Christianne Esposito-Smythers, Ph.D., Director

Center Director

Dr. Christianne Esposito-Smythers is a Professor of Psychology (Clinical Psychology Program) and Director of the Center for Evidence-Based Behavioral Health (CEBBH) at George Mason University. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Child Track) from Virginia Tech in 2000. Dr. Esposito-Smythers’ research interests include the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based behavioral health interventions in community-based settings. She is also interested in the development and testing of cognitive-behavioral, family-focused, interventions for adolescent suicidal behavior, substance abuse, and other co-occurring conditions. Additionally, she studies mechanisms that underlie improvement in the context of these interventions. Her research has been funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIMH, NIAAA, NICHD/Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDs), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of Women’s Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She is an author on well over 100 publications and 130 national/international presentations. She has also served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an expert panelist for meetings sponsored by federal agencies focused on reducing youth suicide and alcohol abuse in our nation, and a member of multiple scientific review groups for NIMH. 

Dr. Esposito-Smythers uses her clinical research expertise to improve the lives of youth and families in her local community. She leads the CEBBH training consortia which offer training in evidence-based assessment and intervention to clinicians and clinical supervisors in community settings. She is also a member of the Faculty HUB for Project ECHO, an arm of the Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), whose mission is to increase access to mental health services for youth in Virginia through primary care/pediatric practices. Additionally, she chaired her local Fairfax County Youth Suicide Review Team and participates in Fairfax County workgroups dedicated toward improving access to evidence-based practices for youth and families. Her community-based work has been recognized via the “2019 George Mason University Earl C. Williams Presidential Medal for Social Impact” and a “County of Fairfax Team Excellence Award.”