The Lives in the Balance Scientific Advisory Board is comprised of a select group of nationally and internationally recognized researchers in mental health, and advises Lives in the Balance on its research initiatives and priorities: 

Caryn L. Carlson, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Associate Chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas.  She received her doctorate in in psychology in 1984 from the University of Georgia. She completed postdoctoral work at Indiana University and was for three years a faculty member in the psychology department at Virginia Tech. She joined the UT faculty in 1989. For most of her career, her research program, funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health, examined a number of aspects of the functioning of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Dr. Carlson in recent years has changed the focus of her work to the field of Positive Psychology and well-being. Positive Psychology is a movement expressive of the outlook that the science of psychology can be utilized not only to reduce human suffering, but also to enhance our potential. The positive psychology approach employs scientific methodology to elucidate factors relevant to understanding and promoting what is good in people -- including positive emotions, character strengths and virtues (e.g., wisdom, valor, and generosity), as well as health, well-being, and life satisfaction. She received the 2009 Raymond Dickson Centennial Endowed Teaching Fellowship, which recognizes teaching excellence in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas, and the 2010 Eyes of Texas Award for excellence in service to the University.

Jean Frazier, M.D., is Vice Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. She directs a broad research program that addresses a variety of scientific problems relevant to advancing the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. Dr. Frazier collaborates with a number of investigators both locally and nationally in order to tackle difficult research questions.  Dr. Frazier was previously associated with Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), where she was the Director of Child Psychopharmacology, Co-director of the Center for Child and Adolescent Development and Director of the Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatric Research Program.  She received her medical degree at Dartmouth Medical School and served her residency in adult psychiatry at New England Medical Center. She completed a clinical fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Bradley Hospital, a major teaching hospital for Brown University. She also completed a research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health. Frazier, who is widely published and has received numerous honors for her work, serves on several national committees and editorial boards.

Matthew A. Jarrett, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama. He received his doctoral degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and completed a pre-doctoral internship at Children’s National Medical Center. His research and clinical interests are in the field of developmental psychopathology, particularly in the areas of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety disorders. His current research explores aspects of neuropsychological functioning and co-occurring symptomatology in children with ADHD. Current projects include the development and evaluation of an intervention for children with ADHD and anxiety as well as a pilot project examining the efficacy of working memory training for children with ADHD and anxiety. Dr. Jarrett will also be working to develop a child anxiety clinic over the next year.

Peter Jensen, M.D., is President & CEO of the REACH Institute and Professor of Psychiatry and Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry & Psychology at the Mayo Clinic.  Dr. Jensen established the REACH Institute in May 2006, following service as Founding Director of the Center for the Advancement of Children’s Mental Health at Columbia University. Before joining Columbia as its Ruane Professor of Child Psychiatry (2000-2007), he was Associate Director of Child and Adolescent Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). While at NIMH (1989-2000), Dr. Jensen was the lead NIMH investigator on the landmark study of Multimodal Treatment of ADHD (“The MTA Study”), as well as investigator on other national multi-site studies. A world-renowned child psychiatrist, Dr. Jensen is a passionate advocate for children with emotional and behavioral disorders and their families. His major work and research interests include identifying, disseminating, and implementing evidence-based mental health treatments.  

Thomas H. Ollendick, Ph.D., is University Distinguished Professor in Clinical Psychology and Director of the Child Study Center at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He is the author of over 300 research publications, 60 book chapters, and 25 books. His books include Clinical Behavior Therapy with Children (Plenum Press), Developmental Issues in the Clinical Treatment of Children (Allyn and Bacon), Phobic and Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Clinician’s Guide to Effective Psychosocial and Pharmacological Interventions (Oxford), and Handbook of Interventions that Work with Children and Adolescents (Wiley). He is the past Editor of the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, past Associate Editor of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, current Editor of Behavior Therapy, and founding Co-Editor of Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. He also serves on the editorial boards of 16 other journals. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. The recipient of several NIH grants, his clinical and research interests range from the study of diverse forms of child psychopathology to the assessment, treatment, and prevention of these child disorders from a social learning/social cognitive theory perspective. He is the Principal Investigator on the largest study examining the effectiveness of Collaborative Problem Solving to date, funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health.