Joan Liem

Dr. Liem’s research focuses on the adolescent to young adult transition among high risk adolescents. One line of research focuses on the long-term consequences of childhood sexual abuse. Employing a developmental psychopathology perspective, Dr. Liem has examined the effects of childhood sexual abuse on young adult self-esteem, depression, and self-destructive behavior, on increased vulnerability to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse in adult relationships, and on the need for power in adulthood. A second line of research focuses on the adolescent to young adult transition among adolescents who have dropped out of high school, examining both precursors and consequences of early school leaving. Employing an ecological-developmental perspective, this research examines the consequences for mental health and social functioning of early school leaving and the family and community supports young people need to get back on track and move successfully into adulthood. This work has been funded by a grant from the William T. Grant Foundation. Dr. Liem also teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on principles of psychotherapy, supervises graduate students’ clinical work in the University Counseling Center Practicum, and publishes on psychotherapy processes.

Recent Publications

Suyemoto, K.L. & Liem, J.H. with Jennifer C. Kuhn, Elizabeth A. Mongillo, and Jesse J. Tauriac (inpress). Training Therapists to Be Culturally Sensitive with Asian American Women Clients. Women and Therapy.
Liem, J.H. & Pressler, E. J. (2005) Addressing Relationship Concerns in Individual Psychotherapy: An Assimilative Integration. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 15,2, 186-212.
Dillon, C.O., Liem, J. H., and Gore, S. (2003) Navigating Disrupted Transitions: Getting Back on Track After Dropping Out of High School, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry.
Liem, J.H. , Dillon, C. O., & Gore, S. (2002). The Mental Health Consequences Associated with Dropping Out of High School. ERIC/CASS Resources in Education.
Liem, J.H. & Boudewyn, A. (1999) Contextualizing Childhood Sexual Abuse: An Attachment Theory Perspective. Child Abuse and Neglect, 23, 111141-1157.

Home Page

Office: McCormack, 4th floor, Room 264

Telephone: 617-287-6364
Email: joan.liem@umb.edu

Office Hours: W 10:30-11:30, Th 10:00-11:00