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 am interested in accepting a student to begin in Fall 2024. More information can be found HERE
Lorraine entered the clinical psychology program in 2016. She received her B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA in 2014. After graduating, Lorraine worked on several studies within the UCLA Anxiety and Depression Research Center. Lorraine is interested in examining mechanisms to improve therapy outcomes particularly for low income, ethnic minorities diagnosed with anxiety disorders. She is also interested in the dissemination of culturally-sensitive cognitive-behavioral therapies in community settings.
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.
Ryan is a sixth year graduate student.
Ramya 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 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 a fourth year graduate student.
Alicia is a third year graduate student.
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.
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