Teaching
The Evidence-Based Interventions for Youth and Families Sequence (I & II)
These course are intended to provide graduate students in psychology with an introduction to the application of evidence-based interventions for the treatment of youth and family mental health concerns. The theoretical foundations of major therapies (e.g., cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, parent training, DBT) are studied. Empirically supported therapeutic interventions for some of the most common psychological disorders experienced by youth are be discussed. Cognitive behavioral case formulation and individual treatment planning are integrated throughout the class. Empirical data pertaining to the use and efficacy of evidence-based interventions with diverse populations are reviewed. Ethical considerations are presented and highlighted.
Family and School Interventions
This course examines child and adolescent development from an ecological and developmental psychology perspective with an emphasis on the family as a primary developmental context through which the effects of biology, culture, class, schooling, and life events are experienced. This course provides an overview of the field of family therapy, emphasizing both theory and technique. We consider the history and evolution of thinking about family structure and of applying family therapy. Additionally, we take a comparative look at major models framing therapeutic technique and consider the application of family therapy for a variety of concerns. Cultural, developmental, environmental, and ethical factors are considered.
Through readings, film, lectures, student presentations/projects, and explorations of students’ own development within a family embedded within a cultural and temporal context, the goals of this course are to (a) expand the student’s theoretical and empirical knowledge of family influences on child development in general and on their own personal development in particular, (b) learn evidence-based family interventions, (c) and learn the concepts of family-school partnerships (FSP).
Childhood Disorders
This course is intended to introduce graduate students in psychology to the etiology and classification of mental disorders in children and adolescents as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). In this course, we discuss symptoms, life-course, prevalence, and the temperamental, environmental, and biological risk and protective factors associated with different disorders. We consider personal, cultural, and social factors that may influence academic, social, and occupational functioning associated with these disorders. Training in the use of clinical DSM 5 based interviews and information involving reliable and valid norm referenced tests that are sensitive to the expression of specific disorders are provided.