Julie Wershler*

Julie is a current PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at UNB under the supervision of Dr. Mary Ann Campbell. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree (Honours Psychology) from the University of Calgary and worked as a research assistant before entering the Clinical Psychology program in Fall 2011.

Julie’s research and clinical interests are in the area of forensic psychology. Specifically, she has worked on research in the areas of psychopathy and case management of offenders. Her dissertation will focus on the role of resiliency in young offenders.

From April 2012 to April 2013 Julie was a research assistant for Dr. Ronis working on a needs assessment of vulnerable male youth in the Fredericton area. This study used a participatory research methodology, which involved training three vulnerable youth to be research assistants and collect data from other youth. Julie was involved in the supervision of the youth research assistants and in writing a report documenting the results of the needs assessment.

Awards

  • Doctoral Award: Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship - Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (2012-2015) - $105,000
  • School of Graduate Studies Travel Funding Award - University of New Brunswick (2013) - $300
  • Department of Psychology Conference Travel Funding Award - University of New Brunswick (2013) - $300
  • Snodgrass Prize for Graduate Statistics - University of New Brunswick (2012) - $200
  • Department of Psychology Conference Travel Funding Award - University of New Brunswick (2012) - $300
  • Master’s Award: Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship - Canadian Institutes of Health Research (2011-2012) - $17,500
  • Board of Governors Merit Award - University of New Brunswick (2011-2012) - $3,000
  • Arts Merit Award - University of New Brunswick (2011-2012) - $2,500
  • Student’s Union Faculty of Arts Lord Byron Award for Poster Presentation - University of Calgary (2010) - $1,000
  • Program in Undergraduate Research Experience (PURE) Award - University of Calgary (2010) - $4,500
  • Faculty of Psychology Academic Achievement Award - Honours Degree - University of Calgary (2010)
  • Faculty of Kinesiology Dean’s List - University of Calgary (2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008)
  • Louise McKinney Post-Secondary Scholarship for Academic Excellence - Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund (2008, 2009) - $2,500 per year
  • Thompson Scholarship - University of Calgary (2008) - $750
  • Undergraduate Merit Award - University of Calgary (2008) - $2,550
  • Jason Lang Scholarship for Academic Excellence - Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund (2006, 2007) - $1,000 per year
  • Alexander Rutherford Scholarship for Academic Excellence - Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund (2005) - $1,200

Publications

Backs-Dermott, B., Hamilton, K., Macrodimitris, S., Mothersill, K., Garinger, J., Luu, M., Wershler, J., & Ching, L. (2012). Transdiagnostic Group Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: An Efficacious and Cost-Effective Method Across Diverse Populations. Psynopsis, 34(4), 19.

Dyck, H., Campbell, M. A., Schmidt, F., & Wershler, J. (2013). Youth Psychopathic Traits and their Impact on Long-Term Criminal Offending Trajectories. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 11(3), 230-248.

Hamilton, K. E., Wershler, J. L., Macrodimitris, S. D., Backs-Dermott, B. J., Ching, L. E, & Mothersill, K. J. (2012). Exploring the effectiveness of a mixed-diagnosis cognitive behavioural therapy group (CBT) intervention across diverse populations. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19, 472-482.

Macrodimitris, S., Wershler, J., Hatfield, M., Hamilton, K., Backs-Dermott, B., Mothersill, K., Baxter, C., & Wiebe, S. (2011). Group cognitive behavioural therapy (GCBT) for patients with epilepsy and co-morbid depression and anxiety. Epilepsy and Behavior, 20, 83-88.

Presentations

Wershler, J., Ronis, S., Malcom, K., & Johnston, N. (2013, November). Family Links Between Maltreatment and Outcomes Among Vulnerable Male Youth. Paper to be presented at the annual conference of the National Council on Family Relations, San Antonio, Texas.

Wershler, J., Campbell, M. A., Wei, R., Canales, D., & Macaulay, A. (2013, July). A Retrospective Analysis of the Case Management of Mentally Ill Offenders in the Saint John Mental Health Court. Paper presented at the biennial conference of the International Congress of Law and Mental Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Wershler, J., Campbell, M. A., Doucette, N., & Earle, J. (2012, June). Concurrent Validity of the Youth Psychopathic Inventory in an Adult Forensic Sample. Paper presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Halifax, NS.

Wershler, J. L., Backs-Dermott, B. J., Macrodimitris, S. D., Hamilton, K. E., & Mothersill, K. J. (2011, May). The implementation of a cognitive behavioral therapy group for depression and anxiety across diverse clinical populations. Poster presented at the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies Conference, Toronto, Canada.

Wershler, J. L., Macrodimitris, S. D., Hamilton, K. E., Ching, L. E., Backs-Dermott, B. J., & Mothersill, K. J. (2010, November). Exploring the effectiveness of a mixed-diagnosis group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) intervention across diverse populations. Poster presented at the 5th Annual Students’ Union Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

Macrodimitris, S., Wershler, J., Hatfield, M., Hamilton, K., Backs-Dermott, B., Mothersill, K., Baxter, C., & Wiebe, S. (2010, November). Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for Patients with Epilepsy and Co-morbid Depression and Anxiety. Poster presented at the 5th Annual Students’ Union Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

Wershler, J. L., Ching, L. E., & Dobson, K. S. (2010, June). The Effects of Negative Mood on State Rumination. Poster presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association, Winnipeg, Canada.

Wershler, J. L., Ching, L. E., & Dobson, K. S. (2010, April). The Effects of Negative Mood on State Rumination. Presentation given at the annual Department of Psychology Student Research Conference, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

Wershler, J. L., Ching, L. E., & Dobson, K. S. (2009, November). The Effects of Mood on State Rumination. Poster presented at the 4th Annual Students’ Union Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.