Dr. Wojtalik’s research surrounds advancing the evidence-base of psychosocial interventions that target community functioning for people experiencing schizophrenia and other forms of serious mental illness (SMI). Dr. Wojtalik’s goal is to increase access to evidence-based, anti-stigmatizing, strengths-based, and recovery-oriented SMI interventions in communities. Her research challenges deficit-based narratives of SMI, promoting hope and acknowledging the meaningful contributions to society and our greater good that people with SMI make every day.
Dr. Wojtalik has a particular interest in cognitive rehabilitation interventions for people living with schizophrenia and related SMI. She has over a decade of experience researching and providing Cognitive Enhancement Therapy (CET), a social work-developed cognitive remediation intervention, for people with schizophrenia and Autism. Dr. Wojtalik also has a strong community partnership with Magnolia Clubhouse in Cleveland, an accredited Clubhouse Model of Psychosocial Rehabilitation for SMI. The Clubhouse Model offers a holistic, safe, flexible, positive, and non-hierarchal environment for members to work toward their personal recovery goals. Dr. Wojtalik is working closely with Magnolia Clubhouse and the Research and Data Collect Subcommittee of Clubhouse International to increase awareness of this strength-based model and continue to grow its evidence-base. Dr. Wojtalik also has a tertiary line of research examining the effectiveness of trauma-focused interventions for SMI.
Much of Dr. Wojtalik’s research in these areas is informed by the integration of social work and cognitive neuroscience. She considers such an integration a novel direction to advance direct mental health practice for people experiencing conditions with a strong neurobiological basis, such as schizophrenia.
Biosketch
Curriculum Vitae
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Why I Teach
I teach because of mentors who recognized potential in me that I hadn’t yet seen. Without their encouragement, I wouldn’t be here as a proud member of the Mandel School faculty. This inspires me to be the best instructor I can, helping students discover strengths within themselves. I genuinely enjoy working with students and take pride in creating a trauma-informed classroom—an inclusive, safe, and transparent space where students feel valued and supported. Empowering future compassionate practitioners that are strengths- and evidence-driven is both fulfilling and a privilege I deeply appreciate.
Why I Chose this Profession
I chose the field of social work for its unique flexibility and dynamic nature. In no other profession could I have combined my interest and experience in direct practice, cognitive neuroscience, and research to improve community-based mental health care for individuals with serious mental illness. Social work deeply aligns with my values of inclusivity, strength-based approaches, and a commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-stigmatizing practices. For me, this field offers a meaningful path to contribute to needed social change for people with SMI, empowering these individuals to work toward personal recovery goals in ways that are evidence-based and respect each person’s dignity and resilience.
Teaching Information
Courses Taught
Publications
Selected Publications
Brown, W.J., Saulnier, K.G., Allan, N.P., Wojtalik, J.A., Zampogna, A.M., Grubaugh, A.L. (2022). Dropout from Prolonged Exposure among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder and comorbid severe mental illness. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 10. doi: 10.1016/j.jadr.2022.100405
Wojtalik, J.A., *Flores, A.T., Keshavan, M.S., Eack, S.M. (2022). Premorbid sociality moderates social adjustment change during Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for adults with early schizophrenia. [Invited manuscript for special issue: Experimental Therapeutics in Child Clinical Psychology: Identifying Mechanisms and Moving the Needle]. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 51(3) 312-322. doi: 10.1080/15374416.2022.2025599
Wojtalik, J.A., Mesholam-Gately, R.I., Hogarty, S.S., Greenwald, D.P., Litschge, M.Y.,Sandoval, L.R., Shashidhar, G., Guimond, S., Keshavan, M.S., Eack, S.M. (2022). Confirmatory efficacy of Cognitive Enhancement Therapy for early schizophrenia: Results from a multi-site trial. Psychiatric Services 75(3), 501-509. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202000552
Grubaugh, A.L., Brown, W.J., Wojtalik, J.A., Myers, U.S., Eack, S.M. (2021). Meta-analysis of the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with comorbid severe mental illness. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 82(3), 20r13584, e1-e11. doi: 10.4088/JCP.20r13584
Wojtalik, J.A., Eack, S.M. (2019). Cognitive Enhancement Therapy improves social relationships quality of life among individuals with schizophrenia misusing substances. Social Work Research, 43(1), 59-64. doi: 10.1093/swr/svy032
Wojtalik, J.A., Eack, S.M., Smith, M.J. Keshavan, M.S. (2018). Using cognitive neuroscience to improve mental health treatment: A comprehensive review. [Special Section on Social Work and Neuroscience]. Journal of the Society for Social Work and Research, 9(2), 223-260. doi: 10.1086/697566
Wojtalik, J.A., Smith, M.J., Keshavan, M.S., Eack, S.M. (2017). A systematic and meta-analytic review of neural correlates of functional outcome in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 43(6), 1329-1347. doi: 10.1093/schbul/sbx008