Our team currently includes Dr. Martinez-Torteya (the lead investigator), three graduate
student assistants, and eleven undergraduate research assistants. All of our staff are
passionate about their work, and we've made sure that our team is filled with assistants
who will treat participants with kindness and respect.
Cecilia Martinez-Torteya, Ph.D.
"I am a clinical psychologist interested in the influence of early exposure to stress and
violence on child development, especially finding out why it increases risk for later
psychological and behavioral problems, and why some families are resilient to stress.
I obtained my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Michigan State University, completed a
pre-doctoral Clinical Psychology internship at Children’s Memorial Hospital (now Lurie
Children’s Hospital of Chicago), and a post-doctoral fellowship in Clinical Psychology
at the University of Michigan. Through these experiences I received training in
evidence-based treatments for adults and children, working with youth who
experienced post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and other
behavioral problems. I am especially interested in interventions that focus on
improving early parent-child relationships to prevent the development of later
psychological problems. I also investigated families exposed to domestic violence
and mothers who had a history of childhood maltreatment. This research identified
maternal mental health as a factor that protects against behavioral and emotional
problems when children grow up in a household where violence has occurred, and
maternal sensitivity as a factor that promotes early emotional regulation for infants
(recovering from a stressful situation). I joined the Psychology Department at DePaul
University in the Fall of 2012 and I am excited to continue learning about protective
experiences that can promote healthy development in the context of adversity through
research studies with Chicago families."
Phone: 773-325-4148
Email: CMart121@DePaul.edu
More information about Dr. Martinez-Torteya can also be found on DePaul's
psychology department website: DePaul Page
