Biography

Clinical Psychologist, Children's Health

Associate Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center

Board Certified in Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

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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

Managing risk and self-harm: Keeping young people safe
Westers NJ, Plener PL Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2020 25 3 610-624
Media guidelines for the responsible reporting and depicting of non-suicidal self-injury
Westers NJ, Lewis SP, Whitlock J, Schatten HT, Ammerman B, Andover MS, Lloyd-Richardson EE Br J Psychiatry 2020
SOARS model: Risk assessment of nonsuicidal self-injury
Westers NJ, Muehlenkamp JJ, Lau M Contemp Pediatr 2016 33 7 25-31
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
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
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
Nonsuicidal self-injury: A neglected public health problem among adolescents.
Westers NJ, Culyba, AJ Am J Public Health 2018 108 8 981-983
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

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