Research

Improving Mental Health Care Through Clinical Research

The Family Institute is dedicated to intervention – making a difference in the lives of families, couples and individuals from all walks of life. Through research, we scientifically investigate our interventions to better understand the therapeutic process and to develop improved treatments. As one of the leading centers for marriage and family therapy, with a large and diverse client population, The Family Institute is uniquely positioned to pursue path-breaking research on families and relationships.
The Institute's clinical research activities are focused on two areas:

• The process and determinants of how people change in psychotherapy
• Anxiety and mood disorders over the life course, within the context of the family

Research at The Family Institute is conducted under the auspices of Northwestern University's Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies. The Center is operated by The Family Institute and housed at our headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. All research projects receive approval from the Northwestern University Institutional Review Board to ensure protection to volunteer participants enrolled in studies.

Current Research Initiatives

• Psychotherapy Change Project
• Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Depression, Anxiety, Relationship Distress and Couples
• Parental Depression/Conflict and Social-emotional Functioning of Young Children

Support

The Research Program at The Family Institute is supported, in part, by gifts and grants from individuals, families and foundations. Your contribution will help us continue important research work and advance the science and practice of mental health care. To make a gift online, please click Donate Now. If you prefer to send your gift by mail, please call the Director of Development at 312-609-5300, ext. 484.

Research Department Faculty and Staff

Vickie Bhatia, Assistant Research Administrator

Danielle Black, PhD, Assistant Director, Anxiety Research Program

Anthony Chambers, PhD

C. Emily Durbin, PhD, Kovler Scholar

Lynne Knobloch-Fedders, PhD, Assistant Director for Research

Tara Latta, Research Administrator

Jay Lebow, PhD

Megan Mayberry, PhD, Madigan Family Postgraduate Fellow

William Pinsof, PhD, President

Kate Stroud, PhD, John J.B. Morgan Postgraduate Fellow

Richard Zinbarg, PhD, Patricia M. Nielsen Research Chair