John R. Weisz
Professor of Psychology
Overview
Dr. Weisz is a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. His research involves the development of interventions for youth mental health problems, as well as systematic reviews critiquing the science of youth mental health care.
Dr. John Weisz is a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and runs the Laboratory for Youth Mental Health – or the “Weisz Lab” – at Harvard University.
Dr. Weisz has committed his scientific career to improving the lives of children and adolescents who have serious emotional and behavioral problems. Dr. Weisz’s research has largely been focused on studying youth mental health care in real-world contexts. His focus has largely been on the development and testing of interventions for youth mental health care. He is especially interested in integrating evidence-based practices with strategies for personalizing treatment to fit individual youth and family characteristics.
Dr. Weisz has conducted more than a decade of research on youth mental health treatment process and outcome in everyday clinic practices. During his time at UCLA, Dr. Weisz carried out randomized trials of cognitive behavioral therapy for youth depression and anxiety, identifying treatments that work and helping to improve mental health care for children.
Dr. Weisz served for eight years as President and CEO of the Judge Baker Children’s Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
As a lauded researcher in the youth mental health sector, Dr. Weisz has numerous awards and publications, including Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents: Evidence-based Treatments and Case Examples and Evidence-based Psychotherapies for Children and Adolescents.
Education and Training
BA
Mississippi College, Psychology
MS + PhD
Yale University, Clinical and Developmental Psychology
University Affiliations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UCLA, Harvard
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is 15 years old and a sophomore at Marina High School in Marina, CA. Her academic interests include math, history, and psychology. She joined the AIM Ideas Lab in 2021 because she wanted to be a part of something that could have a great impact on her community. Marwa is interested in youth mental health because she has always been fascinated with the human mind and she wants to support those that are suffering who may feel like their challenges in life aren’t important enough or are too afraid to seek necessary help.
Giovanna Panetta is a 16 year old junior at Carmel High School. She has always been called to STEM subjects, specifically biology. The AIM Ideas Lab instantly attracted her attention as a research opportunity. Gia has always comprehended the importance of mental health. She knows that COVID only exacerbated previously existing problems, and that as a community we can try and find the root of those problems. Mental health is an integral part of life, and can impede a body’s ability to be healthy. She strongly believes that life is worth living, and she wants to help anyone that thinks otherwise.
Dr. Friedman completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of California San Diego (UCSD). She went on to complete her masters and doctorate degrees (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science/Chicago Medical School. Dr. Friedman completed her pre-doctoral internship at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, and her post-doctoral fellowship training at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Her clinical training and experience has been focused primarily on comprehensive assessment and effective treatments for anxiety, mood and related disorders. Dr. Friedman has extensive experience in providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for anxiety disorders (e.g. worry, OCD, social anxiety, phobias and PTSD), depression, adjustment disorders/life stress, insomnia and body-focused repetitive behaviors (e.g. Trichotillomania and skin picking). She has received training in evidence-based interventions for a variety of specific problems, including exposure with response prevention (ERP) for treatment of OCD, Prolonged Exposure (PE) for treatment of PTSD, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Moreover, she has specialty training in the treatment of childhood anxiety and related disorders, such as ADHD, selective mutism, separation anxiety, PTSD, depression and specific phobias. In addition, Dr. Friedman has developed an expertise in research on Trichotillomania and body-focused repetitive behaviors, which has led to numerous local and national presentations. Dr. Friedman regularly attends local and national conferences, training seminars and workshops in order to stay informed on the most up to date treatments and apply state of the art science into her clinical practice.
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Citlalli Nava is 18 years old and a first year majoring in Psychology at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, CA. She is passionate about understanding how mental health affects how youth think, act, and feel. Citlalli joined the AIM Ideas Lab in 2021 after witnessing the increase in mental health challenges in teenagers and considering the mental health issues they are facing. Citlalli is interested in youth mental health because it is a real problem faced by her generation.
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