P-CARE lab 

The Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents Research on Effectiveness (P-CARE) lab studies factors that impact the effectiveness of child psychotherapy, including caregiver engagement, economic factors, racial status/ethnicity, family history, and presenting problems for children ages birth to 18 and their families. Through community-based research, our lab collaborates with mental health professionals and community organizations as partners to create shared initiatives that inform practice and access to care for regional families. 

The mission of the P-CARE lab is to support student scholarship and professional development in the field of children's mental health through community-based, impactful research and applied projects.

• Early Childhood Caregiver Engagement Review

We are conducting a systematic review of publications on early childhood psychological interventions. We will be evaluating the most common reasons for referral, the format of interventions, methods to engage caregivers in treatment, and how these factors predict treatment outcomes. Student research assistants have been involved in conducting a systematic review of published journal articles on early childhood psychological interventions, evaluating studies for inclusion criteria, co-creating a coding manual, and coding data from each study into a statistical database. 

• Self-Compassion and Role Transition in Young Mothers

This study, conducted as an independent Plan B (master's thesis) by Alli Colberg is a community based participatory research project. Adolescent and young adult parent participants will take a self report digital survey to obtain scores of self-compassion, markers of adulthood, maternal role attainment, social support, and open response exploratory information on cultural experiences. It is anticipated that greater adult role attainment and self-compassion among parents will predict greater maternal role attainment, demonstrated through higher confidence in their parenting abilities, particularly for those who are receiving more social support. Results of this study will inform future research on the relevance of incorporating self-compassion within intervention and support programs for young mothers.

• College Adjustment while Coping with Chronic Illness

Students living with chronic illnesses experience unique psychological and medical challenges as they transition to college. Effective coping can reduce illness related stress. The purpose of this study is to understand the role of social support and chronic illness management on students’ well-being and adjustment to college. Approximately 80 students with a chronic illness enrolled will be recruited. Demographic and health information related to their chronic illness will be collected via self-report surveys. Additional variables include sources of support, self-efficacy of illness management, coping, and college adjustment. 

• Interested in learning more about how psychotherapy works for children and adolescents, and their families? 

• Interested in learning more about community, family, and systems based factors that enhance wellbeing among children and families?

• Interested in learning about the different ways mental health services are provided to children and families in our community? 

• Interested in learning about empirical, community-based research, quantitative analysis, and leveraging research results to improve mental health services for children and families? 

Then contact Dr. Kathy Dowell (kdowell@d.umn.edu) for more information on how to get involved. 

Marsolek, M., & Dowell, K. (2025). Impacts of COVID-19 on early childhood mental health. Infant Mental Health Journal, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/imhj.70005 

*Schmidt, T., *Sanborn, C., & Dowell, K. (2024). Reporting Caregiver Engagement in Early Childhood Intervention Research. Poster presentation at the 96th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois.

*Marsolek, M. & Dowell, K. (2023). The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on early childhood mental health and mental health service utilization in a clinical sample. Poster presentation at the Miami International Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, Miami, Florida. 

*Lee, K. & *Coleman, C., Dowell, K. A. (2023). Predictors of treatment attrition: Early childhood interventions review. Poster presentation at the 95th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois.

*Knourek, K. & Dowell, K. (2023). Barriers to mental health services for children in low-income and racial-ethnic minority families. Poster presentation at the Miami International Child and Adolescent Mental Health Converence, Miami, Florida. 

Dowell, K. A., *Marsolek, M., *Calhoon, E., *Cruickshank, A. (2022). Predictors of Premature Treatment Termination, Trauma, and Strategies. Poster presentation at the 94th annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois.

Dowell, K. A. & Nielsen, S. (Dec, 2020). Caregiver engagement in youth partial hospitalization treatment. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26 (2), pp. 355-366. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104520978448 

Dowell, K. A. (2020). Correlates of referral source for youth partial hospitalization systems and outcomes. Paper presentation at the Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health’s 33rd Annual Research Conference, Tampa, Florida. (Conference canceled)

Dowell, K. A. & *Knourek, K. (2020). Youth and Caregiver Expectations for Therapy. Paper presentation at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois. (Conference canceled)

Dowell, K. A. & Ogles, B. M. (2010). The effects of parent participation on child psychotherapy outcome: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 39, 151-162.

Dowell, K. A. (2020). Correlates of referral source for youth partial hospitalization systems and outcomes. Paper presentation at the Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health’s 33rd Annual Research Conference, Tampa, Florida. (Conference canceled)

Dowell, K. A. & Knourek, K. (2020). Youth and Caregiver Expectations for Therapy. Paper presentation at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, Illinois. (Conference canceled)

Dowell, K. A. (2018) Review of factors that predict caregiver engagement in child psychotherapy treatment: Next steps in practice. Poster presented at the Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health’s 31st Annual Research Conference, Tampa, Florida.

Dowell, K.A. (2016). Prescription patterns by psychosocial stressors among youth enrolled in a partial hospitalization program. Poster presented at the Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health’s 29th Annual Research Conference, Tampa, Florida.

Dowell, K.A. (2014). Caregiver and youth expectations in partial hospitalization program: Associations with treatment outcomes. Paper presented at the Research and Training Center for Children’s Mental Health’s 27th Annual Research Conference, Tampa, Florida.