Brian John Fisak, Jr.
Department of Psychology
EDUCATION
2006Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology, University of Central Florida,
Orlando, Florida
Program accredited by the American Psychological Association
1999Master of Science in Clinical Psychology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
1997Bachelor of Arts in Psychology,Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania Graduated Summa Cum Laude and with Honors in Psychology
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS
Licensed Psychologist, State of Florida (# 8122 )
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
2015 to present Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida,
Orlando, Florida
Faculty member of the Masters in Clinical Psychology Program and Undergraduate Psychology Program.
2012 to 2015Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of North Florida,
Jacksonville, Florida
Faculty member of the Undergraduate Psychology and Masters in General Psychology Programs.
2006 to 2012Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of North Florida,
Jacksonville, Florida
Faculty member of the Undergraduate Psychology Program and Masters in General Psychology Programs.
2001 to 2005Adjunct Instructor, Department of Psychology,University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
Instructor for a variety of undergraduate courses at the University of Central Florida as a graduate student.
COURSES TAUGHT
Abnormal Psychology Cognitive Behavior Therapy (graduate)Cross-Cultural Psychology
Child PsychopathologyPsychopathology (graduate)Social Psychology
Internship Supervision (graduate) Child, Adolescent, & Family Therapy (graduate)Developmental Psychology
Research Methods Career and Lifestyle Assessment (graduate)Introduction to Counseling
Advanced Research MethodsPsychobiological Aspects of Drug Use Clinical Psychology
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
2014 to 2015Psychologist, Psychologist, Beacon Pediatric Behavioral Health
Group private practice, Jacksonville, Florida
Part-time position serving children and adolescents with anxiety and related disorders.
2010 to 2014Psychologist, Department of Community Health & Family Medicine
University of Florida-Shands Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida
Part-time position serving individuals with anxiety and depression.
2007 to 2010Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Pediatrics
University of Florida-Shands Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida
Part-time position, working children and adults exposed to or infected with HIV.
2005 to 2006 Predoctoral Intern, Department of Psychiatry
Geisinger Medical, Danville, Pennsylvania
Internship accredited by the American Psychological Association
Track: Child and Pediatric Psychology
2000 to 2005Clinical Practicum Student, Community Counseling Clinic
University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida
2001 to 2002Clinical Practicum Student, Seminole Community Mental Health Center
Casselberry, Florida
2000 to 2001Clinical Assessment Specialist, Coordinated Research of Florida
Orlando, Florida
1998 to 1999Clinical Practicum Student, Student Counseling Testing Center
University of Central Florida,Orlando, Florida
PUBLICATIONS
Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals(* denotes student coauthor)
Barrett, P., Fisak, B., & Cooper, M. (2015). The treatment of anxiety in young children: Results of an open trial of
the Fun FRIENDS program. Behaviour Change, 32, 231-242. 231-242 doi:10.1017/bec.2015.12
O’Leary*, J., & Fisak , B.(2015). Examination of trait-stop rules as predictors, of worry, perseverative thinking, and
generalized anxiety disorder symptoms. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 6, 242-252.
doi:
Fisak, B. (2014). The prevention of anxiety in preschool-aged children: Development of a new program and
preliminary findings. Mental Health and Prevention, 2, 18-25. doi: 10.1016/j.mhp.2014.07.001
Fisak, B., Mentuccia, M.*, & Przeworski, A. (2014). The examination of meta-worry in a non-clinical adolescent
sample . Behaviour and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 42, 491-496. doi:10.1017/S1352465813000374
Fisak, B., *Mann., A., & Heggeli, K. (2013).The association between perceptions of parent worry and
generalized anxiety disorder symptoms in a community sample of adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 18, 226-235. doi:10.1080/02673843.2012.690932
Fisak, B., & Hammond, A.* (2013). Do positive beliefs about post-event processing predict social anxiety
symptoms? Behaviour Change, 30, 36-47.doi:10.1017/bec.2013.4
Fisak, B, *Holderfield, K.G., *Douglas-Osborn, E., & Cartwright-Hatton, S. (2012). What do parents worry about?
examination of the construct of parent worry and the relation to parent and child anxiety. Behaviour and Cognitive Psychotherapy,40, 542-557. doi:10.1017/S1352465812000410
Fisak, B., & *von Lehe, A. (2012). The relation between the five facets of mindfulness and worry in a non-clinical
sample. Mindfulness, 3, 15-21.doi:10.1007/s12671-011-0075-0
Fisak, B., Belkin, M., *von Lehe, A., & Bansal, M. (2012). Predictors of health-related quality of life in pediatric
sickle cell disease.Child: Care Health & Development,38,204–210. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01223.x
*Abrazinskas, M., Fisak, B., Barnes, R. (2012). The relation between parental influence, body image, and
eating behaviors in a nonclinical female sample. Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 9,
93-100.doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2011.10.005
Fisak, B., Richard, D., & *Mann, A., (2011). A meta-analytic review of child and adolescent anxiety prevention
programs. Prevention Science, 12, 255-268.doi:10.1007/s11121-011-0210-0
Fisak, B., & *Mann, A. (2010). The relation between parent rearing practices and adolescent social anxiety:
A factor analytic approach. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 15, 303-318. doi:10.1080/02673843.2010.9748037
Peterson, R., Fisak, B., Tantleff-Dunn, S. (2010). Validation of the food thought suppression inventory. Journal of
Health Psychology, 15, 273-281.doi:10.1177/1359105309351246
Grills-Taquechel, A.E, & Ollendick, T.H., & Fisak, B. (2008). A re-examination of the MASC factor structure
anddiscriminant ability in a mixed clinical outpatient sample.Depression and Anxiety, 25, 942-950. doi:10.1002/da.20401
Fisak, B. & Grills-Taquechel, A.E. (2007). Parental modeling, reinforcement, and information transfer: Risk
factors in thedevelopment of child anxiety? Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 10, 213-231.doi:10.1007/s10567-007-0020-x
Fisak, B., Tantleff-Dunn, S., & Peterson, R. (2007). Personality Information: Does it Influence Perceptions of
Attractive Body Sizes? Body Image: An International Journal of Research, 4, 213-217. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.03.004
Fisak, B., Peterson, R.D., Tantleff-Dunn, S., & Molnar, J.M. (2006). Challenging previous conceptions of
vegetarianism and eating disorders. Eating and Weight Disorders: Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia, and Obesity, 11, 195-200. doi:10.1007/BF03327571
Fisak, B., Oliveros, A., & Ehrenreich, J.T. (2006). Assessment and behavioral treatment of Selective Mutism.
Clinical Case Studies, 5, 382-402.doi:10.1177/1534650104269029
Chin, M.G., Fisak, B., & Sims, V.K. (2002). Development of the attitudes toward vegetarians scale. Anthrozoos,
15, 332-342. doi:10.2752/089279302786992441
Book Chapters & Other Relevant Publications
Fisak, B. (2014). Trauma-related problems and disorders. In C.A. Alfonso and D. Beidel (Eds.), Comprehensive
Evidence-Based Interventions for School-Aged Children and Adolescents (pp. 287-300). Wiley & Sons Publishing.
Bogue, R., Fisak, B., & Lukman, R. (2011). Becoming, Being, and Excelling as a Physician:Physician Motivations,
Satisfaction, Wellness and Effectiveness. In B. Kircaldy (Ed.), The Art and Science of Health Care: Psychology
and Human Factors for Practitioners (pp. 81-102). Cambridge, MA: Hogrefe Publishing.
Fisak, B. (2006, Winter). Is parental modeling associated with child anxiety?: Examination of a parent sample.
Anxiety Disorders: A Quarterly Report, 4-6.
Fisak, B. & Grills, A.E. (2005). Parental Modeling and Child Anxiety: A Review of the Literature. Child and
Adolescent Anxiety Special Interest Group Newsletter, 4(2), 19-23.
Ehrenreich, J. & Fisak, B. (2005). Anxiety Management. In A.M. Gross & R.S. Drabman (Eds.), Encyclopedia
of Behavior Modification and Cognitive Behavior Therapy- Volume 2: Child Clinical Applications. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Fisak, B., Negy, C., Dvorsack, K., Pickford, C., Hadidi, M.,& Ehrenreich, J. (2005). Examination of a
retrospective versionof the child learning of anxiety scale (CLOAS).Child and Adolescent Anxiety Special Interest Group Newsletter, 4(1), 2-4.
Peterson, R.D., Dunn, S. & Fisak, B. (2004). Vegetarianism and Eating Disorders: A perfect cover? Eating
Disorders Today, 2(5), 5-7.
Manuscripts Under Review or in Preparation(* denotes student coauthor)
Fisak, B. (2015). Evidence-based interventions of anxiety disorders in preschool-aged children:
Manuscript in preparation.
Fisak. B. (2015). Treatment outcome for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A systematic review. Manuscript in
preparation.
Grove, A. & Fisak, B. (2015). The effectiveness of early intervention for children exposed to trauma: A systematic
review. Manuscript in preparation.
Kissinger, A.* & Fisak, B. (2015). Further examination of the Mood-as-Input Hypothesis and depressive rumination.
Manuscript in preparation.
PRESENTATIONS AT SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
* denotes student coauthor
*Kissell, K., *Hilligas, C, *Rodriguez, H. & Fisak, B. (2016, March). Anticipatory Anxiety and Post-Event Processing:
Reexamination of Psychometric Properties and Examination of Divergent Validity. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
*Rodriguez, H., *Hilligas, C., *Kissell, K. & Fisak, B. (2016, March). Examination of the Beliefs and Cognitive
Processesthat Predict Social Anxiety Symptoms. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
*Cibrian, E., *Burrell, J., Mann, A. & Fisak, B. (2016, March). Depressive Rumination and the Mood-as-Input
Hypothesis: The Role of Reverse Catastrophizing. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.
*Lucas, L., *Stella, L., *Farrell, L. & Fisak, B. (2015, March). The Psychometric properties of the negative beliefs
aboutpost-event processing questionnaire. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Hilton Head, SC.
*Nimitz, J., & Fisak, B. (2015, March). Mediating effects of catastrophic appraisals on distress and severity in
depersonalization. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Hilton Head, SC.
*Perrine, C., & Fisak, B. (2105, March). The Catastrophic Interview Procedure: A Systematic Review of the
Research. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Hilton Head, SC.
*Wallace, B., *Kazee, C., & Fisak, B. (2015, March). The prevention of child and adolescent anxiety: A follow-up
meta-analysis. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Hilton Head, SC.
*Kissinger, A., & Fisak. B. (2014, March). Depressive rumination and the Mood-as-Input Hypothesis. Poster
presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, TN.
*Grove, A., *Wallace, B., *Lucas, L., & Fisak, B. (2014, March). Early interventions for children exposed to
potentially traumatic events: A systematic review. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, TN.
*Lucas, L., & Fisak, B. (2014, March). Reexamination of the psychometric properties of Self-Beliefs Related to Social
Anxiety Scale. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, TN.
*Harrington, K., & Fisak.B. (2014, March). The underlying factor structure of negative beliefs about worry.Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Nashville, TN.
*O’Leary, J., *Perrin, C., *Harrington, K., *Gerzina, A, & Fisak, B. (2013, March). The Relative Contribution
of Beliefs about Worry and Stop Rules as Predictors of Pathological Worry. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
*Jacobson, J., *Walsh, J., & Fisak, B. (2013, March). Examination of the Relation between Problem-Solving
Related Metacognitions and Worry Symptoms. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
*Hernandez-Gonzalez, O., & Fisak, B. (2013, March). The Relation between Recall of Childhood Language
Brokering. Family Roles, and Internalizing Symptoms. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
*Hammond, A., & Fisak, B. (2012, November). The development and validation of the Positive Beliefs about Post-
Event Processing Questionnaire. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapies, National Harbor, MD.
*Mentuccia, M., Przeworski, A, Fisak, B. (2012, November). The relation between the Meta-Worry Questionnaire-
Adolescent Version and worry symptoms an adolescent sample.Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapies, National Harbor, MD.
Fisak., B. (2011, March). Mindful parenting: A strategy to improve parent-based interventions. Workshop presented
at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Jacksonville, FL.
*Mann, A., *Heggeli, K., *Perth, J., & Fisak, B. (2011, March ). The relation between parent worry and adolescent
worry. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Jacksonville, FL.
*von Lehe, A., *Parker, M., & Fisak, B. (2011, March). The association between mindfulness and pathological
worry. Poster presentedat the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Jacksonville, FL.
*von Lehe, A., *Dean, J., *Egnor, E., & Fisak, B. (2011, March). Detached mindfulness and Buddhist mindfulness:
Distinct constructs?Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Jacksonville, FL.
*von Lehe, A. & Fisak, B. (2010, November). Mindfulness and Decentering: Overlapping or Distinct Constructs?
Poster accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, San Francisco.
*Mann, A., & Fisak., B. (2009, November). The Relation between perceived parent rearing practices and adolescent
social anxiety: A factor analytic approach. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York.
*Abrazinskas, M., & Fisak, B. (2008, November). Measuring parenting influence: A factor analytic study.Poster
presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, Florida.
Fisak, B., *Mann, A., Richard, D., *Celesti, C., *Schulyer, A., *Thacker, A. (2008, November). A Meta-Analysis of targeted child and adolescent anxiety prevention programs. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the
Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, Orlando, Florida.
*Mann, A., Richard, D., *Schuyler, A., *McLane, S., Fisak, B. (2008, November). A Meta-Analysis of Universal
Child and Adolescent Anxiety Prevention Programs. Poster presented at he annual meeting ofthe Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, Orlando, Florida.
*Mann, M., & Fisak, B. (2007, November). The Specificity of Learning Experiences Contributing to Panic, Worry, and
SocialFears: Examination of a University Student Sample. Poster accepted for presentation at the annual meeting ofthe Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Asberg, K., *Mann, M., & Fisak, B. (2007, November). The Development and Validation of the Learning of Worry
Scale (LOWS).Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Fisak, B. & Negy, C. (2006, November). The factor structure of the Parental Bonding Instrument in a sample of
English-speaking Hispanic mothers. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, Illinois.
Bogue, R., Paolini, H., & Fisak, B. (2006, June). Physician Stress and Life Satisfaction. Poster presented at the Academy Health annual research meeting, Seattle, Washington.
Fisak, B. (2006, March). Measuring of mechanisms of learning: The Child Learning of Anxiety Scale (CLOAS).
Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, Miami, Florida.
Fisak, B. (2005, November). Is parental modeling related to child anxiety?: Examination of a parent sample. Poster
presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.
Fisak, B. & Asberg, K. (2005, November). The association between anxious parenting behaviors and child
anxiety: A moderational relationship. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.
Fisak, B, Negy, C., & Ehrenreich, J. (2005, November). Examination of the Child Learning of Anxiety Scale, Parent
Version (CLOAS-PV). Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral
and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.
Hoggatt, C.E., Fisak, B., Webster, C.E., & Grills, A.E. (2005, November). The mediating effects of attributional
style on learned anxiety in college students.Poster presented at the annual meeting of the
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Washington, D.C.
Fisak, B., Negy, C., Dvorsack, K., Pickford, C., Hadidi, M.,& Ehrenreich, J. (2004, November). Examination of a
retrospective versionof the child learning of anxiety scale (CLOAS). Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Peterson, R.D., Molnar, J.M., Dunn, S.T., & Fisak, B. (2004, April). Vegetarians and eating disorders: A matter
of measurement? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Eating Disorders, Orlando, FL.
Peterson, R.D., Fisak, B., Dunn, S.T., & Molnar, J.M. (2004, April). Challenging previous concepts of
vegetarianism. Poster presented that the annual meeting of the Academy of Eating Disorders, Orlando, FL.
Fisak, B. McKinney, C., Kabat, J., Poteat, L., & Ehrenreich, J. (2003, November). Maternal versus paternal
parenting behaviors and social anxiety symptomatology in late adolescence. Poster presented at the annual
meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavioral Therapy, Boston, MA.
McKinney, C., Fisak, B. & Ehrenreich, J. (2003, June). Proximal and distal family factors associated with
anxiety amongst older adolescents. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for
Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Sydney, Australia.
Ehrenreich, J.T., Fisak, B., & Gross, A.M. (2003, June). Examining the role of psychological autonomy granting
in child social anxiety. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the International Society for Research in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, Sydney, Australia.
McKinney, C., Ehrenreich, J..T., Fisak., B. (2003, March). Child social anxiety, affective expression, and control
in parent-child interactions. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological
Association, New Orleans, LA.
Chin, M. G., Sims, V. K., Cummings, T., Pearson, W., & Fisak, B. (2002, June). Measuring attitudes toward
vegetarians. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Society, New Orleans,
LA.
Fisak, B., Peterson, R., Murray, J. Dunn, S., & Gokee, J. (2002, April). Comparing vegetarians and
non-vegetarians on body image and eating disorder measures.Poster presented at the annual meeting of the
Academy of Eating Disorders, Boston, MA.
Kanter, A., Dunn, S., & Fisak, B. (2002, April). Predictors of eating disorder symptoms in high school students.
Poster presented that the annual meeting of the Academy of Eating Disorders, Boston, MA.
Chin, M. G., Sims, V. K., Cummings, T., Pearson, W., Fisak, B., & Smith, G. (2002, March). Development of a
scale to measure anti-vegetarian attitudes. Poster presented at the annual convention of the
Southeastern Psychological Association, Orlando, FL.
Fisak, B., Dunn, S., & Kanter, A. (2000, November). Predicting body image and eating disturbance in first-year
college students. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, New Orleans, LA.
Fisak, B. & Dunn, S. (2000, August). Does personality influence perceptions of attractiveness of various body
sizes? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, WashingtonD.C.
Milhelm, M., Fisak, B., Mesa, H., Navarro, G., & Smither, J. (1999, September). Using computers to improve
functional literacy and health knowledge in older adults. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Houston, TX.
Dunn, S., Fisak, B., & Friedman, B. (1999, March). Appearance-related comments: adolescents' ratings of
acceptability. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Savannah, GA.
Dunn, S., Fisak, B., Reyes, M., & Wilk, A. (1999, March). Tattooing and body piercing: motivations and impact
on body image. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Savannah, GA.
Dunn, S., & Fisak, B. (1998, November). Evaluation of appearance-related feedback in various social contexts:
Relation to body image and teasing history. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Applied Behavior Therapy, WashingtonD.C.
Dunn, S., Fisak, B., Welch, A., & Touhy, C. (1998, March). Gender role orientation and body image. Poster
presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Mobile, AL.
Fisak, B. & Platania, J. (1997, April). Stereotype threat and women's performance on the differential aptitude
test. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association, WashingtonD.C.
Bragg, D., Fisak, B., Zaffarano, K., & Weikel, K. (1997, April). Relationship between narcissism and self-esteem
stability following a social failure. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.
HONORS and AWARDS
Recipient of the Outstanding Faculty Scholarship Award, University of North Florida, 2014-2015.
Nominated for the Distinguished Professor Award, University of North Florida, 2014-2015.
Nominated for the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of North Florida, 2011-2012
Recipient of theChild Intervention, Prevention & Services (CHIPS) Fellowship,2011