Nancy L. Worsham, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology

I am a licensed Psychologist with diverse professional interests that are reflected in courses that I regularly teach (e.g., abnormal child psychology, mindfulness and psychotherapy, community psychology). Many students also know me because of my wonderful...

Dr. Nancy Worsham

Contact Information

Education & Curriculum Vitae

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, University of Vermont

M.S., Educational Psychology, University of Utah

B.A., Developmental Psychology, UC Santa Barbara

Courses Taught

PSYC 340: Personality Theories

PSYC 364: Abnormal Child Psychology

PSYC 396: Health/Pediatric Psychology

PSYC 398: Community Psychology

PSYC 399: Clinical/Counseling Psychology

PSYC 476: Mindfulness and Psychotherapy


I am a licensed Psychologist with diverse professional interests that are reflected in courses that I regularly teach (e.g., abnormal child psychology, mindfulness and psychotherapy, community psychology). Many students also know me because of my wonderful emotional support dog, Spirit. My approach to teaching is highly interactive, and I invite students to engage actively with course materials and look for ways to apply the material.

Spirit is a small white dog and the mascot for the Psychology department.

Nancy’s dog, Spirit, is a beloved member of the Psychology department.

Mann, J. C., Kretchmar, M. D., & Worsham, N. L. (2011). Being in relationship: Paradoxical truths and opportunities for change in foster care. Zero to Three, 31, 11-16.

Worsham, N. L., Kretchmar, M. D., *Swenson, N., & *Goodvin, R. (2009). At-risk mothers’ parenting capacity: An attachment theory and epistemological analysis. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 14, 25-41.

Mann, J., Kretchmar, M. D., & Worsham, N. L. (2008). Critical issues in foster care: Lessons The Children’s Ark learned from Barbara and Nathan. Zero to Three, 28, 41-46.

Worsham, N. L., & *Goodvin, R. M. (2007). The Bee Kind Garden: A qualitative description of work with maltreated children. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 12, 261-279.

*Crawford, E. K., Worsham, N. L., & *Swinehart, E. R. (2006). Attachment and benefits derived from companion animals. Anthrozoös, 19, 98-112.*

Worsham, N. L., & *Crawford, E. K. (2005). Parental illness and adolescent development. The Prevention Researcher, 12, 3-6.*

Kretchmar, M. D., Worsham, N. L., & *Swenson, N. (2005). Anna’s story: A qualitative analysis of an at-risk mother’s experience in an attachment-based foster care program. Attachment and Human Development, 7, 31-49.*

Ey, S., Compas, B. E., Epping-Jordan, J. E., & Worsham, N. (1998). Stress responses and psychological adjustment in cancer patients and their spouses. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 16, 59-77.*

Worsham, N. L., Compas, B. E., & Ey, S. (1997). Children's coping with parental illness. In S. A. Wolchik, & I. N. Sandler (Eds.), Handbook of children's coping: Linking theory and intervention (pp. 195-213). New York: Plenum.

Compas, B. E., Worsham, N. L., Ey, S., & Howell, D. C. (1996). When mom or dad has cancer: II. Coping, cognitive appraisals, and psychological distress in children of cancer patients. Health Psychology, 15, 167-175.

Compas, B. E., Worsham, N. L., Epping-Jordan, J. E., Howell, D. C., Grant, K. E., Mireault, G., & Malcarne, V. (1994). When mom or dad has cancer: Markers of psychological distress in cancer patients, spouses and children. Health Psychology, 13, 507-515.

Compas, B. E., Worsham, N. L., & Ey, S. (1992). Conceptual and developmental issues in children's coping with stress. In A. LaGreca, L. Siegel, J. Wallander, and C.E. Walker (Eds.) Advances in pediatric psychology: Stress and coping with pediatric conditions (pp. 7-24). New York: Guilford Press.

Following prior to employment at Gonzaga University

Compas, B. E., Banez, G. E., Malcarne, V. L. & Worsham, N. L. (1991). Perceived control and coping with stress: A developmental perspective. Journal of Social Issues, 47, 23 34.

Drew, C. J., & Worsham, N. L. (1987). Verbal learning errors by mentally retarded adolescents as a function of learning stage. Psychological Reports, 60, 597 598.

Wampold, B. E., & Worsham, N. L. (1986). Randomization tests for multiple baseline designs. Behavioral Assessment, 8, 135 143.

VanWagenen, L., Jenson, W. R., Worsham, N., & Petersen, B. P. (1985). The use of simultaneous communication to teach difficult verbal discriminations to an autistic and developmentally disabled child. Australian Journal of Human Communication Disorders, 13, 143 152.

(Undergraduate collaborator designated by *)

Manuscripts in Preparation

Worsham, N. L. (2017). Mindfulness meditation with children. Unpublished manuscript. 

  • Teaching mindfulness to college aged students
  • Attachment theory with high-risk mother-child dyads