Department of Psychology

Dr. Hersh will be accepting a doctoral student for the Fall of 2024.

For information on the Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), visit clinicalpsychpsyd.appstate.edu

Priority review date for admission is December 1st. Applications that are not complete by the priority date risk denial of admission; however, if seats remain for the invitation only on-campus interviews in February, applications not complete by December 1st will be considered.

Website: https://psychclinic.appstate.edu/

REACT Lab Website: https://sites.google.com/appstate.edu/react-lab/home

Research Interests

My research is rooted in dissemination and implementation (D&I) science, which involves investigating how evidence-based practices (EBPs) and interventions can be effectively adapted and employed in real-world settings (e.g., schools, community clinics). I am particularly interested in how we can best support underserved and marginalized populations (e.g., those in rural areas, racially minoritized populations). More specifically, my primary research interests include: (1) developing innovative ways to adapt, enhance, and disseminate evidence-based treatments (EBTs), inclusive of increasing access to services, particularly for youth (2) understanding barriers to success and mental health care and building supports among underserved and marginalized populations, and (3) examining and developing EBPs for supporting psychology trainees (e.g., graduate students, community clinicians learning new treatments). 

• Rural mental health services
• Community-based collaborations
• Examination of ways to adapt and disseminate evidence-based treatments to communities in an effort to provide services to underserved populations, particularly youth and families
• Development of innovative ways to enhance and tailor evidence-based treatments, such as using telehealth or virtual reality as an exposure technique in treatment for substance use disorders or anxiety
• Investigation of how individual factors, such as cultural background or the presence of comorbid conditions, may influence manifestation of psychopathology and/or treatment outcomes
• Psychotherapy process and outcome
• Child and adolescent psychopathology

Education

• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 2014-2016, Harvard University, Department of Psychology
• Clinical Psychology Pre-Doctoral Internship, 2013-2014, NYU/Bellevue Hospital Center
• Ph.D., 2014, Duke University, Clinical Psychology
• B.A., 2005, Brandeis University, Psychology & Sociology

Representative Publications

*Denotes student authors

Nguyen, A.J.,  Hersh, J., *Beahm, L., *Newman, C., Michael, K., & Bradshaw, C. (accepted). Coping Power – Rural: Iterative adaptation of an evidence-based preventive intervention for rural upper elementary and middle schools. School Mental Health.

Hersh, J., Thompson, S.M., Farmer, R., & Keenan-Miller, D. (2023). Technology in psychology graduate training clinics: past, present and future. Journal of Tech in Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-023-00370-x

Michael, K., Yaros, A., Counts, J., & Hersh, J. (2023). Preparing school mental health providers for practice in rural communities. In S. Evans, J.S. Owens, C.P. Bradshaw, & M.D. Weist (Eds.) Handbook of School Mental Health - Innovations in Science and Practice, Third Edition. Springer. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-20006-9_21

Thompson, S.M., Keenan-Miller, D., *Dunn, D., Hersh, J., Saules, K.K., Graham, S.R., Bell, D.J., Hames, J.L., Wray, A., Hiraoka, R., Heller, M.B., Taber-Thomas, S.M., Taylor, M.J., Hawkins II, R.C., Schacht, R.L., Liu, N.H., Schwartz, J.L., & Akey, E.H. (2022). Preferences for and acceptability of telesupervision among health service psychology trainees: A quantitative and qualitative study. Training and Education in Professional Psychology. doi.org/10.1037/tep0000415

Tawfik, S.H., Rogers, H., & Hersh, J. (2021). Addressing diversity, social justice and equity among training clinics: The 2020 APTC diversity survey results. Association of Psychology Training Clinics Bulletin (featured article). Retrieved March 29, 2021, from https://aptc.org/images/File/newsletter/APTC_Bulletin_PET_2021_Spring%20FINAL.pdf

Harmon, S.L., Hersh, J., *Wei, M.A., & Weisz, J.R. (2021). Addressing the long-term effects of maternal depression through early intervention. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00740-6

Harmon, S.L., Price, M.A., *Corteselli, K.A., Lee, E.H., Metz, K., Bonadio, F.T., Hersh, J., Marchette, L.K., Rodríguez, G.M., Raftery-Helmer, J., Thomassin, K., Bearman, S.K., Jensen-Doss, A., Evans, S.C., Weisz, J.R. (2021). Evaluating a Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Conduct Problems (MATCH) in school-based mental health care: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 639493. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.639493

*Seddon, J.A., *Rodriguez, V.J., *Provencher, Y., Raftery-Helmer, J., Hersh, J., Labelle, P.R., Thomassin, K. (2020). Meta-analysis of the effectiveness of the Trier Social Stress Test in eliciting physiological stress responses in children and adolescents. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 116, doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104582

Weisz, J.R., *Vaughn-Coaxum, R.A., Evans, S.C., Thomassin, K., Hersh, J., Lee, E.H., *Ng, M.Y., *Lau, N., Raftery-Helmer, J.N., & Mair, P. (2019). Efficient monitoring of treatment response during youth psychotherapy: The Behavior and Feelings Survey, Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, doi: 10.1080/15374416.2018.1547973

Marchette, L.K., Thomassin, K., Hersh, J., MacPherson, H.A., Santucci, L. & Weisz, J.R. (2018). Community Mental Health Settings as a Context for Evidence-Based Practice. In T.H. Ollendick, S.W. White, & B.A. White (Eds), The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Thomassin, K., Raftery-Helmer, J., & Hersh, J. (2018). A review of behavioral observation coding approaches for the Trier Social Stress Test for children. Frontiers in Psychology, 9: 2610. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02610

Weisz, J.R., Ugueto, A.M., Herren, J., Marchette, L.K., Bearman, S.K., Lee, E.H., Thomassin, K., Alleyne, A., Cheron, D.M., Tweed, J.L., Hersh, J., Raftery-Helmer, J.N., Weissman, A.S., & Jensen-Doss, A. (2018). When the torch is passed, does the flame still burn? Testing a “train the supervisor” model for the Child STEPs treatment program. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 86, 726-737. doi:10.1037/ccp0000331

Hersh, J., *Ng, M.Y., MacPherson, H., Tagavi, D., & Weisz, J.R. (2016). Evidence-Based Intervention for Children and Adolescents: Present and Future. In I. Frønes, H. Eng, S.K. Ertesvåg, & J. Kjøbli (Eds), Risk, intervention and evidence: Challenges and strategies for child welfare, education, health and politics (pp. 65-88). Norway: Gyldendal.

Curry, J.F., & Hersh, J. (2016). Depressive Disorders and Substance Use Disorders. In Y. Kaminer (Ed.), Youth Substance Abuse and Co-Occurring Disorders. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

Hersh, J., Metz, K.L., & Weisz, J.R. (2016). New frontiers in transdiagnostic treatment: Youth psychotherapy for internalizing and externalizing problems and disorders. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 9(2), 140-155.

Hersh, J., Curry, J.F., & Kaminer, Y. (2014). What is the Impact of Comorbid Depression on Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment?. Substance Abuse, 35, 1-12. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2014.956164

Allen, T., Hersh, J., Schoch, K., & Shashi, V. (2014). Association of the family environment with behavioural and cognitive outcomes in children with Chromosome 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 58, 31-47. doi: 10.1111/jir.12054

Curry, J.F., & Hersh, J. (2014). Development and Evolution of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depressed Adolescents. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 32, 15-30. doi: 10.1007/s10942-014-0180-9

Hersh, J., Curry, J.F., & Becker, S.J. (2013). The Influence of Comorbid Depression and Conduct Disorder on MET/CBT Treatment Outcome for Adolescent Substance Use Disorders. International Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 6, 325-341. doi: 10.1521/ijct.2013.6.4.325

Becker, S.J., Livas Stein, G., Curry, J.F., & Hersh, J. (2012). Ethnic differences among substance-abusing adolescents in a treatment dissemination project. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 42, 328-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2011.08.007

Stein, G.L., Curry, J.F., Hersh, J., Breland-Noble, A., Silva, S.G., Reinecke, M.A., . . . March, J. (2010). Ethnic Differences Among Adolescents Beginning Treatment for Depression. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 152-158. doi: 10.1037/a0018666

George, D.T., Herion, D.W., Jones, C.L., Phillips, M.J., Hersh, J., Hill, D., . . . Kunos, G. (2009). Rimonabant (SR141716) has no effect on alcohol self-administration or endocrine measures in nontreatment-seeking heavy alcohol drinkers. Psychopharmacology, 208, 37-44. doi: 10.1007/s00213-009-1704-3

Ciccocioppo, R., Gehlert, D.R., Ryabinin, A., Kaur, S., Cippitelli, A., Thorsell, A., . . . Hersh, J., . . . Heilig, M. (2009). Stress-related neuropeptides and alcoholism: CRH, NPY, and beyond. Alcohol, 43(7), 491-8. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2009.08.003

George, D.T.*, Gilman, J.*, Hersh, J.*, Thorsell, A.*, Herion, D., Geyer, C., . . . Heilig., M. (2008). Neurokinin 1 receptor antagonism as a possible therapy for alcoholism. Science, 319, 1536-1539. *These authors contributed equally. doi: 10.1126/science.1153813