Dr. Susan Woodhouse

Dr. Woodhouse's research interests focus on applications of attachment theory to (a) children’s and adolescents’ relationships with parents and peers, (b) process and outcomes of psychotherapy, and (c) psychotherapy research focused on improving preventive interventions for underserved, diverse families with young children to promote school readiness and mental health. In terms of promotion of school readiness and mental health outcomes, Dr. Woodhouse is particularly interested in culturally-appropriate, preventive interventions to support positive parenting. Her work focuses on better understanding the role of parenting in the development of children's emotion regulation capacities. In her research she uses a variety of approaches, including physiological indicators of emotion regulation (e.g., heart rate variability) and stress reactivity (e.g., cortisol), as well as observational, and self-report measures. Practice and clinical training interests include the integration of attachment theory, object relations, self-psychology, and relational psychodynamic approaches with a multicultural and feminist approach.