Kelsey N. Christensen, PhD, is a clinical health psychologist in the Department of Family & Community Medicine. Dr. Christensen’s clinical focus is on behavioral medicine; the intersection of physical and psychological health; and brief interventions within medical settings. Her clinical approach is collaborative, culturally sensitive, and evidence-based, and she works closely with medical providers to address health-related concerns. Dr. Christensen is core faculty within the family medicine residency program and focuses on teaching residents about behavioral medicine.

Clinic Location: Family Medicine Center at University Village

Clinical Interests: Behavioral Medicine, Health Behavior Change, Tobacco Cessation, Insomnia, Psychosocial Oncology, Chronic Illness Management, Reproductive Health, Perinatal Mood Concerns, Pain Management, Psychological Assessment, Consultation/Liaison Services

Research Interests: Community-based research, health equity/health promotion research, underserved populations

Bauer, A., Williams, J., Hambrick, E., Rempfer, M., Bennett, K. Christensen, K., & Berkley-Patton, J. (2023). Mental health attitudes, norms, beliefs, and experiences with care among young African American men: A theory of planned behavior assessment. Psychological Trauma. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001462

Sander, A., Christensen, K., Loyo, K., Williams, M., Leon-Novelo, L., Ngan, E., Agtarap, S., Martin, A., Neumann, D., Hammond, F. M., Hanks, R., & Hoffman, J. (2023). Coping with chronic pain after traumatic brain injury: Role of race/ethnicity and effect of participation outcomes in a TBI model systems sample. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Advance Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2023.03.003

Sander, A., Williams, M., Loyo, K., Leon-Novelo, L., Ngan, E., Neumann, D., Agtrap, S., Martin, A., Hoffman, J., Christensen, K., Hanks, R., & Hammond, F. M. (2023). Disparities in chronic pain experience and treatment history among persons with traumatic brain injury: A traumatic brain injury model systems study. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 38(2), 125-136. https://doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000870

Christensen, K., Bauer, A., Burgin, T., Williams, J., McDowd, J., Sutkin, G., Bennett, K., Bowe Thompson, C.,  & Berkley-Patton, J. (2022). “Black women don’t put our healthcare first”: Facilitators and barriers to cervical cancer screening and perceptions of HPV self-testing among church-affiliated African American women. Community Health Equity Research & Policy. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272684X221115494

Woods-Jaeger, B., Hampton-Anderson, J., Christensen, K., Miller, T., O’Connor, P., & Berkley-Patton, J (2022). Adverse childhood experiences and school-based microaggressions: Impact of resilience on African American youth. Psychological Trauma, 14(S1), S23-S31, https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001091

Berkley-Patton, J., Huffman, M. M., Bowe Thompson, C., Johnson, N., Ervie, K., Lindsey, C., Reuchter, V., Christensen, K., Davis, A., & Burgin, T. (2021). Increasing reach of the diabetes prevention program in African American churches: Project FIT lessons learned using an interprofessional student service-learning approach. Missouri Medicine, 118(3), 264-271.

Ash, M. J., Berkley-Patton, J., Christensen, K., Haardörfer, R., Livingston, M. D., Miller, T., & Woods-Jaeger, B (2021). Predictors of medical mistrust among urban youth of color during the COVID-19 pandemic. Translational Behavioral Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibab061.

Bauer, A., Christensen, K., Bowe-Thompson, C., Lister, S.,  Aduloju-Ajijola, N., & Berkley-Patton, J. (2020). “We are our own counselor”: Resilience, risk behaviors, and mental health service utilization among young African American men. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 46(3-4), 278-289.

Christensen, K., Berkley-Patton, J., Bauer, A., Bowe Thompson, C., & Burgin, T. (2020). Risk factors associated with opioid use among African American church-affiliated populations. Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, 13(4), 1-17. 

Christensen, K., Berkley-Patton, J., Shah, B., Aduloju-Ajijola, N., Bauer, A., Bowe Thompson, C., & Lister, S. (2020). HIV risk and sociodemographic factors associated with physician-advised HIV testing: What factors are overlooked in African American populations?. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 7(1), 121-128.

Fellowship, Health Psychology, South Texas Veterans Healthcare System
Internship, Behavioral Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine
PhD, Clinical Health Psychology, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Licensed Clinical Psychologist; Health Service Psychologist

American Psychological Association, Society for Health Psychology, Society for Teachers of Family Medicine, American Psychosocial Oncology Society