Michelle Friedman-Yakoobian, PhD

Michelle Friedman-Yakoobian, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and is the Principal Investigator at the Response To Risk program.

Dr. Michelle Friedman-Yakoobian’s career has been devoted to the development and implementation of effective psychosocial interventions for individuals experiencing psychosis (or signs of risk) and their families. Currently, she is the site principal investigator of the InVEST and UPLIFT studies. Previously she developed and ran a pilot study evaluating the Family-Directed Cognitive Adaptation (FCA) program, a family intervention designed to help clients and families learn strategies for overcoming cognitive deficits related to psychosis. She also adapted a cognitive enhancement treatment (CLUES- Cognition for Learning and for Understanding Everyday Social Situations) for youth at clinical high risk for psychosis.  Additionally, she authored Everything You Need to Know about Schizophrenia (The Rosen Publishing Group, 2000), a book for teenagers about schizophrenia.

Clinical Interests: Dr. Friedman-Yakoobian co-founded the CEDAR Clinic in 2009 and serves as the Director of Research and Development at the clinic. Currently, she supervises trainees in the clinic and provides clinical consultations as well as individual and family therapy. She serves as the Principal Investigator at the Response to Risk program. She is also an early psychosis trainer for the New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (NE-MHTTC) and is the Chair of a National Early Psychosis Working Group for the Mental Health Technology Transfer Centers.  In addition, Dr. Friedman-Yakoobian presents at schools and other community youth agencies to raise awareness about new advances in early detection and treatment of early signs of psychosis.  

Academic: Dr. Friedman-Yakoobian is an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center Public Psychiatry Division of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Friedman-Yakoobian earned her undergraduate degree in human development and family studies at Cornell University and her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Massachusetts Boston.