There are several projects currently ongoing in the MAPS Lab. See the brief descriptions below and please feel free to contact us if you are interested in participating in any way.

Depression Treatment Study

We are currently conducting a study of psychotherapy interventions to treat depression in collaboration with Dr. Daniel R. Strunk and the Depression Research Laboratory. In this study, we are examining the effectiveness of individualizing treatment for depression through focusing on building on client's relative strengths versus focusing on addressing relative deficits.  The first wave of data collection for this study has been completed. 

Emotion Regulation Flexibility Study

One question of interest for individuals in the MAPS Lab is determining how to utilize emotion regulation strategies effectively in a therapeutic context. We are currently conducting a study to examine how the flexibility of emotion regulation strategy use is related to emotional experience. Within this line of research, we are interested in how personality and environmental factors interact to predict adaptive emotion regulation.

Validation in Treatment Study

Understanding the ways in which two people interact and influence each other iteratively is important in determining successful relationships, including romantic, parental, caregiver, and therapy relationships, to name just a few. We are interested in the role validation plays in such relationships and the ways in which validation might potentially influence learning, attachment, commitment, and emotion.

Hope Study

Currently, we are involved in testing some of the more basic tenets of hope theory. For example, it has long been theorized that hope is related to the ability to generate solutions to potential problems and the ability to persist in goal pursuits in the face of goal blockages. We are testing these and related tenets in an effort to continue to adapt and refine therapeutic interventions designed to increase hope.

Time Orientation Study

 

In their day-to-day lives, people can be focused on the future, on the present moment, or on the past. We are currently conducting a series of studies to examine whether or not there are differences in these types of time orientations for individuals with various mood and personality disorders. If there are differences in time orientation that are related to mood and personality factors, we would like to examine how these differences play a role in interpersonal relationships, academic performance, health, and other areas of functioning.