Michelle J. Pearce, Ph.D.

Michelle J. Pearce, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Duke University Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  Dr. Pearce received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Yale University, after completing an internship in Medical Psychology at Duke University Medical Center. She then completed a clinical post doctoral fellowship in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) at Duke Medical Center, and a research post doctoral fellowship at the Duke Center for Spirituality, Theology, and Health. Dr. Pearce specializes in research on religion/spirituality and health, forms and expressions of spiritual coping, oncology and caregiving at the end of life, and the integration of spirituality into the practice of psychotherapy. She is currently conducting research to identify spiritual needs among end of life cancer patients at Duke Medical Center with the goal of improving patient care and quality of life. 

Clinically, Dr. Pearce is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in North Carolina who is trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), behavioral medicine, mindfulness, and stress management. Dr. Pearce is currently providing outpatient services for patients dealing with a variety of emotional and behavioral issues, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, chronic pain, and existential-related distress. Dr. Pearce also runs the Managing the Stress of Illness: A Skill-Building Program for patients and caregivers who are coping with the stress, challenges of change, and loss of control that can accompany medical illness. She can be reached at michelle.pearce@duke.edu or (919) 684-6182.  

Selected recent publications: 

Pearce, M.J., Rivinoja, C.M., & Koenig, H.G. (2007). Spirituality and Health: Empirically-based reflections on recovery. Requested chapter in Alcoholism Research: Alcoholics Anonymous and Spiritual Aspects of Recovery, Springer Publishing. 

Wachholz, A. B. & Pearce, M.J. (2007). Compassion and health. In Spirit, Science 

and Health: How the Spiritual Mind Fuels the Body. Plante, T. G. & 

Thoresen, C. E. (Eds.) Westport, CT: Praeger/Greenwood.

Wachholz, A., Pearce, M.J., Koenig, HG. (2007). Exploring the Relationship between Spirituality, Coping, and Pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 30, 311-318.

Pearce, M. J., Singer, J., & Prigerson, H. G. (2006). Religious coping among caregivers

of terminally ill cancer patients: Main effects and psychosocial mediators.

Journal of Health Psychology, 11(5), 743-759. 

Tarakeshwar N. Vanderwerker LC. Paulk E. Pearce M.J. Kasl SV. Prigerson HG. (2006). Religious coping is associated with the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 9(3):646-57.

 Tarakeshwar, N., Pearce, M. J., & Sikkema, K. J. (2005). Implementation of a spiritual coping group intervention for adults living with HIV/AIDS: A pilot study. Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, 8(3), 174-190. 

Pearce, M. J. (2005) A critical review of the forms and value of religious coping

among informal caregivers. Journal of Religion and Health, 44 (1), 81-118. 

Pearce, M. J., Jones, S., Schwab-Stone, M., & Ruchkin, V. (2003). The protective effects of religiousness and parent involvement on the development of conduct problems among youth exposed to violence. Child Development, 74(6), 1682-1696. 

Pearce, M. J., Little, T., & Perez, J. E. (2003) Religiousness and depressive

symptoms among adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 32(2) 267-276.

Pearce, M. J., Chen, J., Silverman, G. K., Kasl, S. V., Rosenheck, R., & Prigerson, H. (2002). Religious coping, health, and health service use among bereaved adults. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 32(2), 179-199.