Carla Crespo
Associate Professor
Psychology PhD Coordinator
Disciplines
Family Psychology
Taught Modules
Schools and models of systemic intervention
Individual and family systemic Intervention
Psychological intervention in crisis and emergency
Models of Psychotherapy
Family Research
Systemic Family and Community Psychology
My two main fields of research are Family Psychology and Relationship Research.
I am particularly interested in learning more about how families deal with adversity (e.g. chronic health conditions, parental alienation, global adversity, such as pandemic, war and economic strain). Given the applied emphasis of my research, I focus on identifying modifiable family resources, such as family rituals, that contribute to well-being. I am also a clinical psychologist doing therapy with individuals, couples and families.
Family Psychology
Relationship Research
Family Routines and Rituals
Families & Adversity
Chronic health conditions
Editorial Board of Journal of Family Psychology and Journal of Family Theory & Review
Scientific Award Universidade de Lisboa/Caixa Geral de Depósitos -2020
Crespo, C., & Relvas, A. P. (2024). Celebrating the “good-enough families”: Family challenges and resilience during global adversity. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 16(1), 7–16. DOI: 10.1111/jftr.12557.
Fonseca, G.; da Cruz, R., Arsénio, J., Portugal, A., Crespo, C. (2023). Becoming a father during the COVID-19 pandemic: The experiences of men in the transition to fatherhood”. The Journal of Men’s Studies,31(3), 351-370. DOI: 10.1177/10608265231183901.
Crespo, C., Santos, S. & Salvador, Á. (2016). Care that matters: Family-centered care, caregiving burden, and adaptation in parents of children with cancer. Families, Systems, & Health, 34 (1), 31-40. DOI: 10.1037/fsh0000166.
Santos, S., Crespo, C., Canavarro, Crespo, C., Canavarro, M. C., & Kazak, A. E. (2015). Family rituals and quality of life in children with cancer and their parents: The role of family cohesion and hope. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 40 (7), 664-671. DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv013.
Crespo, C., Santos, S., Canavarro, M. C., Kielpikowski, M., Pryor, J., & Féres-Carneiro, T. (2013). Family routines and rituals in the context of chronic conditions: A review. International Journal of Psychology, 48 (5), 729-746. DOI: 10.1080/00207594.2013.806811.
family research;
family rituals;
attachment;
chronic health conditions;