Biography

Clinical Psychologist, Children's Health

Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center

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Postdoctoral Psychology Fellowship

     Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Children's Hospital (2010-2012)

Predoctoral Psychology Internship

     University of Miami / Jackson Memorial Medical Center (2009-2010)

Education
Undergraduate
Oral Roberts University (2005), Psychology
Graduate School
Regent University (2008), Clinical Psychology
Graduate School
Regent University (2010), Clinical Psychology

Research Interest
  • Adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)
  • Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS)

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

SOARS model: Risk assessment of nonsuicidal self-injury
Westers, NJ, Muehlenkamp, JJ, Lau, M Contemp Pediatr 2016 7 33 25-31
Associations between connections to parents and friends and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: The mediating role of developmental assets
Taliaferro LA, Jang ST, Westers NJ, Muehlenkamp JJ, Whitlock JL, McMorris BJ Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019
Double trouble: Nonsuicidal self-injury and its relationship to suicidal ideation and number of past suicide attempts in clinical adolescents.
Mbroh H, Zullo L, Westers NJ, Stone L, King J, Kennard B, Emslie G, Stewart SM J Affect Disord 2018 238 579-585
Nonsuicidal self-injury: A neglected public health problem among adolescents.
Westers, NJ, Culyba, AJ Am J Public Health 2018 8 108 981-983
Frequency and Methods of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Relation to Acquired Capability for Suicide Among Adolescents.
Matney J, Westers NJ, Horton SE, King JD, Eaddy M, Emslie GJ, Kennard BD, Stewart SM Arch Suicide Res 2017 Jan
Violence and Mental Health: Trauma-Informed Practice and Wellness Approach to Violence Victimization.
Westers NJ, Kistin CJ, Bair-Merritt MH Adolesc Med State Art Rev 2016 Fall 27 2 236-250
Frequency of Exposure to and Engagement in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Inpatient Adolescents.
Zhu L, Westers NJ, Horton SE, King JD, Diederich A, Stewart SM, Kennard BD Arch Suicide Res 2016 Mar
Preliminary Examination of the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide in an Adolescent Clinical Sample.
Horton SE, Hughes JL, King JD, Kennard BD, Westers NJ, Mayes TL, Stewart SM J Abnorm Child Psychol 2015 Dec
An exploration of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury and religious coping.
Westers NJ, Rehfuss M, Olson L, Wiemann CM Int J Adolesc Med Health 2013 Oct 1-5
The role of forgiveness in adolescents who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury.
Westers NJ, Rehfuss M, Olson L, Biron D J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2012 Jun 200 6 535-41

Professional Associations/Affiliations
  • International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (2012)
  • Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (2011)
  • Texas Psychological Association (2011)
  • American Psychological Association (2007)