Julie Petersen

Biography

Dr. Julie Petersen is a clinical child psychologist whose research focuses on improving the efficacy and effectiveness of transdiagnostic psychotherapies for youth and their families. Dr. Petersen’s research informs the adaptation, implementation, and dissemination of transdiagnostic youth psychotherapy into accessible, community-based settings.

Prior to joining the faculty at Penn GSE, Dr. Petersen was a postdoctoral research fellow in the psychology department at Harvard University in the Lab for Youth Mental Health. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Utah State University with a certification in Advanced Quantitative Research Methods and Analysis and completed her internship in clinical child/adolescent psychology at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Education

Ph.D. (Clinical and Counseling Psychology) Utah State University, 2024
M.S. (Clinical and Counseling Psychology) Utah State University, 2022
B.S. (Psychology) Haverford College, 2016

Areas of Expertise

Acceptance and commitment therapy
Transdiagnostic youth psychotherapy
Cognitive behavior therapy
Youth mental health
Anxiety disorders
Obsessive compulsive and related disorders

Research Interests and Current Projects

Dr. Petersen’s research program is broadly focused on child and adolescent socio-emotional functioning and community- and family-based mental health interventions. More specifically, her research program aims to improve the efficacy, effectiveness, and accessibility of transdiagnostic psychotherapies in community settings for youths and their families. Her research also works to enhance assessment of youth mental health concerns and deepen understanding of mechanisms of change in psychotherapy with a particular emphasis on positive, person-centered outcomes (e.g., well-being, school adjustment/performance). Most importantly, her program of research is dedicated to improving dissemination of evidence-based treatments by integrating novel formats of psychotherapy into accessible spaces.

Publications

Petersen, J. M., Nygaard, M. A., Corn, A. A., Venturo-Conerly, K. E., & Weisz, J. R. (2026). Who is the ideal match for the modular approach to therapy for children (MATCH)? Symptom moderators of transdiagnostic treatment response. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 94(8), 496–509. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0001026

Petersen, J. M., Petersen, O. F., & Pimentel, S. S. (2026). Initial acceptability and outcomes of group acceptance and commitment therapy for anxiety in Bronx adolescents. The American Journal of Psychotherapy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20250034

Nygaard, M. A., Petersen, J. M., Bowling, A. A., Baker, N., Kirshner, A., Mahoney, C., Kwaku, S. C., Weisz, J. R., & Bearman, S. K. (2026). Adherence and competence in delivering evidence-based practices to children and adolescents across clinic- and school-based clinicians. School Mental Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-026-09876-0

Nygaard, M. A., Petersen, J. M., Kirshner, A., Baker, N., Bowling, A. A., Weisz, J. R., & Bearman, S. K. (2026). An examination of evidence-based practice processes across service settings: How do schools and clinics compare? Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2026.2657001

Petersen, J. M. (2025). Understanding acceptance and commitment therapy for youth. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 48(3), 577–589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2025.02.012

Petersen, J. M., Donahue, M. L., Capel, L. K., Bowers, E. M., Woolley, M. G., Boghosian, S., & Twohig, M. P. (2024). Telehealth acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with transdiagnostic health-related anxiety: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 32, Article 100764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2024.100764

Schneider, R. L., & Petersen, J. M. (2024). Feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a telehealth-based intensive outpatient program incorporating acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 31, Article 100716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2023.100716

Spencer, S. D., Petersen, J. M., Schneider, R. L., Guzick, A. G., & McGuire, J. F. (2024). Clinical considerations for integrating ethical principals in the development of evidence-based interventions for youth with misophonia. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 53(5), 625–637. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-024-01247-0

Petersen, J. M., Davis, C. H., Renshaw, T. L., Levin, M. E., & Twohig, M. P. (2023). School-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents with anxiety: A pilot trial. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 30(3), 436–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2022.02.021

Petersen, J. M., Capel, L. K., Levin, M. E., & Twohig, M. P. (2022). Moderators and processes of change in a pilot randomized controlled trial of acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy for trichotillomania in adolescents. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 35, Article 100757. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2022.100757

Related News

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Penn GSE Faculty Publications: Summer 2026

News | September 08, 2026

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A look at some of the books, articles, and chapters published by Penn GSE faculty and researchers this summer.

New Faculty Spotlight: Julie Petersen on Helping Children Thrive

News | August 31, 2026
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The assistant professor's research explores how to make evidence-based mental health care more effective and more accessible for children, adolescents, and families—and why early support can change lives.

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