Education:

Postdoctoral Fellowship (NIMH), National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Boston Healthcare System
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University at Albany
B.A., Psychology, University at Albany

Licensure: Licensed Psychologist in Pennsylvania, New York

Clinical Interests: I work from an acceptance-based behavioral perspective. My clinical supervision group emphasizes the use of this type of approach with individuals struggling with anxiety disorders and other sequellae of traumatic experiences.

Research Interests: My research interests primarily relate to understanding processes of change in acceptance and mindfulness-based clinical interventions. I co-lead a research team with Dr. LeeAnn Cardaciotto, and this group has numerous ongoing projects related to assessment of these processes in various clinical and nonclinical populations, the interpersonal implications of mindfulness practice, and related topics.

Professional Memberships and Activities:
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
American Psychological Association

Courses Taught in the Doctoral Program: Human Behavior I: Developmental Bases

Adult Psychopathology

Practicum Seminar
Psychotherapy Laboratory

Courses Taught in the Undergraduate Program:

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology (Honors Program)

Developmental Psychology

Representative Scholarship

Block-Lerner, J., Wulfert, E., Moses, E. (in press).  ACT in context: An exploration of experiential acceptance. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice.

Block-Lerner, J., Holston, M., & Messing, M. (2008). Seeing through clearer eyes: Mindfulness and acceptance-based behavioral interventions in the school. In R. W. Christner and R. B. Mennuti (Eds.), School-based mental health: A practitioner’s guide to comparative practices. New York: Routledge Publishing.

Block-Lerner, J., Adair, K. C., Plumb, J. C., Rhatigan, D. L., & Orsillo, S. M. (2007). The case for mindfulness-based approaches in the cultivation of empathy: Does nonjudgmental, present-moment awareness increase capacity for perspective-taking and empathic concern? Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 501-516.

Block-Lerner, J., Salters-Pednault, K., & Tull, M. (2005). Assessment of mindfulness and experiential acceptance: Attempts to capture inherently elusive phenomena. In S. M. Orsillo and L. Roemer (Eds.), Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches to anxiety: Conceptualization and treatment. New York: Plenum Press/Kluwer Publishing.

Cardaciotto, L., Block-Lerner, J., Forsyth, J., Batten, S., Roemer, L., & Molnar, C. (2009, November). Mindfulness: A universal intervention in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Clinical roundtable presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.

Crozier, M., Holston, M. Saxton, V., Frum, D., Schoemaker, A., Murry, B., & Block-Lerner, J. (2009, November). Dispositional mindfulness skills as predictors of response to mindfulness-based interventions. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.

Orsillo, S.M., Roemer, L., Block-Lerner, J., LeJeune, C., & Herbert, J.D. (2004).  ACT with anxiety disorders. In S. C. Hayes and K. Strosahl (Eds.), A practical guide to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  New York: Plenum Press/ Kluwer Publishing.

Wright, T., Marks, D., Saxton, V., Johnson, A., Cardaciotto, L., & Block-Lerner, J. (2009, November). Does distress tolerance account for the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and psychological distress? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.

Peer-Reviewed Professional Conference Presentations (Selected):

Holston, M. A., Crozier, M., & Block-Lerner, J. (2008, November). Predictors of response to mindfulness-based practices. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, FL.

Sarubbi, A., Johnson, A., Marks, D., Skowron, A., Hunt, G., & Block-Lerner, J. (2008, November). Mindfulness as a predictor of compassionate motivation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, FL.

Marks, D., Sarubbi, A., Sposato, R., Patel, S., Hunt, T., & Block-Lerner, J. (2007, November). Measuring Upaya: The development of a mindful compassion scale. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Molnar, C., Erwin, B., Block-Lerner, J., & Cardaciotto, L. (2007, November). Integrating mindfulness practice and training into cognitive-behavioral interventions for emotional disorders: The way of a mindful cognitive-behavioral therapist. Clinical roundtable presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Wolanin, A., Marks, D., Block-Lerner, J., Manasseri, M., Deal, S., & Walters-Bugbee, S. (2007, November). The diagnostic utility of the Thought Action Fusion Scale. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, PA.

Block-Lerner, J. Marks, D., Solomon, S., Perry, J. F., Fink, S., Sposato, R., Deal, S., Barksdale, C. (2006, November). Memento Mori: Mindfulness as a moderator of mortality salience effects. In J. Block-Lerner (Chair), Facilitating mindfulness in the laboratory: Shedding light on processes of change and novel outcome measures. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, IL.

Block-Lerner, J. (2005, April). Cognitive behavioral therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Grand rounds presentation at Four Winds Psychiatric Hospital, Saratoga Springs, NY.

Block-Lerner, J., Hickman, S. D., Voth, R., Adair, K. C., & Berman, S. (2005, April). Bringing mindfulness to the next generation of psychotherapists. Panel discussion conducted at the annual meeting of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society, Worcester, MA.

Block-Lerner, J., Plumb, J. C., & Orsillo, S. M. (2003, November). Facilitating an experientially-accepting stance in the laboratory: Can we design manipulations to test mechanisms of change? In K. Salters and J. Block-Lerner (Chairs), Mindfulness and acceptance-based behavioral therapies: Methodologies and mechanisms. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston, MA.

Rhatigan, D. L., Block-Lerner, J., Plumb, J. C., Street, A., & Shipherd, J. C. (2003, October). Experiential avoidance, shame and PTSD symptoms in trauma survivors. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Chicago, IL.

Block, J., & Wulfert, E. (2002, May). Acceptance or change of private experiences: A comparative analysis in college students with a fear of public speaking. In R. Zettle (Chair), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Toronto, Ontario.

Canna, M. A., Blanchard, E. B., Freidenberg, B. M., Beck, J. G., Moore, E., & Block, J. (2001, November). The graduate school experience: A panel discussion dealing with the academic and personal opportunities and challenges within psychology doctoral programs. Panel discussion conducted at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Philadelphia, PA.

Block, J., & Wulfert, E. (2000, November). Conflict resolution style: The missing link in theories of adolescent problem behavior? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, LA.