New Faculty Spotlight: Julie Petersen on Helping Children Thrive

For Julie Petersen, improving youth mental health begins with a simple but powerful belief: early support can change lives. As a clinical psychologist and researcher, she studies how to make evidence-based mental health interventions more effective and accessible, particularly for children, adolescents, and families who may not be able to access traditional weekly therapy. At Penn GSE, she plans to build on that work by collaborating across disciplines and partnering with young people themselves to shape future research.

In this conversation, Petersen discusses what first drew her to this work, why she believes educators and families play such an important role in children's well-being, and the promising directions she sees for expanding access to effective care. She also shares the books she most often recommends and what excites her about joining the Penn GSE community.

What first drew you to the study of youth mental health, and what continues to motivate your work today?

Julie Petersen: I love working with young people and feel inspired by their creativity and vibrancy! Youth mental health specifically stood out to me from the beginning of my clinical training because of the potential impact you can have on someone’s life and family. Intervening early, and providing support and skills, can positively change the developmental trajectory in beautiful ways.

I am motivated by the strong and resilient youth and families that I have worked with across the United States from my research, clinical work, and teaching. Their victories and challenges act as crucial reminders of why I work so hard to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of effective mental health care for young people and the people who care for them.

Anxiety and related mental health challenges among young people have received growing public attention in recent years. What do you think educators and families most need to understand about what children and adolescents are experiencing today?

JP: Children and adolescents are in the midst of a mental health crisis. However, not all hope is lost, and we do have evidence-based skills and resources available that can help. It is important to remember that, as an adult, you do not need to solve a child’s problem or make their suffering disappear to have a noteworthy impact. There is power in validation, practicing willingness to experience discomfort, and modeling flexibility in the face of challenging situations and emotions. Showing young people that they do not need to always be happy or have all the answers to live a meaningful life is crucial.

Your research focuses on making mental health interventions more effective and accessible for young people. What are some promising directions you see for improving support for children and families?

JP: I am most enthusiastic about work that creatively makes evidence-based interventions more accessible to youth and families in need. We already know a good amount about what works for youth mental health symptoms, but many people cannot engage in the traditional weekly therapy model. Creative research on brief interventions that can be delivered online or via accessible avenues (e.g., schools, community centers, summer camps) for diverse populations and needs is therefore especially promising in my eyes.

I also love the growing emphasis on involving community members in research and academic work. I am looking forward to involving youth as partners in my own lab at Penn GSE. Youth have traditionally not been involved in research focusing on their mental health, so it is exciting when researchers incorporate their perspectives. The creative potential and lived experience of many young people can provide crucial knowledge for improving our understanding of mental health interventions. We want the skills for young people to be relevant, meaningful, and effective, so we might as well ask them what they think!

For readers who want to better understand how to improve youth mental health, are there any books or writers you often recommend?

JP: I love to recommend workbooks or self-help books for families that focus on transdiagnostic skills—in other words, strategies that are applicable for a wide variety of mental health symptoms. For parents of younger children, I’d recommend The Joy of Parenting by Drs. Lisa Coyne and Amy Murrell and/or The ACT Workbook for Kids by Dr. Tamar Black. For adolescents, Your Life, Your Way by Drs. Joseph Ciarrochi and Louise Hayes is great. Dr. Regine Galanti also has some great books for youth with anxiety specifically.

What excites you most about joining the Penn GSE community?

JP: Working at Penn GSE is a dream come true! The interdisciplinary work and collaborative opportunities with the amazing scholars at Penn GSE are unmatched. Penn GSE breaks down traditional academic silos, and I am looking forward to incorporating perspectives from education, human development, and more into my existing research program. I also value Penn GSE’s community-oriented initiatives like Together for Good and its connection to the people of Philadelphia, both of which closely align with my personal and professional values of equity and social justice.