My research area of interest is the science of personalised interventions for children and young people. I approach this through a lens of transdiagnostic research in affective development and psychopathology. I use translational research methods to maximise impact, that includes:

(i) Transdiagnostic modelling of mental disorders. This includes innovations in studying common risk factors that underpin emerging mental illness across childhood and adolescence. I am particularly interested in (i) comorbid internalising and externalising problems, and (ii) multiple pathways in emotional disorders emerging in young people. 

(ii) Evidence-based practice in psychological interventions. The work attempts to address the research-practice gap in child and adolescent mental health. I study the utility of psychotherapy for common mental health problems such as disruptive behaviour, externalising problems, and depression, as well as factors that may either predict or moderate treatment outcomes. My work emphasises the salience of family-based interventions and how parental/family influence treatment outcomes from psychotherapy for young people.

(iii) Mental health service research where the focus is on implementing new systems of transdiagnostic assessment and treatment for children and young people. To that end, I have been focused on 'staged care' which is an integrated care model that promotes prevention of common affective illnesses among young people.

Current research interests

Clinical child and family psychology: depression; comorbid externalising and internalising problems; family-based influences on child neurodevelopment and mental health (e.g., parenting, parent cognition; attachment; early adverse experiences), and child risk characteristics (e.g., temperament, emotion dysregulation, neurobiology).