After receiving a BA in psychology at Williams College and gaining several years of clinical and research experience, I knew that a career in psychology, working as a scientist and practitioner with children and adolescents, was my ultimate goal. Excited to pursue my passion, I earned a doctorate in clinical psychology at Loyola University Chicago, with a subspecialty in children and families. Next, I completed my pre-doctoral residency in pediatric psychology at Rush University Medical Center (RUMC). At RUMC, I developed a strong interest in working at the intersection of psychology and medicine. Aiming to specialize in pediatric (health) psychology, I then completed a post-doctoral psychology fellowship with the Psychiatry Consultation Service (PCS) at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). It was during my fellowship with the PCS that I became interested, more specifically, in understanding and treating pediatric chronic pain. I feel fortunate to now have the opportunity to work as a clinician and researcher on the interdisciplinary team at BCH’s Mayo Family Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center.
Approach to Care
As a pediatric psychologist specializing in chronic pain, I have gained a deep appreciation for a holistic and integrated approach to care. I rely on developing strong therapeutic relationships so that patients and families feel comfortable letting me join them as they navigate the daunting journey from disability to health and wellness. My aim is to provide patients with the tools to ultimately help themselves so that they take back control and enjoy a sense of self-efficacy. I feel privileged to be able to work with such a skilled and passionate interdisciplinary team at BCH’s Mayo Family Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Center – I enjoy smiles inside and out when I hear parents share with the team that “I have my child back!” and when I witness my patients getting back to what they love.
Publications
Phenotyping Pain in Patients With Fibrous Dysplasia/McCune-Albright Syndrome. View Abstract
Centering Patient and Clinician Voices in Developing Tools to Address Pain Related School Impairment: A Phase I Study of a Virtual Reality School Simulation for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Pain. View Abstract
The Telehealth Tradeoff: A Multimethod Study of the Benefits and Challenges Associated With Maintaining Treatment Outcomes Using a Hybrid Model of Pediatric Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment. View Abstract
Development and Validation of the Scale for Pain Self-Efficacy (SPaSE) in German and English Languages for Children and Adolescents. View Abstract
Clinical Assessment of Mechanical Allodynia in Youth With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Pediatric Tactile Sensitivity Test of Allodynia (Pedi-Sense). View Abstract
Will This Treatment Help My Child?: How Parent/Caregiver Treatment Expectations Relate to Intensive Pain Rehabilitation Outcomes for Youth With Chronic Pain. View Abstract
Perfectly Tired: Perfectionism and Sleep in Adolescents With Chronic Pain. View Abstract
Understanding How Perfectionism Impacts Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment Outcomes: A Nonrandomized Trial. View Abstract
Prevalence, Patterns, and Correlates of Pain in Medically Hospitalized Pediatric Patients With Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. View Abstract
Under Pressure to Perform: Impact of Academic Goal Orientation, School Motivational Climate, and School Engagement on Pain and Somatic Symptoms in Adolescents. View Abstract
Back to Living: Long-term Functional Status of Pediatric Patients Who Completed Intensive Interdisciplinary Pain Treatment. View Abstract
Topical Review: Perfectionism and Pediatric Chronic Pain: Theoretical Underpinnings, Assessment, and Treatment. View Abstract
Feeling the Pressure to Be Perfect: Effect on Pain-Related Distress and Dysfunction in Youth With Chronic Pain. View Abstract
Children With Chronic Pain: Response Trajectories After Intensive Pain Rehabilitation Treatment. View Abstract
Looking good and making it seem easy: A prospective study of effortless perfectionism, body image, and BMI in unhealthy weight-control behaviors among female adolescents and young adults View Abstract
A Single-Arm Feasibility Trial of Problem-Solving Skills Training for Parents of Children with Idiopathic Chronic Pain Conditions Receiving Intensive Pain Rehabilitation. View Abstract
Reasons for the after-school pressure cooker in affluent communities: It's not how much time, but why View Abstract
Bullying Victimization in Medically Hospitalized Patients With Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders: Prevalence and Associated Factors. View Abstract
Living Life With My Child's Pain: The Parent Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (PPAQ). View Abstract
The cost of perfection with apparent ease: Theoretical foundations and development of the Effortless Perfectionism Scale. View Abstract
Understanding affluent adolescent adjustment: The interplay of parental perfectionism, perceived parental pressure, and organized activity involvement. View Abstract
Characteristics of medically hospitalized pediatric patients with somatoform diagnoses. View Abstract
Somatoform disorders and trauma in medically-admitted children, adolescents, and young adults: prevalence rates and psychosocial characteristics. View Abstract
Multimethod analyses of discretionary time use and health behaviors among urban low-income African-American adolescents: a pilot study. View Abstract
Brief report: adolescent adjustment in affluent communities: the role of motivational climate and goal orientation. View Abstract
Understanding threshold effects of organized activity involvement in adolescents: sex and family income as moderators. View Abstract
The development and evaluation of a portion plate for youth: a pilot study. View Abstract
Capturing unique dimensions of youth's organized activity involvement: Theoretical and methodological considerations View Abstract
Organized activity involvement, depressive symptoms, and social adjustment in adolescents: ethnicity and socioeconomic status as moderators. View Abstract
Relationships between discretionary time activities, emotional experiences, delinquency and depressive symptoms among urban African American adolescents. View Abstract
Mania, glutamate/glutamine and risperidone in pediatric bipolar disorder: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study of the anterior cingulate cortex. View Abstract
Association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and bulimia nervosa: analysis of 4 case-control studies. View Abstract
Differences in brain chemistry in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without comorbid bipolar disorder: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. View Abstract
Differences in brain chemistry in children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with and without comorbid bipolar disorder: A proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study View Abstract