Virginia Stoffel, Ph.D., OT, BCMH, FAOTA 

Chair, Associate Professor  

Interests and Expertise

Dr. Stoffel's research focuses are (1) community success for persons with mental illness (collaborative work with Dr. Carol Haertlein Sells), (2) evidence-based practices for occupational therapists working with substance use disorders (collaborative work with Dr. Penny Moyers), (3) motivational and coping strategies to promote change in substance use (collaborative work in the Center for Addiction and Behavioral Health Research), (4) the lived experiences of clubhouse engagement and its relationship to mental health recovery. Dr. Stoffel has worked on a number of leadership and service projects with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF). In addition, Dr. Stoffel facilitated development of the Wisconsin Occupational Therapy Association's (WOTA) Research and Scholarly Activities Committee and was a past Board member of the WOTA. She has served on the AOTA Specialties Board establishing Board Certification in Mental Health, and is currently on the AOTA Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development. Dr. Stoffel is a chair of the Board of Directors for Mental Health America - Wisconsin, is a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation, serves on the community advisory committee for Transitional Living Services, and is an editorial board member of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Journal of Psychosocial Practice and Research.

Recent Publications
Stoffel, V. (2006). Review of Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change, Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Journal of Psychosocial Practice & Research. 22, 91-93.

Stoffel, V. C., & Moyers, P.A. (2005). Occupational therapy and substance use disorders: In E. Cara & A. MacRae (Eds) Psychosocial Occupational Therapy: A Clinical Practice. Chapter 16 pp. 446-473. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning.

Stoffel, V.C., & Moyers, P.A. (2004). An evidence-based and occupational perspective of interventions for persons with substance-use disorders. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 58, 570-586.

Haertlein, C. A., & Stoffel, V. C. (2004). Adaptive living strategies for people with psychiatric disabilities. In C.H. Christiansen & K. M. Matuska (Eds) Ways of Living: Adaptive Strategies for Special Needs. Chapter 15, pp. 341-357. Bethesda, MD: AOTA

Otto-Salaj, L. L., Zweben, A., Brondino, M. J., Cisler, R.A., Weinhardt, L.S., Barrett, D., Kalichman, S.C., Stoffel, V., & Haertlein, C. (2004). An intervention for people with co-existing mental illness and alcohol or other substance use. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Rsearch, 28 (5, Supplement), Abstract S171.

Stoffel, V. (2003). "We need every voice…": Active participation in AOTA. OT Practice, 8, 14-17.

Moyers, P.A., Stoffel, V.C. (2001). Community-based approaches for substance disorders. In M. Scaffa (Ed.) OT in Community-Based Practice Settings. Chapter XVII. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Publishers.

Stoffel, V. (2001). Ring in the New Year: Keep the old and try the new! Platform Column, OT Practice, 6, 9-10.

Stoffel V.C. (2000) Join the SISs in Finding our "Hidden" OT Collegues. Platform Column, OT Practice, 5, xx

Moyers, P.A., & Stoffel, V.C. (1999). Alcohol dependence in a client with a work-related injury. American Journal Of Occupational Therapy, 53, 640-645.

Stoffel, V.C. (1999) When our gifts expand beyond professional roles. OT Practice, 4 (5), 5, 10.

Stoffel, V.C. & Moyers, P. (1999). Practice Guidelines for Substance Use Disorders. Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association.

Stoffel, V.C. & Moyers, P. (1999). Quick Reference to Practice Guidelines for Substance Use Disorders. Bethesda, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association.

Stoffel, V.C. (1994). Occupational Therapy Update, Occupational Therapists' Roles in Treating Substance Abuse. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 45, 21-22.

Stoffel, V.C. (1993). Women's Self-esteem Issues in Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders. Occupational Therapy Practice,4:2, 12-18.

Stoffel, V.C., Cusatis, M., Seitz, L. & Jones, N. (1992). Self-esteem and Leisure Patterns of Persons in a Residential Chemical Dependency Treatment Program. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 8:2-3, 69-85.

Clark, J., & Stoffel, V.C. (1992). Assessment of Co-Dependency Behavior in Two Student Health Groups. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46, 821-828.

Stoffel, V.C. (1992). The Americans with Disability Act of 1990 as Applied to an Adult with Alcohol Dependence, American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46, 640-644.

Crist, P.A.H. & Stoffel, V.C. (1992). The Americans with Disability Act and Employees with Mental Impairments: Personal Efficacy and the Environment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 46, 434-443.

Speaker Topics 
Careers in Occupational Therapy
Mental Illness and Community Success
Substance Abuse Alternative: Doing What You Enjoy
Substance Abuse and Recovery

Education
Ph.D. Cardinal Stritch University,Leadership for Advancement of Learning and Science, 2007
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Educational Psychology, 1983
B.A., Occupational Therapy, College of St. Catherine, 1977