Mary M. Crowson, Ph.D.

Education:

B.A., Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

M.S., Clinical Psychology, University of Miami

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Miami

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill


Summary Statement:

Dr. Crowson provides consultation to the UNC Child and Adolescent Inpatient units on issues of child abuse and trauma.  She conducts psychological evaluations of children with histories of maltreatment and provides diagnostic interviews of children in the Child Medical Evaluation Clinic in Pediatrics where there is a concern about possible abuse.  She also provides training to professionals around the state on topics related to child abuse.

Dr. Crowson also directs Growing Together, a program that is funded by the NC Governor's Crime Commission with ARRA funds.  The purpose of the program is to provide short-term attachment-focused parent training (namely the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up Intervention developed by Mary Dozier, PhD) for biological, foster or adoptive parents of maltreated infants and toddlers.  ABC has a significant evidence base for efficacy with young maltreated children and their caregivers.  The program is offered to residents of Orange, Chatham and Cumberland Counties.  Parents will learn how to provide more nurturing care, even when the child does not provide clear signals that it is needed.  They will also learn to follow the child's lead in order to help their child regulate himself behaviorally and physiologically.  And finally, parents will learn to recognize and change frightening behavior in order to decrease the chances that a disorganized attachment will be formed.  The training is video-based; illustrating to parents examples of behaviors they need to alter, as well as positive changes they have made during the intervention and the caregiver's individual parenting strengths.  The goals of the project are to determine if the intervention decreases problematic attachments, decreases parental stress, increases the child's competencies and decreases more problematic child behaviors.  Dr. Crowson is now accepting referrals for Growing Together.