Divya Kumar | Clinical |Best Researcher Award

Dr. ā€ŒDivya Kumar |Clinical| Best Researcher Award

Dr at McLean Hospital, United States

Divya Kumar is a dedicated clinical psychologist with a focus on affective disorders and behavioral interventions. Currently completing a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Divya’s research and clinical experiences span various settings, including academic institutions and healthcare facilities. With expertise in positive affect dysregulation and depression treatment, Divya has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented at national conferences. Their commitment to teaching and mentorship is evident through roles as an instructor and teaching assistant. Divya’s comprehensive training and contributions to the field make them a valuable asset in clinical research and practice.

Profile

 

šŸ“šEducationĀ 

McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School Belmont, MA Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Clinical Psychology July 2023 ā€“ Present Pre-Doctoral Intern, Clinical Psychology July 2022 – June 2023 Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX Doctoral Candidate, Clinical Psychology July 2023 Advisor: Alicia E. Meuret, Ph.D. Dissertation: A randomized controlled trial of brief behavioral activation plus savoring for positive emotion dysregulation in university students Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology August 2020 Advisor: Alicia E. Meuret, Ph.D. Thesis: Walking on the bright side: Associations between depression, affect, and gait Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology December 2014

Honours and awards šŸ†

šŸ† 2024 Career Development Leadership Program Anxiety and Depression Association of AmericašŸŽ“ 2017 ā€“ 2023 University Ph.D. Fellowship Award Southern Methodist UniversityšŸ… 2022 Virginia Roswell Student Dissertation Award Association of Behavioral and Cognitive TherapiesšŸ”¬ 2019 President Partnerā€™s Grant Southern Methodist University (CO-I: Alicia Meuret)šŸŽ–ļø 2019 Honorable Mention for Graduate Research Fellowship Program National Science FoundationšŸ„‡ 2019 Graduate Student Research Day Award Dedman College, Southern Methodist University

manuscripts in peer reviewed journals

Kumar, D., Corner, S., Kim, R., Meuret, A. (2024). A randomized controlled trial of brief behavioral activation plus savoring for positive affect dysregulation in university students. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 104525. Alvi, T., Kumar, D., Tabak, B. (2022). Social anxiety and behavioral assessments of social cognition: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 311, 17-30. Kumar, D., Villarreal, D. J., Meuret, A. E. (2021). Walking on the bright side: Relations between depression, affect, and gait. PLoS one, 16(12), e0260893. Kumar, D., Tully, L.M., Iosif, A.M., Nye, K.E., Zakskorn, L.N., Zia, A., Niendam, T.A. (2018). A mobile health platform for clinical monitoring in early psychosis: implementation in community-based outpatient early psychosis care. Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health, 5(1): e15. Niendam, T.A., Tully, L.M., Iosif, A.M., Kumar, D., Burch, K., Denton, J., Zakskorn, L., Fedechko, T., Pierce, K. (2018). Enhancing early psychosis treatment using smartphone technology Part I: Feasibility and validity. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 96, 239-246.

Clinical Experience šŸ„

Behavioral Health Partial Hospitalization Program, McLean Hospital Belmont, MA Psychology Intern | July 2022 ā€“ July 2023As a psychology intern, I provided brief intervention for patients in the partial hospital program, drawing skills from CBT, ACT, and DBT. Additionally, I led and co-led skills-based groups on empirically supported therapies weekly. Moreover, I provided individual ERP therapy through the McLean Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Institute as part of a 3-month rotation and individual psychotherapy through the McLean OnTrack Early Psychosis Clinic. šŸ©ŗTreatment for Affective Dimensions Study, Dallas, TX Study Therapist | August 2018 ā€“ June 2022In this role, I provided psychotherapy related to increasing positive affect through behavioral activation, positive cognitive strategies, and mindfulness practices. I also offered psychotherapy related to decreasing negative affect through inhibitory learning model exposures, cognitive restructuring, and respiratory biofeedback. Furthermore, I conducted structured diagnostic evaluations (SCID-5) for study intake. šŸ§ SMU Psychology Clinic, Dallas, TX
Advanced Practicum Student | June 2021 ā€“ June 2022At the SMU Psychology Clinic, I provided structured diagnostic interviews and individual psychotherapy via telehealth to adult clients in Dallas using empirically-supported treatments such as CBT, ACT, and CPT. Additionally, I conducted symptom-based evaluations of trauma in collaboration with the Human Rights Initiative of Dallas for individuals seeking legal citizenship through the U-VISA program and Violence Against Women Act. šŸ’¬Behavioral Activation plus Savoring Study, Dallas, TX
Principal Investigator/Study Therapist | July 2021 ā€“ June 2022In this position, I served as the principal study therapist, providing two sessions of brief behavioral activation plus savoring therapy for university students with low positive affect. I also created therapy manuals and homework assignments for a randomized controlled trial and trained master’s-level graduate students in delivering manualized treatment. šŸ“šVeteranā€™s Association North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX Practicum Student | August 2020 ā€“ June 2021During my time here, I provided individual psychotherapy via Telehealth utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Veterans for symptoms relating to depression, anxiety, and physical health. Additionally, I engaged in individual supervision to enhance competency in providing gender-affirming care. šŸ”

Additional Clinical Training Experience and Workshops šŸŽ“

In addition to my clinical experience, I’ve undertaken various training sessions and workshops to enhance my skills and knowledge in the field of psychology:

Positive Affect Treatment Training šŸŒŸInhibitory Exposure (Negative Affect Treatment Training) šŸ›‘Psychological Assessment Series Training: Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory šŸ“Psychological Assessment Series Training: Personality Assessment Inventory šŸ§ Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics šŸ’­Treatment for Affective Disorders šŸŒˆCapnometry-Assisted Respiratory Training šŸ’ØCognitive Processing Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder šŸ§ Integrated Psychosis Assessment Training šŸ”„Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) Training šŸ’¬Training in Applied Behavior Analysis for Children with Autism šŸ§©

 

Publications Top Notes šŸ“

 

  1. Enhancing Early Psychosis Treatment Using Smartphone Technology: A Longitudinal Feasibility and Validity Study
    • Journal: Journal of Psychiatric Research, 2018
    • Citations: 117
    • Authors: T.A. Niendam, L.M. Tully, A.M. Iosif, D. Kumar, K.E. Nye, J.C. Denton, …

 

  1. A Mobile Health Platform for Clinical Monitoring in Early Psychosis: Implementation in Community-based Outpatient Early Psychosis Care
    • Journal: JMIR Mental Health, 2018
    • Citations: 75
    • Authors: D. Kumar, L.M. Tully, A.M. Iosif, L.N. Zakskorn, K.E. Nye, A. Zia, T.A. Niendam

 

  1. Social Anxiety and Behavioral Assessments of Social Cognition: A Systematic Review
    • Journal: Journal of Affective Disorders, 2022
    • Citations: 23
    • Authors: T. Alvi, D. Kumar, B.A. Tabak

 

  1. Walking on the Bright Side: Associations Between Affect, Depression, and Gait
    • Journal: PLOS One, 2021
    • Citations: 7
    • Authors: D. Kumar, D.J. Villarreal, A.E. Meuret

 

  1. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Brief Behavioral Activation Plus Savoring for Positive Affect Dysregulation in University Students
    • Journal: Behaviour Research and Therapy, 2024
    • Authors: D. Kumar, S. Corner, R. Kim, A. Meuret