Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) - Psychology Faculty

Overview

Faculty & Staff

Courses

Programs

Costs & Outcomes

Research

Opportunities
& Activities

Helen DeVries

Psy.D. Program Director
Professor of Psychology
On faculty since 1994

Phone: (630) 752-7047
Fax: (630) 752-7033
Email: helen.m.devries@wheaton.edu

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow in Neuropsychology, Medical College of Virginia, 1992-1993

Postdoctoral Fellow, NIMH Postdoctoral Fellow in Geropsychology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 1991-1992

Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1991

M.S. Counseling Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1988

M.A. English, Wroxton College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1971

B.A. Literature, Wheaton College, 1965

Professional and Personal Interests

My area of interest is in adult development and aging, specifically in the context of midlife and late life family issues. My research focuses on understanding how the normative transitions (such as launching children, retirement) and non-normative events (such as illness, disability) impact individual development. Using a combination of cross-sectional and longitudinal methods, we hope to better understand how individuals negotiate the many transitions of mid and late life. For example, one approach taken by our research group has been to explore how a family life cycle framework defines the types and impact of transitions faced by midlife parents as they move from the active parenting role to the post parental years. Hopefully, results from this type of research can inform clinical practice by identifying threats to well being at this stage of life, by identifying characteristics of those who successfully negotiate the challenges posed by these transitions, and by developing psychoeducational interventions to foster resiliency and positive outcome in older adults. I am also working with a local community agency to help them expand their services to older adults. My research group is helping to identify client needs, design a database to track client needs and services, develop programs to meet the needs of older adults in the community, and evaluate program effectiveness.

Courses Taught

Professional Development Seminar
Practicum Seminar
Geropsychology

Membership in Professional Societies

American Psychological Association
The Gerontological Society of America
Christian Association of Psychological Studies

Research

Adaptation to the "empty nest." The focus of this research is to better understand the normative transitions of mid and late life families as they adapt to the launching of children and the impact on individuals and family relationships. Specifically, the research had focused on how marital and parental relationships change and adapt during the empty nest transition. Several projects are currently underway, including an on-going, longitudinal study of parents through the launching of their children through this transition, and an exploration of parent/child relationship change during the launching phase. Students who are interested in studying adult development, mid & late marital or parent/child relationships, or learning qualitative research methods are welcome.
Improving quality of life and ability of older adults to "age in place." This research is carried out in collaboration with Outreach Community Center's Older Adults Program. Projects include development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions for this population, oversight of a data base used to track and evaluate program goals and assess client needs, development and evaluation of training materials for community "gatekeepers" (apartment managers, Friendly Visiting Volunteers) to prepare them to work with this population. Students interested in community psychology, consultation, geropsychology, or neuropsychology may be interested in working with this project.

Papers Published and/or Presented

Books and Book Chapters

Devries, H. M. (in press). Case Study: Older Adults. In P. Sturmey (Ed.). Varieties of Case Formulation. UK: Wiley.

DeVries, H. M. & Ogland-Hand, S. (2007). Crisis with older adults. In F. M. Dattilio & A. Freeman (Eds.), Cognitive-behavioral strategies in crisis intervention, 3rd ed., 377-396. NY: Guilford.

DeVries, H. M. (2007). Older adults. In N. Kazantizis & L. L’Abate (Eds.), Handbook of Homework Assignments in Psychotherapy: Research, Practice, and Prevention, 175-186. NY: Springer Publishers

DeVries, H. M. (2007). Cognitive-behavioral interventions. In J. Birren (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Gerontology 2nd ed., 283-29. UK: Elsevier.

DeVries, H.M. & Coon, D.W. (2002). Cognitive-behavioral group therapy with older adults. In T. Patterson (Ed.). Comprehensive handbook of psychotherapy, Vol. 2 (Cognitive/Behavioral/Functional). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

DeVries, H.M. & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2000). Assessment and crisis intervention with older adults. In F.M. Dattilio and A. Freeman. Cognitive-behavioral strategies in crisis intervention, 2nd edition. New York: Guilford Press.

DeVries, H.M. (1993). Psychosocial issues of traumatic brain injury. Chapter for Case Management Resources in Traumatic Brain Injury. Invited by the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center in Traumatic Brain Injury, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA.

Articles and Papers

DeVries, H. M., Kerrick, S., & Oetinger, M. (2008). Satisfactions and regrets of midlife parents: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Adult Development. http://www.springerlink.com/content/7273338431557851/fulltext.html.

Soref, E. & DeVries, H.M. (2005). Evaluation of a partial hospitalization mental health program for older adults. Clinical Gerontologist, 28(3), 27-44.

Crawford, N. & DeVries, H.M. (2005). Relationship between role perception and well-being in married female missionaries. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 33(3), 187-197.

Coon, D., DeVries, H.M. & Gallagher-Thompson, D. (2004). Cognitive behavioral therapy with suicidal older adults. Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 32(3), 481-493.

Hagen, J. & DeVries, H. M. (2004). Marital satisfaction for empty nest couples. Marriage and Family: A Christian Journal, 7(1),83-98.

DeVries, H.M. & Kruse, S.J. (2002). A rationale and training model for cultivating competency for working with older adults. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 21, 309-317.

DeVries, H.M. (November, 2001). Geropsychology courses in generalist clinical psychology programs. APPIC (Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers) Newsletter, XXVI (2).

Yarhouse, M.A. & DeVries, H.M. (2000). When psychologists work with older adults: A survey of ethical beliefs and practices. Journal of Clinical Geropsychology, 6(3), 149-163.

Presentations

DeVries, H. M., Kraft, M., & Baker, E. J. (August, 2007). Factors impacting outcome of community-based health interventions for older adults. Poster presented at the Meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

DeVries, H. M., Campbell, E., Fikkert, L., Kraay, M., & Ruiz, J. (August, 2007). Trajectory of marital satisfaction through the empty nest transition. Poster presented at the Meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

DeVries, H. M., Roth, V., Hawkins, L., Baker, E., & Strening, P. (April, 2006). Developing effective partnerships between colleges and community agencies: A model for enhancing mental health service capacity and professional training. Symposium presented at Mental Health and Aging Conference (Illinois Department on Aging), Schaumburg, IL

DeVries, H. M., & Ritzma, R. (March, 2006). Narrative and faith: Theoretical and applied perspectives. Symposium presented at the Meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Cincinnati, OH.

DeVries, H. M. & Wiens, L. (August, 2005). Parents’ Relationships with Adult Children: Characteristics of Satisfied and Dissatisfied Parents. Poster Presented at the Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

DeVries, H. M., Wiens, L., Fitzsimmons, R., Kerrick, S., & Jenkins, E. (August, 2005). Meaning-Making as a Developmental Marker in Midlife: A Narrative Approach. Poster presented at the Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

DeVries, H. M., Roth, V., & Caceras, J. (June, 2004). Collaboration between faith-based colleges and community agencies: A model for training compassionate professionals. Symposium presented at Preparing Compassionate Caregivers: Gerontological Pedagogy at Faith-Based Colleges and Universities Conference held at Messiah College, Grantham, PA.

DeVries, H.M., Hosteller, H. & Watson, C. (August, 2002). The empty nest transition: A longitudinal, qualitative study. Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Hagen, J. & DeVries, H. (August, 2002). Marital satisfaction during the empty nest stage. Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.

Canning, S.S., Kruse, S.J., Mangis, M. & DeVries, H.M. (April, 2002). Training students for work with underserved populations. Annual Meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Arlington Heights, IL.

DeVries, H.M., Qualls, S., Ogland-Hand, S. Gantz, F., Anthony-Bergstone, C. & Fruit, M. (August, 2001). Geropsychology for clinical graduate students: Models of training. Symposium presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

DeVries, H.M. (August, 2001). Geropsychology courses in generalist clinical psychology programs. Annual Meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

DeVries, H.M., Winters, K., Hayen, E. & Watson, C. (March, 2001). Letting go and moving on: The experience of midlife parents. Annual Meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Richmond, VA.