Biography

Clinical Psychologist, Children's Health

Associate Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Board Certified in Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (ABPP)

The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast host & producer: https://the-psychology-of-self-injury.simplecast.com 

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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 Theory of Suicide (IPTS)

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

Effectiveness of a curriculum for pediatric residents to address adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury
Westers NJ, Needham HE, Walsh JB Acad Psychiatry 2023 47 1 18-24
Freedom to play, learn, live, and thrive: A youth-serving professional call to action to address firearm violence
Culyba AJ, Sigel E, Westers NJ, Barondeau J, Trent M, Coyne-Beasley T. J Adolesc Health 2023 72 2 177-178
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 2020 25 2 359-371
Position statement of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine: Preventing firearm violence in youth through evidence-informed strategies
Sigel EJ, Culyba A, Westers NJ, Stoddard S, Elliott AS, Brittner M, Efevbera Y, Austin K, Miller E, Coyne-Beasley T J Adolesc Health 2020 66 2 260-264
25 years of suicide research and prevention: How much has changed?
Westers NJ Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2020 25 4 729-733
Not a fad: Nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts
Westers NJ Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019 24 4 653-657
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

Books

Featured Books Legend Featured Books

1. Media representations of nonsuicidal self-injury. In The handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury

Westers NJ (in press). Oxford University Press

2. Nonsuicidal self-injury risk assessment, intervention, and guidance for first responders and medical settings. In The handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury

Westers NJ, Tinsley B (in press). Oxford University Press

3. Nonsuicidal self-injury in children and adolescents. In Handbook of clinical child psychology: Theory to practice

Westers NJ (in press). Springer Nature

Professional Associations/Affiliations

  • American Board of Professional Psychology - ABPP (2019)
  • American Psychological Association (2007)
  • International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (2012)
  • Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (2011)
  • Texas Psychological Association (2011)