RESEARCH
For the last fifteen years, Dr. Pollastri has sought to better understand people who engage in challenging behaviors despite serious social consequences. She has studied the causes and correlates of drug abuse, aggression, and oppositional behavior.
As the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Youth Behavior at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Pollastri is responsible for evaluating how the Collaborative Problem Solving approach works to reduce challenging behaviors in children. Through analysis of data collected in partner schools and clinical agencies, Dr. Pollastri strives to promote a clearer understanding of challenging youth, and to improve child outcomes. She also works closely with organizations that are learning Collaborative Problem Solving to ensure that implementation is informed by data at every stage.
Dr. Pollastri’s research has been published in many peer-reviewed journals and has been cited in the New York Times.