Peggilee Wupperman, PhD
Professor, Department of PsychologyAbout
Titles
Biography
Peggilee Wupperman, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology in the Psychology Doctoral Program at John Jay College of the City University of New York. She is also Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Wupperman is invested in improving the understanding and treatment of individuals with dysregulated emotions and behaviors. With this aim, she developed Mindfulness and Modification Therapy, a transdiagnostic treatment for dysregulated behavior that can be modified to fit clients' specific behaviors and needs. She is the author of the book Treating Impulsive, Addictive, and Self-Destructive Behavior: Mindfulness and Modification Therapy, published through Guilford Press. Her research publications have focused on behavior dysregulation, mindfulness, emotion regulation, emotion processing, and personality disorders. Dr. Wupperman regularly teaches classes and workshops for mental health professionals and trainees. She sees therapy clients through grant-funded clinical trials.
Appointments
Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Psychiatry
- Yale Instruction/Investigation/Intervention in Emotional Lability and Dysregulation (YIELD)
Education & Training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Yale University School of Medicine (2008)
- Predoctoral Internship
- Yale University School of Medicine (2006)
- PhD
- University of North Texas, Psychology (2006)
- MS
- University of North Texas (2003)
Research
Overview
Dr. Wupperman is invested in improving treatment for individuals with dysregulated emotions and behaviors (often known as self-destructive, addictive, or impulsive behaviors). Dr. Wupperman's research focuses primarily on evaluating and disseminating a transdiagnostic psychotherapy (Mindfulness and Modification Therapy; MMT) developed to target dysregulated behaviors. Related research includes: 1) exploring constructs underlying emotion and behavior dysregulation, and 2) investigating the effects of mindfulness and emotion-regulation skills on mental health and well-being. She is the author of Treating Impulsive, Addictive, and Self-Destructive Behavior: Mindfulness and Modification Therapy, published through Guilford Press.
MMT can be tailored to target specific client needs and specific dysregulated behaviors. Dr. Wupperman is currently conducting a comparison trail of MMT custommized to target cocaine use in underserved individuals. MMT has shown promising results in decreasing alcohol and drug abuse, anger issues, physical aggression, binge eating, trichotillomania, compulsive checking, and a variety of other dysregulated behaviors. MMT works to help clients: 1) clarify life values, and 2) acquire the capability to experience the moment – including negative emotions and cravings/urges – without engaging in harmful behaviors that can interfere with lives that feel valuable and fulfilling. MMT also targets risk factors for dysregulated behavior, such as lack of pleasurable/fulfilling life experiences, difficulty living according to personal values, and difficulty with relationships.
Dr. Wupperman regularly conducts MMT workshops, trainings, and consultations for mental-health practitioners at all levels. She also authors a Psychology Today blog focused on self-destructive (dysregulated) behaviors.
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
David H Klemanski, PsyD, MPH
Publications
2022
Mindfulness Treatments for Domestic Violence: A Review
Mitchell J, Wupperman P. Mindfulness Treatments for Domestic Violence: A Review. Journal Of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma 2022, 32: 1055-1075. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2022.2038752.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsMindfulness treatmentAvoidance of emotionsComponents of mindfulnessCommitment Therapy (ACT) interventionDomestic violencePersonality disorder featuresEmotion dysregulationTrauma symptomsMindfulness interventionStudies of adultsThird wave treatmentsPreliminary supportDisorder featuresAdaptive behaviorMindfulnessTherapy interventionSubstance useIndividual valuesViolence perpetrationEmotionsEngagement strategiesMost evidenceCognitionFurther researchIntervention
2020
Maladaptive Emotional Schemas and Emotional Functioning: Evaluation of an Integrated Model Across Two Independent Samples
Edwards E, Liu Y, Ruiz D, Brosowsky N, Wupperman P. Maladaptive Emotional Schemas and Emotional Functioning: Evaluation of an Integrated Model Across Two Independent Samples. Journal Of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 2020, 39: 428-455. DOI: 10.1007/s10942-020-00379-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsMaladaptive emotional schemasEmotional schemasEmotional functioningEmotion-processing deficitsSelf-report measuresCombination of behavioralMechanisms of changeCentrality of beliefsEmotional processesAvoidant copingEmotional experienceBehavioral dysregulationIntegrative modelTheory proposeFunctioningFuture researchIndependent samplesCurrent researchSchemaBeliefsIntegrated modelEmotionsCopingBehavioralDeficitsDistinguishing alexithymia and emotion differentiation conceptualizations through linguistic analysis
Edwards E, Shivaji S, Micek A, Wupperman P. Distinguishing alexithymia and emotion differentiation conceptualizations through linguistic analysis. Personality And Individual Differences 2020, 157: 109801. DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.109801.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2019
Treatment for Individuals With Severe Mental Illness Who Use Illicit Drugs While Maintained on Methadone: Mindfulness and Modification Therapy.
Wupperman P, Burns N, Pugach C, Edwards E. Treatment for Individuals With Severe Mental Illness Who Use Illicit Drugs While Maintained on Methadone: Mindfulness and Modification Therapy. The Journal Of Nervous And Mental Disease 2019, 207: 1005-1011. PMID: 31658241, DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001066.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSevere mental illnessIllicit drug useCo-occurring severe mental illnessDrug useMental illnessOpioid-dependent individualsIllicit drugsSubstance use disordersAcceptable therapyOpioid dependenceModification therapyTreatment needsUse disordersLarge effect sizesMeaningful decreasePilot studyUnderserved populationsTherapyGroup therapyMethadonePreliminary evidenceIllnessEffect sizeTreatmentPosttreatmentResearch on emotional schemas: A review of findings and challenges
Edwards E, Wupperman P. Research on emotional schemas: A review of findings and challenges. Clinical Psychologist 2019, 23: 3-14. DOI: 10.1111/cp.12171.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsEmotional schemasFurther empirical attentionEmotion researchEmotional experienceReview of findingsEmpirical attentionEmpirical advancementPast researchPervasive limitationUniversal theoretical frameworkBody of literatureTheoretical frameworkClinical implicationsSchemaPotential clinical implicationsEmotionsResearchPsychopathologyFunctioning- Wupperman, P. Treating Impulsive, Addictive, and Self-Destructive Behaviors: Mindfulness and Modification Therapy. New York, NY: Guilford Press. 2019Books
2018
Metacognition and Emotional Schemas: Effects on Depression and Anxiety
Leahy R, Wupperman P, Edwards E, Shivaji S, Molina N. Metacognition and Emotional Schemas: Effects on Depression and Anxiety. International Journal Of Cognitive Therapy 2018, 12: 25-37. DOI: 10.1007/s41811-018-0035-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsCognitive attentional syndromeUncontrollability/dangerNegative beliefsMetacognitive factorsMetacognitive processesMetacognitions QuestionnaireLeahy Emotional Schema ScaleEmotional schema modelContent of thinkingSymptoms of anxietyCognitive resourcesSymptoms of depressionEmotional schemasRepetitive thinkingEmotional experienceMediational analysesSchema ScaleEmotionsThreat monitoringSchema modelAnxietyWorryBDI-IIBeliefsCurrent study
2016
Emotion Regulation Mediates Effects of Alexithymia and Emotion Differentiation on Impulsive Aggressive Behavior
Edwards E, Wupperman P. Emotion Regulation Mediates Effects of Alexithymia and Emotion Differentiation on Impulsive Aggressive Behavior. Deviant Behavior 2016, 38: 1160-1171. DOI: 10.1080/01639625.2016.1241066.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsEmotion Ideology Mediates Effects of Risk Factors on Alexithymia Development
Edwards E, Micek A, Mottarella K, Wupperman P. Emotion Ideology Mediates Effects of Risk Factors on Alexithymia Development. Journal Of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 2016, 35: 254-277. DOI: 10.1007/s10942-016-0254-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsEmotion ideologiesElevated alexithymiaAlexithymia severityEmotion socializationPsychological interventionsTrauma exposureAlexithymic traitsSalient contributorsPsychotherapeutic interventionsTrait severityAlexithymiaRisk factorsChild abusePotential treatment targetDistinct samplesIndependent contributionHigher overall exposureTreatment targetsRisk factor exposureHealth complicationsRisk factor contributionsOverall exposureInterventionLow responsivenessClients
2015
Mindfulness and Modification Therapy for Behavioral Dysregulation: A Comparison Trial Focused on Substance Use and Aggression
Wupperman P, Cohen MG, Haller DL, Flom P, Litt LC, Rounsaville BJ. Mindfulness and Modification Therapy for Behavioral Dysregulation: A Comparison Trial Focused on Substance Use and Aggression. Journal Of Clinical Psychology 2015, 71: 964-978. PMID: 26287444, DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22213.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsVerbal aggressionPhysical aggressionAlcohol/drug useBehavioral dysregulationDrug useCurrent pilot studyTransdiagnostic TreatmentTransdiagnostic therapyMultilevel modelingAggressionAlcohol problemsSubstance useMindfulnessSelf-referred womenSpecific behaviorsPreliminary findingsWilcoxon signed-rank testModification therapySigned-rank testGreater improvementComparison trialPilot studySignificant decreaseGreater decreaseSignificant differences
Links & Media
Media
Related Links
- Can You Be Mindful and Still Feel Angry?
- Is Mindfulness Just Hype?
- Psychology Today: Building Emotional Muscles; Mindfulness & Self-Destructive Behavior, Part II
- Psychology Today: Do Shame and Rock Bottom Decrease Dysregulated Behavior? (NO! But they can make it worse.)
- Psychology Today: Finding the Pause Button; Minfulness & Self-Destructive Behavior, Part III
- Psychology Today: Mindfulness & Self-Destructive Behavior: What Next?
- Psychology Today: Mindfulness in the Treatment of Self-Destructive Behavior
- Psychology Today: Understanding Self-Destructive Behavior
- Treating Impulsive, Addictive, and Self-Destructive Behavior