Expertise

Research Interests

  • Behavioral family interventions for children with disruptive behavior and autism
  • Investigating the role that parenting plays in young adult stress, anxiety, and loneliness

She has several areas of clinical interest and has expertise in assessment and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, childhood anxiety disorders, behavioral treatment of child problems such as sleep, toileting, and habit disorders; treatment of psychosocial concerns related to pediatric chronic illness; individual and family behavioral treatment of disruptive behavior disorders and autism spectrum disorders; cognitive and achievement testing; and behavior analytic treatment and consultation. Her current research program focuses on behavioral family interventions for children with disruptive behavior and autism and investigating the role that parenting plays in young adult stress, anxiety, and loneliness.

Upcoming projects:

  • Child Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) for Allied Health Students: Increasing self-efficacy and perceptions of competence in working with children with disruptive behavior
  • Effectiveness and acceptability of a photovoice group intervention to promote resilience and coping skills among youth with pediatric sickle cell disease
  • Ecological Momentary Assessment to explore parental behavioral consistency and its relationships to parenting stress, burden, and quality of life in children with disruptive behavior
  • Development and testing of a neurocognitive screening to identify decline in youth with pediatric sickle cell disease

Our current and ongoing projects include:

  • Perceptions of racism, resourcefulness, and psychosocial factors in caregivers and pediatric patients with Sickle Cell Disease
  • College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Leveraging Technology to Evaluate Caregiver Stress and Quality Of Life

Some of our past projects include:

  • Effectiveness Trial of Parent Child Interaction Therapy
  • Communicative Outcomes of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Following a Parent-Implemented Therapy Program
  • Dyadic Parent-Child Interaction Coding System-III
  • Psychosocial Stress and Resiliency
  • Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Developmental & Behavioral Health Literacy in Pediatric Health Care Providers and Trainees
Communities
Psychology
Degrees
PhD, Louisiana State University, Child Clinical Psychology, 2008
MS, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Behavior Analysis and Therapy, 2003
BA, Saint Louis University, Psychology, 2001