Dr. Rob Heffer

Clinical Associate Professor
Ph.D. Louisiana State University (1988)

Department of Psychology
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-4235

Office: 309 Psychology Building
email: rob-heffer@tamu.edu
Phone: (979) 862-2228
Fax: (979) 845-4727

• Clinical child psychology
• Pediatric psychology

My research area may be subsumed under the broad rubric of clinical child psychology. Clinical child psychology is concerned with both typical and aberrant child or adolescent behavior and development and emphasizes the myriad family, interpersonal, and socio-ecological contexts in which young persons are embedded. Significant overlap exists among clinical child, pediatric, developmental, school, and family psychology. My strongest research interests are in pediatric psychology. Specifically, clarifying processes involved in individual and family adaptation to pediatric chronic illness and disability appeals to me as a scientist and a practitioner. Secondary research areas are child, adolescent, and family assessment, child development and school issues, and family functioning. I collaborate extensively with graduate students and faculty in research and scholarly writing projects.

1. Heffer, R.W., Snyder, D.K., & Lane, M. (In Press). Therapeutic family assessment: A systems approach. In K. Jordan (Ed). Handbook of Couple and Family Assessment. New York: Prentice-Hall.



2. Heffer, R.W. & Snyder, D.K. (1998). Comprehensive assessment of family functioning. In Family psychopathology: The relational roots of dysfunctional behavior (Ed). L. L'Abate. (pp. 207-235). New York: Guilford Press.



3. Snyder, D.K., Cavell, T.A., Heffer, R.W., & Mangrum, L.F. (1995). Marital and family assessment: A multifaceted, multilevel approach. In R.H. Mikesell, D.D. Lusterman, & S.H. McDaniel (Eds). Family psychology and systems theory: A handbook. (pp. 163-182). Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.



4. Kelley, M.L., & Heffer, R.W. (1990). Eating disorders in young children. In A.M. Gross & R.S. Drabman (Eds). Handbook of clinical behavioral pediatrics. (pp. 111-128). New York: Plenum Press.



5. Witt, J.C., Heffer, R.W., & Pfeiffer, J. (1990). Structured rating scales: A review of self-report and informant rating processes, procedures, and issues. In C.R. Reynolds & R.W. Kamphaus (Eds). Handbook of psychological and educational assessment in children: Vol.2. Personality, behavior, and context. (pp. 364-394). New York: Guilford Press.



6. Cavell, T.A., & Meehan, B.T., Heffer, R.W., & Holladay, J.J. (In Press). Natural mentors of adolescent children of alcoholics COAs: Implications for preventative practice. The Journal of Primary Prevention



7. Prevatt, F.A., Heffer, R.W., & Lowe, T. A. (2000). A review of school reintegration programs for children with pediatric cancers. Journal of School Psychology, 38, 447-467.



8. Spasojevic, J., Heffer, R.W., & Snyder, D.K. (2000). Effects of post-traumatic stress and acculturation on marital functioning in a Bosnian refugee sample. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 13, 205-217.



9. Lopez, M.A., & Heffer, R.W. (1998). Self-concept and social competence of university student victims of childhood physical abuse. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22, 183-195.



10. 10. Worchel-Prevatt, F., Heffer, R.W., Prevatt, B., Miner, J., Young-Saleme, T., Lopez, M., Horgan, D., Rae, W.A., & Frankel, L. (1998). Development of a school reentry program for chronically ill children. Journal of School Psychology, 36, 261-279.



11. Heffer, R.W., Worchel-Prevatt, F., Rae, W.A., Lopez, M.A., Young-Saleme, T. Orr, K., Aikman, G., Krause, M., & Weir, M. (1997). The effects of oral versus written instructions parents' recall and satisfaction following pediatric appointments. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 18, 377-382.



12. Ricard, R.J., Miller, G.A., & Heffer, R.W. (1995). Developmental trends in the relation between adjustment and academic achievement for elementary school children in mixed-age classrooms. School Psychology Review, 24, 258-270.



13. Heffer, R.W., & Kelley, M.L. (1994). Nonorganic failure to thrive: Developmental outcomes and psychosocial assessment and intervention issues. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 15, 247-268.



14. Bradlyn, A.S., Harris, C.V., Ritchey, A.K., Olsen, B.R., Heffer, R.W., Lewallen, J., Zaboy, K.A. (1993). Children's reactions to invasive medical procedures: The potential importance of procedure, age, and restraint. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 11(2), 1-18.

I served as Program Co-Chair for the Gulfcoast/Southwest Regional Society of Pediatric Psychology meeting held in New Orleans (April 1994) and in Fort Worth (April 1996). Since 1996, I have served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Directors of Psychology Training Clinics (ADPTC), an organization affiliated with the American Psychological Association. In addition to assisting in the planning of the annual continuing education workshop and business meeting held concurrently with the American Psychological Association Convention, I served as Newsletter Editor, Chair of the By-Laws Revisions Task Force, and Chair of the Nominating and Elections Committee. Recently, I was elected Member-At-Large in the reorganized Executive Committee and am Chair of the Membership Survey Task Force.

Undergraduate
PSYC 305: Psychology of Adjustment
PSYC 414: Behavioral Principles
PSYC 485: Directed Studies
PSYC 484: Field Experience

Graduate
PSYC 614: Practicum in Psychology
PSYC 627: Individual Testing of Children & Adolescents
PSYC 639: Pediatric Psychology
PSYC 685: Directed Studies
PSYC 691: Research

Link to Vita