The Marmarosh Lab
Cheri Marmarosh’s research is focused on the influence of mental representations of self and other on psychopathology, adjustment, and psychotherapy. Much of her work is grounded in attachment theory, with an emphasis on the impact that early relational experiences have on the development of schemas of self, others, and groups. She is particularly interested in learning how these internal representations impact overall adjustment, group dynamics, individual/couple/group therapy process, supervision, and treatment outcome.
Research Projects
Topics
- Studied Impact of race on novice clinicians’ axis II diagnoses using the SWAP
- Studying the Impact of race and ethnicity on dropout of psychotherapy
- In 2012, awarded a $25,000 UFF grant from the George Washington University to implement the Titanium system in the Clinic and track dropout.
Related Publications
Marmarosh, C., Bieri, K., Rice, K., Gunnia, K., Stuber, E., Nwigwe, M., & Sevilla, C. (2010). Using the SWAP-200 to teach psychodynamic concepts: Is it reliable, useful, And unbiased? Psychoanalytic Psychology, 27, 442-459.
Related Presentations
Marmarosh, C., Trumble, L., Miranda, M., Turner, S., Janowitch, L. (2012) Predicting Dropout in underserved populations. Poster presented at Division 29, the American Psychological Association’s Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
Topics
- Studies focus on how the therapists’ attachment styles interact with the patients’ attachment styles to facilitate or hinder therapy process and outcome.
- Studies address the relationship between adult attachment, attachment to the supervisor, and counseling self efficacy in second year doctoral clinicians.
- Initial studies were funded by The Samuels Foundation Fellowship through the George Washington University Psychiatry Department and the Washington Center for Psychoanalysis. The Fellowship provided $15,000 dollars to support the research and allowed us to reimburse therapists and patients for their participation in this longitudinal study.
- In 2012, a new research project was funded by the Norine Johnson Grant through the Division of Psychotherapy (Division 29 of APA). This grant provided 20,000 dollars to incorporate video equipment in the Clinic. This will allow us to examine how therapist and patient attachment influence the process of rupture and repair in the early therapy relationship.
Related Publications
Marmarosh, C., Bieri, K., LaFauchi-Shutt, J., Barrone, K. Choi, J, & Kivlighan, D. (in review).The Secure Psychotherapy Base: Using Client and Therapist Attachment Styles to Predict Early Alliance. Revised and resubmitted to Psychotherapy.
Marmarosh, C., Choi, J., Moehringer, J., Nikityn, M., Farrioli, J., Kahn, S., Cerkevich, & Choi, J. (in review). Attachment and Supervision, Revised and Resubmitted to Psychotherapy.
Marmarosh, C. &, Kivlighan, D. (2012). Relationships among Client and Counselor Agreement about the Working Alliance, Session Evaluations, and Change in Client Symptoms Using Response Surface Analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology.
Marmarosh, C., Gelso, C., Majors, R., Markin, R, Mallery, C., & Choi, J. (2009). The real relationship in psychotherapy: Relationships to adult attachments, working alliance, transference, and therapy outcome. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56, 337-350.
Marmarosh, C., Whipple, R., Schettler, M., Pinhas, S., Wolf, J, & Sayit, S. (2009). Therapist and patient mental representations: The early therapy relationship in long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 57, 432-438.
Related Presentations
Marmarosh, C., Bieri, K., Schutt, J., Barrone, C., & Choi, J. (2011). The Secure Psychotherapy Base: Using Client and Therapist Adult Attachment Styles to Predict Changes in Alliance and Therapy Outcome, Poster at the American Psychological Association, Division 39, Washington, D.C.
Buenaventura, A., Crawford, C., Kardel, E., Olson, P., & Marmarosh, C. (2011). Changes in Symptoms and Changes in Internal Representations of Early Caregivers, Poster at the American Psychological Association, Division 39, Washington, D.C.
Marmarosh, C., Casey, J., Cerkevich, A., Ferraioli, L., Kahn, S., Moehringer, J., Nikityn, M., & Salerno, J. (2011). Attachment and Supervision: Fostering the Real Relationship and Counseling Self-Efficacy, Poster at the American Psychological Association, Division 29, Washington, D.C.
Marmarosh, C., Bieri, K., Zayde, A., Heller, C., Graham, M., Logan, A., Cohen, D., Spooner, A., & Brandt, J. (2009). Measuring self object needs in psychodynamic psychotherapy: Bridging social psychology, personality theory, and psychoanalysis. Poster at the American Psychoanalytic Association’s Winter Conference, New York City.
Marmarosh, C. (2008) Symposium presentation: Attachment Changes: A preliminary study exploring the interaction between client and therapist attachment. The International Society for Psychotherapy Research, Barcelona, Spain.
Marmarosh, C., Nwigwe, M., K., Beran, S., Sevilla, C., Stuber, E., Brieri, K., & Gunnia, K. (2008) Client attachment style and therapist rated processes. Poster at the American Psychological Association, Division 29, Boston.
Marmarosh, C., Schettler, M., Wolf, J., Sayit, S., Whipple, R., Pinhas, S., & Wohl, R. (2007) Therapist and patient mental representations: The early therapy relationship in long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy. Poster at the American Psychoanalytic Winter Conference, New York City.
Marmarosh, C. (2007) Chair of symposium on therapist and client attachment and the Early psychotherapy relationship: The trainee experience. The American Psychological Association, Division 39 Hospitality Suite, San Francisco, California.
Marmarosh, C. (2007) The real relationship: Moving forward. Presentation honoring the achievement of Charles Gelso. The American Psychological Association, San Francisco, California.
Marmarosh, C., Majors, R., Gelso, C., Doeschik, E., & Markin, R. (2006) Attachment styles, the real relationship, and the therapeutic alliance: Relationships to therapy Outcome. International Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR), Scotland.
Marmarosh, C., Majors, R., Gelso, C., Doeschik, E., & Markin, R. (2005) The real relationship in psychotherapy and its relationship to the therapeutic alliance over the course of psychotherapy. American Psychological Association Conference. Division 29 Poster. Washington, D.C.
Topics
- Studied group attachments and relationship to adjustment.
- Studied group attachments and attitudes about group therapy.
- Future research exploring leader and member attachment as they relate to the development to group climate and group attachment
- Future research exploring group dynamics in graduate education
Related Books and Chapters
Marmarosh, C. & Markin, R., & Spiegel, E. (2013). Attachment in Group Psychotherapy. Washington, DC: The American Psychological Association.
Marmarosh, C., Dunton, E., & Ammendola, C. How to establish change conditions in group work. Accepted proposal in the series, Group Work Practice Kit, by Sage Publishers. October 15, 2012.
Marmarosh, C. & Markin, R. Group Therapy for Attachment Disorders. In the Handbook of Group Psychotherapy. Edited by Maria Riva. Turned in March 2012.
Marmarosh, C. & VanHorn, S. (2010). Group cohesiveness. In The Oxford Handbook of Group Psychotherapy. Edited by Bob Conyne. (pp 137-163).
Related Publications
Hammond, E. & Marmarosh, C. (2011). Group members’ attachment styles and reactions to the leaders transfer. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 61, 597-619.
Markin, R., & Marmarosh, C. (2010). Group and personal attachments and transference in group psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, Practice, & Training, 47, 111-121.
Marmarosh, C., Whipple, R., Schettler, M., Pinhas, S., Wolf, J., & Sayit, S. (2009). Patient group attachments and attitudes about group psychotherapy. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 13, 255-264.
Marmarosh, C. (2009). Multiple attachments and group psychotherapy: Implications for college counseling centers. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 59, 461-490.
Marmarosh, C., Whipple, R., Schettler, M., Pinhas, S., Wolf, J., Sayit, S., & Wohl, R. (2009). Patient group attachments and attitudes about group psychotherapy. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 57, 423-431.
Marmarosh, C. (2009). Attachment styles and group leadership. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 59, 281-286.
Marmarosh, C. & Markin, R. (2007) Group and personal attachments: Two is better than one when predicting college adjustment. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, & Practice, 11, 153-164.
Marmarosh, C., Franz, V., Koloi, M., Majors, R., Rahimi, A., Ronquillo, J., Somberg., R., Swope, J., Zimmer, K. (2006). Therapists’ group attachments and patients’ perceptions of group therapy treatment. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 56, 325-338.
Marmarosh, C., Holtz, A., & Shottenbauer, M. (2005). Group cohesiveness, group derived collective self-esteem, group derived hope, and the well-being of group therapy members. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 9, 32-44.
Related Presentations
Marmarosh, C., Pinhaus, S., Whipple, R., Schettler, M., Wolf, J., & Sayit, S. (2007) Patient group attachment and attitudes about group psychotherapy. Poster at the American Psychological Association, Division 49, San Francisco, California.
Marmarosh, C., Whipple, R., Pinhas, S., Wohl, R., Wolf, R., Schettler, M., & Sayit, S. (2007) Patient adult attachment and their attitudes about group psychotherapy. Poster at the American Psychoanalytic Winter Conference, New York City.
Marmarosh, C., Franz, V., Koloi, M., Majors., R., Rahimi, A., Ronquillo, J., Somberg, R., Swope, J., & Zimmer, K. (2005). Therapists’ group attachments and clients’ perceptions of group therapy treatment. American Psychological Association, Division 49 Poster. Washington, D.C.
Topics
- Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we are focusing on the impact of transfer on novice clinicians, patients, and the therapy relationship before and after the transfer.
- Two Doctoral Students, Kate Bieri and Janina Brandt, were awarded the Samuels Foundation Fellowship to study the relationship of attachment to patient transfer.
- We are currently studying therapist attachment and perceptions of ruptures and repairs after the transfer of a new patient.
Related Presentations
Brandt, J., Bieri, K., Nikityn, M., Hill, E., & Marmarosh, C. (2011). All’s Well That Ends Well: Exploring Patients’ Experience of the Transfer Process, Poster at the American Psychological Association, Division 39, Washington, D.C.
Marmarosh, C., Thompson, B., McGivern, M., Hollman, S., & Hill, C. (2010). Therapist perceptions of the transfer process. Paper at the Society for Psychotherapy Research Conference. Asilomar, CA.
Logan, A., Bieri, K., Brandt, J., Zayde, A., Heller, C., Graham, M.,Cohen, D., Spooner, A., & Marmarosh, C. (2010). Transferring to a new therapist: Surviving the Psychotherapy Breakup. Paper at the Society for Psychotherapy Research Conference. Asilomar, CA.
Marmarosh, C., Thompson, B., McGivern, M., Hollman, S., & Hill, C. (2009). Therapist perceptions of the transfer process. Paper at the Mid-Atlantic Society for Psychotherapy Research Conference. Philadelphia, PA.
Zayde, A., Bieri, K., Brandt, J., Logan, A., Heller, C., Graham, M.,Cohen, D., Spooner, A., & Marmarosh, C. (2009). Transferring to a new therapist: Surviving the Psychotherapy Breakup. Paper at the Mid-Atlantic Society for Psychotherapy Research Conference. Philadelphia, PA.
Heller, C., Logan, A., Spooner, A., Zayde, A., Graham, M., Bieri, K., Brandt, J., Cohen, D., & Marmarosh, C. (2009). Transferring Therapists. Poster at the American Psychological Association, Division 29, Toronto, Canada.
Current Lab Members
Niles Muzyk
Currently a third year doctoral student in the George Washington University’s Psy.D. program, Niles is working as an extern at Marymount University's Counseling Center. He graduated summa cum laude from Fairfield University with a BA. in Psychology in 2012. In 2011 he was the recipient of the New England Psychological Association’s Honorary Undergraduate Scholar Award and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa that same year. With a research background in social psychology, he is currently interested in researching methods to reduce stigma against therapy and mental illness. He is a self-described generalist and a strong proponent of the idea that “everyone should have a therapist”.
Jaclyn Pembleton
Third year doctoral student in the GWU PsyD program and advanced extern in the Center Clinic. In 2012, she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from The College of William and Mary with a BS in Psychology. At W&M, she worked as a research assistant in a personality/social psychology lab, assisting with studies focusing on "the chills," approach/avoidance, and implicit/explicit motivation. She also worked extensively in undergraduate mental health outreach and peer health education. Her current research interests include attachment theory as well as the intersection of technology and mental health. She hopes to specialize in identity and life transitions, working with adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations.
Laura W. Reid
A third year graduate student in the GWU PsyD program, Laura is working as an extern at Marymount University's Counseling Center. Laura graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Middlebury College with BAs in Psychology, Spanish, and German. Her research focused primarily on language acquisition and pragmatics. In 2008, she published her first novel, Lo mejor sería que te rompieras el cuello, which explores the human trafficking industry in Latin America. She then went on to earn her MA in Hispanic Linguistics from Indiana University, where she continued to focus on pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and syntax. After graduating, she taught Spanish language, linguistics, and creative writing at the University of Missouri in St. Louis, before moving to DC to attend George Washington's PsyD program. She hopes to specialize in trauma and cross-cultural psychology.
Emily Robert
From Denver, Colorado, Emily is a third year graduate student in the GWU PsyD program working as an extern at The Lodge School. She graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Cornell University with a BA. in Psychology in 2012. Her honors thesis research analyzed the effects of pre-existing assumptions of genetic and environmental influences on perceived behavioral control. Emily has held psychology research assistant positions in Cornell's Personality Attachment and Control Lab and at the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, developing a mentorship program for children in the foster care system. Additionally, during summer, 2011, Emily worked as an assistant teacher at the Judge Baker Children's Center of Harvard University, a school for kids with a variety of mental health disorders. Emily plans to specialize in child and adolescent therapy and is currently interested in children's self-efficacy and self-identification, and the effects of their attachment styles on the therapeutic alliance.
Kelsie Salmen
A third year graduate student in GW's PsyD Program currently working as an extern at National Children's Medical Center (HALP Clinic). She received a BA in Psychology from Miami University in 2010. She went on to obtain an MS in Clinical Psychology at Loyola University Maryland in 2012, where she worked on a research team investigating geriatric patients' psychological adjustment to nursing homes. Kelsie's current research and clinical interests include neuropsychological assessment, Interpersonal Process Therapy, substance abuse counseling, risk and resiliency in adolescents following trauma, and the effect of attachment styles on stress management in children and adolescents.