Biography

My interests focus on mood disorders in childhood and adolescence, in particular anxiety disorders, autism, and ADHD. My current research explores the effectiveness of a group therapy program for children with anxiety, ADHD, and autism.

My research seeks to determine the efficacy of a group therapy program for children with deficits in social skills and self-regulation. In collaboration with Mary Alvord, PhD, this project investigates the effectiveness of a resilience-based group therapy program in improving social competence and emotional and behavioral self-regulation in children. Most of these youth have diagnosed anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or Autism Spectrum Disorders. This study explores the efficacy of this group therapy based on parent, teacher, and child report using measures of internalizing and externalizing symptomatology, emotional arousal and control, and family functioning. In addition, therapeutic outcome is assessed using measures of cognitive and psychophysiological functioning. Finally, we have expanded this program to schools in Washington, DC and Silver Spring, MD to determine if this group therapy is effective in the school setting, with youth who are primarily ethnic minorities and from disadvantaged communities.