Strengthening dissemination and implementation science training across clinical psychological science doctoral programs

Our lab is leading a two-part project, funded by the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science. This project strives to strengthen dissemination and implementation science training across clinical psychological science training programs. The first goal of the project is to develop a speaker series that all trainees at Academy of Psychological Clinical Science doctoral and internship programs can attend to learn more about dissemination and implementation science. You can find out more about the speaker series on our lab website here and attend future panels if interested—anyone who is interested in attending is welcome to do so! The second goal of the project is to conduct a needs assessment of dissemination and implementation science research training opportunities within programs and to facilitate research collaboration across programs.

As part of this project, we also developed a list of resources for those interested in learning more about dissemination and implementation science. You can find the list here.

Funding: Academy of Psychological Clinical Science

Strengthening the mental health workforce

This qualitative study seeks to learn more about the experiences of unionized mental health therapists working in clinics that serve publicly insured clients. The U.S. is facing an historic mental health crisis with increased demand for services and a severe shortage of mental health providers. At the same time, funding for public mental health services has plateaued in recent decades. As a result of these transformations, public mental health therapists are often asked to do more work with less. This study aims to examine the working conditions of public mental health therapists, particularly as their jobs have become more demanding in recent years. We also seek to understand how public mental health therapists have engaged in labor organizing to address these occupational challenges—to improve not just their own labor conditions, but also the healing conditions of their clients.

Collaborators: Danielle Adams, Ph.D. (University of Missouri) & Rebecca Mirhashem, M.A. (Stony Brook University)