Dr. Brennan Peterson

Professor

Marriage and Family Therapy, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences; Psychology, Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Expertise: Infertility, Couple Therapy, Mindfulness, Trauma

Office Location: Crean Hall 140 (501 W. Palm Ave)

Office Hours:

By appointment

Phone: (714) 744-7915

Email: bpeterson@chapman.edu

Scholarly Works:: Digital Commons

Education:: Brigham Young University, Bachelor of Science
Virginia Tech, Master of Science
Virginia Tech, Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Brennan Peterson is a professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at Chapman University for over 20 years and is a licensed marriage and family therapist. He researches the mental health implications of infertility. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, which have been cited over 5,000 times. He has presented his work in the United States, Israel, Canada, Europe, China, Hong Kong, and Australia.

Teaching

PSY 355 Diversity in Family Relationships
MFT 541 MFT Theories I
MFT 556 MFT Theories II
MFT 561 Couple Therapy
MFT 584 Trauma Informed Treatment
MFT 610 Family Life Cycle and Aging
MFT 694 Clinical Supervision

Research

Dr. Peterson studies the mental health implications of infertility. He is a member of the Copenhagen Multi-Centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) Research Program at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. He also collaborates with researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, Yale University Medical School, the University of Porto in Portugal, Uppsala University in Sweden, the London Health Sciences Centre in Canada, the University of Hong Kong, and with members of the special interest group in psychology and counseling of the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE).

Selected Presentations

Peterson, B., Taubman – Ben-Ari, O., Chiu, B., Brown, D., Frederick, D.A. (2024). Infertility stigma and openness with others are related to depressive symptoms and meaning in life in men and women diagnosed with infertility. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 40^th Annual Meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Peterson, B. & Klevan, M. (2023 - invited speaker). Working with couples with infertility. 10^th Annual Jefferson Infertility Conference. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Peterson, B. (2023). Invited Speaker: Counselling men experiencing infertility. 3^rd Annual Meeting of Belgian & Dutch Fertility Counselors. Leuven, Belgium.

Peterson, B. (2023). Invited Speaker: Should psychological counselling be mandatory/routine in infertility care and ART? European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) International Webinar.

Peterson, B. (2022). Invited Keynote Speaker: Men and infertility: Biomedical, psychosocial, and cultural challenges. 9^th Annual Jefferson Infertility Conference. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Peterson, B. (2019). Invited Keynote Speaker: The couple’s journey through infertility. Fertility Society of Australia, Annual Conference, The Devil is in the Detail. Hobart, Tasmania.

Peterson, B. (2019). Invited Keynote Speaker: The male perspective of patient care and fertility counseling. Fertility Society of Australia, Annual Conference, The Devil is in the Detail. Hobart, Tasmania.

Peterson, B., Fitzmaurice, L., Boehm, J., Place, J.M. (2019). The impact of a 12-hour mindfulness-based wellness curriculum on obstetrician/gynecologists (OB/GYN) residents’ burnout, mindfulness, and self-compassion. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Annual Meeting, Vienna, Austria.

Peterson, B. (2018). Invited Keynote Speaker: Coping with infertility: an unexpected barrier in the transition to parenthood. Israel Science Foundation: Pathways and barriers to the transition to parenthood – existential concerns regarding fertility, pregnancy, and early parenthood. Bar Illan University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Peterson, B. (2017). Invited Speaker: Fertility knowledge and awareness among obstetricians and gynecologists. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Annual Meeting Pre-Congress: Fertility Awareness: What role does it play in preventing infertility. Geneva, Switzerland.

Peterson, B. (2016). Invited Speaker: Using gender differences as a resource in fertility counseling for couples. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Campus Workshop: Basic training for infertility counseling: Moving from theory to practice. Vienna, Austria.

Peterson, B., Yu, L., Boehm, J., Hodgson, A., Inhorn, M., & Patrizio, P. (2016). Initiating patient discussions about oocyte cryopreservation: Attitudes of obstetrics and gynecology resident physicians. Presented at the 3^rd European Congress on Preconception Health and Care, Uppsala, Sweden.

Peterson, B. (2015).  Invited Keynote Speaker: Fertility counseling for couples.  Presented at Infertility in Global Perspective: Psychosocial Aspects in Research and Clinical Practice, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Peterson, B., Sejbaek, C., Pirritano, M., & Schmidt, L. (2014). Severe depressive symptoms predict individual and partner infertility-related distress at one-year follow-up. Presented at the 30^th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Munich, Germany.

Peterson, B., Sejbaek, C., Pirritano, M., & Schmidt, L. (2013). Are severe depressive symptoms associated with infertility-related distress in individuals and their partners? Copenhagen Multi-Centre Psychosocial Infertility (COMPI) Research Programme. University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Peterson, B. (2012). Family planning intentions and fertility awareness and U.S. undergraduates. 1^st Annual International Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics Advances in Women’s Health. Guangzhou, China.

Peterson, B. D. (2012) Invited Presentation: The impact of gender on infertility counseling. The University of Hong Kong Centre on Behavioral Health. Hong Kong, China.

Peterson, B. D. (2010 - Invited Presentation). Using typical gender differences as a resource in couple counseling. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) Symposium - Raising Competence in Psychosocial Care. Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Peterson, B., Pirritano, M., Christensen, U., Boivin, J., Block, J., & Schmidt, L. (2009). The longitudinal impact of partner coping in couples following five years of unsuccessful fertility treatments. European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 25^th Annual Meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Podcasts

Brown, D., & Brown, J. (Hosts). (2025, June 17). Infertility and Mental Health (No. 116)[Audio podcast episode]. In Infertility Feelings Podcast. Uniquely Knitted, Orange, CA.

Entin, D. (Host). (2025, April 18). Men and Infertility: The Data and the Reality (No.40) [Audio Podcast Episode]. In Misconceptions: Maternal and Reproductive Mental Health.

Sargeant, D. (Host). (2023, August 3). Coping With Male Infertility as a Couple in a Family (No. 30) [Audio Podcast Episode]. All Together: The Family Science Insights Podcast. Melbourne, Australia.

Awards and Honors

Chapman University Faculty Excellence Award (2023). Presented at the Annual Faculty Awards Ceremony. Chapman University, Orange, CA.

ESHRE Clinical Science Award (2009). European Society for Human Reproductive and Embryology 25^th Annual Meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Presented to the Top Oral Presentation. The longitudinal impact of partner coping in couples following 5 years of unsuccessful fertility treatments.

ASRM Prize Paper (2001). American Society for Reproductive Medicine Mental Health Professional Group (MHPG). Orlando, Florida. Examining the congruence between couples’ infertility-related stress and its relationship to depression and marital adjustment in infertile men and women.

Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications: Peterson, B., Taubman – Ben-Ari, O., Chiu, B., Brown, D., Frederick, D.A. (in press). Infertility stigma and openness with others are related to depressive symptoms and meaning in life in men and women diagnosed with infertility. Reproductive Health, 22, 1-7.; Petok, B., & Peterson, B. (2023). The male experience with fertility and counseling: Addressing the needs of diverse populations. In S. Covington (Ed.), Fertility counseling: Case studies. (2nd ed, pp.83-87). Cambridge University Press; Peterson, B., & Koser, K. (2023). Fertility counseling for couples. In S. Covington (Ed.), Fertility counseling: Clinical guide (2nd ed., pp. 49-58). Cambridge University Press.; Peterson, B., Petok, B. (2023). The male experience with fertility and counseling: Addressing the needs of diverse populations. In S. Covington (Ed.), Fertility counseling: Clinical guide. (2nd ed., pp. 153-161). Cambridge University Press.; Peterson, B., Fitzmaurice, L., Boehm, J., Bendix, B. (2022). Pilot study evaluating a 12-h mindfulness-based curriculum for OB/GYN residents. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 48, 1-6.; Duraskova, G., & Peterson, B. (2022). Posttraumatic growth in women with a long-standing experience of involuntary childlessness in the Czech Republic. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 1-22.; Shreffler, K.M., Gallus, K.L., Peterson, B., & Greil, A.L. (2020). Couples and infertility. In Wampler, K.S. & Blow, A.J. (Eds.) The handbook of systemic family therapy, Volume 3 Systemic family therapy with couples (pp. 385-406). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.; Place, J.M., Peterson, B., Horton, B., & Sanchez, M. (2020). Fertility awareness and parenting intentions among Mexican undergraduate and graduate university students. Human Fertility. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647273.2020.1817577; Peterson, B., & Place, J.M. (2019). The experience of infertility: An unexpected barrier in the transition to parenthood. In O.T. Ben-Ari (Ed.) Pathways and barriers to parenthood: Existential concerns regarding fertility, pregnancy, and early parenthood (pp. 19-37). Switzerland: Springer.; Peterson, B. Crothers, R. (2019). Infertility. In J. J. Ponzettti (Ed.) Macmillan encyclopedia of families, marriages, and intimate relationships. Macmillian, USA.; Peterson, B. (2019). The complex relationship between celebrity-driven magazines and depictions of fertility at advanced reproductive ages. Journal of Women’s Health, doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2019.7923.; Peterson, B., Gordon, C., Boehm, J., Inhorn, M., & Patrizio, P. (2018). Initiating patient discussions about oocyte cryopreservation: Attitudes of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) resident physicians. Reproductive BioMedicine & Society Online, 6, 72-79.; Peterson, B.D. (2018). Five myths about infertility. The Washington Post. June 22, 2018.; Peterson, B. (2017). A validated measure for fertility awareness: an essential step towards informed reproductive decision-making. Fertility & Sterility.; Yu, L., Peterson, B., Inhorn, M. C., Boehm, J. K., & Patrizio, P. (2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and intentions toward fertility awareness and oocyte cryopreservation among obstetrics and gynecology resident physicians. Human Reproduction, 31, 403-411.; Martins, M. V., Basto-Pereira, M., Pedro, J., Peterson, B., Almeida, V., Schmidt, L., & Costa, M. E. (2016). Male psychological adaptation to unsuccessful medically assisted reproduction treatments: A systematic review. Human Reproduction Update.; Petersen, G., Belnstrup, L.T., Peterson, B.D., Knudsen, L.B., & Schmidt, L. (2015). Childlessness’ impact on life among infertile couples and attitudes towards continuation of medically assisted reproduction and/or adoption. Human Fertility, 18, 121-127.; Chan, C., Chan, T., Peterson, B., Lampic, C., Tam, M. (2015). Intentions and attitudes towards parenthood and fertility awareness among Chinese university students in Hong Kong: A comparison with Western samples. Human Reproduction, 30, 364-372.; Peterson, B. (2015). Fertility counseling for couples. In Fertility counseling: Clinical guide and case studies. S. Covington, Ed. Cambridge University Press, pg. 60-74.; Peterson, B.D., Sejbaek, C., Pirritano, M., & Schmidt, L. (2013). Are severe depressive symptoms associated with infertility-related distress in individuals and their partners? Human Reproduction, 29, 76-82.; Greil, A.L., Schmidt, L., & Peterson, B.D. (2014). Understanding and treating adjustment to infertility. The Oxford Handbook of Perinatal Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pages 1-30. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780 199778072.013.007; Martins, M.V., Costa, P., Peterson, B.D., Costa, M.E., & Schmidt, L. (2014). Marital stability and repartnering: infertility-related stress trajectories of unsuccessful fertility treatment. Fertility & Sterility, 102, 1716-1722.; Martins, M.V., Peterson, B.D., Costa, P., Costa, M.E., Lund, R. & Schmidt, L. (2013). Interactive effects of social support and disclosure on fertility-related stress. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 30, 71-88.; Martins, M. V., Peterson, B, D., Almeida, V., Mesquita-Guimarães, J. & Costa, M.E. (2013). Dyadic dynamics of perceived social support in couples facing infertility. Human Reproduction, 23, 83-90.; Peterson, B.D., Boivin, J., Norre, J., Smith, C., Thorn, P., & Wischmann, T. (2012). An introduction to infertility counseling: A guide for mental health and medical professionals. Journal of Reproduction and Genetics. Doi 10.1007/s10815-011-9701.; Peterson, B.D., Pirritano, M., Tucker, L., & Lampic. (2012). Fertility awareness and parenting attitudes among American male and female undergraduate university students. Human Reproduction, 27, 1375-1382.; Martins, M.V., Peterson, B.D., Almeida, V., & Costa, M.E. (2011). Direct and indirect effects of perceived social support on women’s infertility-stress. Human Reproduction, 26, 2113-2121.; Peterson, B.D., Pirritano, M., Block, J., & Schmidt, L. (2011). Marital benefit and coping strategies in men and women undergoing unsuccessful fertility treatments over a 5-year period. Fertility & Sterility, 95, 1759-1763.; Peterson, B.D. & Eifert, G.H. (2011). Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to treat infertility stress. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 18, 577-587.

Dr. Brennan Peterson

Biography

Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications

Faculty Directories by School or College