Karla Fehr

COUN 535: Child, Family, and Couples Counseling

COUN 569: Cognitive Assessment/Child and Adolescent Cognitive and Personality Assessment

COUN 501: Ethics: Counseling and Counseling Psychology

COUN 506: Rehabilitation Counseling: Foundations of Ethical and Professional Issues 

Pediatric Psychology/Pediatric Integrated Behavioral Health

• Disseminating brief, targeted interventions for youth and increasing access to treatment for underserved populations, particularly in rural settings
• Program development and clinical implementation of pediatric integrated behavioral health practice in rural settings
• Examination of the unique factors and preferences that impact parental willingness to seek services in rural pediatric integrated care settings

Pediatric Sleep

• Developing and testing a targeted cognitive-behavioral play intervention for young children with sleep difficulties
• Increasing pediatric sleep education and pediatric sleep intervention treatment seeking, especially in rural settings

Pretend Play and Play-based Assessment and Intervention

• Development of a standardized pretend play measure aimed at screening symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Importance of pretend play for child development, assessment of pretend play, and the effectiveness of pretend play interventions

Training and Ethics in Pediatric Psychology

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Fehr, K. K., & Leraas, B. C. (2024). Effectiveness of a brief intervention to increase caregivers’ willingness to seek services. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 48(4), 241–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000271
• Fehr, K., Chambers, D., & VanderWoude, C. (2023). Ethics in pediatric psychology: Considerations for trainees transitioning to the medical setting. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 11(1), 108-119. 
• Fehr, K., Hughes-Scalise, A., Leraas, B., & Boog, K. (2023). Individual therapy for children and adolescents: Play therapy and interpersonal therapy as developmentally-centered relational change modalities. In H. Feldman, E.R. Elias, N. Blum, M. Jimenez, & T. Stancin (Eds.). Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, 5th edition. (pp. 931-939). Elsevier.
• Leraas, B., & Fehr, K. (2022). Commentary: A critical reflection of identity categorization and the utility of an intersectional approach to psychological research. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 47(7), 754-756. 
• Fehr, K., Hoffmann, J., Ramasami, J., & Chambers, D. (2021). Feasibility of a group play intervention in early childhood. Journal of Creativity, 31, 100008. 
• Fehr, K., Chambers, D., & Ramasami, J. (2021). The impact of anxiety on behavioral sleep difficulties and treatment in young children: A review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 28(1), 102-112. 
• Fehr, K., Leraas, B., & Littles, M. (2020). Integrated behavioral health in rural pediatric primary care: Behavioral and mental health needs, barriers, and parent preferences. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 45(8), 910-920. 
• Fehr, K., Chambers, D., & Ramasami, J. (2020). Cognitive-behavioral treatment for pediatric sleep difficulties. In R. Friedberg & J. Paternostro (Eds.) Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Medical Conditions (pp. 279-294). Springer. 
• Fehr, K., Doss, J., Hughes-Scalise, A., Littles, M. (2020). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for pediatric epilepsy and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. In R. Friedberg & J. Paternostro (Eds.) Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Pediatric Medical Conditions (pp. 295-314). Springer. 
• Fehr, K., Boog, K., & Leraas, B. (2020). Play behaviors (definition and typology). In S. Hupp & J. Jewell (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 
• Allen, C., Fehr, K., & Nyp, S. (2019). Maintaining safety and planning for the future. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 40(8), 651-653.
• Imboden, A., & Fehr, K. (2018). Collaborative care of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: An innovative partnership to serve rural pediatric patients. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 32(6), 584-590. 
• Ramasami, J., & Fehr, K. (2018). JPP student journal club commentary: Sleep in youth with chronic health conditions: Expanding models to understand complexity in youth with comorbid conditions. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 9(1), 955-957. 
• Fehr, K. (2017). Ethical considerations and treatment decision-making when parental adherence difficulties impact treatment outcomes: Comment on Bruni, Lancaster, and Kullgren (2017). Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 5(3), 271-272. 
• Fehr, K., Hazen, R., & Nielsen, B. (2017). Ethical decision making for psychology trainees in the clinical pediatric setting: Case examples and practical solutions for trainees and supervisors. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 5(1), 123-136. 
• Hazen, R., Fehr, K., & Nielsen, B. (2017). Spotlight on the Pediatric Bioethics Special Interest Group. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 5(1), 121-122. 
• Fehr, K., Russ, S., & Ievers-Landis, C. (2016). Treatment of sleep problems in young children: A case series report of a cognitive-behavioral play intervention. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 4(3), 306-317. 
• Fehr, K., & Russ, S. (2016). Pretend play and creativity in preschool-aged children: Associations and brief intervention. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 10(3), 296-308. 
• Russ, S., & Fehr, K. (2016). The use of pretend play to overcome anxiety in school age children. In A. Drewes & C. Schaefer (Eds.) Play Therapy in Middle Childhood (pp. 77-95). American Psychological Association. 
• Hazen, R., Fehr, K., Ievers-Landis, C., MacLeish, S. (2015). Sleep parameters and diabetes-related considerations for children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Management, 5(6), 449-456.
• Ievers-Landis, C., Hazen, R., & Fehr, K. (2015). Competencies in training at the graduate student level: Example of a pediatric psychology seminar course. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 3(3), 197-204. 
• Hazen, R., Fehr, K., Fidler, A., Cousino, M., MacLeish, S., & Gubitosi-Klug, R. (2015). Sleep disruption in adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Relationships with adherence and diabetes control. Diabetes Management, 5(4), 257-265. 
• Chuang, J., Fehr, K., Ievers-Landis, C., Narasimhan, S., Uli, Naveen, & O’Riordan, M.A. (2015). Associations of sleep duration and regularity with level of obesity among youth in a weight loss program. Translational Issues in Psychological Science, 1(1), 45-56. 
• Fehr, K., & Russ, S. (2014). Assessment of pretend play in preschool-aged children: Validation and factor analysis of the Affect in Play Scale-Preschool versions. Journal of Personality Assessment, 96(3), 350-357. 

Select Presentations

• Fehr, K. & Kruse, M. (2024, September). Development and feasibility of a brief play-based screening measure for autism spectrum disorder. Poster presented at the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Annual Meeting, Washington DC.
• Fehr, K. (2024, June). Application of a cognitive-behavioral play intervention to pediatric populations. Invited speaker at the 1st International Conference on Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy, Rome.
• Bartholomay, E., Hinojosa, J., Boog, K., & Fehr, K. (2023, November). Efficacy of a single session virtual sleep intervention for college students. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Seattle, WA.
• Kruse, M., & Fehr, K. (2023, September). Problem recognition and help seeking behaviors for childhood anxiety, depression, and externalizing concerns. Poster presented to the annual meeting of the DREAM IPC conference, Wilmington, DE.
• Fehr, K., & Leraas, B. (2023, September). Effectiveness of a brief educational intervention to increase caregivers’ willingness to seek behavioral health services. Poster presented at the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics annual conference, Minneapolis, MN.
• Littles, M., Leraas, B., Kruse, M., & Fehr, K. (2023, March). Feasibility of a brief parent management group delivered via telehealth. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
• Hinojosa, J., Cooper, K., Bartholomay, E., Boog, K., & Fehr, K. (2023, March). Young adults’ perspectives regarding a brief behavioral sleep intervention. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
• Hinojosa, J., Bartholomay, E., & Fehr, K. (2022, November). Sleep hygiene moderates the relationship between total sleep time and negative affect. Poster presented at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Convention, New York City, NY.
• Kruse, M., & Fehr, K. (2022, April). Problem recognition and help seeking behaviors for childhood sleep difficulties. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
• Fehr, K., Chambers, D., Ramasami, J., & Hoffmann, J. (2022, April). Fostering the pretend play of young children through group intervention: A feasibility study. In K. Fehr (Chair). Pretend play and learning: Academic achievement, school-based programming, and intervention approaches. Symposium presented at the Learning through Play and Imagination: Expanding perspectives special topic meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, St. Louis, MO.
• Fehr, K., & Leraas, B. (2021, October). Practice modifications to clinical psychology training and supervision. In J. Dempsey and K. Fehr (Chairs). State of the psychology workforce in DBP: Telehealth and practice trends, provider well-being, and interprofessional collaboration. Symposium presented at the Virtual Annual Meeting of the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. https://sdbp.org/meetingsinfo/annual-meeting
• Leraas, B., & Fehr, K. (2021, October). Behavioral health information preferences and correlates among parents in rural pediatric primary care. Poster presented at the Virtual Annual Meeting of the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. https://sdbp.org/meetingsinfo/annual-meeting
• Leraas, B., & Fehr, K. (2021, September). Factors affecting parent preferences for behavioral health information in rural pediatric primary care. Poster presented at the virtual annual meeting of the DREAM IPC Conference. https://www.nemours.org/about/dream-ipc-conference.html
• Fehr, K., Boog, K., & Self, M. (2021, August). Pediatric psychology training during COVID-19: Ethical considerations and conflicts. In K. Fehr (Chair). Ethics and equity in pediatric practice, training, and research during COVID-19. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, virtual. https://convention.apa.org
• Boog, K., Bartholomay, E., Ambrosio, A., & Fehr, K. (2020, November). Anxiety and repetitive thoughts are related to sleep indirectly through beliefs about sleep and sleep hygiene. Paper presented at the Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine’s 2020 Virtual Scientific Conference.
• Fehr, K. (2020, September). Assessment of play processes. In M. Clark (Chair). Come play with us! Teaching the art of play for developmental promotion, evaluation, and community engagement in the face of a pandemic. Workshop presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. https://sdbp.org/meetingsinfo/annual-meeting/
• Boog, K., Littles, M., Ambrosio, A., & Fehr, K. (2020, March). Reliability between Fitbit Alta HR and actigraphy in college students: The role of the heartrate feature. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Dallas, TX. https://societyofpediatricpsychology.org/node/726
• Leraas, B., Ramasami, J., & Fehr, K. (2020, March). Parent preferences for behavioral health information in rural pediatric primary care. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, Dallas, TX. https://societyofpediatricpsychology.org/node/726
• Boog, K., Littles, M., binti Tajudeen, S., & Fehr, K. (2019, September). Sleep tracking devices: A comparison between actigraphy and Fitbit Alta HR in college students. Poster presented at the inaugural Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine conference, Birmingham, AL.
• Fehr, K., Chambers, D., & VanderWoude, C. (2019, August). Ethical training in pediatric psychology: Application to the clinical setting. In Fehr, K. & Agoston, M. (Chairs), Ethical issues in the clinical practice of pediatric psychology. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
• Fehr, K., Boog, K., & Ramasami, J. (2019, August). The role of parenting style and parent play beliefs in pretend play, creativity, and problem solving. In S. Russ (Chair). Pretend play and its relationship with developmental outcomes across childhood. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
• Boog, K., Shane, K., & Fehr, K., (2019, August). Pretend play and creativity, problem-solving, coping, and psychosocial functioning in preschoolers. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
• Leraas, B., Baez, C., & Fehr, K. (2019, August). Factors influencing prior service use and willingness to seek services in rural primary care. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
• Chambers, D., VanderWoude, C., & Fehr, K. (2019, August). Establishing pediatric integrated behavioral health in a rural setting: A guide for clinicians. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
• Leraas, B., Littles, M., & Fehr, K. (2019, April). Behavioral and mental health stigma, needs, and preferences in rural pediatric primary care. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Littles, M., Boog, K., binti Tajudeen, S., & Fehr, K. (2019, April). The effects of psychosocial functioning, sleep knowledge, and sleep behavior on sleep onset latency in young adults. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Ramasami, J., & Fehr, K. (2019, April). The relationships among parent sleep beliefs, sleep knowledge, and child sleep problems. Poster presented at the Society of Pediatric Psychology Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pediatric Psychology, Minnesota Epilepsy Group, St. Paul, Minnesota

Internship, Child Clinical/Pediatric Psychology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Pediatric Psychology Emphasis, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Child Clinical Psychology Emphasis, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

B.A. in Psychology with Honors, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks

2023-present

Associate Professor, Counseling Psychology and Counseling, Department of Education, Health, and Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks

2020-2022

Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology Program, School of Psychological and Behavioral Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

2014-2020

Assistant Professor, Clinical Psychology Program, Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Please email Dr. Fehr for questions about or access to developed clinical materials.

Treatment Manuals:

Chambers, D., Kruse, M., Boog, K., & Fehr, K. (2020, 2024). Pediatric Brief Behavioral Sleep Intervention Manual. Unpublished treatment manual.

Fehr, K. (2011). Cognitive-Behavioral Play Intervention for Sleep Difficulties: Treatment Manual. Unpublished treatment manual.

Assessment Measures:

Fehr, K. (2019). Affect in Play Scale-Clinician Interaction. Unpublished assessment manual.