Timothy J. Williamson
Assistant Professor of Psychology | Psychological Science Loyola Marymount University
Biography
Dr. Williamson is also a licensed clinical psychologist with additional training in psychosocial oncology and public health. As part of his clinical training, Dr. Williamson taught mindfulness and delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to individuals and couples in hospitals and community-based mental health clinics. Dr. Williamson has worked in a variety of behavioral medicine settings, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Weill Cornell Pediatric Sleep & Breathing Disorders Center, and the UCLA Cystic Fibrosis Center.
Dr. Williamson teaches courses at LMU in health psychology, psychopathology, and statistical methods for psychology. Dr. Williamson is committed to mentorship and providing students with learning experiences that promote self-reflection and deep understanding.
Education
University of California,
Ph.D.
Clinical Health Psychology
2019
Weill Cornell Medicine/New York-Presbyterian Hospital,
Predoctoral Internship
2019
University of California,
M.A.
Psychology
2014
Claremont Graduate University
MPH
Health Promotion, Education, and Evaluation
2013
Pitzer College
B.A.
Psychology
2013
Areas of Expertise
Accomplishments
Deborah J. Bowen Early Career Investigator Award | Society of Behavioral Medicine
2025-03-27
The Deborah J. Bowen Early Career Investigator Award recognizes an early career individual’s total career achievements so far, including a review of a representative published paper.
Ascending Scholar Award | Loyola Marymount University
2024-04-17
The LMU Ascending Scholar Award recognizes a pre-tenure faculty member whose scholarship or creative activity exemplifies LMU’s standards of excellence.
Links
Languages
- English
Media Appearances
"The Shadow of Shame: Addressing the Stigma Associated with Cancer"
Cancer Today Magazine | The American Association for Cancer Research print
2025-06-11
Interviewed and quoted for an article on stigma and shame in cancer care.
"Teaching: A meeting menu, Instagram, and other ways to seem less scary"
The Chronicle of Higher Education online
2023-09-14
Interviewed and quoted for a teaching-focused newsletter on how to increase student engagement and participation in office hours
Research Focus
Description of the PRRISM Research Lab:
The Psychosocial Risk & Resilience In Stress & Medicine (PRRISM) Research Lab focuses on a central theme of understanding how to reduce stress, stigma, and social adversity and improve health and well-being. Dr. Williamson and other members of the PRRISM lab study how some psychological and social factors can increase risk for poor health outcomes, whereas others can promote resilience in the face of stressors, including chronic medical diseases such as cancer.
Active lines of research include: 1) understanding and reducing the stigma experienced by adults with lung cancer; 2) characterizing and improving lung cancer screening uptake; 3) testing the experimental effects of self-compassion and mindfulness on outcomes such as distress, shame, and social disconnection; 4) clarifying the biobehavioral pathways through which stress and stigma confer risk for negative mental and physical health outcomes; and 5) using large-scale secondary datasets (e.g., HINTS) to investigate cancer-related beliefs and engagement in preventive care, with an emphasis on identifying social drivers of health and healthcare engagement disparities among minoritized groups.
Articles
Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis corresponds with reductions in stigma and anxiety: A longitudinal mediation analysis
Stigma and Health (2025)Williamson, T. J., Park, E. R., Warner, E. T., Rasmussen, A. W., & Ostroff, J. S. (2025). Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis corresponds with reductions in stigma and anxiety: A longitudinal mediation analysis. Stigma and Health, 10(1), 73-82. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000461
Mindful Self-Compassion for Lung Cancer (MSC-LC): Incorporating perspectives of lung cancer patients, clinicians, and researchers to create an adapted intervention to reduce lung cancer stigma
Translational Behavioral Medicine (2025)Williamson, T. J., Brymwitt, W. M., Gilliland, J., Carter-Bawa, L., Mao, J. J., Lynch, K. A., Emard, N., Omachi, S., Jacobs, R. L., Tefera, M. Y., Reese, M. T., & Ostroff, J. S. (2025). Mindful Self-Compassion for Lung Cancer (MSC-LC): Incorporating perspectives of lung cancer patients, clinicians, and researchers to create an adapted intervention to reduce lung cancer stigma. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 15(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibae074
Empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer stigma: Study protocol of a cluster randomized control trial
Contemporary Clinical Trials (2024)Banerjee, S. C., Malling, C. D., Schofield, E. A., Carter-Bawa, L., Bylund, C. L., Hamann, H. A., Parker, P. A., Shen, M. J., Studts, J. L., Williamson, T. J., & Ostroff, J. S. (2024). Empathic communication skills training to reduce lung cancer stigma: Study protocol of a cluster randomized control trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 145, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2024.107669
Examining evidence of lung cancer stigma among healthcare trainees
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs (2024)Studts, J. L., Deffendall, C. M., McCubbin, S. L., Hamann, H. A., Hoover, K., Brymwitt, W. M., & Williamson, T. J. (2024). Examining evidence of lung cancer stigma among healthcare trainees. Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, 2024(63), 20-29. https://doi.org/10.1093/jncimonographs/lgae010
Sleep disturbance as a mediator of lung cancer stigma on psychological distress and physical symptom burden
Psychosomatic Medicine (2024)Williamson, T. J., Garon, E. B., Irwin, M. R., Choi, A. K., Goldman, J. W., & Stanton, A. L. (2024). Sleep disturbance as a mediator of lung cancer stigma on psychological distress and physical symptom burden. Psychosomatic Medicine, 86(4), 334-341. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001299
Lung cancer screening and stigma: Do smoking-related differences in perceived lung cancer stigma emerge prior to diagnosis?
Stigma and Health (2023)Williamson, T. J., Rawl, S. M., Kale, M. S., & Carter-Bawa, L. (2023). Lung cancer screening and stigma: Do smoking-related differences in perceived lung cancer stigma emerge prior to diagnosis? Stigma and Health, 8(4), 497-500. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000300
Getting ready for prime time: Recommended adaptations of an Empathic Communication Skills (ECS) training intervention to reduce lung cancer stigma for a national multi-center trial
Translational Behavioral Medicine (2023)Banerjee, S. C., Malling, C. D., Shen, M. J., Williamson, T. J., Bylund, C. L., Studts, J. L., Mullett, T., Carter-Bawa, L., Hamann, H. A., Parker, P. A., Steliga, M., Feldman, J., Pantelas, J., Borondy-Kitts, A., Rigney, M., King, J. C., Fathi, J. T., Rosenthal, L. S., Smith, R. A., & Ostroff, J. S. (2023). Getting ready for prime time: Recommended adaptations of an Empathic Communication Skills (ECS) training intervention to reduce lung cancer stigma for a national multi-center trial. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 13(10), 804-808. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibad048
Slipping through the cracks: Who is eligible but does not receive a healthcare provider recommendation for lung cancer screening?
Lung Cancer (2023)Williamson, T. J., Walsh, L. E., Rawl, S. M., & Carter-Bawa, L. (2023). Slipping through the cracks: Who is eligible but does not receive a healthcare provider recommendation for lung cancer screening? Lung Cancer, 179, 107185, 1-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107185
Lung cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns among primary and pulmonary care clinicians.
Nursing Research (2023)Carter-Bawa, L., Walsh, L. E., Schofield, E., Williamson, T. J., Hamann, H. A., & Ostroff, J. S. (2023). Lung cancer screening knowledge, attitudes, and practice patterns among primary and pulmonary care clinicians. Nursing Research, 72(1), 3-11. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000629
Developing an ACT-based intervention to address lung cancer stigma: Stakeholder recommendations and feasibility testing in two NCI-designated cancer centers
Journal of Psychosocial Oncology (2023)Kaplan, D. M., Hamann, H. A., Price, S. N., Williamson, T. J., Ver Hoeve, E. S., McConnell, M. H., Duchshere, J. E., Garland, L. L., & Ostroff, J. S. (2023). Developing an ACT-based intervention to address lung cancer stigma: Stakeholder recommendations and feasibility testing in two NCI-designated cancer centers. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 41(1), 59-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347332.2022.2033377
Facets of stigma, self-compassion, and health-related adjustment to lung cancer: A longitudinal study
Health Psychology (2022)Williamson, T. J., Garon, E. B., Shapiro, J. R., Chavira, D. A., Goldman, J. W., & Stanton, A. L. (2022). Facets of stigma, self-compassion, and health-related adjustment to lung cancer: A longitudinal study. Health Psychology, 41(4), 301-310. https://doi.org/10.1037/hea0001156
Reducing stigma triggered by assessing smoking status among patients diagnosed with lung cancer: De-stigmatizing do and don’t lessons learned from qualitative interviews
Patient Education & Counseling Innovation (2022)Ostroff, J. S., Banerjee, S. C., Lynch, K., Shen, M. J., Williamson, T. J., Haque, N., Riley, K., Hamann, H. A., Rigney, M., & Park, B. (2022). Reducing stigma triggered by assessing smoking status among patients diagnosed with lung cancer: De-stigmatizing do and don’t lessons learned from qualitative interviews. Patient Education & Counseling Innovation, 2, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecinn.2022.100025
Oncology care provider (OCP) training in empathic communication skills to reduce lung cancer stigma
CHEST (2021)Banerjee, S. C., Haque, N., Schofield, E. A., Williamson, T. J., Martin, C. M., Bylund, C. L., Shen, M. J., Rigney, M., Hamann, H. A., Parker, P. A., McFarland, D. C., Park, B. J., Molena, D., Moreno, A., & Ostroff, J. S. (2021). Oncology care provider (OCP) training in empathic communication skills to reduce lung cancer stigma. CHEST, 159(5), 2040-2049. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.11.024
Evaluating associations between patient-reported stigma, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and the absence of empathic opportunities presented during clinical consultations for lung cancer
Patient Education and Counseling (2021)Williamson, T. J., Ostroff, J. S., Martin, C. M., Banerjee, S. C., Bylund, C. L., Hamann, H. A., & Shen, M. J. (2021). Evaluating associations between patient-reported stigma, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and the absence of empathic opportunities presented during clinical consultations for lung cancer. Patient Education and Counseling, 104(2), 322-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2020.08.005
Transitions in coping profiles after breast cancer diagnosis: Implications for depressive and physical symptoms
Journal of Behavioral Medicine (2021)Kim, J. H. J, Bright, E. E., Williamson, T. J., Krull, J. L., Weihs, K. L, & Stanton, A. L. (2021) Transitions in coping profiles after breast cancer diagnosis: Implications for depressive and physical symptoms. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 44(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-020-00159-w
Lung cancer stigma then and now: Continued challenges amid a landscape of progress
Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2021)Hamann, H. A., Williamson, T. J., Studts, J. L., & Ostroff J. S. (2021). Lung cancer stigma then and now: Continued challenges amid a landscape of progress. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 16(1), 17-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtho.2020.10.017.
Changing the language of smoking behavior: Implications for reducing stigma, restoring dignity, and improving the precision of scientific communication
Nicotine & Tobacco Research (2020)Williamson, T. J., Riley, K. E., Carter-Harris, L. & Ostroff, J. S. (2020). Changing the language of smoking behavior: Implications for reducing stigma, restoring dignity, and improving the precision of scientific communication. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 22(12), 2280-2282. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaa141
Dispositional shame and guilt as predictors of depressive symptoms and anxiety among adults with lung cancer: The mediational role of internalized stigma
Stigma and Health (2020)Williamson, T. J., Ostroff, J. S., Haque, N., Martin, C. M., Hamann, H. A., Banerjee, S. C., & Shen, M. J. (2020). Dispositional shame and guilt as predictors of depressive symptoms and anxiety among adults with lung cancer: The mediational role of internalized stigma. Stigma and Health. 5(4), 425-433. https://doi.org/10.1037/sah0000214
Lung cancer stigma: Does smoking history matter?
Annals of Behavioral Medicine (2020)Williamson, T. J., Kwon, D. M., Riley, K. E., Shen, M. J., Hamann, H. A., & Ostroff, J. S. (2020). Lung cancer stigma: Does smoking history matter? Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 54(7), 535-540. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kaz063
Lung cancer stigma and depression: Validation of the Lung Cancer Stigma Inventory
Psycho-Oncology (2019)Ostroff, J. S., Riley, K. E., Shen, M. J., Atkinson, T. M., Williamson, T. J., & Hamann, H. A. (2019) Lung cancer stigma and depression: Validation of the Lung Cancer Stigma Inventory. Psycho-Oncology, 28(5), 1011-1017. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pon.5033.
Treatment features associated with youth cognitive behavioral therapy follow-up effects for internalizing disorders: A meta-analysis
Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (2019)Sun, M., Rith-Najarian, L. R., Williamson, T. J., & Chorpita, B. F. (2019). Treatment features associated with youth cognitive behavioral therapy follow-up effects for internalizing disorders: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 48, S269-S283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2018.1443459
Low concordance of patient-reported outcomes with clinical and clinical trial documentation
JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics (2018)Fares, C. M., Williamson, T. J., Theisen, M. K., Cummings, A., Bornazyan, K., Carroll, J., Spiegel, M. L., Stanton, A. L., & Garon, E. B. (2018). Low concordance of patient-reported outcomes with clinical and clinical trial documentation. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics. https://doi.org/10.1200/CCI.18.00059
A longitudinal investigation of internalized stigma, constrained disclosure, and quality of life across 12 weeks in lung cancer patients on active oncologic treatment
Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2018)Williamson, T. J., Choi, A. K., Kim, J. C., Garon, E. B., Shapiro, J. R., Irwin, M. R., Goldman, J. W., Bornyazan, K., Carroll, J. M., & Stanton, A. L. (2018). A longitudinal investigation of internalized stigma, constrained disclosure, and quality of life across 12 weeks in lung cancer patients on active oncologic treatment. Journal of Thoracic Oncology, 13(9), 1284-1293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtho.2018.06.018
Effects of social exclusion on subsequent stress reactivity to social evaluation
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine (2018)Williamson, T. J., Thomas, K. T., Eisenberger, N. I., & Stanton, A. L. (2018). Effects of social exclusion on subsequent stress reactivity to social evaluation. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 25(4), 410-420. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12529-018-9720-5
Metastatic Breast Cancer Collateral Damage Project (MBCCD): Scale development and preliminary results of the Survey of Health, Impact, Needs, and Experiences (SHINE)
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (2018)Williamson, T. J., Love, S. M., Clague DeHart, J. N., Jorge-Miller, A., Eshraghi, L., Cooper Ortner, H., & Stanton, A. L. (2018). Metastatic Breast Cancer Collateral Damage Project (MBCCD): Scale development and preliminary results of the Survey of Health, Impact, Needs, and Experiences (SHINE). Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 171, 75-84. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-018-4823-x
Chronic physiologic effects of stress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Psychosomatic Medicine (2018)Mays, V. M., Juster, R. P, Williamson, T. J., Seeman, T. E., & Cochran, S. D. (2018). Chronic physiologic effects of stress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Psychosomatic Medicine, 80(6), 551-563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000600
Sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial factors associated with supportive care needs in adults diagnosed with uveal melanoma
JAMA Ophthalmology (2018)Williamson, T. J., Jorge-Miller, A., McCannel, T. A., Beran, T. M., & Stanton, A. L. (2018). Sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial factors associated with supportive care needs in adults diagnosed with uveal melanoma. JAMA Ophthalmology, 136(4), 356-363. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.0019
Effects of social adversity and HIV on subcortical shape and neurocognitive function
Brain Imaging and Behavior (2018)Thames, A. D., Kuhn, T. P., Mahmood, Z., Bilder, R. M., Williamson, T. J., Singer, E. J., & Arentoft, A. (2018). Effects of social adversity and HIV on subcortical shape and neurocognitive function. Brain Imaging and Behavior, 12(1), 96-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11682-017-9676-0
Helping yourself by offering help: Mediators of expressive helping for hematopoietic stem-cell transplant survivor
Annals of Behavioral Medicine (2017)Williamson, T. J., Stanton, A. L., Austin, J. E., Valdimarsdottir, H. B., Wu, L. M., Krull, J. L., & Rini, C. R. (2017). Helping yourself by offering help: Mediators of expressive helping for hematopoietic stem-cell transplant survivors. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51(5), 683-693. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12160-017-9892-2
Differential relationships between social adversity and depressive symptoms by HIV-status and racial/ethnic identity
Health Psychology (2017)Williamson, T. J., Mahmood, Z., Kuhn, T. P., & Thames, A. D. (2017). Differential relationships between social adversity and depressive symptoms by HIV-status and racial/ethnic identity. Health Psychology, 36(2), 133-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/hea0000458
Marijuana effects on changes in brain structure and cognitive function among HIV+ and HIV- adults
Drug and Alcohol Dependence (2017)Thames, A. D., Kuhn, T. K., Williamson, T. J., Jones, J. D., Mahmood, Z., & Hammond, A. M. (2017). Marijuana effects on changes in brain structure and cognitive function among HIV+ and HIV- adults. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 170, 120-127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.11.007
Post-traumatic disorder symptoms and blunted diurnal cortisol production in partners of prostate cancer patients
Psychoneuroendocrinology (2012)Thomas, K. S., Bower, J. E., Williamson, T. J., Hoyt, M. A., Wellisch, D., Stanton, A. L., & Irwin, M. (2012). Post-traumatic disorder symptoms and blunted diurnal cortisol production in partners of prostate cancer patients. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37(8), 1181-1190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.008
