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Leo Parini, Psy.D., is a 2026 graduate of the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England

Dissertation Committee:

  • Shannon McIntyre, PhD, Chairperson
  • Catherine E. Burns, PhD, Committee Member
  • Rachel Chickerella, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

parental self-efficacy, integrated primary care, parent training, pediatric mental health, anxiety, OCD

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

A pediatric mental health crisis in the United States has strained integrated primary care, leaving providers with high volumes of requests for psychotherapy. Low parental self-efficacy (PSE)—reduced caregiver confidence in supporting children's emotional and behavioral needs—may contribute to this demand. This study examined whether a brief, 4-week parent training curriculum informed by Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), targeting child anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and delivered by a clinical psychologist within an integrated primary care setting, would increase PSE. Using secondary, de-identified data, PSE was measured before and after the course with the Brief Parental Self-Efficacy Scale; 19 caregivers completed both assessments. A paired-samples t-test indicated a statistically significant increase in PSE from pre- to post-intervention, t(18) = 5.41, p < .001, with a large effect size (d = 1.24). An exploratory analysis found that gains did not differ significantly between caregivers reporting a single concern and those reporting multiple concerns. Findings suggest that a brief group-based, parent-focused intervention can meaningfully strengthen caregiver confidence within integrated primary care, offering a feasible model for sites seeking to expand access to behavioral health care. Given the single-site design and small sample, results are preliminary and warrant replication. This dissertation is available in open access at Antioch University Repository and Archive (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

Comments

ORCID iD: 0009-0004-6889-8993

Bio:

Leo Parini completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Albany Psychology Internship Consortium, with rotations at the Stratton and Glens Falls VA Medical Centers and the Capital District Psychiatric Center. He will join the VA in Rutland, Vermont as a staff psychologist in fall 2026, dividing his time between primary care–mental health integration and the Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program. Leo is particularly interested in the place of creativity and the arts in clinical work.

Research, Grants & Presentations:

Improving Parental Self-Efficacy in an Integrated Primary Care Setting. Dissertation, successfully defended July 13, 2026. Antioch University New England. Proposal approved October 2024. Advisor: Shannon McIntyre, Ph.D.

Parini, L. (2025). Treating OCD in Veterans [Grand Rounds]. White River Junction Veterans Affairs Grand Rounds program. White River Junction, VT.

Parini, L., & Mangione, L. (2024). From Bruce Springsteen to Mary Oliver: What Can Art and Creativity Add to Our Clinical Work? [Roundtable]. Trends in the Training Field Conference, University of Hartford. Hartford, CT.

Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) Grant ($25,000), 2023–2024. Grant awarded to support health-services psychology practicum training at Essex Pediatrics. As part of the grant, produced the “Family Needs Assessment” project examining caregiver psychoeducation and therapy needs. Essex, VT.

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