Postdoctoral researcher
I am a clinical psychologist with a background in social psychology and current research focus on the abilities to understand as well as communicate mental states (feelings, intentions, thoughts) in relation to interpersonal functioning. I am passionate about evidence-based psychodynamic perspectives on mental health and integrative psychotherapeutic strategies. At the Outpatient Clinic for Social Interaction, I am currently developing and evaluating a new transdiagnostic group therapy approach that integrates transference processes with cognitive-behavioral strategies to target interpersonal difficulties in patients on the autistic spectrum, with social anxiety, or chronic depression. Furthermore, I am seeing patients at the Institut für Psychoanalyse, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik as part of my advanced clinical training. Outside the academic realm, I am fascinated by non-western traditions that include body-based, artistic and mystical practices exploring consciousness.
Areas of interest and expertise
- Mindreading and mental state communicationon
- BeTreatment of Social interaction deficits
- Psychodynamic therapy
Contact
E-Mail: renata.wacker@hu-berlin.de
Web: https://www.psychologie.hu-berlin.de/de/1694051/1689582
Publications
2021
Kugler, C., Spielmann, H., Seemann, M., Lauenroth, V., Wacker, R., Albert, W., Spitz-Koeberich, C., Semmig-Koenze, S., von Cube, M., & Tigges-Limmer, K. (2021). Self- management for patients on ventricular assist device support: a national, multicentre study: protocol for a 3-phase study. BMJ Open, 11:e044374. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2020-044374
2018
Wacker R (2018). Minds meeting through mindreading and mindspeaking: The role of social-cognitive abilities in interpersonal functioning in typically developing adults and adults with pathological fear of social evaluation (Doctoral dissertation). Freie Universität Berlin.
2017
Wacker, R., Bölte, S., & Dziobek, I. (2017). Women Know Better What Other Women Think and Feel: Gender Effects on Mindreading across the Adult Life Span. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1324. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01324 📖
2016
Wacker, R., & Dziobek, I. (2016, December 15). Preventing Empathic Distress and Social Stressors at Work Through Nonviolent Communication Training: A Field Study With Health Professionals. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000058
2015
Buhlmann, U., Wacker, R., & Dziobek, I. (2015). Inferring other people’s states of mind: Comparison across social anxiety, body dysmorphic, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 34, 107–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.06.003