Laboratory for Anxiety & Depression Research
Director
Prof. Michelle Newman, Ph.D.
Broadly speaking, my research focuses on the nature and treatment of anxiety disorders and depression. I am examining the etiology and classification, individual predictors, moderators and mediators of psychotherapy outcome, and impact of brief psychotherapy with respect to these disorders. I am also conducting several basic experimental studies examining underlying processes related to these disorders. Further, I examine issues relevant to health implications of anxiety disorders. Current research projects include an integrative therapy for GAD (examining the addition of interpersonal and experiential therapies to cognitive behavioral therapy); evaluation of technologically driven mobile momentary interventions in the U.S. and India; assessment and classification of anxiety disorders and mood disorders; momentary assessment of symptoms and emotion in anxiety disorders; examination of the impact of psychotherapy beyond the targeted symptoms of a particular disorder; mediators and moderators of psychotherapy; emotion regulation in anxiety disorders and its relationship to therapeutic mechanisms; dysfunctional interpersonal styles in anxiety disorders. As a mentor, I do not dictate what my graduate students study as long as it is in the realm of anxiety and depression. As a result, my graduate students have all taken different paths and I view my role as helping to foster those disparate paths.
Current Graduate Students
Gavin Rackoff
Gavin is a sixth-year graduate student in the lab. Gavin's research focuses on understanding and increasing access to mental healthcare. He is particularly interested in the use of technology to increase access to care. Gavin earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis before joining Penn State’s clinical psychology program.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Rackoff, G. N.*, Fitzsimmons-Craft, E., Taylor, C. B., Wilfley, D. E., & Newman, M. G. (in press). Psychotherapy utilization by United States college students. Journal of American College Health.https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2023.2225630
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Barber, K. E.*, Rackoff, G. N.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). Day-to-day directional relationships between sleep duration and negative affect. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 172, 111437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111437
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Rackoff, G. N.*, Monocello, L. T., Fowler, L. A.*, Vázquez, M. M.*, Shah, J.*, Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Taylor, C. B., Eisenberg, D., Wilfley, D. E., & Newman, M. G. (2023). Using social influence strategies to improve rates of online mental health survey participation: Results from two experiments. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 33(2), 81-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2023.05.001
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Sanghvi, D. E.*, Rackoff, G. N.*, & Newman, M. G. (2023). Latent class analysis of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after exposure to hurricane Ike: Associations with demographics, mental health, and well-being. Social Science & Medicine, 327, 115942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115942
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Newman, M. G., Rackoff, G. N.,* Zhu, Y.,* & Kim , H.* (2023). A transdiagnostic evaluation of contrast avoidance across generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders,93, 102662.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102662
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Rackoff, G. N.* & Newman, M. G. (2022). Distinct psychological characteristics predict resilience and recovery throughout widowhood. Behavior Therapy, 53(3), 428-439. PMID: 35473647; PMCID: PMC9046682.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2021.11.002
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Newman, M. G., Schwob, J. T.*, & Rackoff, G. N.* (2022) Within-day sudden gains and generalized anxiety disorder psychotherapy outcome. Psychotherapy, 59(3), 460-469. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000445 PMID:35666889 PMCID:9428704
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Newman, M. G., Schwob, J. T.*, Rackoff, G. N.*, Van Doren, N.*, Shin, K. E.*, & Kim, H.* (2022). The naturalistic reinforcement of worry from positive and negative emotional contrasts: Results from a momentary assessment study within social interactions. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 92, 102634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102634
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Rackoff, G. N.*, Fitzsimmons-Craft, E., Taylor, C. B., Eisenberg, D., Wilfley, D. E., & Newman, M. G. (2022). A randomized controlled trial of internet-based self- help for stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Adolescent Health, 71(2), 157-163. PMID: 35351353 PMCID: PMC8813578 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2022.01.227 (Winner of the 2022 Best Clinical Paper Award, Penn State, Department of Psychology.)
Jeremy Schwob
Jeremy is currently a sixth-year doctoral student in the lab. His research focuses on the development and evaluation of novel technological treatments (i.e., smartphone applications, web-based interventions) for anxiety and depression. Prior to his time at Penn State, Jeremy received his master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Dayton.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Schwob, J.T., Newman, M. G. (in press) Brief imaginal exposure exercises for social anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of a self-help momentary intervention app. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102749
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Newman, M. G., Schwob, J.T., Rackoff, G. N., Van Doren, N., Shin, K.E., & Kim, H. (2022). The naturalistic reinforcement of worry from positive and negative emotional contrasts: Results from a momentary assessment study within social interactions. Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 102634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102634
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Newman, M. G., Schwob, J.T. & Rackoff, G.N. (2022). Within-day sudden gains and generalized anxiety disorder psychotherapy outcome. Psychotherapy.https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000445
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Kim, H., Rackoff, G. N., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Shin, K. E., Zainal, N. H., Schwob, J. T., ... & Newman, M. G. (2021). College Mental Health Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationwide Survey. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-021-10241-5
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Newman, M. G., Crits-Christoph, P., Szkodny, L. E. Rackoff, G. N., Schwob, J. T. (2021). Generalized anxiety disorder. In L. G. Castonguay, and T. F. Oltmanns (Eds). Psychopathology: From science to clinical practice (2nd Edition). New York: Guilford Press
Seung Yeon (Irene) Baik
Irene is currently a fourth year doctoral student in the lab. Broadly, her research interests focus on the roles of cognitive and affective processes and their interaction in the development, maintenance, and treatment of depression and anxiety. More specific factors of interest include emotional regulation, approach and avoidance tendencies, and self-relevant constructs. In terms of methodology, she is interested in using multiple methods such as self-report, behavioral, and neurophysiological, and is open to learning novel methods. She received a BA in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University and earned a MA in Counseling & Clinical Psychology from Sogang University.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Baik, S. Y.* & Newman, M. G. (2023). The transdiagnostic use of worry and rumination to avoid negative emotional contrasts following negative events: A momentary assessment study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 95, 102679. PMID: 36565682, PMCID: 10080671 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102679
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Baik, S.Y., Newman, M.G., 2023. Generalized anxiety disorder. In: Friedman, H.S., Markey,C.H. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Mental Health, vol. 2. Elsevier, Academic Press, pp.66-73. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323- 91497-0.00264-2.
Candice Basterfield
Candice is currently a third year doctoral student in the lab. She is interested in the development, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety and depression, and in scientific thinking and critical thinking as they apply to clinical psychology. Candice received her BA from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and her MA in clinical neuropsychology from the University of Melbourne in Australia.
Adam Calderon
Adam Calderon is a second-year Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology at The Pennsylvania State University. His research is focused on better understanding the dynamic relationship between mood and anxiety disorders, with a particular interest in formalized psychological theory, computational modeling, and complex systems. His work aspires to promote an informed, data-driven approach to explain, predict, treat, and ultimately prevent emotional disorders. Adam is a Fulbright Fellow at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, an APA Psychology Fellow at the United Nations, and a current Bunton-Waller Scholar at Penn State. Adam received a B.S. in Behavioral Neuroscience at Quinnipiac University and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Columbia University.
Lab Manager & Research Assistants
Samantha Ricciardella (Lab manager)
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Samantha is a junior at Penn State, majoring in Psychology (B.A.) and Philosophy (B.A.). She is also the head teaching assistant for a developmental psychology course at Penn State. Her research interests include the etiology and treatment of anxiety, depression and neurodivergent disorders in adolescents and adults. Samantha is currently working on an independent project investigating the relationship between early intervention and treatment for autism spectrum disorder and its effects on social self-efficacy. She hopes to attend graduate school to study Clinical Developmental psychology with the goal of being a clinical psychologist. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, playing musical instruments, and spending time with friends and family
Asher Sternberg
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Asher is a sophomore at Penn State working towards a B.S. in Psychology with a focus in neurosciences. After graduation, Asher plans on pursuing an MD-PhD in neurology and neurogenetics. Currently Asher is researching the intersection between Artificial intelligence based psychotherapy and the resulting change in loneliness and negative Affect. Asher has also worked as teaching assistant for Anthropology 216N, where he helped educate students on the sexual development of the human species. Aside from his work scholastically, Asher has also worked as a camp counselor, and a waiter for many years. In his free time Asher enjoys spending time with his friends, boxing, and jiu-jitsu
Emily Shank
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Emily is a Research Assistant in the Newman lab. She is currently a senior majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with a minor in Communication Arts and Sciences. Emily is interested in studying the treatment of mental disorders, specifically anxiety, depression, and OCD. She hopes to continue on this path by pursuing a graduate degree in clinical psychology. Outside of the lab, Emily loves playing tennis and baking fun new recipes.
Jiayin Jiang
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Jiayin is a Research Assistant in the Newman Lab. She is interested in studying the underlying mechanisms of mental disorders, testing, and developing innovative treatments for people with psychological issues. Drawing from her experience as a telehealth therapist, Jiayin is particularly fascinated by the use of technology in mental health treatment. She received her Master`s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Johns Hopkins University. In her spare time, Jiayin enjoys reading, watching musicals, cooking, and exploring new restaurants.
McKenzie Pittman
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Mckenzie is a research assistant in our lab. She is a senior majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with a Life Sciences option. She hopes to attend graduate school to further her studies in the field of psychology, and to eventually work as a therapist to treat individuals with mental health conditions. In her free time, Mckenzie enjoys cooking, thrifting, gardening, and caring for my plants.
Madyson Brown
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Madyson Brown is a Research Assistant in the Newman Lab. She is a senior majoring in Psychology(B.A.) with a minor in Neuroscience. Her research interests include treatments for anxiety and depression, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, as well as the neuroscience of sensory processing and language. In the future, she hopes to go to graduate school to further her studies on Neuroscience research. Outside of the lab, Madyson is the Secretary of the Fashion Society of Penn State. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.
Ruby Kopman
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Ruby is currently a second-year student at Penn State studying Psychology(B.S.). She is specifically interested in abnormal, forensic, and clinical Psychology. She is also a person who is always very eager to learn new things and explore different avenues. After her time at Penn State, Ruby plans to further her education by attending graduate school and becoming a Psychologist. In her free time, Ruby enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, volunteering, and listening to music. Overall, Ruby is committed to achieving her goals and making a positive impact in the world.
Madison Yeoman
Madison is a Research Assistant in the Newman Lab. She is a senior majoring in Psychology (B.A.) with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. She is planning on continuing her education in graduate school, in hopes of becoming a Marriage and Family therapist. She has been apart of the lab for 3 years now and her research interests include the treatment of anxiety disorders and substance abuse, in addition to the development and structure of family relationships. In addition to this lab, Madison is also the president of her sorority, Kappa Delta. In her free time, Madison enjoys trying new foods, spending time with friends, and watching movies.
Sophia Lewis
Sophia is a Research Assistant in the Newman Lab. She is a junior/third year BBH student with a minor in psychology. She is interested in attending grad school once she completes her degree and obtain a masters and/or PHD. She is interested in anxiety and depression research as well as abnormal psychology. Additionally, at some point in time, she would like to engage in Psychedelic research and its impact on the brain, behavior, and influence on individuals with PTSD. She is from State College and have always loved to be outside (enjoying all of Pennsylvania's lovely seasons) and be around people in general.
Aliana Roman
Aliana Roman is fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in Psychology and minoring in Sociology. She is from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Her career plan is to become a Clinical Psychologist with the hopes of one day having her own practice. She is interested in human behavior as well as mental disorders. Aliana is also a member of the First-Generation Committee, a Peer Advisor, and a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Honors Society. Aliana loves shopping and watching sports on her free time.
Jaimie Morgan
Jaimie is a research assistant in the lab. She is a sophomore majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with a minor in Rehabilitation and Human Services. She is interested in the development and treatment of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse specifically in younger generations and students. She also would like to spend time researching the impact of such mental disorders in people with disabilities. In her free time, Jaimie enjoys running, spending time with friends, and going on adventures.
Ishani Modi
Ishani is a Research Assistant in our lab. She is a junior majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with the Neuroscience option. Ishani plans on furthering her education after she receives her bachelors by going to medical school. She is interested in the development and treatments of mental disorders, especially anxiety and depression. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, or playing with her dog and parrot.
Ally Atkinson
Ally is a research assistant in the Newman Lab. She is a sophomore majoring in psychology with a neuroscience option and a minor in anthropology. Her research interests include the etiology of various mental disorders, including personality and anxiety disorders, as well as utilizing comparative psychology to further understand states of consciousness. She plans to further her studies in cognitive psychology. In her free time, she enjoys to learn new skills, spend time with friends and create drawings.
Ian Dargitz
Ian is a research assistant in our lab. He is a sophomore majoring in Psychology (B.S). He is planning on continuing his education through graduate school. His research interests include mental illness, especially depression and anxiety. He is also interested in social and positive psychology. In his free time, Ian enjoys reading and roleplaying games.
Mackenzie Popovich
Mackenzie is a sophomore majoring in Psychology (B.S) and minoring in crime, law, and psychology. She is currently on the life science path in psychology and plan to following the clinical route to help and work with others. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and hanging out with her friends!
Rebecca Yan
Rebecca is a research assistant in our lab. She is a sophomore majoring in Psychology (B.S.). Her research interests include the etiology of anxiety and depression as well as many other mental health disorders. She is also interested in social and organizational psychology and plans to attend graduate school to further her research ambitions there. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, hanging out with close friends, and playing with her cats.
Sam Johnson
Sam is a Research Assistant in the Newman lab. He is a sophomore majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with the Life Sciences option. He plans on continuing his education through graduate school to become a therapist or clinical psychologist. Sam is interested in abnormal psychology,
specifically anxiety and depression. He is an animal lover and enjoys hiking, running, reading, and doing anything nature-related in his free time.
Dayanara Juarez Angeles
Dayanara is a research assistant at Newman's Lab. She is also a freshman majoring in Psychology (B.S) with hopes of becoming a clinical psychologist after completing higher education. She is interested in various mental disorders and how they affect various age ranges in the population. She is also a member of Penn State's Blue and White Society and in her free time, she loves anything involving art, traveling, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Sophia Sabatini
Sophia Sabatini is a research assistant. She is a junior who majors in Psychology (B.S.) with a quantitative skills option. She also minors in mathematics and addiction and recovery. She hopes to obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology after graduating from Penn State. In her free time, Sophia loves to cook and explore new places in nature by hiking and biking.
Ellie Shoff
Ellie is a senior majoring in psychology (b.s.) with a neuroscience focus and minoring in biology. She plans to continue her education through graduate school for clinical neuropsychology. Her interests lie in the neurological basis of psychological disorders, especially sleep disorders. In her free time, Ellie enjoys painting, hiking, playing tennis, and hanging out with her friends.
Stella Teeter
Stella Teeter is from New York City, and she is a third-year student at Penn State. She is currently majoring in biological sciences and health professions on a pre-med track. She is also minoring in fine art. During her free time, Stella enjoys painting, cooking, and listening to music.
Alex Smith
Alex is a third-year majoring in the neuroscience psychology option. Her research interests include the neurobiology of addiction and the etiology of substance use, personality, and anxiety disorders. She hopes to pursue medical school to become a psychiatrist or a PhD in neuroscience. In her free time, Alex likes to go on walks, shopping, and try new food places around State College!
Oriana Franco
Oriana Franco is a Penn State University student, pursuing a psychology major. She intends to graduate in the spring of 2026 and further her education by pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or Computer Science. Her hobbies consist of reading, hiking, running, and playing with her dog and cat. Oriana’s interest in mental health has led her to find this lab and become a part of it. Her proficiency in English and Spanish opened many doors for her to communicate with many individuals without barriers. Oriana’s passion for helping people has put her on a path to further her knowledge on things such as mental illness, in the hopes of later on in her life being able to use that knowledge to guide others.
Kaia Mockabee
Kaia is a second-year student at Penn State studying Psychology (B.A.). She is interested in studying the development and treatment of psychopathologies in adolescents. In the future she hopes to attend graduate school to further her studies in psychology. Outside of the lab, Kaia works at the Penn State University’s Pattee and Paterno Libraries, and a childcare facility, which sparked her interest in understanding mental illnesses in relation to children. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, shopping, and spending time with loved ones.
Grace Nicolai
Grace is a sophomore majoring in psychology (B.S). She plans to pursue her graduate degree after undergrad graduation in order to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. What interests her most is understanding anxiety disorders, specifically obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she hopes to specialize in one day. Grace has also been a Teaching Assistant for HDFS 129 so she is also extremely interested in childhood-specific psychology. Outside of the lab, Grace enjoys dancing, taking pictures, and hanging out with her friends and family.
Former Graduate Students
https://psychsciences.case.edu/faculty/amy-przeworski/
Dr. Przeworski is currently an Associate Professor at Case Western University. Her laboratory focuses on the maintenance and treatments of anxiety disorders across the lifespan and anxiety in individuals of diverse backgrounds (including individuals of diverse ethnicity and LGBTQ individuals). Maintenance factors of interest in her lab include cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal factors. Her laboratory primarily (a) conducts laboratory based studies which examine family interactions in children with anxiety disorders or maintenance factors in adults with anxiety disorders (b) conducts questionnaire based studies of interpersonal dynamics and cognitive-behavioral factors that are related to anxiety disorders, and (c) develops novel treatments for children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Cho, S. J., Przeworski, A., & Newman, M. G. (2019). Pediatric generalized anxiety disorder. In S. Compton, M. A. Villabø, & H. Kristensen (Eds) Pediatric Anxiety Disorders (Chapter 12: pp. 252-266). San Diego, CA: Elsevier Inc. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-813004-9.00012-8Newman, M. G., & Przeworski, A. (2018). The increase in interest in GAD: Co
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Newman, M. G., & Przeworski, A.* (2018). The increase in interest in GAD: Commentary on Asmundson & Asmundson. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 56, 11-13. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.04.006 PMID: 29859657
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Newman, M. G., Przeworski, A., Consoli, A. J., & Taylor, C. B. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of ecological momentary intervention plus group therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 51(2), 198-206. doi:10.1037/a00a0032519 PMID: 24059730 PMCID: PMC4440457 (Special Section: Technology and Psychotherapy).
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Newman, M. G., Llera, S. J., Erickson T. M. & Przeworski, A. (2014). Basic science and clinical application of the Contrast Avoidance Model in generalized anxiety disorder. Invited paper for Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 24(3), 155-167. doi:10.1037/a0037510
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Newman, M. G., Llera, S. J., Erickson, T. M., Przeworski, A., & Castonguay, L. G. (2013). Worry and generalized anxiety disorder: A review and theoretical synthesis of research on nature, etiology, and treatment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9(1), 275-297. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185544 PMID: 23537486 PMCID: PMC4964851
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Przeworski, A., & Newman, M. G. (2012). Technology in psychotherapy: Strengths and limitations. In L. L'Abate & D. A. Kaiser (Eds.), Psychology research progress. Handbook of technology in psychology, psychiatry and neurology: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 19-41). Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science.
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Newman, M. G., Szkodny, L. E., Llera, S. J., & Przeworski, A. (2011). A review of technology-assisted self-help and minimal contact therapies for anxiety and depression: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Clinical Psychology Review, 31(1), 89-103. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.09.008 PMID: 21130939
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Newman, M. G., Szkodny, L., Llera, S. J., & Przeworski, A. (2011). A review of technology assisted self-help and minimal contact therapies for drug and alcohol abuse and smoking addiction: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Clinical Psychology Review, 31(1), 178-186. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.10.002 PMID: 21095051
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Przeworski, A., Newman, M. G., Pincus, A. L., Kasoff, M. B., Yamasaki, A. S., Castonguay, L. G., Berlin, K. S. (2011). Interpersonal pathoplasticity in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 120(2), 286-298. doi:10.1037/a0023334 PMID: 21553942 PMCID: PMC3206596
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Newman, M. G., Przeworski, A., Fisher, A. J. & Borkovec, T. D. (2010). Diagnostic comorbidity in adults with generalized anxiety disorder: Impact of comorbidity on psychotherapy outcome and impact of psychotherapy on comorbid diagnoses. Behavior Therapy, 41(1), 59-72. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2008.12.005 PMID: 20171328 PMCID: PMC2827339
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Newman, M. G., Koif, D., Przeworski, A. & Llera, S. J. (2010) Anxiety disorders. In M. A. Cucciare, & K. R. Weingardt (Eds). Using technology to support evidence-based behavioral health practices: A clinician’s guide (pp. 27-44). New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. doi: 10.4324/9780203867532
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Przeworski, A. & Newman, M. G. (2006). Efficacy and utility of computer-assisted cognitive-behavioural therapy for anxiety disorders. Clinical Psychologist 10(2), 43-53. doi:10.1080/13284200500378779
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Przeworski, A. & Newman, M. G. (2004). Palmtop computer-assisted group therapy for social phobia. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(2) 179-188. doi:10.1002/jclp.10246 PMID: 14724925 (Special Issue: Technology in Psychotherapy)
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Newman, M. G., Erickson, T. M., Przeworski, A. & Dzus, E. (2003). Self-help and minimal contact therapies for anxiety disorders: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(3), 251-274. doi:10.1002/jclp.10128 PMID: 12579544 (Special Issue: The Status of Self-Administered Treatments)
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Dr. Thane Erickson is currently a Professor at Seattle Pacific University. Dr. Erickson's teaching, clinical, and research interests center on interpersonal processes as a point of intersection for understanding personality, emotional disorders (anxiety disorders and depression), well-being, and spirituality. His research team investigates topics such as social aspects of worry, moral emotions (e.g., “elevation,” gratitude), integrative cognitive-behavioral interventions, and the influence of character strengths on stress hormones.
Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Erickson, T. M., Newman, M. G., & Tingey, J. L. (2020). Worry and rumination. In J. S. Abramowitz & S. M. Blakey (Eds.), Clinical handbook of fear and anxiety: Maintenance processes and treatment mechanisms. (Chapter 8; pp. 133-151). Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/0000150-008
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C., Erickson, T. M., & Fisher, A. J. (2017). Interpersonal problems predict differential response to cognitive versus behavioral treatment in a randomized controlled trial. Behavior Therapy, 48(1), 56-68. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.05.005 PMID: 28077221 NIHMSID:801407 PMCID: PMC5240795
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Crouch, T. A., Lewis, J. A., Erickson, T. M., & Newman, M. G. (2017). Prospective investigation of the contrast avoidance model of generalized anxiety and worry. Behavior Therapy, 48(4), 544-556. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.10.001 PMID: 28577589
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Erickson, T. M., Newman, M. G., Siebert, E. C., Carlile, J. A. & Scarsella, G. M. (2016). Does worrying mean caring too much? Interpersonal prototypicality of dimensional worry controlling for social anxiety and depressive symptoms. Behavior Therapy, 47(1), 14-28. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2015.08.003 PMID: 26763494
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Erickson, T. M., Newman, M. G., & McGuire, A. (2015). Adding an interpersonal-experiential focus to cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. In N. C. Thoma & D. Mckay (Eds) Working with emotion in cognitive behavioral therapy: Techniques for clinical practice (pp. 356-380). New York: Guilford.
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Erickson, T. M., Newman, M. G., Peterson, J. & Scarsella, G. (2015). Ambivalence about interpersonal problems and traits predicts cross-situational variability of social behavior. Journal of Personality, 83(4), 429–440. doi:10.1111/jopy.12117 PMID: 25046450
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Newman, M. G., Llera, S. J., Erickson T. M. & Przeworski, A. (2014). Basic science and clinical application of the Contrast Avoidance Model in generalized anxiety disorder. Invited paper for Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 24(3), 155-167. doi:10.1037/a0037510
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Newman, M. G., Llera, S. J., Erickson, T. M., Przeworski, A., & Castonguay, L. G. (2013). Worry and generalized anxiety disorder: A review and theoretical synthesis of research on nature, etiology, and treatment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9(1), 275-297. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185544 PMID: 23537486 PMCID: PMC4964851
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Newman, M. G., & Erickson, T. M. (2010). Generalized anxiety disorder. In J. G. Beck (Ed.), Interpersonal processes in the anxiety disorders: Implications for understanding psychopathology and treatment (pp. 235-259). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/12084-009.
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Erickson, T. M., Newman, M. G., & Pincus, A. L. (2009). Predicting unpredictability:Do measures of interpersonal rigidity/flexibility and distress predict intraindividual variability in social perceptions and behavior? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 97(5), 893-912. doi:10.1037/a0016515 PMID: 19857009
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Erickson, T. M. & Newman, M. G. (2007) Interpersonal and emotional processes in GAD analogues during social interaction tasks. Behavior Therapy, 38(4), 38, 364-377. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2006.10.005 PMID: 18021951
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Newman, M. G., Crits-Christoph, P., Connelly Gibbons, M. B., & Erickson, T. M. (2006). Participant factors in treating anxiety disorders. In L. G. Castonguay & L. E. Beutler (Eds.), Principles of therapeutic change that work (pp. 121-154). New York: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/med:psych/9780195156843.003.0006
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Erickson, T. M. & Newman, M. G. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder: A primer. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 5(2), 247-257. doi:10.1586/14737175.5.2.247 PMID: 15853494
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Newman, M. G., Erickson, T. M., Przeworski, A. & Dzus, E. (2003). Self-help and minimal contact therapies for anxiety disorders: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(3), 251-274. doi:10.1002/jclp.10128 PMID: 12579544 (Special Issue: The Status of Self-Administered Treatments)
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Sandra J. Llera
https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/psychology/facultystaff/sllera.html
Sandra is currently an Associate Professor at Towson University . Her main research interests include the study of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), specifically in terms of understanding impaired emotional functioning as a core underlying mechanism maintaining this disorder. Several seminal theories have delineated various patterns of emotional sequelae that may contribute to the unique difficulties within GAD, often implicating worry (the cardinal feature of GAD) as the central maintaining factor. Sandra and Dr. Newman have proposed the Avoidance of Negative Emotional Contrast Theory, which states that individuals with GAD engage in worry because they prefer to feel chronically distressed in order to prepare for the worst outcome rather than to experience a negative emotional contrast. They theorize that people with GAD have developed a stronger aversive reaction and are even more sensitive to a negative emotional contrast than are nonanxious individuals, and that it is the avoidance of this contrast that motivates their worry. We have tested this new theory via examination of the effect of prior worry versus relaxation and neutral inductions on both autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) and subjective responding to a range of emotional exposures in both GAD analogues and nonanxious controls. This theory has been presented in various national conferences and has been published in Clinical Psychology Review and Annual Review of Clinical Psychology
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Newman, M. G., & Llera, S. J. (2019). El modelo de evitación de contraste y la terapia de procesamiento emocional interpersonal [The contrast avoidance model and interpersonal and emotional processing therapy] (pp. 255-280), in I. Etchebarne, J. M. Gómez Penedo, & A. J. Roussos (Eds.). Nuevos desarrollos en el tratamiento del Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada: Abordajes psicoterapéuticos, farmacológicos y debates actuales [New Developments in the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Psychotherapeutic Approaches, Pharmacotherapy and Current Debates]. Buenos Aires: Miño y Dávila.
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Llera, S. J. & Newman, M. G. (2017). Development and validation of two measures of emotional contrast avoidance: The Contrast Avoidance Questionnaires. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 49, 114-127. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2017.04.008 PMID: 28500921
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Llera, S. J., & Newman, M. G. (2015). Generalized anxiety disorder. In R. L. Cautin and S. O. Lilienfeld (Series Eds) and E. Tone (Vol. Ed.) The encyclopedia of clinical psychology (pp. 1341-1346). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp161
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Newman, M. G., Llera, S. J., Erickson T. M. & Przeworski, A. (2014). Basic science and clinical application of the Contrast Avoidance Model in generalized anxiety disorder. Invited paper for Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 24(3), 155-167. doi:10.1037/a0037510
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Llera, S. J. & Newman, M. G. (2014). Rethinking the role of worry in generalized anxiety disorder: Evidence supporting a model of Emotional Contrast Avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 45(3), 283-299. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2013.12.011 PMID: 24680226
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Szkodny, L. E., Jacobson, N. C. Llera, S. J. & Newman, M. G. (2014). Generalized anxiety disorder. In F. Schneier, & B. Milrod (Eds). Gabbards treatment of psychiatric disorders. Part IV: Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders (Fifth Ed., pp. 381-392). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9781585625048.gg19
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Newman, M. G., Llera, S. J., Erickson, T. M., Przeworski, A., & Castonguay, L. G. (2013). Worry and generalized anxiety disorder: A review and theoretical synthesis of research on nature, etiology, and treatment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 9(1), 275-297. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185544 PMID: 23537486 PMCID: PMC4964851
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Newman, M. G. & Llera, S. J. (2011). A novel theory of experiential avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: A review and synthesis of research supporting a contrast avoidance model of worry. Clinical Psychology Review, 31(3), 371-382. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2011.01.008 PMID: 21334285 PMCID:PMC3073849
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Newman, M. G., Szkodny, L. E., Llera, S. J., & Przeworski, A. (2011). A review of technology-assisted self-help and minimal contact therapies for anxiety and depression: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Clinical Psychology Review, 31(1), 89-103. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.09.008 PMID: 21130939
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Newman, M. G., Szkodny, L., Llera, S. J., & Przeworski, A. (2011). A review of technology assisted self-help and minimal contact therapies for drug and alcohol abuse and smoking addiction: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Clinical Psychology Review, 31(1), 178-186. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.10.002 PMID: 21095051
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Llera, S. J. & Newman, M. G. (2010). Effects of worry on physiological and subjective reactivity to emotional stimuli in generalized anxiety disorder and nonanxious control participants. Emotion, 10(5), 640-650. doi:10.1037/a0019351 PMID: 21038947
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Newman, M. G., Koif, D., Przeworski, A. & Llera, S. J. (2010) Anxiety disorders. In M. A. Cucciare, & K. R. Weingardt (Eds). Using technology to support evidence-based behavioral health practices: A clinician’s guide (pp. 27-44). New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. doi: 10.4324/9780203867532
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Aaron J. Fisher
https://psychology.berkeley.edu/people/aaron-fisher
Aaron is currently an Associate professor a UC Berkeley. He completed his clinical internship at the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System. Prior to joining the faculty at Berkeley, he was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University. His research group—The Idiographic Dynamics Lab—engages in research at the individual level. They are currently interested in issues of Precision, Personalization, and Prediction in psychopathology and substance use. Specifically, they are interested in extending the Precision Medicine paradigm to psychological and psychiatric domains—a Precision Behavioral Health model that complements biomedical approaches by leveraging behavioral data to customize and fine-tune behavioral interventions. They are interested in identifying actionable units of information at the behavioral level of analysis that will allow us to match patients, problems, and optimal interventions. Additionally, he believes that the concept of personalization extends beyond treatment delivery and should encompass study design, data collection, and statistical analysis. Recent research in their lab has revealed marked heterogeneity in the temporal patterns, correlational structures, and predictive relationships in psychopathology and substance use. Finally, given the heterogeneity in the timing and predictors of individual problems and behaviors, our group is currently working on methods for predicting individual behavior moment to moment, in order to identify when problems might occur. Building accurate prediction systems may allow researchers and clinicians to provide interventions when they are most needed (i.e. "just in time").
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C., Erickson, T. M., & Fisher, A. J. (2017). Interpersonal problems predict differential response to cognitive versus behavioral treatment in a randomized controlled trial. Behavior Therapy, 48(1), 56-68. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.05.005 PMID: 28077221 NIHMSID:801407 PMCID: PMC5240795
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Fisher, A. J. & Newman, M. G. (2016). Reductions in the diurnal rigidity of anxiety predict treatment outcome in cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 79, 46-55. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.02.006 PMID: 26953959 PMCID: PMC4820071
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Reeves, J. W., Fisher, A. J., Newman, M. G., & Granger, D. A. (2016). Sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal asymmetry in generalized anxiety disorder. Psychophysiology, 53(6), 951-957. doi:10.1111/psyp.12634 PMID: 26934635
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Fisher, A.J., & Newman, M.G. (2013). Heart rate and autonomic response to stress after experimental induction of worry versus relaxation in healthy, high-worry, and generalized anxiety disorder individuals. Biological Psychology, 93(1) 65-74. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.01.012 PMID: 23384513
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Newman, M. G. & Fisher, A. J. (2013). Mediated moderation in combined cognitive behavioral therapy versus component treatments for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 81(3), 405-414. doi:10.1037/a0031690 PMID: 23398493 PMCID: PMC4432847
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Fisher, A. J., Newman, M. G., Molenaar, P.C.M. (2011). A quantitative method for the analysis of nomothetic relationships between idiographic structures: Dynamic patterns create attractor states for sustained post-treatment change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 79(4), 552-563. doi:10.1037/a0024069 PMID: 21707138 PMCID: PMC3155821
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Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G. Borkovec, T. D., Fisher, A. J., Boswell, J. F., Szkodny, L. E., & Nordberg, S. S. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder with integrated techniques from emotion-focused and interpersonal therapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(2), 171-181. doi:10.1037/a0022489 PMID: 21443321 PMCID: PMC3078794
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Newman, M. G., Przeworski, A., Fisher, A. J. & Borkovec, T. D. (2010). Diagnostic comorbidity in adults with generalized anxiety disorder: Impact of comorbidity on psychotherapy outcome and impact of psychotherapy on comorbid diagnoses. Behavior Therapy, 41(1), 59-72. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2008.12.005 PMID: 20171328 PMCID: PMC2827339
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Newman, M. G. & Fisher, A. J. (2010). Expectancy/ credibility change as a mediator of cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: Mechanism of action or proxy for symptom change? International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 3(3), 245-260. doi:10.1521/ijct.2010.3.3.245 PMID: 21132075 PMCID: PMC2995495 (Special Section: Cognitive Processes in Anxiety)
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Fisher, A. J., Granger, D. A., & Newman, M. G. (2010). Sympathetic arousal moderates self-reported physiological arousal symptoms at baseline and physiological flexibility in response to a stressor in generalized anxiety disorder. Biological Psychology, 83(3), 191-200. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.12.007 PMID: 20036309
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Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G., Borkovec, T. D., Fisher, A. J., & Nordberg, S. S. (2008). An open trial of integrative therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 45(2), 135-147. doi:10.1037/0033-3204.45.2.135 PMID: 19881891 PMCID: PMC2770198 (Winner of the American Psychological Association Society of Psychotherapy (Division 29): Distinguished Publication of Psychotherapy Research Award.) (Special Issue: New treatments in psychotherapy).
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Lauren Szkodny
https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/faculty/facultydb/view.php/?uid=7161
Lauren is currently an Assistant professor of Psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical Center. She completed her internship at Northwestern Consortium and was a postdoctoral fellow at Dartmouth before being promoted to an assistant professor.
Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Newman, M. G., Crits-Christoph, P., Szkodny, L. E. Rackoff, G. N., Schwob, J. T. (in press). Generalized anxiety disorder. In L. G. Castonguay, and T. F. Oltmanns (Eds). Psychopathology: From science to clinical practice (2ndEdition). New York: Guilford Press.
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Szkodny, L. E., & Newman, M. G. (2019). Delineating characteristics of maladaptive repetitive thought: Development and preliminary validation of the Perseverative Cognitions Questionnaire (PCQ). Assessment, 26(6) 1084-1104. doi:10.1177/1073191117698753 PMID: 28355881 PMCID: PMC6658327
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C., Zainal, N. H., Shin, K. E., Szkodny, L. E., & Sliwinsky, M. (2019). The effects of worry in daily life: An ecological momentary assessment study supporting the tenets of the contrast avoidance model. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(4), 794-810. doi:10.1177/2167702619827019 PMID: 31372313; PMCID: PMC6675025.
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Szkodny, L. E., Newman, M. G., & Goldfried, M. R. (2014). Clinical experiences in conducting empirically supported treatments for generalized anxiety disorder. Behavior Therapy, 45(1), 7-20. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2013.09.009 PMID: 24411110 (Special Series: Building a Two-Way Bridge Between Science and Practice)
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Szkodny, L. E., Jacobson, N. C. Llera, S. J. & Newman, M. G. (2014). Generalized anxiety disorder. In F. Schneier, & B. Milrod (Eds). Gabbards treatment of psychiatric disorders. Part IV: Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders (Fifth Ed., pp. 381-392). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9781585625048.gg19
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Szkodny, L. E., & Newman, M. G. (2013). Generalized anxiety disorder. In S. G. Hofmannn, D. J. A. Dozois, W. Rief, & A. J. Smits (Eds), The Wiley Handbook of cognitive behavioral therapy (1st ed., Vol. III, pp. 1001-1022). New York: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781118528563.wbcbt42
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Newman, M. G., Crits-Christoph, P., Szkodny, L. E. (2013). Generalized anxiety disorder. In L. G. Castonguay, and T. F. Oltmanns (Eds). Psychopathology: From science to clinical practice (Chapter 3; pp. 62-87). New York: Guilford Press.
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Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G. Borkovec, T. D., Fisher, A. J., Boswell, J. F., Szkodny, L. E., & Nordberg, S. S. (2011). A randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder with integrated techniques from emotion-focused and interpersonal therapies. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 79(2), 171-181. doi:10.1037/a0022489 PMID: 21443321 PMCID: PMC3078794
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Newman, M. G., Szkodny, L. E., Llera, S. J., & Przeworski, A. (2011). A review of technology-assisted self-help and minimal contact therapies for anxiety and depression: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Clinical Psychology Review, 31(1), 89-103. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.09.008 PMID: 21130939
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Newman, M. G., Szkodny, L.*, Llera, S. J.*, & Przeworski, A.* (2011). A review of technology assisted self-help and minimal contact therapies for drug and alcohol abuse and smoking addiction: Is human contact necessary for therapeutic efficacy? Clinical Psychology Review, 31(1), 178-186. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.10.002 PMID: 21095051
Nick Jacobson
Nick is currently an assistant professor at Dartmouth College. His primary research interest focus on the anxiety, depression, and statistics. He is interested in examining anxiety and depression as longitudinal risk factors for one another. He has examined this relationship in longitudinal studies, ecological momentary assessments, and meta-analyses in a variety of ways. In order to better understand the relationship anxiety and depression over time, he developed the Differential Time-Varying Effect Model (DTVEM) which allows one to determine when processes optimally predict one another over time (discover and model optimal time lags).
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Shin, K. E.*, Newman, M. G., & Jacobson, N. C.* (in press). Emotion network density is a potential clinical marker for anxiety and depression: Comparison of ecological momentary assessment and daily diary. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. doi:10.1111/bjc.12295
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson N. C.*, Rackoff, G.N.*, Jones Bell, M., & Taylor, C. B. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of a smartphone-based application for the treatment of anxiety. Psychotherapy Research, 31(4) 443-454. PMID: 32662323 PMCID: PMC7855205 doi: 10.1080/10503307.2020.1790688
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Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Taylor, C. B., Newman, M. G., Zainal, N. H.*, Rojas-Ashe, E., Lipson, S. K., Firebaugh, M. L., Ceglarek, P., Topooco, N., Jacobson, N. C.*, Graham, A. K., Kim, H. M., Eisenberg, D., & Wilfley, D. E. (2021). Harnessing mobile technology to reduce mental health disorders in college populations: A randomized controlled trial study protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 103, 106320. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2021.106320
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Lord, K. A., Jacobson, N. C., Suvak, M. K., & Newman, M. G. (2020) Social criticism moderates the relationship between anxiety disorders and depressive disorders 10 years later. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274, 15-22. PMID: 32402257 doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.030
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C., Zainal, N. H., Shin, K. E., Szkodny, L. E., & Sliwinsky, M. (2019). The effects of worry in daily life: An ecological momentary assessment study supporting the tenets of the contrast avoidance model. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(4), 794-810. doi:10.1177/2167702619827019 PMID: 31372313; PMCID: PMC6675025.
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Jacobson, N. C.*, Chow, S, & Newman, M. G. (2019). The differential time-varying effect model (DTVEM): A tool for diagnosing and modeling time lags in intensive longitudinal data. Behavior Research Methods, 51(1), 295–315. doi:10.3758/s13428-018-1101-0 PMID: 30120682 PMCID: PMC6395514
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Newman, M. G., LaFreniere, L. S., & Jacobson, N. C. (2018). Relaxation-induced anxiety: Effects of peak and trajectories of change on treatment outcome for generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy Research, 28(4), 616-629.doi:10.1080/10503307.2016.1253891 PMID: 27855541 PMCID: PMC6134846
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C., Erickson, T. M., & Fisher, A. J. (2017). Interpersonal problems predict differential response to cognitive versus behavioral treatment in a randomized controlled trial. Behavior Therapy, 48(1), 56-68. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2016.05.005 PMID: 28077221 NIHMSID:801407 PMCID: PMC5240795
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Jacobson, N. C. & Newman, M.G. (2017). Anxiety and depression as bidirectional risk factors for one another: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Psychological Bulletin, 143(11), 1155-1200. doi:10.1037/bul0000111 PMID:28805400
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Jacobson, N. C., Lord, K. A. & Newman, M.G. (2017). Perceived emotional social support in bereaved spouses mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 211, 83-91. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.01.011 PMID: 28103522 PMCID: PMC5304338
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Jacobson, N. C., Newman, M. G., & Goldfried, M. R. (2016). Clinical feedback about empirically supported treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Behavior Therapy, 47(1), 75-90. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2015.09.003 PMID: 26763499
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Jacobson, N. C. & Newman, M. G. (2016). Perceptions of close and group relationships mediate the relationship between anxiety and depression over a decade later. Depression and Anxiety, 33(1), 66-74. doi:10.1002/da.22402 PMID: 26290461 PMCID: PMC4959466
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Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G., Jacobson, N. C. & Moore, G. A. (2015). Adult attachment as a moderator of treatment outcome for generalized anxiety disorder: Comparison between cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) plus supportive listening and CBT plus interpersonal and emotional processing therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 83(5), 915-925. doi:10.1037/a0039359 PMID: 26052875 PMCID: PMC4961354
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Szkodny, L. E., Jacobson, N. C. Llera, S. J. & Newman, M. G. (2014). Generalized anxiety disorder. In F. Schneier, & B. Milrod (Eds). Gabbards treatment of psychiatric disorders. Part IV: Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders (Fifth Ed., pp. 381-392). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9781585625048.gg19
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C.*, & Castonguay, L. (2014). Interpersonal and emotion-focused processing psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder. In P. M. Emmelkamp & T. Ehring (Eds.), The Wiley Handbook of Anxiety Disorders (pp. 840-851). Chichester, UK: Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118775349.ch41
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Jacobson, N. C. & Newman, M. G. (2014). Avoidance mediates the relationship between anxiety and depression over a decade later. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 28(5), 437- 445. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.03.007 PMID: 24858656 PMCID: PMC4957550
Hanjoo Kim
Hanjoo is a research fellow at the Heinz C. Prechter Bipolar Research Program, University of Michigan. He obtained his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Penn State University and completed an APA-accredited psychology residency at the New Mexico VA/Southwest Consortium. Hanjoo's primary research interests center around the “underlying mechanisms” of emotional disorders, including anxiety, unipolar depression, and bipolar spectrum disorders. Currently, his research focuses on understanding the emotion dysregulation processes involved in repetitive negative thoughts, such as worry and rumination. To investigate this topic, Hanjoo is utilizing psychophysiological methodologies, such as skin conductance, emotional facial expressions, and heart rate variability, alongside intensive longitudinal data analysis. Outside of academics, Hanjoo likes playing basketball, birdwatching, and drawing.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:​
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Kandemir, B., Kim, H., Newman, M.G., Adams, R.B., Li, J., & Wang, J.Z. Demographic differences and biases in affect evoked by visual features. (2023). In Wang, J. Z., & Adams, R. B. (Eds.), Modeling visual aesthetics, emotion, and artistic style. New York, NY: Springer.
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Kim, H., & Newman, M. G. (2023). Worry and rumination enhance positive emotional contrast based on the framework of the Contrast Avoidance Model. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 93, 102671, doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102671
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Kim, H., & Newman, M. G. (2022). Avoidance of negative emotional contrast from worry and rumination: An application of the contrast avoidance model. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy. 32(1), 33-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jbct.2021.12.007
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Newman, M. G., Schwob, J. T., Rackoff, G. N., Van Doren, N., Shin, K. E., & Kim, H. (2022). The naturalistic reinforcement of worry from positive and negative emotional contrast: Results from a momentary assessment study within social interactions. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 92, 102634, doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102634
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Kim, H., Rackoff, G. N., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Shin, K. E., Zainal, N. H., Schwob, T., Eisenberg, D., Wilfley, D. E., Taylor, C. B., & Newman, M. G.* (2022). College mental health before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results from a nationwide survey. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 46(1), 1-10. doi: 10.1007/S10608-021-10241-5
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Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Taylor, C. B., Newman, M. G., Zainal, N. H.*, Rojas-Ashe, E., Lipson, S. K., Firebaugh, M. L., Ceglarek, P., Topooco, N., Jacobson, N. C.*, Graham, A. K., Kim, H. M., Eisenberg, D., & Wilfley, D. E. (2021). Harnessing mobile technology to reduce mental health disorders in college populations: A randomized controlled trial study protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 103, 106320. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2021.106320
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Kim, H. & Newman, M. G. (2019). The paradox of relaxation training: Relaxation induced anxiety and mediation effects of contrast avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 259, 271-278. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.045 PMID: 31450137 PMCID: PMC7288612
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Kim, H., Lu, X.*, Costa, M., Kandemir, B.*, Adams, R. B., Jr., Li, J., Wang, J. Z., & Newman, M. G. (2018). Development and validation of Image Stimuli for Emotion Elicitation (ISEE): A novel affective pictorial system with test-retest repeatability. Psychiatry Research, 261, 414-420. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.068 PMID: 29353766 PMCID: PMC6510029
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Newman, M. G., Cho, S., & Kim, H.* (2017). Worry and generalized anxiety disorder: A review. Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology.doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-809324-5.05108-7
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Youn, S., Xiao, H., Kim, H., Castonguay, L., McAleavey, A., Newman, M.G., & Safran, J. (2017). Effective and less effective therapists for generalized anxiety disorder: Are they conducting therapy the same way? In Castonguay L. G., & Hill C. E. (Eds.), How and why are some therapists better than others? Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi: 10.1037/0000034-015
Ki Eun Shin
Kay is currently an assistant professor at Long Island University, Post Campus. Her research interests focus on understanding cognitive and emotional processes and treatment mechanisms in internalizing disorders and suicidality. She has a particular interest in identifying transdiagnostic cognitive and emotion regulatory processes, such as repetitive negative thinking. Her recent work has focused on using mobile-based ecological momentary assessment and advanced longitudinal analytic methods to examine cognitive and emotional processes and their dynamics in internalizing disorders as they naturally unfold in daily life. Her past projects include examining interpersonal problem tendencies in internalizing disorders, comparing GAD and panic disorder based on developmental risk factors, and identifying daily emotional experiences that mediate long-term maintenance and comorbidity in depression and GAD. Kay also tested a novel way to enhance outcomes of exposure therapy, using retrieval cues, and used advanced statistical methods (e.g., time-varying effect modeling) to elucidate how treatment moderation effects changed over the course of treatment in individuals with GAD. Her dissertation used ecological momentary assessment and network analysis to examine comorbidity between GAD and depression at the level of daily symptoms.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Shin, K. E.*, Newman, M. G., & Jacobson, N. C.* (in press). Emotion network density is a potential clinical marker for anxiety and depression: Comparison of ecological momentary assessment and daily diary. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. doi:10.1111/bjc.12295
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Shin, K. E. & Newman, M. G. (2019). Self- and other-perceptions of interpersonal problems: Effects of generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and depression. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 65, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2019.04.005 PMID: 31054457; PMCID: PMC6658327
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Shin, K. E., LaFreniere, L. S., & Newman, M. G. (2019). Generalized anxiety disorder. In B. Olatunji (Ed.) The Cambridge Handbook of Anxiety and Related Disorders Part IV: Etiology and Phenomenology of Specific Anxiety(Chapter 18; pp. 517-549). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press doi:10.1017/9781108140416.019
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C., Zainal, N. H., Shin, K. E., Szkodny, L. E., & Sliwinsky, M. (2019). The effects of worry in daily life: An ecological momentary assessment study supporting the tenets of the contrast avoidance model. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(4), 794-810. doi:10.1177/2167702619827019 PMID: 31372313; PMCID: PMC6675025.
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Newman, M. G., Shin, K. E., & Lanza S. T. (2019). Time-varying moderation of treatment outcomes by illness duration and comorbid depression in generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 87(3), 282-293. doi:10.1037/ccp0000385 PMID: 30714750 PMCID: PMC6632089 (Note that this is a co-first-authored publication.
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Shin, K. E. & Newman, M. G. (2018) Using retrieval cues to attenuate return of fear in individuals with public speaking anxiety. Behavior Therapy, 49(2), 212-224. Doi:10.1016/j.beth.2017.07.011 PMID: 29530260 PMCID: PMC6658328
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Newman, M. G., LaFreniere, L. S., Shin K. E. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral therapies in historical perspective. In A. J. Consoli, L. E. Beutler, & B. Bongar (Eds). Comprehensive textbook of psychotherapy: Theory and practice (Chapter 5: 2nd Ed.; pp 61-75). New York: Oxford University Press.
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Newman, M. G., Shin, K. E., & LaFreniere, L. S. (2017). Mechanisms and Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In D. McKay, J. S. Abramowitz & E. A. Storch (Eds.), Treatments for Psychological Problems and Syndromes (Chapter 8; pp. 100-114). Chichester, UK: Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118877142.ch8
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Newman, M. G., Shin, K. E., Zuellig, A. R. (2016) Developmental risk factors in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 206, 94-102. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.008 PMID: 27466747 PMCID: PMC5077703
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Luc LaFreniere
Lucas (“Luc”) LaFreniere, PhD, is currently an Assistant Professor at Skidmore College. He received his doctoral training under Dr. Newman's mentorship and continues to collaborate with her and the lab on research. Luc specializes in developing and researching ecological momentary interventions for anxiety and worry. His research aims to determine core processes of anxiety psychopathology, devise treatments targeting those processes, test their efficacy, and examine their mechanisms. His basic research has revealed Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) deficits in learning the probabilities of future outcomes, learning by reinforcement, and engagement with positive emotions. In his applied research, he has developed and tested ecological momentary interventions (EMI) for correcting these problems via smartphone. For example, his Worry Outcome Journal (WOJ) EMI employed an enhanced form of worry outcome monitoring, guiding participants to see the high costs, low benefits, and inaccuracies of their worries in daily life via smartphone. A randomized controlled trial of the WOJ supported its efficacy. His SkillJoy EMI guides clients to savor enjoyment of positive experiences, mindfully appreciate good aspects of the present moment, recognize worry’s inaccuracy, and gain exposure to being “off guard.” Compared to an active treatment control, the app successfully reduced worry, anxiety, and depression and increased positive emotions, optimism, and enjoying the present moment.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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LaFreniere, L. S. & Newman, M. G. (2023). Upregulating positive emotion in generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of the SkillJoy ecological momentary intervention. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000794. Featured publication of the American Psychological Association’s Kudos Showcase.
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LaFreniere, L. S. & Newman, M. G. (2023). Reducing contrast avoidance in GAD by savoring positive emotions: Outcome and mediation in a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 93, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102659
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LaFreniere, L. S. & Lord, S. E. (2023). Flourishing mindfully: Mindfulness moderates the associations of stress, psychopathology, and grit with flourishing. The Journal of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing, 7(2), 53-67.
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LaFreniere, L. S., Newman, M. G., & Graham, J. W. (2022). Parental support and monitoring influences on adolescent alcohol use: A peer selection mediation model. Mental Health and Addiction Research, 6, 1-8. doi:10.15761/MHAR.1000202
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LaFreniere, L. S., & Newman, M. G. (2020). Exposing worry’s deceit: Percentage of untrue worries in generalized anxiety disorder treatment. Behavior Therapy, 51(3), 413-423. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2019.07.003 PMID: 32402257 PMCID: 7233480
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Shin, K. E., LaFreniere, L. S., & Newman, M. G. (2019). Generalized anxiety disorder. In B. Olatunji (Ed.) The Cambridge Handbook of Anxiety and Related Disorders Part IV: Etiology and Phenomenology of Specific Anxiety(Chapter 18; pp. 517-549). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press doi:10.1017/9781108140416.019
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LaFreniere, L. S. & Newman, M. G. (2019). The impact of uncontrollability beliefs and thought-related distress on ecological momentary interventions for generalized anxiety disorder: A moderated mediation model. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 66, 102113. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2019.102113 PMID: 31362145 PMCID: PMC6692212
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LaFreniere, L. S. & Newman, M. G. (2019). Probabilistic learning by positive and negative reinforcement in generalized anxiety disorder. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(3), 502-515. doi:10.1177/2167702618809366; PMID: 31448183; PMCID: PMC6707536
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Newman, M. G., LaFreniere, L. S., & Jacobson, N. C. (2018). Relaxation-induced anxiety: Effects of peak and trajectories of change on treatment outcome for generalized anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy Research, 28(4), 616-629.doi:10.1080/10503307.2016.1253891 PMID: 27855541 PMCID: PMC6134846
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Newman, M. G., Shin, K. E., & LaFreniere, L. S. (2017). Mechanisms and Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In D. McKay, J. S. Abramowitz & E. A. Storch (Eds.), Treatments for Psychological Problems and Syndromes (Chapter 8; pp. 100-114). Chichester, UK: Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118877142.ch8
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Newman, M. G., LaFreniere, L. S., Shin K. E. (2017). Cognitive-behavioral therapies in historical perspective. In A. J. Consoli, L. E. Beutler, & B. Bongar (Eds). Comprehensive textbook of psychotherapy: Theory and practice (Chapter 5: 2nd Ed.; pp 61-75). New York: Oxford University Press.
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LaFreniere, L. S. & Newman, M. G. (2016). A brief ecological momentary intervention for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial of the worry outcome journal. Depression and Anxiety, 33(9), 829-839. doi:10.1002/da.22507 PMID: 27062682
Nur Hani Zainal
Dr. Hani is a postdoctoral research associate at the Harvard Medical School (HMS). She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University and completed her predoctoral clinical fellowship at the HMS-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) - Cognitive Behavioral Scientist Track. Her research focuses on how executive functioning deficits and cognitive-behavioral strategies link to the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders. She is also interested in technology-facilitated interventions, such as digital mental health, and psychoneuroimmunology. To achieve these aims, she uses a variety of approaches and datasets. These include cross-sectional and longitudinal surveys, experiments, ecological momentary assessment, and randomized controlled trials. To this end, she hopes to make novel and strongly positively impactful contributions to basic science, clinical research, and practice. Also, Dr. Hani is a recipient of awards such as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Leonard Krasner Dissertation Award, Federation of Associations of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (FABBS) Doctoral Dissertation Research Excellence Award, Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Alies Muskin Career Development Leadership Program (CDLP), and the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) Superior Teaching and Research (STAR) award. Further, she received the National University of Singapore (NUS) - Overseas Graduate Scholarship and Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship (OPF).
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Bartek, M. E.*, Zainal, N. H.*, & Newman, M. G. (in press). Marital instability mediates childhood maternal and paternal affection predicting adulthood depression across 18 years. Journal of Affective Disorders.
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Van Doren, N.*, Zainal, N. H.*, & Newman, M. G. (in press). Cross-cultural and gender invariance of emotion regulation in the United States and India. Journal of Affective Disorders.
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Zainal, N. H.* & Newman, M. G. (in press). Depression and worry symptoms predict future executive functioning impairment via inflammation. Psychological Medicine. doi:10.1017/S0033291721000398
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Zainal, N. H.* & Newman, M. G. (in press). Within-person increase in pathological worry predicts depletion of unique executive functioning domains. Psychological Medicine. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720000422 PMID: 32188519. PMCID: PMC750108
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Zainal, N. H. & Newman, M. G. (in press). Within-person increase in pathological worry predicts depletion of unique executive functioning domains. Psychological Medicine. doi: 10.1017/S0033291720000422 PMID: 32188519
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Win, E.*, Zainal, N. H.,* & Newman, M. G. (2021). Trait anger expression mediates childhood trauma predicting for adulthood anxiety, depressive, and alcohol use disorders. Journal of Affective Disorders, 288, 114-121. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.086
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Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., Taylor, C. B., Newman, M. G., Zainal, N. H.*, Rojas-Ashe, E., Lipson, S. K., Firebaugh, M. L., Ceglarek, P., Topooco, N., Jacobson, N. C.*, Graham, A. K., Kim, H. M., Eisenberg, D., & Wilfley, D. E. (2021). Harnessing mobile technology to reduce mental health disorders in college populations: A randomized controlled trial study protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 103, 106320. doi:10.1016/j.cct.2021.106320
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Zainal, N. H.* & Newman, M. G. (2021). Larger increase in trait negative affect is associated with greater future cognitive decline and vice versa across 23 years. Depression and Anxiety, 38(2), 146–160. PMID: 32840954 PMCID: PMC7902413 doi: 10.1002/da.23093
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Zainal, N. H.*, Newman, M. G. & Hong, R. Y. (2021). Cross-cultural and gender invariance of transdiagnostic processes in the United States and Singapore. Assessment, 28(2): 485–502. doi: 10.1177/1073191119869832 PMID: 31538795 PMCID: PMC7082183
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Newman, M.G., & Zainal, N. H. (2020). Interpersonal and emotion-focused therapy (I/EP) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In A Gloster, & A Gerlach (Eds). Generalized anxiety disorder and worrying: A comprehensive handbook for clinicians and researchers (Chapter 11; pp. 231-244). NY: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Newman, M.G., Zainal, N. H., Hoyer, J. (2020). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In A Gloster, & A Gerlach (Eds). Generalized anxiety disorder and worrying: A comprehensive handbook for clinicians and researchers (Chapter 10; pp. 203-230). NY: Wiley-Blackwell.
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Newman, M. G. & Zainal N. H. (2020) The value of maintaining social connections for mental health in older adults. Lancet Public health, 5(1) e12-e13. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(19)30253-1 PMID: 31910976 PMCID: 7261393
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Newman, M. G., Jacobson, N. C., Zainal, N. H., Shin, K. E., Szkodny, L. E., & Sliwinsky, M. (2019). The effects of worry in daily life: An ecological momentary assessment study supporting the tenets of the contrast avoidance model. Clinical Psychological Science, 7(4), 794-810. doi:10.1177/2167702619827019 PMID: 31372313; PMCID: PMC6675025.
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Zainal, N. H. & Newman, M. G. (2019). Relation between cognitive and behavioral strategies and future change in common mental health problems across 18 years. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 128(4), 295-304. doi: 10.1037/abn0000428 PMID: 31045412 PMCID: PMC6707366
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Zainal, N. H. & Newman, M. G. (2018). Executive function and other cognitive deficits are distal risk factors of generalized anxiety disorder nine years later. Psychological Medicine, 48(12) 2045-2053. doi:10.1017/S0033291717003579 PMID: 29224581 PMCID: PMC6707521
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Zainal, N. H. & Newman, M. G. (2018). Worry amplifies theory-of-mind reasoning of negatively-valenced social stimuli in generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 227, 824-833. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.11.084 PMID: 29254067 PMCID: PMC6707505
Natalia Van Doren
Natalia is a sixth-year graduate student in the lab who works with Dr. José Soto and Dr. Newman. Natalia’s research focuses on understanding the role of affective processes in relation to mental health and well-being, with a particular emphasis on how culture and context impact emotional processes and their outcomes. She is currently working on projects that aim to identify transdiagnostic symptom profiles in BIPOC individuals, as well as to identify barriers to treatment in underserved populations. She received her B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.
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Publications with Dr. Newman include:
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Van Doren, N., Zainal, N. H., & Newman, M. G. (2021). Cross-cultural and gender invariance of emotion regulation in the United States and India. Journal of Affective Disorders, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.04.089
Other Former Graduate Student Mentees
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Srijana Shresta graduated 2010 (Currently an Assistant Professor at Wheaton College) https://wheatoncollege.edu/academics/faculty-directory/srijana-shrestha/
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Ellen (Dzus) Dougherty graduated 2007 (private practice) https://www.ayamapsychotherapy.com/about-therapist
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Christine Molnar graduated 2002 (private practice) https://www.meta4stress.com
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Andrea Zuellig graduated 2002 (private practice) http://www.parknicollet.com/bios/zuellig-r-andrea
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Kevin Kachin graduated 2001 (Currently a Manager of Implementation Strategy at the Human Performance Institute). https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinkachin/
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Allan Vives graduated 2001 (Currently in private practice)
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Keith Aronson graduated 1999 (Currently Associate Director, Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness and Associate Director, Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) at PSU) https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/keith-r-aronson/
Former Undergraduate Student Mentees
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Demond Grant (Currently an Associate Professor at Oklahoma State University) http://demondgrant.wix.com/leaplabokstate#!director/c5y
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Jason Moser (Currently an Associate Professor at Michigan State University) http://cpl.psy.msu.edu/the-team/
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Michael Suvak (Currently an Associate Professor at Suffolk University). https://www.suffolk.edu/academics/faculty/s/u/michael-k-suvak
Alumni
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Nur Hani Zainal graduated 2021 (Currently an intern at Harvard Medical School - Massachusetts General Hospital).
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Hanjoo Kim graduated 2020 (Currently a postdoctoral fellow at Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan).
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Ki Eun Shin graduated 2020 (Currently an assistant professor at Long Island University, Post Campus).
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Lucas LaFreniere graduated 2020 (Currently an Assistant professor at Skidmore College).
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Nicholas Jacobson graduated 2019 (Currently an Assistant Professor at Dartmouth)
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Sunghye Jen Cho graduated 2018 (Currently a postdoc at Rutgers University).
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Lauren Szkodny graduated 2016 (Currently an Assistant professor at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center).
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Aaron J. Fisher graduated 2012 (Currently an Associate Professor at UC Berkeley).
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Sandra Llera graduated 2011 (Currently an Associate Professor at Towson University)
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Srijana Shresta graduated 2010 (Currently an Assistant Professor at Wheaton College)
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Ellen Dzus graduated 2007 (private practice)
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Amy Przeworski graduated 2006 (Currently an Associate Professor at Case Western Reserve University)
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Thane Erickson graduated 2006 (Currently a Professor at Seattle Pacific University).
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Christine Molnar graduated 2002 (private practice)
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Andrea Zuellig graduated 2002 (private practice)
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Kevin Kachin graduated 2001 (Currently a Manager of Implementation Strategy at the Human Performance Institute).
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Allan P. Vives graduated 2001 (Currently in private practice)
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Keith Aronson graduated 1999 (Currently Associate Director, Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness and Associate Director, Social Science Research Institute (SSRI) at PSU)
Research Assistant Placements
​Class of 2023
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Yiqin Zhu - PhD student, Clinical Psychology, University of Washington
Yanjun Yang: - Master’s student at University of Rochester
Mike Sandella- Clinical Research Coordinator at Thomas Jefferson University
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Class of 2022
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Shreyas Sundar – Masters student, Social Work program at Columbia University
Katie Barber - Ph.D. student in clinical psychology at Marquette University
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Class of 2021
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Shannon McGovern – Masters student, Mental Health Counseling program at Delaware Valley University
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Class of 2020
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Zhaojiong Wang – Masters student, Mental Health Counseling program at UPenn
Fanwen Zhang – Masters student, Prevention Science and Practice program, Harvard University (2020)
Ammanda Maldonado – Masters student, Applied Clinical Psychology program at Penn State, Harrisburg
Ana Clever – Human Resources and Employment Relations program for the MS degree at Penn State
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Class of 2019
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Jessicca Wills – Successfully applied to PsyD at Marywood University and Masters of Counseling programs at University of Scranton
Emma Capichioni – Research program assistant in the Psychiatry Department of the Medical University of South Carolina
Kerslie Valerio – Health Educator at BronxWorks
Emily Forcht – PhD student at Lehigh University for Educational Psychology
Madeleine Miller – Clinical Research Assistant at Dissemination & Training Division at VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Marietta Kocher – Clinical Research Assistant at the University of Pittsburgh
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Class of 2018
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Chris Kim – Masters student, Computer Science, Pennsylvania State University
Gen Stafford – Masters student, Counseling, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Emily Diehl – PsyD student, Clinical Psychology, Widener University
Jessica Miller – Research coordinator, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, MD
Grant Smyth – MD student, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, PA
Sandy Liu – Masters student, Counseling Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
Jenelle A. Richards – Master's Candidate at Columbia University, working with Dr. George Bonnano at Columbia University, Teachers College, Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab
Juliana Caricato – Physician assistant student at the University of Pittsburg
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Class of 2017
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Kathleen Tully – PsyD student, Clinical Psychology, Long Island University Brooklyn
Robyn Mertz – PhD student, Clinical-Community Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage Doctorate
Peri Kahraman – Masters student, Counseling Psychology, Ohio State University, OH
Allison Collum – Masters student, Criminology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ
Rachel Kilbert – Masters student, Communication Sciences and Disorders Masters Program (Speech Pathology), San Diego State University, CA
Gia Canovali – Masters student, Social Work Masters Program, The California University of Pennsylvania, PA
Maranna Liberty – Blended Case Manager at Service Access and Management, Inc
Erin Fackenthal – M.Ed, PSU Word-campus Admissions Coach at the Inside Track, University Park, PA
Madeline White – PsyD student, Rutger's University (Dr. Elisa Shernoff), NJ
Alex Wilcox – Physician's Assistant program at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Class of 2016
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Casey Saline – Masters student, Art Therapy, George Washington University, Washington DC
Kayla Lord – PhD student, Clinical Psychology, Suffolk University, MA
Sarah Greeley – Masters student, I/O Psychology, Penn State University, PA
Jenny Heyman – PhD student, Social Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Samantha Canillo – Masters student, Computer Science, University of Chicago, IL
Yesom Ha – Masters student, Clinical Psychology, Seoul National University, South Korea
Hanna Lee – MD student, Penn State School of Medicine, Penn State University, PA
Kirsty Bocado – Staff, AmeriCorps, New York City, NY
Malina Mastrocola – Masters student, Counseling Psychology, Rosemont College, PA
Kevin Deam – Social Worker, High Focus Centers Inc., NJ
Max Sheintoch – Research coordinator, University of Pennsylvania (Dr. Martin Franklin's lab), PA
Sarah Hamaker – Social worker, West Chester Chidren with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Services (CIDDS), PA
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Class of 2015
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Kyle Deckman – Masters student, Psychology, Saint Joseph's University, PA
Jenna Cohen – Masters student, Clinical Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, NY
Wenjuan Xu – Masters student, Social Science, Chicago University, IL
Tally Metro – Counselor, Uniontown Treatment Center, Inc., PA
Emily Wright – PhD student, Kinesiology & Health, Miami University at Ohio, OH
Kirstie Herb – PhD student, Clinical Psychology, Eastern Michigan University, MI
Anthony Fissel – Social Worker, Human Services Inc., PA
Mina Mikhail – Masters student, Professional clinical counseling, LaSalle University
Shyler Patton – Therapeutic staff support (TSS) in the Philadelphia area
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Class of 2014
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Stephanie Nelson – PysD student, Yeshiva University, NY
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Class of 2013
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Evan Good – PhD student, Clinical Psychology, Michigan State University, MI
Annie Ivanka – PsyD student, William James College, MA
Laszlo Rendas – Masters student, Human Factors and Usability Testing, Missouri Western State University, MO
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Vivian Nguyen
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Vivian is a Research Assistant in the Newman Lab. She is a senior majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with a Neuroscience option intending to go to medical school. She is currently working on a thesis for the Schreyer Honors College which focuses on how sleep issues may interact with MDD and GAD across 18 years. Outside of the lab, Vivian is involved in community service and the Learning Assistant Program under the Department of Chemistry. In her free time, you'll find her on the HUB lawn if the weather is nice!
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Natalie Marr
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Natalie is a Research Assistant in our lab. She is a senior majoring in Psychology (B.S.) with the Neuroscience option and minoring in biology and sociology. Her research interests include the etiology and treatment of depression and anxiety, and she is currently working on a thesis project that focuses on the relationship between avoidant coping mechanisms, depression and anxiety. She is also interested in studying states of consciousness and researching the use of psychedelics as possible treatments for mental illnesses. In her free time Natalie enjoys rowing with the Penn State Crew team and listening to all kinds of music.
Jamie Gensbauer
Jamie is a research assistant in our lab. She is a Senior majoring in Psychology (B.A.), and minoring in Human Development and Family Studies. She wishes to go to graduate school to further her studies in cognitive psychology research, with hopes to become a Psychology professor at a university. Her research interests include cognition, memory errors, attention, and development. Outside of the lab, Jamie is a Teaching Assistant for an HDFS class, and a member of the Psychology Honor Society on campus. In her free time, Jamie enjoys going on adventures with her friends, being active, and cuddling with her dog