Psychology Department

Education

Dr. Waltz received his early training in behavior analysis at Western Michigan University where he received a BS. His training at Temple University (Ph.D., 2004) focused on basic behavioral processes and his training at the University of Nevada, Reno (Ph.D., 2011) focused on the application of behavioral principles to diverse clinical populations. Dr. Waltz worked for the State of Nevada providing clinical behavior analysis services for individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. He completed an APA accredited internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) providing outpatient mental health care for adults. Prior to his appointment at EMU, he was a research fellow at the Center for Mental Healthcare Outcomes Research in the Veterans Health Administration where his research focused on the implementation of evidence-based mental health care.

Interests and Expertise

Dr. Waltz is interested in studying behavioral processes common to multiple diagnostic presentations. These interests span several rungs of the translational research ladder:

• basic behavioral process research
• behavioral process measure development for clinical use
• intervention research focused on influencing measures of behavioral processes
• treatment implementation research

Behavioral Process Interests

• behavioral economics
• distress tolerance
• molar functional relations
• Relational Frame Theory

Intervention Related Interests

• ACT
• Behavioral Activation
• Behavioral Marital Therapy
• early intensive behavioral interventions for Autism and other developmental disabilities
• Functional Analytic Psychotherapy
• incorporating complexity and diversity into functional analysis-based treatment planning
• measurement-based care
• modular approaches to treatment matching
• staff training

Courses

NSCI 420: Neuroscience Seminar I
PSY 605: Research Design
PSY 615: Design and Analysis in Small-n Research
PSY 619: Behavioral Assessment

Publications and Presentations