Center Behavioral Health Development, SAMHSA
Sickle Cell Family Planning: A Surveillance, Prevention, & Caring Pathway, HRSA
Families, Schools and Community Engaged Together (FASCET): A Community Resiliency Model (CRM) Based Family Resiliency Program for 5th Grade Students in Sierra Leone and Kenya, GRASP

Professional Licenses and Memberships

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), 2009
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT)
AAMFT Approved Supervisor candidate, 2015
Collaborative Family Health Care Association (CFHA)
American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA)

Recent Publications and Presentations

Huelett-Lyons, B., Williams-Reade, J., Lister, Z., Distelberg, B., Rowley, C., & Schmidt, M. (2025). A necessity of disease management: Unpacking young adult couple experiences of accessing care in the management of sickle cell disease. Families, systems & health : the journal of collaborative family healthcare, 10.1037/fsh0001011. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0001011
Grismore, C., Roberts, L. R., Lister, Z. D., Jain, A., Silvestre, J., Dickerson, J., & Montgomery, S. B. (2025). Barriers to Care for Adults With Sickle Cell Disease: A Qualitative Descriptive Study. Health expectations: an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 28(3), e70310. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70310.
Shearer, K.D. and Lister, Z.D. (2025), Relational Teaching in Mental Health Education: A 20-Year Narrative Review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 51: e70010. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70010.
Abraham, D., Distelberg, B., Ewing, J., Lister, Z., Bradley-Lopez, L. & Ochoa, S. (2025) Relationships for Social Change: The Value of the Promotora Framework in Navigating Systems of Employment. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. DOI:10.1111/jmft.70000.
Ojeda, V. D., Hiller-Venegas, S., Castillo, S., Vega, G., Groneman, A., Barksdale, J., Rodriguez, R., Bazzi, A. R., Gaines, T., Lister, Z., & Gilmer, T. (2025). Uplifting the Social Determinants of Health of Adults Exiting Carceral Settings May Aid Health Care Access. Journal of correctional health care : the official journal of the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, 31(3), 203–212. https://doi.org/10.1089/jchc.24.11.0091.
Ojeda, V. D., Groneman, A., Hiller-Venegas, S., Moreno, M., Schuler, B., Barksdale, J., Berliant, E., Romero, N., Edwards, T. M., Lister, Z., Gilmer, T., Gaines, T., & Bazzi, A. (2024). A randomized clinical trial testing a health literacy intervention to reduce disparities in access to care among Justice-Impacted Adults (JIA). Health & justice, 12(1), 34. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-024-00284-7.
Shearer, K.D. and Lister, Z.D. (2025), Relational Teaching in Mental Health Education: A 20-Year Narrative Review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 51: e70010. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.70010.
Abraham, D., Distelberg, B., Ewing, J., Lister, Z., Bradley-Lopez, L. & Ochoa, S. (2025) Relationships for Social Change: The Value of the Promotora Framework in Navigating Systems of Employment. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. DOI:10.1111/jmft.70000.
Ojeda, V. D., Parker, T., Lyles, M., Edwards, T. M., Jimenez, C., Hiller-Venegas, S., Berliant, E., & Lister, Z. (2024). Access to Healthcare Among Young Adult Probationers Participating in a Pilot Health-Focused Reentry Program. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 306624X241240700. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X241240700.
Ojeda, V. D., Jaeger, M. B., Hiller-Venegas, S., Parker, T., Lyles, M., Castillo, S., Vega, G., Moreno, M., Schuler, B., Groneman, A., Berliant, E., Romero, N., Edwards, T.M., Jimenez, C., Lister, Z., Barksdale, J., Bazzi, A., Gaines, T., Gilmer, T. (2024). Lifetime HIV testing among three samples of adults with histories of incarceration in Southern California. AIDS Care, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2024.2372724.
Aréchiga, A., Freeman, K., Tan, A., , Lou, J., Lister, Z., Buckles, B., & Montgomery, S. (2023). Building resilience and improving wellbeing in Sierra Leone using the Community Resiliency Model post Ebola. International Journal of Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/00207411.2023.2166312.
Marquez B, Benitez T, Lister Z. (2022). Acculturation, Communication Competence, and Family Functioning in Mexican-American Mother-Daughter Dyads. J Immigr Minor Health. 24(3):580-587. doi: 10.1007/s10903-021-01256-x. Epub 2021 Aug 7. PMID: 34363574; PMCID: PMC9072505.

Roberts, L. R., Sahin, S., Fider, C., Montgomery, S., and Lister, Z. (2025). Sickle cell challenges in education, workplace, and seeking reproductive healthcare: Nursing strategies to prepare the next generation. [Poster Presentation]. Transcultural Nursing Society 51st Annual Conference, Portland, Maine.
Jang, K. C., & Lister, Z. (2025). Social infrastructures and life satisfaction. Paper presented at the Biopsychosocial Conference, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
Habimana, S., Lister, Z., Biracyaza, E., Freeman, K., & Montgomery, S. (2025). Addressing mental health challenges together via the Community Resiliency Model: A longitudinal study with survivors and released genocide prisoners in Rwanda. Paper presented at the Biopsychosocial Conference, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
Kamundi, A., Kung’u, S., & Lister, Z. (2025, July). The impact of adverse childhood experiences on adolescents’ sexual health and early pregnancy. Paper presented at the Systemic Family Therapy Kenya Association (SFTKA) Conference, Nairobi, Kenya.
Habimana, S., Biracyaza, E., Lister, Z., Freeman, K., & Montgomery, S. (2024, September 25–28). The predictability and changing over time of psychosocial problems: Community Resiliency Model intervention for genocide survivors and perpetrators in Rwanda. International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Conference, Boston, MA. https://istss.org/meetings-events/istss-40th-annual-meeting/.
Lister, Z. (2024). Families, Schools, and Community Engaged Together (FASCET): Family, Schools and Communities Engaged Together: Supporting Mental Health In Sierra Leone. International Family Therapy (IFTA) conference.
Lister, Z. Silvestre, J., Jain, A., Robert, L.R., Grismore, C., Dickerson, J. Williams, C., Montgomery, S.B. (2024). Barriers to Care for Adults with Sickle Cell Disease. 17th Health Disparities Conference, XULA.
Habimana, S., Biracyaza, E., Truong.S, Freeman., Lister, Z., & Montgomery, S. (2023, September 20-22). "Improving Mental Health, Resilience, and Social Cohesion in Rwandan Survivors and Perpetrators with a Community Resilience Model Intervention plus Laughter Yoga." Conference presentation: Advancing Evidence -Based intervention for mental health, Child Development and parenting. 3rd Regional Research Symposium 2023, Kigali, Rwanda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSu-El9l3Hk.
Truong. S., Lister, Z., Freeman., Habimana, S., & Montgomery, S. (2023, September 20-22). "Emotional Regulation, Resiliency, and Family Dynamics on Parental and Children's Mental Health in Sierra Leone." Conference presentation: Advancing Evidence-Based intervention for mental health, Child Development and parenting. 3rd Regional Research Symposium 2023, Kigali, Rwanda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSu-El9l3Hk.
Lister, Z., Freeman., Turay, P.A., Truong. S., Habimana, S., & Montgomery, S. (2023, September 20-22). "Using a Task-shifting Family and School-based Intervention to Improve Emotional Regulation and Family Functioning Among Parents and Children in Sierra Leone." Conference presentation: Advancing Evidence-Based intervention for mental health, Child Development and parenting. 3rd Regional Research Symposium 2023, Kigali, Rwanda. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSu-El9l3Hk.
Lister, Z. et al., (2023). Families, Schools & Community Engaged Together (FASCET): Scaling Up Mental Health Wellness in Low Resource Contexts. American Psychological Association (APA) Conference.
Lister, Z., Bull, F., Abdulrahman Turay, P., Kabba, J., Kangbai, D., Abdul-Mutakabbir, J., Montgomery, S. (2023). Understanding COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Healthcare Workers: Implications for Community Vaccine Uptake. Sabin Vaccine Institute Conference.
Lister, Z., Kangbai, D., Abdulrahman Turay, P., Kabba, J., Montgomery, S. (2023). Evaluating An Integrated Family-based Vaccination Program To Support Vaccine Uptake In Vaccine Hesitant Populations In Sierra Leone: A Life-course Vaccination Program. Sabin Vaccine Institute Conference.
Arellano, H. & Lister, Z. (2023). Trauma-Informed Treatment of Suicide: A Critical Review of Current Practice. American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) Conference.
Arellano, H. & Lister, Z. (2023). Practitioners in Action: Making Meaning of Suicide Intervention in Clinical Psychotherapeutic Settings. American Family Therapy Academy (AFTA) Conference.
Huelett, B, Williams-Reade, J. Lister, Z. (2023). Young Couples and Sickle Cell Disease: Understanding the Shared Illness Experience. Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA) Conference.
Cheng, M., Lister, Z. & Montgomery, S. (2023). Biopsychosocial Spiritual Impacts of the COVID Pandemic on Non-Essential Workers Working from Home: A Scoping Review. International Family Therapy Association (IFTA) Conference.

Community Engagement

CARE Counselors Board of Directors, Member (2017-present)
Well One Clinic, Volunteer Director and Provider for Behavioral Health Services (2016-2022)
Perris 5th Street/Lake Perris Church District, Lay Assistant Pastor and Family Ministries Leader (2014-2021)
Black Hills Health and Education Center, Behavioral Health Research Consultant (2012-2014)
Health and Development Services International (HANDS), Board Member (2009-2010)
National Association for the Prevention of Starvation (NAPS), Co-director (2005-2007)
Del Rosa SDA Church, Youth and Community Outreach Coordinator (2001-2008)
Norton Neighborhoods Initiative, Loma Linda University Representative (2000-2003)

Wholeness

As I've gotten older and have moved further into my career, I've come to appreciate the significance of satisfying my soul's craving for exploration and adventure. For me, this entails engaging in activities that fuel my wanderlust and curiosity, like embarking on interesting expeditions or immersive travel experiences. These pursuits enable me to break free from the confines of routine thinking and foster a mindset that thrives on imagination and creativity. I wholeheartedly urge everyone to seek out their own exhilarating escapades and discover the transformative power of exploration in our fascinating and incredible world.

Dr. Zephon Lister

Professor, Counseling and Family SciencesDirector, Systems, Families, and Couples PhD Program

Contact Information

Degrees

Areas of Specialization

Current Research Projects

Professional Licenses and Memberships

Publications

Presentations

Community Engagement

Professor, Counseling and Family Sciences
Director, Systems, Families, and Couples PhD Program