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Background Info.

Contact Info.

Email: ascarpa@vt.edu 

Phone: (540) 231 - 8747

  (540) 231 - 2615

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Office Locations: 

Psychology Department

331 Williams Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061

VT Autism Center
3110 Prices Fork, Blacksburg, VA 24061

Professor of Psychology
Supervising Faculty, Psychological Services

Center
Faculty/Consultant, Child Study Center
Co-Director, VT Autism Clinic
Director, VT Center for Autism Research

Dr. Scarpa received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern California in 1993. She is currently a Professor of Psychology at Virginia Tech, Founder and Director of the Virginia Tech Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research. She is a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in individual and group behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapy for children, families, and adults. Before coming to Virginia Tech, she held faculty positions at the University of Georgia and Eastern Washington University and obtained postdoctoral training at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her general interest is in child and adolescent mental health, with over 30 years of experience in the study of developmental psychopathology. Currently, her work is focused on children, adolescents, and young adults on the autism spectrum. She is generally interested in emotional and social development in autism, including the intersection of both biological and socializing influences. She is also interested in evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming services, improving access to care for underserved populations, and other factors that impact emotions and wellbeing.

Courses Taught
  • Psychological Disorders of Children

  • Clinical Practicum

Selected Publications
  • Factor, R.S., Ryan, S.M., Farley, J.P., Ollendick, T.O., Scarpa, A. (advanced online publication, 2017).  Does the presence of anxiety and ADHD symptoms add to social impairment in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-3025-9

  • Factor, R.S. Condy, E.E., Farley, J.P, & Scarpa, A. (2016). Insistence on Sameness, Anxiety, and Social Motivation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 2548-2554. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-016-2781-x

  • Hassenfeldt, T. A., Lorenzi, J., & Scarpa, A. (2015). A review of parent training in child interventions: Applications to cognitive-behavioral therapy for children with High-Functioning Autism.  Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2, 79-90. DOI:10.1007/s40489-014-0038-1

  • Patriquin, M., Lorenzi, J., Scarpa, A., Calkins, S., & Bell, M.A. (2015). Broad implications for respiratory sinus arrhythmia development: Associations with childhood symptoms of psychopathology in a community sample.  Developmental Psychobiology, 57, 120-130.  doi:10.1002/dev.21269

  • Scarpa, A. (2015).  Physiological arousal and its dysregulation in child maladjustment.  Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24, 345-351. DOI: 10.1177/0963721415588920

Interests
  • Autism Spectrum

  • Neurodiversity

  • Emotion Regulation

  • Physiological Arousal

  • Social Functioning

  • Family Involvement

  • Evidence-based Services

  • Dissemination and Implementation Research

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