Jessica Lahner PhD

Dr. Lahner teaches courses that focus on the applied work of psychologists at the graduate and undergraduate levels. With a background in both clinical and organizational consulting, she brings her mental health and consulting experiences into the classroom. Dr. Lahner has worked with adult and adolescent patients and their treatment teams at Rogers Behavioral health. She also currently serves as a consultant for Fox6 News appearing on segments addressing mental health issues in adolescents and children.

While currently focused on teaching and clinical work, Dr. Lahner has published peer-reviewed articles and presented her research at professional conferences. Her career history includes working as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Texas and Carthage College, a fellow at the University of Minnesota’s Counseling and Consulting Services, and an organizational consultant for various organizations such as Raytheon Missile Systems. She has served on various community charity boards and the Alumni Board for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. In addition to her professional and volunteer work, Dr. Lahner spends most of her time running half-marathons and keeping up with her four children.

• University of North Texas, Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology, Minor in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
• University of North Texas, M.S. in Psychology
• University of WI-Stevens Point, B.S. in Psychology, Minor in Dance

• Clinical and counseling psychology
• Clinical supervision
• Cognitive-behavioral-therapy
• Evidenced-based practice for chronic anxiety and depression in adults and adolescents
• Career development
• Competency modeling

Positions

Serve as child development consultant for Fox6 developing content for regular news segments related to child and adolescent mental health
 
Work as a Fellow at Rogers Behavioral Health in the Focus Depression Recovery program for adults and OCD, Depression and Anxiety program for children
 
Serve on the Montessori School of Waukesha Teacher Training Center advisory board

Publications

Lahner, J. M., Hayslip, B., McKelvy, T. N., & Caballero, D. M. (2014). Employee Age and Reactions to Downsizing. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 79, 225-255.
 
Halfhill, T., Sundstrom, E., Lahner, J. M., Calderone, W. K., & Nielson, T. M. (2005). Group personality composition and group effectiveness: An integrative review of empirical research. Small Group Research, 36, 83-105.
 
Lahner, J. M. & Hayslip, B. (2003). Gender differences in parental reactions to the birth of a premature low birth weight infant. Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, 18, 71-88.
 
Shafer, M., Lahner, J. M., Calderone, W. K., Davis, J., & Petrie, T. A. (2002). The use and effectiveness of a web-based instructional supplement in a college student success program. ­Journal of College Student Development, 413, 751-757.
 
Wohl, E. C., Lahner, J. M., & Jooste, J. (2002). Group processes among custodial grandparents. In B. Hayslip (Ed.), Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. New York: Springer Publishing.

Presentations

McIntyre, A., Lahner, J. M., Brady, C., Briley, V. (2019, October) Surviving City Management. Invited panel participant. International City/County Management Association. Nashville, TN.
 
Lahner, Kevin & Lahner, Jessica M. (2017, October) Manager-Proofing Your Relationship. Presentation given to the International City/County Management Association. San Antonio, TX.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2014, September). Encouraging Childhood Literacy. Invited presentation given as part of the United Way’s Imagination Library program. United Way of Racine County. Burlington, WI.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2008, April). Generational Differences in Local Government. Invited presentation given to the Wisconsin City Management Association. Elm Grove, WI.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2008, January). Recruiting Generation X & Y. Invited workshop presented to the National Association of Athletic Trainers. Dallas, TX.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2007, September). Teaching to the Generations. Invited workshop given to the faculty of the College of Business and Technology at Tarrant County College, Southeast Campus.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2007, August). Teaching to the Generations. Invited presentation given to the faculty of the College of Business and Sciences at Tarrant County College, South Campus.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2007, August). Bridging the Generation Gap at Work. Invited workshop presented to the Keller Chamber of Commerce.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2007, April). Intergenerational Conflict in the Workplace. Invited panel participant for the Masters of Public Administration Annual Alumni Conference at the University of North Texas.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2007, March). Proactively Managing Your Career. Invited workshop presented to the Urban Management Assistants of North Texas.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2005). Employee Age and Reactions to Downsizing. Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington D.C.

Lahner, Jessica M. & Hayslip, Bert Jr. (2005). The Impact of Downsizing on Survivors’ Career Development: A Test of Super’s Theory. Presented as part of the Employment, Age, and Work Demands Symposium at the Annual Conference of the Society of Industrial Organizational Psychologists, Washington, D.C.
 
Halfhill, T., Sundstrom, E., Lahner, J. M., Calderone, W. K., & Nielson, T. M. (2002, April). Personality Composition and Group Effectiveness: A meta-analysis. Paper presented at 17^th Annual Conference of the Society of Industrial Organizational Psychologists, Toronto, Canada.
 
Halfhill, T., Sundstrom, E., Lahner, J. M., & Calderone, W. K. (2001, May). Group personality composition and group effectiveness: An integrative review of empirical research. Poster presented at the 13^th Annual Conference of the American Psychological Society, Toronto, Canada.
 
Shafer, M. E., Lahner, J. M., Calderone, W. K., Davis, J. E., & Petrie, T. (2000, Nov.) Using the Internet as a teaching instrument among college students: A preliminary analysis. Paper presented at the 33^rd Annual Conference of the College Reading and Learning Association, Sparks, Nevada.
 
Calderone, W. K., Lahner, J. M., Davis, J. E., Safer, M. E., & Petrie, T. A. (2000, Sept.) Psychology 1000: An academic effectiveness course at the University of North Texas. Paper presented at the Texas Psychological Association/Oklahoma Psychological Association Joint Annual Convention, Dallas, TX.
 
Lahner, Jessica M. (2000, August). The origins of community mental health: The Lindemann model.  Paper presented at the 108th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington D.C.

My goal is to bring material to life through case studies, discussion, story telling, role-play and other application activities. Children’s toys, simulation sessions, patient cases, reflections, community-based advocacy projects are just a sampling of the way we work with content in my courses.

I am passionate about teaching and training mental health professionals. The challenge of translating complex psychological content into information learnings understand while motivating them to see its applicability to their lives and work excites me. As a practitioner-teacher, I bring my clicial work into the classroom so students clearly see the connection between the science and work in the field. I find it a privilege to teach these concepts while challenging students to critically consider their own view of themselves and the world. One of my goals for each class is that my students leave it differently than they entered. My hope is that they view the world more critically and more inclusively than before. I aspire to create environments that allow students to be active agents in their education. To cultivate this classroom climate, I provide challenge and critical thinking opportunities and help connect course content to their personal goals.

Case studies, application activities, role-playing... I use these tools and more to help students “see” and build skills around the concepts they are learning. I strive to connect material to students’ lives, their careers, and other courses so the common themes between life in and out of the classroom are evident. As much as possible we work with material in the ways it shows up and impacts the world we live in. Students often tell me they’ve never had a course so relvant to the real world. That’s one of the best compliments I can receive.

While I strive to provide the context for learning, students provide the motivation. I believe learning is a team effort that involves active contributors from both instructors and students. Students who get the most out of my classes commit to active participation, taking risks in a safe environment, and connecting new material to their own experiences.