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Academic, Researcher, Educator, Attachment Theory Enthusiast

Samantha Reisz, Ph.D.

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Overview

Dr. Samantha Reisz is a family studies scholar, focusing on attachment, parenthood, and intergenerational relationship patterns. Her empirical and theory building papers have consistently been on the forefront of infant mental health and attachment, emphasizing the application of theory into practice. She is currently a scholarly assistant professor of human development at Washington State University Vancouver, located in the Portland, Oregon metro area.

 

Education

human development & family sciences, ph.d, University of Texas at Austin

Infant Mental Health, M.A., Mills College

Psychology, B.A., Mills College

Drama endorsed diploma, F. h. laguardia high school for music, art & performing arts

Coding & consultation

Dr. Reisz is a certified reliable coder of the Adult Attachment Interview. She is available to administer and code Adult Attachment Interviews for research or clinical purposes. Please contact her directly for more information on cost and availability.

Dr. Reisz is a certified Circle of Security parent educator and can provide individualized attachment education to families, clinicians, and other child professionals. She can also provide educational workshops for small and large groups and is experienced tailoring information across professional focuses. Please contact her directly for more information.

 

publications

  • Aviles, A.I., Reisz, S., Jacobvitz, D., & Hazen, N. (2022) Maternal Experiences of Childhood Psychological Maltreatment: Intergenerational Effects on Toddler Emotional Dysregulation. Journal of Social & Personal Relationships, 39(7), 2022-2044. DOI: 10.1177/02654075221074382 

  • Adkins, T., Reisz, S., Hasdemir, D., & Fonagy, P. (2021). Family Minds: A randomized controlled trial of a group intervention to improve foster parents’ reflective functioning. Developmental Psychopathology, 34, 1177-1191. doi:10.1017/S095457942000214X

  • Adkins, T., Reisz, S., Doerge, K, & Nulu, S. (2020). Adverse Childhood Experience histories in foster parents: Connections to foster children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties. Child Abuse & Neglect, 104. DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104475

  • Reisz, S., Aviles, A.I., Messina, S., Duschinsky, R., Jacobvitz, J., & Hazen, N. (2019). Fathers’ attachment representations and infant feeding practices. Appetite, 142. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2019.104374

  • Messina, S., Reisz, S., Hazen, N., & Jacobvitz, D. (2019). Not just about food: Attachment representations and feeding practices in infancy. Attachment & Human Development. DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2019.1600153

  • Duschinsky, R., Reisz, S., & Messina, S. (2019). “Pulling the world in and pushing it away”: Participating bodies and survival strategies. Medical Humanities, 45, 124-30. DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2018-011581

  • Reisz, S., Duschinsky, R., & Siegel, D. (2018). Disorganized attachment and defense: Exploring John Bowlby’s unpublished reflections. Attachment & Human Development, 20(2), 107-134. DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1380055

  • Reisz, S., Brennan, J., Jacobvitz, D., & George, C. (2018). Adult attachment and subjective birth experience in vaginal and caesarean deliveries. Journal of Infant and Reproductive Psychology. DOI: 10.1080/02646838.2018.1509303

  • Brazeau, N., Reisz, S., Jacobvitz, D., & George, C. (2018). Connections between attachment trauma and social support in depressed mothers. Infant Mental Health Journal, 39(1), 30-43. DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21692

  • Jacobvitz, J. & Reisz, S. (2018). Disorganized and unresolved states in adulthood. Current Opinion in Psychology. DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.06.006

  • Duschinsky, R. & Reisz, S. (2018). Review: Paul Stenner, liminality and experience. Theory, Culture & Society, OnlineFirst.

  • Granqvist, P., Sroufe, L. A., Dozier, M., Hesse, E., Steele, M., … Reisz, S., … Duschinsky, R. (2017). Disorganized attachment in infancy: a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy-makers. Attachment & Human Development, 19(6), 534-558. DOI: 10.1080/14616734.2017.1354040

  • Reisz, S., Jacobvitz, D., & George, C. (2015). Birth and motherhood: Childbirth experiences, mothers’ perceptions of their babies, and maternal self-esteem.Infant Mental Health Journal, 36(2), 167-178. DOI: 10.1002/imhj.21500


Teaching Experience

Washington State University - Vancouver

Child development, adolescence & Emerging adulthood, human development across the lifespan, introduction to the field of human development, Family diversity, Work & Family

University of Texas at Austin

Developmentally appropriate practices, Families in transition, Child development

texas State university

Infant & early childhood mental health, Lifespan development, Principles of guidance, Family Theory, Adolescence

Mills college

history & theories of play, Lifespan developmental psychology, infancy Infant Mental Health MAsters Thesis Supervision


Teaching Recognition

Favorite professor 

Phi Upsilon Omicron National Honor Society, Texas State University Chapter, 2019

nomination for support & guidance to students with disabilities 

diversity & student engagement, university of texas at austin, 2019





Peer reviewer

Attachment & human development

Infant Mental Health Journal

Journal of Family Issues

Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology

Journal of Social & Personal Relationships

Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics

Sexual & Reproductive healthcare

Contact

Email: samantha.reisz.phd@gmail.com