Laboratory of Youth Behavior

Overview

Youth with behavior challenges are often called oppositional, challenging, explosive, difficult, defiant or aggressive. They may display externalizing behaviors such as temper tantrums, defiance, deceit, destruction of property and verbal or physical aggression.

These youth might carry a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD), or intermittent explosive disorder (IED). Some display challenging behaviors as part of a larger set of symptoms that have been identified as a mood, anxiety or developmental disorder.

The MGH Laboratory for Youth Behavior is affiliated with Think:Kidsin the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry. We take a broad approach to studying the causes of, and treatments for, challenging behavior during childhood, adolescence, and emerging adulthood.

We explore how, why, and for whom different treatment approaches for disruptive behavior disorders are effective, with a focus on studying the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) approach that is disseminated and implemented by Think:Kids.

Through partnerships with organizations that are implementing CPS, we contribute to the field’s knowledge of implementing evidence-based practices in schools, hospitals, and community-based clinical agencies.

Research Team

M. Grace Albright, PhD
Instructor, Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Grace Albright is a developmental psychologist and Instructor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. She is the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Youth Behavior at MGH and serves as Principal Research Scientist for the Think:Kids program. She received her BA in Psychology and Human Development/Family Studies from the University of Alabama and her PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her post-doctoral training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on examining the implementation and effectiveness of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) across settings, with primary expertise in school-based applications. Her work aims to equip educators with practical, evidence-based strategies to support student behavior and improve long-term psychosocial outcomes.

Elizabeth Buchholz, MNS

Elizabeth Buchholz has experience working directly with youth and families using Collaborative Problem Solving in residential treatment, private day schools, and treatment foster care. As an Organization Learning Manager for a statewide nonprofit, she provided training and consultation in Collaborative Problem Solving and Implementation to staff and families in each of these settings. Elizabeth also led the direct care team in a large residential facility using the CPS approach as both a human resources management approach and as the guiding philosophy for interacting with and treating clients and families.
Elizabeth received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Philosophy and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Studies with a concentration in Implementation Science and Trauma Informed Care from the University of Richmond. Elizabeth serves as consultant and contributor for all LYB residential and implementation science research.

Hallie Carpenter, EdS

Hallie Carpenter, EdS is the Manager of Implementation and a Certified Trainer and Consultant for the Think:Kids program. With over a decade of experience in educational settings, she has worked as a behavior specialist, school psychologist, consultant, and adjunct instructor. Hallie trains and coaches individuals and organizations in Collaborative Problem Solving and provides consultation for effective implementation and improved outcomes for youth and families. Informed by implementation science and data, she also supports the development of services, resources, and tools that facilitate large scale implementation of Collaborative Problem Solving. Hallie holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Linfield College and an Education Specialist degree in School Psychology from Lewis and Clark College. Hallie serves as a consultant and contributor for all LYB implementation science and school-based research.

David Appolonia

David Appolonia is a Data Analyst at Think:Kids, where he supports the Evaluation Team in monitoring training satisfaction and program impact. David designs and maintains data systems that assess whether trainings meet client needs and how programs impact youth behavior, translating program data into visualizations and reports for clients, partners, and funders.
Since joining Think:Kids, David has developed data infrastructure and systematic processes for the organization's evaluation work. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Boston University and previously worked in asset management and data analysis in commercial real estate. David serves as a contributor to the Laboratory for Youth Behavior, collaborating with the research team on data collection strategy, analysis, and visualization.

Sanya Agrawal, MA, MPA

Sanya Agrawal is the Manager of Program Evaluation at Think:Kids. Sanya manages all aspects of evaluation across the organization and is responsible for establishing data collection tools and processes to assess the quality and effectiveness of all programs. She reports results to internal and external stakeholders to communicate the impact of CPS programs on learners, families, and organizations. With over eight years of experience in program evaluation, data operations, and management, she holds a Master of Public Administration from the NYU Wagner School of Public Service.

As a member of LYB, Sanya is tasked with identifying, remaining current on, and utilizing research-validated assessment tools to evaluate program outcomes and impact.

Claire Roffman

Claire Roffman is a senior at the University of Maryland, where she studies Hearing and Speech Sciences with concentrations in Disability Studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She has been a research intern at Think:Kids for nearly two years, supporting both in-person and online data collection and organization, as well as conducting literature reviews. Following graduation this spring, Claire plans to pursue a graduate degree in Speech-Language Pathology.

Affiliated Group Members and Collaborators

Alisha Pollastri, PhD
Youth Villages

Dr. Alisha Pollastri was the founder of the Laboratory for Youth Behavior, and currently serves as a research consultant to the LYB team while directing the external research team at Youth Villages, a national, youth-serving agency. For the last fifteen years, Dr. Pollastri’s research has focused on implementing evidence-based practices in schools and community settings. She promotes pragmatic, evidence-based decision making in all community-based work, and has actively contributed to the field’s understanding of best practices for implementing evidence-based interventions. Dr. Pollastri earned her B.A. in psychology from Duke University, her doctorate in clinical psychology from Clark University, and completed a post-doctoral at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Charis Stanek, MSW
The Ohio State University

Charis Stanek is a PhD student in the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University. Charis received her B.A. in psychology and sociology from Oberlin College in 2018, her M.A. in social sciences, with a concentration in psychology, from the University of Chicago in 2020, and her M.S.W from The Ohio State University in 2025. Charis has experience working as both a case manager and a clinical social work intern with transition-age youth living in residential treatment programs. She is broadly interested in investigating risk and protective factors for youth and young adults with histories of child protective services involvement, and in particular, how to promote positive youth development among youth in residential treatment. Charis serves as a consultant for Think:Kids, contributing to the residential arm of the team’s research on Collaborative Problem Solving.

Publications

For a comprehensive list of publications on the Collaborative Problem Solving approach, visit the Think:Kids website.