Current Research at Portland Psychotherapy

Topic area: Developing new measures of acceptance and mindfulness processes.

The measurement of acceptance and mindfulness is in its infancy, necessitating the development of more and better measures of these concepts. Portland Psychotherapy is part of a team of researchers developing new measures of anxiety coping.

Current project: A Computerized Measure of Anxiety Coping

Investigators: Jason Luoma, Ph.D., & Brian Thompson, Ph.D., Chad Drake, Ph.D., University of South Carolina, Aiken

All new clients at Portland Psychotherapy are offered the opportunity to participate in this project.

Topic Area: Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Substance Addiction

Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention is a novel approach to relapse prevention based on the original model of relapse prevention develop by Alan Marlatt and incorporating new develpments on the role of mindfulness in relapse. Portland Psychotherapy is part of a team of researchers examining this approach at a local treatment center.

Current project: Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention

Investigators: Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., Washington State University - Vancouver, Jason Luoma, Ph.D., & Brian Thompson, Ph.D., Portland Psychotherapy

Topic Area: Decreasing Mental Health Stigma in college classrooms utilizing acceptance and mindfulness processes.

Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT) interventions have been used in previous research to target stigma in a variety of different populations. This current project seeks to investigate ways to incorporate ACT techniques in an academic environment as a way to decrease mental health stigma among students enrolled in psychology courses at Portland Community College and at the University of Minnesota.

Current Project: Curriculum development targeting mental health stigma.

Investigators: Jenna LeJeune, Ph.D., Jason Luoma, Ph.D., & Christeine Terry, Ph.D., Portland Psychotherapy, Theresa Glaser, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

Topic Area: Effectiveness of humane education programs among grade school students.

Many school districts require that humane education be part of the mandated curriculum for all students. The state of Oregon (ORS 336.067) has required that principles of humane education be incorporated into the curriculum for all public schools since 1921. However, despite this mandate, there is a lack of empirical evidence to indicate what types of humane education interventions are effective. This longitudinal project is following a group of grade school students from a predominantly lower SES community sample to study the impact of humane education programs on a variety of areas, including empathy and cognitive perspective taking.

Current Project: Oregon Humane Society humane education program outcomes among students enrolled in the I Have a Dream Foundation afterschool program.

Investigators: Jenna LeJeune, Ph.D., Portland Psychotherapy & Mika Maruyama, Ph.D.