Shelby Alsup, MS

Shelby Alsup

Undergraduate School
Arizona State University

Graduate School
University of Southern California
Pacific University

 

 

Interests & Career Goals

My research and clinical interests broadly focus on improving psychological health and well-being in the context of reproductive events. I am particularly interested in supporting the well-being of birthing individuals and their infants through behavioral, attachment, and mindfulness-based interventions. My training within reproductive health and with pediatric populations has solidified my desire to work with both mother and baby to support intergenerational well-being. In the future, I hope to establish a research and clinical career at the intersection of reproductive and intergenerational health providing interventions for birthing persons and their infants, as well as individuals undergoing assisted reproduction.

Favorite Pastimes

I enjoy being outdoors, spending time with my partner and family, and cooking meals. My partner & I enjoy cooking homecooked meals and recently loved making homemade dumplings! Coming from Portland, I see myself missing the rain and overcast days but am certain I will enjoy the vast greenery in Durham.

Why I chose Duke

I was drawn to the health psychology emphasis at Duke University as one of my goals was to expand my training with patients with complex medical diagnoses. I was intrigued by the philanthropically funding healthcare through the Cancer Behavioral Management & Support Clinic. Given my interests in reproductive health, the training opportunities with both fertility and perinatal populations was a particular draw, and also quite unique and unmatched. Further, the emphasis on the depth & breadth of training through the year-long rotations at Duke aligned well with my desired training goals.

Research interests

My research interests are focused on reproductive health and well-being, specifically within the context of the perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and substance use during pregnancy. I have examined maternal psychological well-being during the perinatal period related to health disparities and environmental stressors. (i.e., the COVID-19 pandemic), specifically looking at factors of well-being that can mitigate the effects of such stress on maternal psychological health and attachment. I am also passionate about examining protective factors that buffer against poor psychological health during pregnancy, given the heightened neuroplasticity and postpartum maternal and offspring implications.

Publications

  • Weisbaum, E., Alsup, S.L., & Siegel, D.J. (2023, in press). Expanding the contemporary meaning of “self”: An interpersonal neurobiology perspective on inner compassion and intraconnection. In G. Ronen and A. Giasetti (Eds.), Self-compassion in psychotherapy: A transdiagnostic skill. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Alsup, S.L., Weisbaum, E., Vogel, T., & Siegel, D.J. (2020). Family relations, friendships, and love. In W. IsHak (Eds.), The handbook of medicine wellness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 553-564. https://doi.org/10.1017/978110865182.047
  • Seghete, K. L. M., Graham, A. M., Shank, T. M., Alsup, S. L., Fisher, P. A., Wilson, A. C., & Ewing, S. W. F. (2020, January). Advancing preventive interventions for pregnant women who are opioid using via the integration of addiction and mental health research. Current Addiction Reports, 7(1), 61-67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00296-x

Poster presentations

  • Garavatti, E., Cimino, C., Alsup, S.L., Ondusko, S., & Mackiewicz Seghete, K. (2023, February 8-11). Pilot of the bilateral infant stimulation study (BLISS) in the NICU [Poster session]. 14th International Newborn Brain Society (NBS) Conference. Clearwater, FL.
  • Garavatti, E., Cimino, C., Alsup, S.L., Ondusko, S., & Mackiewicz Seghete, K. (2023, January 20-23). Feasibility and acceptability of the bilateral infant stimulation study (BLISS) in the NICU [Poster session]. Western Medical Research Conference (WMRC). Carmel, CA.
  • Alsup, S.L., Dugoni, H., Doyle, O., Graham, A., & Mackiewicz Seghete, K. (2022, May 4-6). The effects of adulthood social determinants of health on psychological stress during pregnancy: The role of mindfulness and social support to improve health equity [Poster session]. Forty-Second meeting of the National Perinatal Association (NPA). Aurora, CO, United States. [Recipient of the NPA Research Award].
  • Alsup, S.L., Graham, A., Sullivan, E., & Gustafsson, H. (2021, Nov 10). Attachment: COVID-19 and perinatal experiences study [Poster session]. First meeting of the COVGEN (COVID Generation) Alliance Summit, Ancillary Event with the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology (IDSP). Chicago, IL, United States.
  • Dugoni, H., Alsup, S.L., Elder, K., Doyle, O., Mackiewicz Seghete, K., & Graham, A. (2021, July 6–9). The relationships between maternal BMI and patient-provider weight goals during pregnancy [Poster session]. Sixty-eighth annual meeting of the Society of Reproductive Investigation, Boston, MA, United States.
  • Alsup, S.L., Mackiewicz Seghete, K., & Graham, A. (2021, June 6-13). Pregnancy-specific stress for birth and infant: The role of maternal psychological health during pregnancy [Poster session]. Mind and Life Summer Research Institute, Virtual.
  • Alsup, S.L., Jacova, C., Mackiewicz Seghete, K., & Graham, A. (2021, May 26-27). The impact of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress during pregnancy and postpartum on maternal pre-and postnatal attachment [Poster session]. Applied Psychological Sciences Annual Convention, Virtual. 
  • Dugoni, H., Alsup, S.L., Elder, K., Doyle, O., Mackiewicz Seghete, K., & Graham, A. (2021, May 26–27). Weight stigma in maternal healthcare: The relationships between maternal BMI and patient-provider weight goals during pregnancy [Poster session]. Applied Psychological Sciences Annual Convention, Virtual. 
  • Alsup, S.L. & Lafavor, T. (2020). Markers of negative social competence in high-risk and trauma-impacted youth [Poster session]. Mind and Life Summer Research Institute, Garrison, NY, Virtual.
  • Rotenstein, V., Alsup, S.L., & Immordino-Yang, M. (2016). Adolescents’ reasoning about the community violence they have witnessed predicts subsequent empathic emotional responding to others' true experiences [Poster session]. International Mind, Brain and Education Society Conference, San Diego, CA.

Invited Talks

  • Alsup, S.L. (2022, November 2). Dissertation results: The impact of COVID-19 pandemic-related stress during pregnancy and postpartum on maternal pre-and postnatal attachment [Presentation]. Pacific University Grand Rounds, Hillsboro, OR. Virtual.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2022, October 27). Assessing for psychosis, OCD, and suicidality during the perinatal period [Presentation]. Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Stress, Cognition, Affect and Neuroimaging Lab. Portland, OR. Virtual.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2022, October 20). Assessing for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders [Presentation]. Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Stress, Cognition, Affect and Neuroimaging Lab. Portland, OR. Virtual.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2022, October 13). Common psychological health presentations and pandemic-related impacts during the perinatal period [Presentation]. Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Stress, Cognition, Affect and Neuroimaging Lab. Portland, OR. Virtual.
  • Saxton, S. & Alsup, S.L. (2022, April 26). Psychological Assessment: When, why, how, now what? [Presentation]. Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Department of Neuroscience. Portland, OR. Virtual.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2020). Neuropsychological sequalae of adoption [Presentation]. Pacific Psychology Clinic at Pacific University, Portland, OR.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2020). Neuropsychological sequelae of kinship adoption. In A. Travis (Chair). Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial impacts of adoption: Implications for research and clinical practice [Symposium]. Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, Virtual.
  • Alsup, S. (2020). Mindfulness debunked: The science and integration of mindfulness practices [Presentation]. MEMRI Clinic for older adults at Pacific University, Hillsboro, OR.
  • Alsup, S.L. & Gimbel, B. (2019). Neuropsychological correlates of childhood sexual abuse: A clinical case presentation. In M. Poole (Chair). A holistic approach to treating childhood trauma: Using neuropsychological results to enhance future treatment efforts [Symposium]. Annual Convention of The Western Psychological Association, Pasadena, CA.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2018). Classical and contemporary theories of the science of emotion [Presentation]. Mindsight Institute in Santa Monica, CA.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2018). Mindful awareness in parent-child dyadic therapy [Presentation]. Child Success Center in Los Angeles, CA.      
  • Alsup, S.L. (2015). Treatment processes & ethical implications for clinicians in the department of mental health [Presentation]. University of Southern California, Rossier School of Urban Education, Graduate Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Los Angeles, CA.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2015). Neuroscience & neuropsychological components of clinical psychology: Bridging the gap [Presentation]. University of Southern California, Brain & Creativity Institute.
  • Alsup, S.L. (2014). Evidence-based practices with trauma: Through a developmental and socioemotional lens [Presentation]. EMQ Families First Hollygrove, Los Angeles, CA.