The impact of serious illness often affects not only the patient but also those close to them who face the difficult task of both supporting the patient and simultaneously managing their own emotional responses to illness. Illness can bring patients and their loved ones closer together but at the same time can place considerable strain on the family, prompting changes in roles, routines, and relationships. In my work with couples and families, I help patients and/or their loved ones strengthen their capacity to work as a team, communicate comfortably with one another about cancer-related concerns, make decisions together, and address longstanding conflicts that are magnified in the setting of illness.
I also serve as Associate Co-Director of the psychotherapy laboratory, which develops and investigates novel counseling interventions for cancer patients at all stages of disease and cancer types, as well as couples and families. My research goals involve the development and testing of couple- and family-based interventions in the oncology setting. I have a particularly strong interest in understanding what components of family therapy work best and how to disseminate this understanding and train others to deliver these interventions in multiple settings. I have published several chapters and presented workshops in this area, and am a member of the American Psychological Association and the International Psycho-Oncology Society.