Program for Anxiety, Cognition, and Treatment - PACT Lab

We’re so lucky to have a team that isn’t just outstanding at research, but also at pranks (and keeping them secrets!!)

Here’s a glimpse of our April Fool’s party this year, which included toothpaste munchkins, carrot brownies, tomato paste chocolates, and lots of games involving deception (which we’re concerningly good at) 🍪🍩🎱🃏 Happy April Fool’s from the PACT Lab!

New publication alert!!!!

Read about a recent paper that came out of our lab on our first mobile app-based anxiety intervention, Hoos Think Calmly! 🩷

Last Sunday, PACT Lab undergraduate RAs and graduate students volunteered at UVA TYDE’s (Co-Directed by PACT Lab Director Dr. Bethany Teachman) first ever Hackathon!!!

“There’s a lot of discussion about the effects of social media on teens’ mental health, but rarely do we actually ask teens and young adults what they want and need so they can use social media in good ways.” - .uva website

During this event, high school students were invited to work with our RAs in teams to brainstorm ideas for programs to support teen’s mental health when using social media. Throughout the event, these teams each designed a program (e.g., a new app) that could be used to help teens make positive social connections and feel good on social media, instead of feeling like they’re missing out or not as good as others.

The event was a huge success, and we are so proud of all of the PACT Lab members who made it happen! 💻💙

Having anxiety about flying due to recent events in the news? Read some tips from PACT Lab director Dr. Bethany Teachman on how to deal with these worries!✈️🛩️🧠

here’s a glimpse of how our lab celebrated internship match day last Friday! We are sending students off to exciting new places….

Max, a 6th year in our lab, is heading to University of Pennsylvania Dept. of Psychiatry!

Amanda, working with Dr. Joe Allen, is off to University of Minnesota Medical School!

David, working with Dr. Noelle Hurd, is going to Jefferson Center in CO!

Our lab is going to miss Max and their constant dad jokes so much, but can’t wait to see all of the great things they do at internship and beyond🫶 And we’ll miss Amanda and David’s warm energy around the department!🩵

We are so excited to share the wonderful knowledge of PACT Lab Director Dr. Bethany Teachman and Director Dr. Stefanie Sequeira on a big topic in psychology — resilience! ⭐️🧠💪

Read highlights from this December issue of the Cville Weekly here, or use this link to read the full article! https://c-ville.com/local-therapists-and-researchers-take-on-psychs-buzziest-topic/

We’re SO thankful for a weekend full of captivating conversations, spectacular presentations, and award-deserving karaoke! We had a great time at this year’s annual convention and loved getting to share our work with everyone! 📊📄💻

Attending the ABCT conference this weekend in Philadelphia? Us too!

Come see some of the great work our lab has to share at our various presentations and posters throughout the weekend, and make sure to say hi if you see us around!🏙️🧑‍🏫👋

Exciting news! The PACT Lab's free online program for anxiety, MindTrails (https://mindtrails.virginia.edu/), is now an app AND in Spanish!

Gente interesada en usar una aplicación en español digital para manejar su estrés y preocupaciones pueden ganar $20 por usar nuestra aplicación y participar en una entrevista de seguimiento (por Zoom) para ayudarnos a mejorar el programa. Tiempo total en el estudio = 1-2 horas. Si estás interesado o tiene preguntas, por favor llena esta forma: https://bitly.cx/KJSK.

English Translation:
Individuals interested in using a digital app in Spanish to manage stress and worry can earn $20 for using the app and participating in a Zoom feedback interview to help us make improvements. Total participation time in the study = 1-2 hours. If you're interested or have questions, please contact us using the contact info or QR code below or complete this form: https://bitly.cx/KJSK.

Dealing with anxiety surrounding the upcoming election?🗳️

Read these helpful tips from our lab director Dr. Bethany Teachman about how to effectively manage your stress during this time. It’s as easy as 1-2-3 (questions to ask at dinner)!💻

Learn more about the active and passive sensing of anxiety in this post! What are the differences between the two? How can they be best used together? What do we do with them in our lab? Exciting research is constantly being done in this space, and we’re happy to be a part of it! 💚⌚️🤳

Learn more about digital mental health interventions, or DMHIs, with us! This is an exciting new and expanding piece of the field that we are thrilled to have our hands in 💻📱🧠

Thank you to undergraduate research assistant Sasha Porter for her help collecting and disseminating this information!