About Me
Meet Heather S Lonczak, PhD Author


Heather S. Lonczak holds a PhD in educational psychology and a master's degree in clinical psychology. She completed her MA practicum at Western Psychiatric Institute and was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. She has extensive experience as a research scientist in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work, and is a certified DSM-5 clinical interviewer. She has published numerous peer-reviewed social science articles, ten children's books aimed at promoting positive youth development and empathy for animals, and a novel. Dr. Lonczak lives in Seattle with her beloved family and pets.
Books
Literary Fiction Books:
Lonczak, H. (2024). The Fragility of Light. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Children's Books:
Lonczak, H. (2021). Mookey the Monkey: Gets Over Being Teased. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2021). Paddy Poopenhopper: A Tale of Kindness and Gratitude. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2021). The Fig Tree: A Lesson in Gratitude. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2020). Mighty Zoe. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2020). Penelope Windpipes. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2020). Fletcher and the Fledgling. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). Gus Becomes a Big Brother. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). My friend Gideon. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
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Lonczak, H. (2007). Mookey the monkey gets over being teased. Washington, D.C.: Magination Press.
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Lonczak, H. (2006). Henry's Ride. Seattle: Heather Lonczak.
Poems
Scholarly Articles
Lonczak, H.S., Thomas, L.R., Donovan, D.M., Austin, L., Sigo, R. L.W., Lawrence, N., & the Suquamish Tribe (2013). Navigating the tide together: Early collaboration between tribal and academic partners in a CBPR study. Pimatisiwin: A Journal of Indigenous & Aboriginal Community Health, 11(3), 395-409.
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Lonczak, H.S., Fernandez, A., Austin, L., & Marlatt, G.A. (2007). Family structure and substance use among American Indian youth. Family Systems & Health, 25(1), 10-22.
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Lonczak, H.S., Neighbors, D., & Donovan, D.M. (2007). Predicting risky and angry driving as a function of gender. Accident, Analysis & Prevention, 39(3), 536-545.
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Lonczak, H.S, Clifasefi, S., Marlatt, G.A., & Blume, A. (2006). Religious coping and psychological functioning in a correctional population. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 9(2), 171-192.
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Lonczak, H.S., Abbott, R.D., Hawkins, J.D., & Catalano, R.F. (2002). Effects of the Seattle Social Development Project on sexual behavior, pregnancy, birth, and STD outcomes by age 21. Archives of Pediatric Medicine, 156(5), 438-47.
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Lonczak, H.S., Huang, B., Catalano, R.F., Hawkins, J.D., Hill, K.G., Abbott, R.D., & Ryan, J.A.M. (1999). The social predictors of adolescent alcohol misuse: A test of the Social Development Model. Journal of Studies in Alcohol, 62(2), 179-89.
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Collins, S.E., Lonczak, H.S., & Clifasefi, S.L. (2017). Seattle's Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program: Effects on recidivism outcomes. Evaluation and Program Planning, 64, 49-56.
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Clifasefi, S.L., Lonczak, H.S., Collins, S.E. (2017). Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program: Within-subjects changes on housing, employment and income/benefits outcomes and associations with recidivism. Crime & Delinquency, 63, 429–445.
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Collins, S., Nyrop, K., Clifasefi, S., Lonczak, H., & Daugaard, L. (2016). Seattle’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program. The Police Chief, August, 36–40.
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Dononvan, D. M., Thomas, L. R., Sigo, R. L. W., Price, L., Lonczak, H., Lawrence, N., Ahvakana, K., Austin, L., Lawrence, A., Price, J., Purser, A., & Bagley, L. (2015). Healing of the Canoe: Preliminary results of a culturally tailored intervention to prevent substance abuse and promote tribal identity for Native youth in two Pacific Northwest tribes. American Indian & Alaska Native Mental Health Research, 22(1), 42-76.
Larimer, M.E., Malone, D.K., Garner, M.J., Atkins, D.C., Burlingham, B., Lonczak, H.S., Tanzer, K., Ginzler, J., Clifasefi, S.L., Hobson, W.G., & Marlatt, G.A., (2009). Health care and public service use and costs before and after provision of housing for chronically homeless persons with severe alcohol problems. Journal of the American Medical Association, 301(13).
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Osilla, K. K., Lonczak, H. S., Mail, P. D., Larimer, M. E. & Marlatt, G. A. (2008). Regular tobacco use among American Indian and Alaska Native Adolescents: An examination of protective mechanisms. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, 6, 143-153.
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Catalano, R., Berglund, M., Ryan, J., Lonczak, H., & Hawkins, J. (2004). Positive youth development in the United States: research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 591, 98-124.
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Marlatt, G.A., Witkiewitz, K., Dillworth, T., Bowen, S.W., Parks, G., Macpherson, L.M., Lonczak, H., Larimer, M.E., Simpson, T., Blume, A.W., & Crutcher, R. (2004). Vipassana meditation as a treatment for alcohol and drug use disorders. In S.C. Hayes, V.M. Follette, & M.M. Linehan (Eds.), Mindfulness & Acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition. NY: Guilford Press.
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Marlatt, G., Larimer, M., Mail, P., Hawkins, E., Cummins, L., Blume, A., & Lonczak, H., Burns, K., Chan, K., Cronce, J., La Marr, J., Radin, S., Forquera, R., Gonzales, R., Tetrick, C., & Gallion, S. (2003). Journeys of the Circle: A culturally congruent life skills intervention for adolescent Indian drinking. Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 27, 1-3.
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Parks, G., Marlatt, G.A., Witkiewitz, K., Dillworth, T., Bowen, S., Larimer, M., Blume, A., Simpson, T., Lonczak, H., Cronce, J., MacPherson, L., Murphy, D., & Meijer, L. (2003). The University of Washington Vipassana Meditation Research Project at the North Rehabilitation Facility. American Jails Magazine, July/August.
Collins, S.E., Malone, D.K., Clifasefi, S.L., Ginzler, J.A. Garner, M.D., Burlingham, B., Lonczak, H.S., Dana, E.A., Kirouac, M., Tanzer, K., Hobson, W.G., Marlatt, G.A., & Larimer, M.E. (2002). Project-based housing first for chronically homeless individuals with alcohol problems: Within-subjects analyses of 2-year alcohol trajectories. American Journal of Public Health, 102(3), 511-519.
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Hawkins, J.D, Lonczak, H.S., Abbott, R.D., Kosterman, R., & Catalano, R.F. (2002). Overstating the behavioral effects of the Seattle Social Development Project. Archives of Pediatric Medicine, 156(11), 1155-1156.
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Haggerty, K.P., Fleming, C.B., Lonczak, H.S, Oxford, M.L., Harachi, T.W., & Catalano, R.F. (2002). Predictors of participation in parenting workshops. Journal of Primary-Prevention, 22(4), 375-387.
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James W., Lonczak H., & Moore D. (1996). The role of denial and defensiveness in drug use among adolescents. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse, 2, 17-41.
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Strakowski S., Lonczak H., Crist A., Mehta R., & Thienhaus O. (1995). The Effects of race on diagnosis and disposition from a psychiatric emergency service. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 56, 1001-107.
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Strakowski S., Keck P., McElroy S., Lonczak H., & West S. (1995). Chronology of principal and comorbid in first-episode psychosis. Biological Psychiatry, 35, 623-624.
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McElroy S., Strakowski S., Keck P., Tugral K., West S., & Lonczak H. (1995). Differences and similarities in mixed and pure mania. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 36, 187-194.
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Keck P., Bennet J., McElroy S., Strakowski S., Tugral K., & Lonczak H. (1993). Low prevalence of antithyriod antibodies and hypothyriodism in patients with mania. Nueropsychopharmacology, 2, S109-S110.
Blog Articles
Lonczak, H. (2019). 30+ Tips for Building Resilience in Children.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). Reasons Why Compassion Is So Important in Psychology.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). What is Positive Parenting? A Look at the Research and Benefits.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). 100+ Positive Parenting Tips, Skills and Techniques.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). 8 Best Positive Parenting Books & Workbooks for Parents.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). Positive Reinforcement in the Workplace (90+ Examples & Reward Ideas).
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Lonczak, H. (2019). 40+ Benefits of Self-Control and Self-Discipline.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). Anxiety Therapy: Types, Techniques and Worksheets.
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Lonczak, H. (2019). How to Measure Flow with Scales and Questionnaires.
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Lonczak, H. (2020). The Prevalence of Anxiety Symptoms & the 6 Most Common Anxiety Disorders.
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Lonczak, H. (2020).The Best Therapy Approaches for Anxiety Disorders.
