Henny Alice Westra

Faculty & School/Dept.

Faculty of Health - Department of Psychology

Degrees

Ph.D. - 1993
University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada

Registered Psychologist Ontario - 2000

Selected Publications

Westra et al., (in press). Testing a Deliberate Practice Workshop for Developing Appropriate Responsivity to Resistance Markers. Psychotherapy. 

Westra, H.A. Motivational Interviewing in the Treatment of Anxiety (2012). New York: Guilford Press. Translations: Korean, Hebrew, Polish

Westra, H.A. & *Norouzian, N. (2018) Using motivational interviewing to manage process markers of ambivalence and resistance in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 42, 193-203.

Westra, H.A., Constantino, M.J., & Antony, M.M. (2016) Integrating MI with CBT for severe generalized anxiety disorder: An allegiance-controlled randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84, 768-782.

Aviram, A., Westra, H.A., Constantino, M.J., & Antony, M.M. (2016). Responsive management of early resistance in CBT for GAD. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 84, 783-794.

Hunter, J.A., Button, M.L., & Westra, H.A. (2014). Ambivalence and alliance ruptures in cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 43(3), 201-208.

Lombardi, D., Button, M., & Westra, H.A. (2014). Measuring Motivation: Change Talk and Counter-Change Talk in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 43, 12-21

Westra, H.A. & Aviram, A. (2013). Core Skills in Motivational Interviewing. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 50(3), 273-278.  

Westra, H. A., Aviram, A., & Doell, F. (2011). Extending Motivational Interviewing to the Treatment of   Major Mental Health Problems: Current Directions and Evidence. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 56(11), 643-650.

Aviram, A. & Westra, H.A. (2011). The Impact of Motivational Interviewing on Resistance in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Psychotherapy Research, 21(6), 698-708.

Westra, H.A., Constantino, M. J., & Aviram, A. (2011). The Impact of Alliance Ruptures on Client Outcome Expectations in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Psychotherapy Research, 21(4), 472-481.

Westra, H.A., Arkowitz, H., & Dozois, D.J.A. (2009). Adding a Motivational Interviewing Pretreatment to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 23, 1106-1117. 

 

Service/Community Activities

Awards

New Investigator, CIHR - 2005

Award for Outstanding Achievement, Ontario Public Servants - 2012

Advances in Humanistic Research, York Psychotherapy Research - 2009

Bonnie Adamson Quality Award, London Health Sciences Cen - 2002

Supervision

Currently available to supervise graduate students: No

Currently taking on work-study students, Graduate Assistants or Volunteers: No

Available to supervise undergraduate thesis projects: No

Current Research

My current research is focused on improving and evaluating training in psychotherapy. I am especially interested in evaluating training focused on process-sensitivity including acuity and responsivity to resistance and ambivalence markers. The development of therapist skill using deliberate practice methods is also of interest. In addition, my research is focused on the application of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to anxiety disorders and the integration of MI with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for anxiety. My collaborators and I have conducted several clinical trials to examine the efficacy of MI-CBT. My research is focused on understanding resistance in psychotherapy, especially disharmony in the therapeutic relationship, lack of collaboration, and disengagement. 

Research Projects

Evaluating a Deliberate Practice Workshop for Responding to Resistance
Randomized controlled trial where therapists receive either a Deliberate Practice Workshop or Traditional Workshop Training
Role: Principal Investigator
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Integrating Motivational Interviewing into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Severe Generalized Anxiety
Allegiance Controlled Multi-Site (York & Ryerson Universities) Randomized Clinical Trial examining CBT alone compared to MI-CBT
Role: Principal Investigator
Funded by: Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety
Randomized Controlled Trial examining adding a Motivational Interviewing Pretreatment to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Role: Principal Investigator
Funded by: National Institutes of Health (US)

Curriculum Vitae (C.V. file):

CV of Henny Alice Westra