Anxiety Mechanisms and Processes Lab
Principal Investigator, Anxiety Mechanisms and Processes Lab
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
My primary research involves examining the mechanisms and processes responsible for change in psychotherapy (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapies or acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies) for anxiety disorders, in other words, how and why treatments work. My work examines how various treatment components interact to produce therapeutic change so that evidence-based treatments can be further refined to improve treatment outcomes. I am particularly committed to enhancing the cultural sensitivity of these treatments. I use experimental paradigms and treatment studies to examine common and unique processes and mechanisms of change across traditional cognitive-behavioral therapies and acceptance and mindfulness based therapies for anxiety, with a particular focus on social and generalized anxiety disorders. I also have a new line of research examining perinatal anxiety with a focus on developing an acceptance-based prevention program for perinatal anxiety.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: sarah.hayes@umb.edu Faculty page
For those interested in admission to the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston, I will know in September if I am reviewing applications for Fall 2026. More information can be found HERE.
Ramya is on internship. She entered the clinical psychology doctoral program in 2019. She earned her BS in Neuroscience and Psychology at Boston University. She has worked as a research coordinator at McLean Hospital. Her research interests include anxiety disorders and OCD, global mental health and structural determinants of health. She is interested in examining structural interventions particularly for women in India.
Jenny is on internship. She joined the clinical psychology doctoral program in 2020. She received her BA in Psychology and Italian Studies from the University of Sydney, Australia. After graduating, she worked as a clinical research coordinator at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her research interests include anxiety disorders, emotion regulation and treatment mechanisms.
Selen is on internship.
Alicia is a fifth-year doctoral student in clinical psychology. She received her MA in clinical psychology from the University of Houston–Clear Lake. Her research interests include anxiety-related disorders and the development of culturally responsive interventions for marginalized communities, with a particular focus on Latiné populations. Outside of research, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, reading, and going to tocadas de rock.
Jenna entered the clinical psychology graduate program at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2022. She received her BA in Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Psychology from the University of Rochester in 2020. Jenna is interested in understanding how and why mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies alleviate anxiety in order to better inform culturally humble interventions. Her Masters thesis will be exploring acceptance-based mechanisms involved in the maintenance and development of perinatal anxiety. In her free time, she enjoys running, listening to live music, and hiking.
Heather (she/her) joined the clinical psychology doctoral program in 2024. She earned her BA in Psychology at Cornell University in 2022. After graduating, she worked as a clinical research assistant at McLean Hospital’s OCD Institute. Her research interests include anxiety disorders, empathy, and structural/systemic influences on mental health. Outside of research, she enjoys playing piano, singing, and painting.
Email: heather.martin006@umb.edu
Aish (they/he) joined the clinical psychology doctoral program in 2024. They received their BA in Neurobiology from Harvard University in 2020. Aish is interested in the mechanisms that contribute to engagement in mindfulness and acceptance-based processes and in strategies to support the well-being of trans, non-binary, and gender-expansive individuals. In their free time, they enjoy walking, painting, and playing board games.
Zareen (she/her) joined the clinical psychology doctoral program in 2025. She earned her BA in Psychology at Stony Brook University, and MA in clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She worked at Weill Cornell Medicine within the psychiatry department. She is interested in continuing to learn more about novel and scalable treatments for perinatal anxiety and anxiety disorders and ensuring that treatments are culturally competent. Outside of the lab, Zareen enjoys going to concerts, walking around museums, and crafting.
Tirzah (they/them) enrolled as an undergraduate student at UMass Boston in 2023. They are currently majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology. Their research interests include social relationships and anxiety, Asian American mental health, and the effects one's childhood has on their adulthood. This will also be their first year doing research! Outside of academics and research, they enjoy singing, digital drawing, and playing video games with their friends.
Lauren Wadsworth, PhD ABPP (she/her) is a board certified clinical psychologist passionate about expanding access to evidence-based mental health treatments as well as furthering diversity and inclusion efforts. Dr. Wadsworth completed her undergraduate degree at Smith College and her doctorate at the University of Massachusetts Boston, receiving her clinical training at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. She is the founding director of Genesee Valley Psychology (GVP), an insurance-based clinic providing financially accessible evidence-based treatment to the Western NY area, with offices in Rochester and Buffalo. Dr. Wadsworth is also the founding director of Meridian Psychology Practice, a private-pay clinic serving NY, MA, and GA. She is the co-founder of Twin Stars Diversity Trainers, a consultation company offering diversity and identity-related trainings for organizations and leadership, and co-authored a related book: Did That Just Happen?! Beyond "Diversity" -Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations. Dr. Wadsworth serves as a Senior Advisor on the Anti-Racist, Justice and Health Equity team at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Finally, she is a Clinical Senior Instructor in Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Carol (she/her) graduated from the clinical psychology doctoral program in 2019. After completing her internship at the Honolulu VA, she worked as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Nevada State University, before becoming the Head of Research at Bravely. Her research interests include patient/client engagement and adherence, and applied workplace interventions for stress and anxiety. Outside of research, she enjoys reading, knitting, and rock climbing.
Dr. Bryan Balvaneda (he/his) graduated from the UMB Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in 2021. Bryan's dissertation focused on the impact of self-compassion in relationships, which remains his primary area of research interest and clinical practice. Bryan is currently working at UC San Diego's Counseling and Psychological Services, offering therapy, outreach, and consultation services to the university community. Bryan also serves as the Substance Use Recovery coordinator, helping provide support and treatment options to students seeking support for changes to their substance use. Outside, Bryan enjoys hiking, camping, and outdoor recreation, and has integrated this into his work at UC San Diego where he leads students on quarterly wellness camping retreats with an emphasis on building skills for wellbeing and enjoying the mental health benefits of outdoor recreation. At home, Bryan enjoys playing video games and snuggling with his two cats,and outside of the occasional appearance of those cats in a virtual session, has not found an opportunity to integrate these activities into his work (yet).
Stephanie entered the clinical psychology graduate program at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2017. She received her BA in Psychology and Classics from Johns Hopkins University in 2014. Stephanie is interested in examining mechanisms of change in acceptance and mindfulness based therapies and to further study how these interventions can be used across contexts to promote well-being.
