Faculty

Related Links
Clinical Child Psychology Program

Research Interests
Michael C. Roberts, Ph.D., ABPP, is Professor and Director of the Clinical Child Psychology Program. He graduated from Purdue University in clinical psychology with a specialization in clinical child psychology and interned at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma Children's Memorial Hospital).

Dr. Roberts has published close to 200 journal articles and book chapters revolving around the application of psychology to understanding and influencing children's physical and mental health. He frequently co-authors articles and chapters with students and graduates. He has authored or co-edited 19 books, including Handbook of Pediatric Psychology (4th edition), Handbook of Clinical Child Psychology, Handbook of Research Methods in Clinical Psychology, Handbook of Mental Health Services for Children, Adolescents, and Families, , Handbook of Evidence-Based Treatments for Children and Adolescents . He is the editor of the book series, Issues in Clinical Child Psychology, with Springer (formerly Plenum/Kluwer).

His research interests have been focused on general issues in clinical child and pediatric psychology, psychotherapeutic outcomes, program evaluation, and professional issues, including ethics and training. Previously and with some continuing projects, Roberts' work has focused on prevention, especially injury control. Specifically, current interests and activities on the research team include:

1. children's and parents' perceptions of pediatric and psychological conditions and treatments; treatment adherence issues; chronic illness: adjustment and adherence;
2. program evaluation and mental health service delivery (psychotherapeutic outcomes);
3. positive psychology and children's development, especially hope and benefit finding;
4. consulting with the World Health Organization on the revision of the International Classification of Diseases-10 focusing on the chapter for mental and behavioural codes; conducting literature searches; designing and conducting formative research projects on the architecture, organization, and content of the ICD classification system (Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, WHO).

Currently the Editor of the APA journal, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Dr. Roberts has served as the Editor for Journal of Pediatric Psychology; Children's Health Care; and Children's Services: Social Policy, Research, and Practice, and as Associate Editor for Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. He is the editor of the book series, Issues in Clinical Child Psychology, with Springer (formerly Plenum/Kluwer).

Dr. Roberts has been president of the Society of Pediatric Psychology, the APA Section on Clinical Child Psychology, and chair of the APA Committee on Children, Youth, and Families and on the APA Board of Professional Affairs. He has served two terms as chair of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology, and he served as the Society of Pediatric Psychology representative to the APA Council of Representatives. He is Chair-elect of the APA Council of Editors. He has served on grant review panels, most recently on a study section for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Roberts chairs the Interdivisional Task Force for Children's Mental Health. Dr. Roberts is a 2006 recipient of the APA Award for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Training, the 2008 Levin Award for Mentoring from the Society of Pediatric Psychology, the 2009 Beverly Thorn Award for Outstanding DCT Service, and the 2008 APA Education Advocacy Distinguished Service Award.

Selected Publications
Walker, C. E., & Roberts, M. C. (Eds.). (2001). Handbook of clinical child psychology (3rd ed.). New York: Wiley.

Steele, R. G., & Roberts, M. C. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of mental health services for children, adolescents, and families. New York: Kluwer/Plenum Academic.

Steele, R. G., Elkin, D., & Roberts, M. C. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents. New York: Springer.

Roberts, M. C., & Steele, R. C. (Eds.). (2009). Handbook of pediatric psychology (4th ed.). New York: Guilford.

Roberts, M. C., & James, R. L. (2008). Empirically supported treatments and evidence-based practice for children and adolescents. In R. G. Steele, D. Elkin, & M. C. Roberts (Eds.).Handbook of evidence-based therapies for children and adolescents (pp. 9-24). New York: Springer