Benjamin Coffey

Benjamin Coffey is a PhD student in the counseling psychology program at Brigham Young University. Coffey was born in Kahuku, Hawai’i, and grew up in Hamilton, New Zealand. In 2018, he graduated from Brigham Young University–Hawai’i, earning his BS in psychology and a certificate in legal studies. After graduation, Coffey moved to Alaska, first gaining behavioral health service experience with youth and then experience as a research analyst for the State of Alaska Division of Behavioral Health. Benjamin completed his MS in education at the University of Kentucky in 2022.

Coffey is a member of the Polynesian Psychology Research Lab, led by Dr. Kawika Allen. He is interested in multicultural counseling and working with rural and indigenous populations. His research interests include studying mental health help-seeking intention and behavior, especially among Pacific Islander communities. Through technological innovations and shaping public policy, Coffey aspires to make mental health services more widely available, utilized, and efficacious for diverse communities.