Current Research at Portland Psychotherapy

Topic Area: The Effects of Emotion on Alcohol Use.

We are conducting research in the local community to learn more about the relationship between mood, daily experiences, and drinking. We are interested in learning more about the daily patterns of all sorts of different people, and would appreciate your contribution. In this study, we are asking local people to come to our clinic to share more about their use of alcohol (whether they drink a little or a lot, or anywhere in between), their emotions, and their attitudes about themselves.

We will then have participants keep an online "daily diary" for 21 days to learn more about how daily events, moods, and alcohol use are related. Participation is private and confidential, and we will use the results to help develop better treatments for people who struggle with their moods and/or alcohol use. If you are interested in learning more about the study or participation, please go to this link: https://sites.google.com/a/portlandpsychotherapyclinic.com/daily-diary/ 

Investigators: Jason Luoma, Ph.D., Paul Guinther, Ph.D., & Christeine Terry, Ph.D.

To participate, go to: https://sites.google.com/a/portlandpsychotherapyclinic.com/daily-diary/

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