Taylor Walls, MA

Taylor Walls

Undergraduate School
Duke University

Graduate School
Teachers College, Columbia University (MA)
Montclair State University (PhD)


 

Interests & Career Goals

I am excited to become a well-rounded clinical psychologist with the competencies to support patients and their families navigating neurodevelopmental and medically complex challenges. I aspire to pursue a career as a board-certified pediatric neuropsychologist within an academic medical setting, where I can integrate clinical care, research, and teaching. I am also passionate about training the next generation of clinicians and look forward to contributing as a clinical supervisor and mentor in the future.

Favorite Pastimes

Outside of work, I enjoy being a Rover pet sitter and exploring my community through long walks with dogs. I’m also an avid fan of bouldering, Broadway musicals, and reality television.

Why I Chose Duke

I chose Duke to both broaden and deepen my training in the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with a wide range of acute and chronic mental health and medical conditions. The internship program offers opportunities that not only build on my existing foundation, but also challenge me to grow in new and meaningful ways. I was especially drawn to the faculty’s clear enthusiasm for mentoring and supporting trainees. My interest in psychology was first sparked during my undergraduate years at Duke, and I’m excited to come full circle by completing my doctoral training here.

Research Interests

My research focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally sensitive, evidence-based interventions for anxiety in community settings, particularly schools. I’m especially interested in approaches that target accessibility and effectiveness of care for underserved youth populations.

Publications

  • Fox, J.K., Walls. T., Thomas, H., Marr, J., Breux, P., Masia Warner, C. (2024) An Online Compassion-Focused Intervention for Middle School Students amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Evaluation of the Inspiring Comfort Program. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632752.2024.2399886

  • Fox, J. K., Martin, G., Walls, T., Perrone, L., Francois, M., Saha, P., Lekas, H.-M., & Masia Warner, C. (2025). Perspectives on social anxiety and barriers to school-based mental health services among Black American adolescents. Psychology in the Schools, 62(6), 1872–1887. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.23437

  • Letzen, J. E., Mun, C. J., Kuwabara, H., Burton, E. F., Boring, B. L., Walls, T., ... & Campbell, C. M. (2019). Ethnic disparities in pain processing among healthy adults: μ-opioid receptor binding potential as a putative mechanism. Pain. DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001759

Poster Presentations

  • Thomas, H.M., Escobar, M. B., Perrone, L., Ahmed, T., Martin, G., Ndubuisi, I., Saha, P., Walls, T., & Masia Warner, C. (2023, November). An open pilot of a culturally-adapted, cognitive-behavioral intervention for black high school students with social anxiety. (Poster Presentation). Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 57th Annual Convention, Seattle, WA, United States.

  • Masia Warner, C., Escobar, M., Perrone, L., Martin, G., Walls, T., Thomas, H., Francois, M., Ahmed, T., & Lekas, H. (2023, April). Treatment Barriers to Engaging Black Adolescents with Anxiety in School-based Intervention: Qualitative Data from Student and Parent Interviews. Symposium presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America Conference, Washington D.C., MD.

  • Fox, J.K., Walls. T. , Thomas, H., Marr, J., Breux, P., Masia Warner, C. (2022, November). An Online Compassion-Focused Intervention for Middle School Students amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Evaluation of the Inspiring Comfort Program. Poster at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Convention. New York City. 

  • Fox, J. K., Coyle, S., Walls, T., Kalver, A., Flax, M., Masia Warner, C., & Angelosante, A. (2021, September). School-based interventions for child and adolescent anxiety. Poster at the New Jersey Psychological Association’s 2021 Academic and Scientific Affairs Virtual Poster Hall. 

  • Walls, T., Wilson, K.M., Cha, C.B. (2019, November). Testing the Directionality of Associations Involving Emotion Dysregulation, Sleep Disturbance, and Suicidal Ideation among Adolescents. Poster at the IASR/AFSP International Summit on Suicide Research. Miami, FL.

  • Letzen, J., Mun, C., Burton, E., Kuwabara, H., Boring, B., Walls, T., ... & Campbell, C. (2019). (221) μ-Opioid Receptor Binding Potential is Higher among Non-Hispanic Black Compared to Non-Hispanic White Adults. The Journal of Pain, 20(4), S30.

  • Chai, J.W.K.,Tezanos, K., Walls, T., Rich, A.O., Chen, A., Osorio, M., Robinaugh, D.J., Kearns, J.C., Marx, B.P., Keane, T.M., & Cha, C.B. (2018, May). Examining thematic content of future- oriented thoughts and their relation to future suicidal ideation among suicidal and nonsuicidal Veterans. Poster at the Annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, CA.

  • Sundel, B., Burton, E., Walls, T., Buenaver, L., & Campbell, C. (2018). 0350 Socioeconomic Status Moderates the Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Insomnia. Sleep, 41(suppl_1), A134-A135.

  • Sundel, B., Burton, E., Walls, T., Whitman, C., Buenaver, L., Peterlin, B., & Campbell, C. (2018). Race, central sensitization, and the protective effects of high SES. The Journal of Pain, 19(3), S14-S15.

  • Fulton, B., Burton, E., Walls, T., Whitman, C., Nance, S., Sundel, B., ... & Campbell, C. (2018). Using a thermal camera to measure the area of flare from tropical capsaicin. The Journal of Pain, 19(3), S5.

  • Boring, B., Burton, E., Walls, T., Whitman, C., & Campbell, C. (2018). Order of heat and pressure tests impacts pain responsivity ratings. The Journal of Pain, 19(3), S3.

  • Walls, T., Burton, E., Peterlin, L., Campbell, C.M. (2017, May) Sex differences in the perception of pain from topical capsaicin. Poster at the American Pain Society 36th Annual Scientific Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA.

  • Kearson, A., Burton, E., Walls, T., Peterlin, B., & Campbell, C. (2017). (125) Early life stress is associated with capsaicin-induced flare and secondary hyperalgesia. The Journal of Pain, 18(4), S8.

  • Walls, T., Burton, E., Peterlin, L., & Campbell, C. (2017). (207) Sex differences in the perception of pain from topical capsaicin. The Journal of Pain, 18(4), S27-S28.

  • Walls, T., Campbell, C., Robinson, M., Bounds, S., Buenaver, L., & Smith, M. (2016). (320) Ethnic differences in central sensitization among patients with knee osteoarthritis. The Journal of Pain, 17(4), S55-S56.

  • Walls, T., Campbell, C.M., Robinsons, M.L., Bounds, S.C.T., Buenaver, L.F., Smith, M.T. (2016, May) Ethnic differences in central sensitization amongst patients with knee osteoarthritis. Poster presented at the American Pain Society 35th Annual Scientific Meeting, Austin, TX. 

  • Walls, T., Campbell, C.M., Robinsons, M.L., Bounds, S.C.T., Buenaver, L.F., Smith, M.T. (2016, May) Ethnic differences in central sensitization amongst patients with knee osteoarthritis. Poster presented at the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Annual Research Potpourri, Baltimore, MD. 

  • Walls, T., Campbell, C.M., Robinsons, M.L., Bounds, S.C.T., Buenaver, L.F., Smith, M.T. (2016, December) Ethnic differences in central sensitization amongst patients with knee osteoarthritis. Poster presented at the 11th Annual Johns Hopkins Bayview Research Symposium, Baltimore, MD.