In the Headlines
Recent Publication on Prolonged Grief by the TREND UP Lab
Graduate student Dani Spencer-Laitt, part of Dr. Todd Farchione's TREND UP Lab, and colleagues recently published a paper titled: Positive Emotion Regulation in Prolonged Grief and Other Emotional Disorders in Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice.
More details can be found here: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2027-66285-001
CARD Hosts 15th Annual “Brave Bunch”
"Brave Bunch" took place from August 3rd-7th this year! The BU CARD Brave Bunch Program provides specialized, evidence-based care for young children with selective mutism that takes place every August. Led by Dr. Rachel Merson, Brave Bunch is a one-week, group-based, intensive treatment program tailored to each child's needs. Activities focus on helping children to speak in a range of social situations in a supportive, exposure-based environment. Dr. Alyssa Farley serves as a supervising clinician alongside Dr. Merson, and graduate student and early-career clinicians serve as children's primary counselors. Together, the Brave Bunch team is dedicated to helping children overcome selective mutism and thrive at their schools and in their communities.
CARD Co-Sponsoring the 2026 Selective Mutism Association Conference
Selective Mutism Association Conference Flyer 2026
The BU Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders is excited to announce that we will be partnering with the Boston Child Study Center and the Selective Mutism Association (SMA) to co-sponsor this year's annual SMA conference, which will take place in Boston on September 25 and 26 at the Hilton Park Plaza Hotel.
We are thrilled to be able to bring this conference to Boston and hope that many local professionals and families will be able to benefit from the array of talks and learning opportunities planned. One of the unique things about the SMA conference is that it offers two complementary slates of programming, one geared specifically for parents and family members of individuals with selective mutism and one for professionals (e.g., therapists, school-based mental health providers, SLPs, teachers).
Program highlights include:
- Keynote address to be delivered by Dr. Phil Kendall the developer of The Coping Cat anxiety treatment program
- 1 and 1/2 days of live presentations for professionals and caregivers
- Up to 9 hours of CE credits for professionals
- Opportunity to connect with other members of the SM community at the Mix n’ Mingle
- Explore current research on SM and interact with researchers at poster presentations
- Listen to live “Hear Our Voices” panel of individuals recovering from SM
- Q&A with our panel of experts
To register and for more information click here: SMA Conference Registration
We hope to see many of you there!
Dr. Donna Pincus and Dr. Alyssa Farley Present at WCCBT 2026
Recent Publication on Preadolescents’ Perception of Parental Emotion Socialization by Dr. Stephanie Waslin
Dr. Stephanie Waslin and colleagues recently published a paper titled: Preadolescents’ Perceptions of Parental Emotion Socialization Responses to Positive Emotions: Links With Psychosocial Adjustment and Attachment Security
More details about the paper can be found here: https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316261445444
Adult Grief Group now open for Enrollment April 2026
Grief is a natural part of life. For many, grief is associated with intense emotional suffering, and for some, it can also lead to difficulty moving on with life or feeling like life is meaningless without the person who died. If you have lost a loved one at least 6 months ago and are struggling to cope, grief group might be for you. Grief group is an opportunity to gather with other people who have experienced loss and provides a safe, non-judgmental space to share emotions and struggles and learn new ways to live with your loss. During grief group, we will use an approach called the Unified Protocol. The Unified Protocol (UP) is a cognitive-behavioral therapy that has been very well-researched and shown to be effective for a range of emotional concerns. This group will help you learn skills to manage your emotions more effectively and hopefully start to feel better.
Benefits of grief group:
- Support and feedback from two group co-leaders and other individuals who have experienced loss
- Typically, lower costs relative to individual treatment
Group format and schedule
At CARD, grief groups typically include about 8 clients and are led by two doctoral student trainees supervised by a licensed psychologist at CARD. The group meets one evening per week for 90 minutes over the course 12 sessions (roughly 3 months).
Fee
Group fees are determined based on CARD’s group treatment sliding scale.
When is the next group starting?
We are currently open to new members for our group starting in May 2026. If you are interested in the group, please contact CARD at (617) 353-9610 to determine initial eligibility and be placed on the wait list for the next group.
Ready to get started?
- Complete our intake form here to get in touch with our phone screener: https://bu-card.titaniumhwc.com/adultintake
- Contact us if you have questions about our next start dates or if you are ready to get started.
CARD Clinicians and Directors Co-Author Chapter in Book: Executive Function and Emotional Regulation in the Classroom
Dr. Smith invited to speak at the Round the Regions Event at Hojoko – Rescheduled to Feb 9
Dr. Lisa Smith will join a panelists at the Round the Regions Event hosted by Massachusetts Restaurants United to hold a conversation about improving health and wellness in the hospitality industry. From healthcare options to mental health resources and burnout prevention, they will cover it all. Chefs, healthcare providers, and industry advocates will share practical tools and strategies for building a stronger and healthier hospitality workforce.
Location:
Hojoko | 1271 Boylston St Boston, MA
Time:
February 9, 2026 from 5:00pm to 7:30pm
For tickets to the event and more information, click the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/round-the-regions-tickets-1976672422426
Drs. Pincus, Merson & Farley Presenting at ABCT November 2025
Dr. Donna Pincus, Dr. Rachel Merson, and Dr. Alyssa Farley are presenting in collaboration with colleagues from Cornell University and George Mason University. Their presentation is entitled: "What to Do When More Worries Ring True: Flexibly Applying CBT Strategies to Address Youth Anxiety in 2025." will be delivered during the November 2025 Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Conference in New Orleans.
Adult Grief Group Now Open For Enrollment!
Grief Group
Grief is a natural part of life. For many, grief is associated with intense emotional suffering, and for some, it can also lead to difficulty moving on with life or feeling like life is meaningless without the person who died. If you have lost a loved one at least 6 months ago and are struggling to cope, grief group might be for you. Grief group is an opportunity to gather with other people who have experienced loss and provides a safe, non-judgmental space to share emotions and struggles and learn new ways to live with your loss. During grief group, we will use an approach called the Unified Protocol. The Unified Protocol (UP) is a cognitive-behavioral therapy that has been very well-researched and shown to be effective for a range of emotional concerns. This group will help you learn skills to manage your emotions more effectively and hopefully start to feel better.
Benefits of grief group:
- Support and feedback from two group co-leaders and other individuals who have experienced loss
- Typically, lower costs relative to individual treatment
Group format and schedule
At CARD, grief groups typically include about 8 clients and are led by two doctoral student trainees supervised by a licensed psychologist at CARD. The group meets one evening per week for 90 minutes over the course 12 sessions (roughly 3 months).
Fee
Group fees are determined based on CARD’s group treatment sliding scale.
When is the next group starting?
We are currently open to new members for our group starting in mid-late January 2026. If you are interested in the group, please contact CARD at (617) 353-9610 to determine initial eligibility and be placed on the wait list for the next group.
Ready to get started?
- Complete our intake form here to get in touch with our phone screener: https://bu-card.titaniumhwc.com/adultintake
- Contact us if you have questions about our next start dates or if you are ready to get started.