Dr. Roemer’s research focuses on understanding how individuals respond to unwanted emotional experiences in ways that enhance or detract from their lives, and applying this understanding to the treatment of anxiety disorders, particularly generalized anxiety disorder, as well as to prevention programs and helping people thrive in the face of external and systemic stressors. In collaboration with Sue Orsillo, she has developed an acceptance-based behavior therapy for generalized anxiety disorder that incorporates mindfulness strategies and valued action; along with Sarah Hayes-Skelton, they examine predictors and mechanisms of change in this intervention, as well as the process of change. They are currently studying adaptations for different settings, including prevention and health promotion; future studies will examine therapist training. They are also interested in examining common mechanisms across different treatment approaches, such as acceptance. Dr. Roemer’s research team also examines the relevance of cultural and contextual factors in these phenomena and barriers to care, as well as strategies to promote coping, resilience, and personally meaningful action in the face of racist experiences and other forms of systemic inequity (often in collaboration with Karen Suyemoto and others).
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Consumer Articles
Mindfully Doing What Matters has Liz’s Psychology Today blog posts.
Balvaneda, B., Roemer, L., & Hayes-Skelton, S. (2020). Responding to discrimination against individuals with disabilities and medical conditions during the COVID-19 outbreak. Blog post for Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Balvaneda, B., Roemer, L., Hayes-Skelton, S., Yang, A., & Ying, A. (2020). Responding to anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 outbreak. Blog post for Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Forte, M., Chavez, A., Balvaneda, B., Alire, L.U., & Roemer, L. (2020). Responding to COVID-19 distress in the face of socioeconomic disparities. Blog post for Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Roemer, L., & Balvaneda, B. (2020). Coping with COVID-19 in community. Blog post for Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Suyemoto, K.L., Roemer, L., Abdullah, T., & Rollins, L.G. (2017). Understanding racism and its related stress can help people of color cope with negative effects. Anxiety.org
Roemer, L., Suyemoto, K. L., Rollins, L.G., & Abdullah, T. (2017). Strategies to counter the stress of racist experiences. Anxiety.org
Books
Roemer, L. & Orsillo, S. M. (2020). Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapies: Treating anxiety and related challenges. New York: The Guilford Press.
Orsillo, S. M., & Roemer, L. (2016). Worry less, live more: The mindful way through anxiety workbook. New York: The Guilford Press. Language rights: Japanese, Latvian, Swedish.
Orsillo, S. M., & Roemer, L. (2011). The mindful way through anxiety: Break free from chronic worry and reclaim your life. New York: The Guilford Press. Language rights: Chinese-simplified, Finnish, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish.
Antony, M. M., & Roemer, L. (2011). Behavior Therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Selected Articles and Chapters
Martinez, J.H., Suyemoto, K.L., Abdullah, T., Burnett-Ziegler, I., & Roemer, L. (2022). Mindfulness and valued living in the face of racism-related stress. Mindfulness, 13,1112–1125.
Roemer, L., Eustis, E. H., & Orsillo, S. M. (2021). An acceptance-based behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. In D. H. Barlow (Ed). Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual, 6th edition . New York: Guilford Press.
Suyemoto, K. L., Hochman, A. L., Donovan, R. A., & Roemer, L. (2020): Becoming and fostering allies and accomplices through authentic relationship: Choosing justice over comfort. Research in Human Development, DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2020.1825905
Serowik, K.L., Roemer, L., Suvak, M., Liverant, G., & Orsillo, S. M. (2020). A randomized controlled pilot study evaluating Worry Less, Live More: The Mindful Way Through Anxiety Workbook. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 49, 412-424.doi: 10.1080/16506073.2020.1765858
Eustis, E.H., Hayes-Skelton, S. A., Orsillo, S. M., & Roemer, L. (2018). Surviving and Thriving During Stress: A randomized clinical trial comparing a brief web-based therapist assisted acceptance-based behavioral intervention versus waitlist control for college students. Behavior Therapy, 49, 889-903.
Roemer, L., Eustis, E.H., Williston, S. K., & Hayes-Skelton. S. A. (2016). Acceptance-based behavior therapy-informed clinical professional training practices (i.e., outside the classroom). In J. Block-Lerner & L. Cardaciotto (Eds.) The Mindfulness-Informed Educator: Building Acceptance & Psychological Flexibility in Higher Education. New York: Routledge.
