Research
Current Projects
Recent Publications
Recent Presentations
Current Projects
-
NWI IMPETUS: Identification and Management of Pediatric Experiences of Trauma and Underlying Stress
-
VR-FUTURES: Virtual Reality for Understanding Trauma and Utilizing Regulation when Experiencing Stress
-
CTRJJ: Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice | CTDTD: Center for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders
-
B.R.A.V.E. University: Brain-Responsive Approaches with Vulnerability and Empathy
Past Projects
-
Coronavirus Family Impact Project
Dr. Zelechoski's anxiety about how she was going to manage her own family through the pandemic prompted our lab to take action in the way we know best...to study the impact on parents and children before, during, and after the pandemic unfolds. This project surveyed parents about the impact of COVID-19 on their stress and the emotional and behavioral functioning of their children over a 3-month period before, during, and after many states' stay-at-home orders were lifted. We will soon begin collecting five-year follow-up data - stay tuned!
-
Project LISTEN
As nationwide efforts continue toward trauma-informed child welfare and juvenile justice systems, we sought to identify more comprehensive trauma assessment methods for juvenile justice-involved youth. This project primarily took place at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles, CA and the focus was on exploring creative and impactful ways to better understand the life experiences and circumstances that place youth at risk for legal system involvement. We also explored differences between urban and rural youth and discrepancy between youth and their parents/caregivers in reporting trauma history and impact.
-
Child Custody Evaluation
In collaboration with Dr. David Weinstock and Dr. John Moran, this project incorporated the well-established structured professional judgment framework used in criminal forensic assessment contexts to develop a more comprehensive and empirically-based family assessment tool. Following an extensive review of the empirical literature and completion of expert focus groups, a pilot version of the family assessment was developed to serve as a first step toward the long-term goal of validating and disseminating a tool for mental health professionals who work with court-involved families.
-
Teaching Psychology & Law
In collaboration with Dr. Christina L. Riggs Romaine and Dr. Melinda Wolbransky, we completed a two-year, multi-site empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of incorporating experiential activities into Psychology and Law courses. This study culminated in the publication of a teaching activities book for college and university instructors, which provides a wide variety of experiential and simulation activities covering all of the topics typically included in forensic psychology and psychology and law textbooks (with adaptations for online courses!). For additional information, check out this article on experiential learning in undergraduate psychology and law courses and this blog post on the importance of experiential learning activities.
Recent Publications
-
Zelechoski, A. D., Baetz, C.L., Thompson, K., Roberts, E., & Cenzon, E. (in press). Conducting forensic mental health assessments with youth: A trauma-informed approach. In K. Heilbrun & D. DeMatteo (Eds)., Community-Based Psychological Services with Justice-Involved Individuals. Oxford University Press.
Modrowski, C., Kemp, K., & Zelechoski. A.D. (in press). Applying trauma-informed care across the SIM: Individual and systemic considerations. In P. Griffin, M. Munetz, K. Heilbrun, K. Kemp, N. Bonfine, C. Giallella, & R. Simera (Eds)., The Sequential Intercept Model and Criminal Justice: Promoting Community Alternatives for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness. Oxford University Press.
Zelechoski, A.D., Bohner, J., & Perry, B.D. (2024). Beyond recidivism: Reconceptualizing success through relational health for trauma-exposed youth experiencing juvenile justice involvement. Frontiers in Psychology, 15: 1263451.
Goldstein, N.E.S., Serico, J.M., Haney-Caron, E., Giallella, C., Kalbeitzer, R., Zelechoski, A.D., Riggs Romaine, C.L., & Kemp, K. (2023). Juvenile Justice Anger Management (JJAM) Treatment for Girls: Facilitator Guide and Participant Materials. Oxford University Press.
Zelechoski, A. D., Cross, H. L., Luehrs, R., Freedle, A., Bruick, S., Harrison, K., Hayrynen, A., Hrebic, L., Dibley, E., & Will, K (2021). Trauma assessment in juvenile justice: Are we asking the right questions in the right ways? Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 30, 324-346.
Zelechoski, A. D., Lindsay, R., & Heusel, L. (2020). Trauma-informed child custody evaluation as delinquency prevention. In R. A. Javier, E. Owen, & J. Maddux (Eds.), Assessing Trauma in Forensic Contexts (pp. 201-226). New York, NY: Springer.
McAuliff, B. D., Hunt, J. S., Levett, L. M., Zelechoski, A. D., Scherr, K. C., & DeMatteo, D. (2019). Taking the next steps: Promoting open science and expanding diversity in Law and Human Behavior. Law and Human Behavior, 43, 1-8.
Taube, D. O., Scroppo, J., & Zelechoski, A. D. (2018). Nine risk management lessons for practitioners. Practice Innovations, 3, 271-283.
Zelechoski, A. D., Wolbransky, M., & Riggs Romaine, C. L. (2018). Activities for teaching psychology and law courses: A guide for instructors. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Zelechoski, A. D., Riggs Romaine, C. L., & Wolbransky, M. (2017). Teaching psychology and law: An empirical evaluation of experiential learning.Teaching of Psychology, 44, 222-231.
Recent Presentations & Workshops
-
Fischer, Z. Clark, E., Reillo, G., Baetz, C., Campbell, E., McCarron, S., & Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, June). Brief interventions for pediatric stress symptoms as gateway to trauma-focused services. Poster to be presented at the 5th International Symposium on Single Session Therapy (SST5), Chicago, IL.
Clark, E., Fischer, Z., Reillo, G., Baetz, C., Campbell, E., McCarron, S., & Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, June). Pilot outcomes of a trauma-focused brief intervention model in an outpatient pediatric healthcare setting. Poster to be presented at the 5th International Symposium on Single Session Therapy (SST5), Chicago, IL.
Harley, C., Knable, E., Dempsey, A. E., Moreland, J., Toth, K., Wallace, A., Rizzo, A., Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, June). VR-FUTURES: Virtual reality for understanding trauma and utilizing regulation when experiencing stress. Poster to be presented at the 5th International Symposium on Single Session Therapy (SST5), Chicago, IL.
Knable, E., Harley, C., Dempsey, A. E., Moreland, J., Toth, K., Wallace, A., Rizzo, A., Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, June). Enter a new reality: VR-FUTURES teaches emotion regulation skills to youth through innovative VR technology. Demonstration presentation to be presented at the 5th International Symposium on Single Session Therapy (SST5), Chicago, IL.
Fischer, Z. Clark, E., Reillo, G., Campbell, E., Baetz, C., McCarron, S., & Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, June). Lessons in implementation: Preliminary comparisons between brief interventions in pediatric clinics and community-based skills workshops. Poster to be presented at the APA Division 53: Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology conference, Chicago, IL.
Clark, E., Reillo, G., Fischer, Z., Baetz, C., Campbell, E., McCarron, S., & Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, June). The relationship between demographic factors, pediatric traumatic stress symptom severity, and participation in integrated pediatric brief intervention services. Poster to be presented at the APA Division 53: Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology conference, Chicago, IL.
Zelechoski, A. D., Cenzon, E., Fischer, Z., Taylor, R. (2025, April). New frontiers in psychology: Balancing ethics and innovation. Continuing education workshop presented for the Indiana Psychological Association, Evansville, IN.
Clark, E., Fischer, Z., Baetz, C., Campbell, E., McCarron, S., & Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, April). Implementing the care process model for pediatric traumatic stress: Year 1. Poster to be presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association conference, Chicago, IL.
Fischer, Z., Clark, E., Baetz, C., Campbell, E., McCarron, S., Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, April). The importance of staff engagement in developing trauma-responsive pediatric care. Poster to be presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association conference, Chicago, IL.
Brooks, E., Cenzon, E., Bruick, V., Theriault, R., Cruise, K., & Zelechoski, A.D. (2025, March). Unlocking science: Digital infographic dissemination of juvenile justice and trauma research. Poster to be presented at the annual conference of the American Psychology-Law Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Zelechoski, A. D. (2024, October). Implementing the Neurosequential Model in Northwest Indiana. Invited talk presented for the CoAction Reimagine Conference, Valparaiso, IN.
Zelechoski, A. D. (2024, September). Post-pandemic: moving from collective trauma to relational health. Invited talk presented for the Porter County Justice Partners Addiction Response (JPAR) Conference, Valparaiso, IN.
Zelechoski, A. D. (2024, May). NWI IMPETUS: Northwest Indiana identifying and managing pediatric experiences of trauma and underlying stress. Invited presenter at symposium entitled “Innovative practices: Supporting youth, families, and communities experiencing community violence,” for the NCTSN All-Network Conference, Bethesda, MD.