Natalia Escobar Walsh, Ph.D.

Closeup of Natalia Walsh.

Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry | SDSU Psychology Clinic Supervisor
Department of Psychiatry
UC San Diego School of Medicine

SDSU / UC San Diego

Building/Location

9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093

Bio

Natalia Escobar Walsh, PhD, is an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. Her academic and professional career integrates evidence-based clinical science, education, and digital health innovation. She specializes in trauma and PTSD, child behavior management and parenting interventions, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and functional analysis/functional contextualism.

Dr. Walsh’s scholarship focuses on implementation science, psychotherapy engagement, and the dissemination of effective interventions to diverse and underserved populations. She also collaborates with digital health and mental health technology teams to ensure that emerging tools and care delivery models are clinically sound, ethical, and aligned with evidence-based principles.

Through her roles as clinician, educator, and consultant, Dr. Walsh works to bridge the gap between research, technology, and real-world clinical practice — advancing the accessibility, safety, and effectiveness of modern mental health care.

Education

Ph.D., UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program
          Clinical Psychology
M.S., Pace University
          Education
B.S., University of California, Berkeley
          Psychology & Social Welfare (Double Major)

Areas of Specialization

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), child behavior management training/parenting skills training, trauma-focused psychotherapy (e.g., Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Conjoint Behavioral Cognitive Therapy for PTSD, Written Exposure Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), Insomnia, nightmares.

Publications

    • Haine-Schlagel, R., Dickson, K. S., Lind, T., Kim, J. J., May, G. C., Walsh, N. E., Lazarevic, V., Crandal, B. R., & Yeh, M. Caregiver Participation Engagement in Child Mental Health Prevention Programs: a Systematic Review. Prev Sci. 2022 Feb; 23(2):321-339. PMID: 34936045; PMCID: PMC10342191.
    • Price, J. M., Roesch, S., Walsh, N. E., & Landsverk, J. Effects of the KEEP Foster Parent Intervention on Child and Sibling Behavior Problems and Parental Stress During a Randomized Implementation Trial. Prev Sci. 2015 Jul; 16(5):685-95. PMID: 25418812; PMCID: PMC4442755.
    • Haine-Schlagel, R., & Walsh, N. E. A review of parent participation engagement in child and family mental health treatment. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2015 Jun; 18(2):133-50. PMID: 25726421; PMCID: PMC4433419.
    • Price, J. M., Chiapa, A., & Walsh, N. E. Predictors of externalizing behavior problems in early elementary-aged children: the role of family and home environments. J Genet Psychol. 2013 Jul-Aug; 174(4):464-71. PMID: 23991617; PMCID: PMC3761416.
    • Price, J. M., Roesch, S., & Walsh, N. E. Effectiveness of the KEEP Foster Parent Intervention during an Implementation Trial. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2012 Dec; 34(12):2487-2494. PMID: 23359633; PMCID: PMC3555514.