Ruel R. Billones holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and an EdD in Counseling. His research interest focuses on trauma treatment for Asian transwomen who engage in risky behaviors, particularly those involving HIV due to chemsex. He completed his post-doctoral work in health psychology at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He is an adjunct faculty member of Psychology at the Ateneo de Davao University in the Philippines and a mental health provider at the Psychology and Trauma Recovery Services (PsyARTS) at Springfield Hospital Center in Maryland, USA.