Mariana Aokalani, M.D., Psy.D., (she/ella) T32 Research Postdoctoral Fellow
Mariana Aokalani, M.D., Psy.D., (née Cerqueira), joined the Developing Brain Institute (DBI) in September 2024 as a T32 Research Postdoctoral Fellow. Before her role at DBI, Dr. Aokalani earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology, specializing in perinatal, infant and early childhood mental health, as well as caregivers’ substance use disorders. During her studies, she participated in the Colorado OUD/SUD Training program, which aims to address the needs of under-
resourced individuals struggling with opioid use disorder in Colorado. Dr. Aokalani completed her predoctoral internship in the Early Childhood Mental Health track of the Multicultural Clinical Training Program at the University of California, San Francisco. She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from ISPA and received her medical degree from Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal.
Dr. Aokalani’s research interests center on the mental health of infants with medical complexities, focusing on enhancing parent-child relationships, adapting caregiver-infant support groups for those with infants hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) and addressing perinatal mental health for caregivers of medically fragile infants. Her current postdoctoral research investigates the outcomes of mental health dyadic interventions for caregivers and infants in neonatal ICU and cardiac ICU settings.
DC Mother-Baby Wellness Program
Address: 111 Michigan Ave. NW; Washington, D.C., 20010
Email: [email protected]
Department: MRI Lab
Recent publications & presentations
2024
Cerqueira Aokalani M. (2024). I See You! Play: A Therapeutic Playgroup for Caregivers and Their Intensive Care Group Infants (Doctoral Paper). Graduate School of Professional Psychology, University of Denver.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/514
2024 | July
Dugoni H, Lakhyani M, Marrow T, Elliott Lavin K, Aokalani Cerqueira M, Gross LA, Clarke U, Firkus K, Jimenez C, Moran Vozar TE. WePlay! Across the USA: How a Parent-Infant Group Is Promoting Social Support, Child Development, and Well-Being in Different Cultural Contexts. Poster. 35th Annual Postpartum Support International Conference. Washington, D.C. July 2024.
Aokalani Cerqueira M, Vozar MT. A Window Into Perinatal Child-Parent Psychotherapy (P-CPP): Bringing the Baby to Therapy From Womb on. Poster. 35th Annual Postpartum Support International Conference. Washington, D.C. July 2024.
Aokalani Cerqueira M, Vozar MT. Let's Talk About NICU's Caregiver Mental Health: Exploring the Importance of Early Intervention and Attachment-Based Supports Among Caregivers of Premature Infants. Poster. 35th Annual Postpartum Support International Conference. Washington, D.C. July 2024.
2024 | February
Lakhyani M, Seanez M, Moormeier K, Aokalani Cerqueira M, Elliot KL. Developing a Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Caregiver-Child Facilitated Play and Psychoeducation Group. Conference on Research Innovations in Early Intervention. San Diego, CA. February 2024.
2023
Cerqueira M, Vozar TM. Prematurity, Attachment, and Interpersonal Therapy: A Review. Journal for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health; 37(3), 57-77, Winter 2023.
https://apppahjournal.birthpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/journal/published_paper/volume-37/issue-3/8eeXOweQ.pdf
2023 | December
Cerqueira M, Vozar TM. I See You! Play: Terapia de Grupo Para Pais e Seus Bebés com Vulnerabilidades Médicas. V Encontro Anual do Grupo de Língua Portuguesa da Sociedade Marcé Conference. Coimbra, Portugal. December 2023.
Cerqueira M, Cuellar Celallos Y, Tomlinson R. Break Through Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP): the Impact of Caregiver-Child Play Therapy. Poster. V Encontro Anual do Grupo de Língua Portuguesa da Sociedade Marcé Conference. Coimbra, Portugal. December 2023.
Cerqueira M. Let’s Talk About NICU’s Caregiver Mental Health: a Case Presentation. Poster. V Encontro Anual do Grupo de Língua Portuguesa da Sociedade Marcé Conference. Coimbra, Portugal. December 2023.
2023 | July
Cerqueira M, Rubio E, Vozar TM. Nosotros Jugamos: Culturally and Language Sensitive Caregiver-Led Parent-Child Group. World Association for Infant Mental Health 18th World Congress. Dublin, Ireland. July 2023.
Neiers M, Cerqueira M. Developmental Trauma or ADHD? Recognition and Early Intervention With Caregivers and Infants. Poster. World Association for Infant Mental Health 18th World Congress. Dublin, Ireland. July 2023.
Neiers M, Cerqueira M. Ghosts and Angels in the NICU: Reducing Trauma and Building Hope. Poster. World Association for Infant Mental Health 18th World Congress. Dublin, Ireland. July 2023.
Neiers M, Cerqueira M. Promoting Attachment in the NICU: The Importance of Caregiver Involvement. Poster. World Association for Infant Mental Health 18th World Congress. Dublin, Ireland. July 2023
2023 | June
Neiers M, Cerqueira M, Holmberg JR. P-PPTSD in the NICU. Poster. 35th Annual Postpartum Support International Conference. New Orleans, LA. June 2023.
2022
Cerqueira M, Delgado L. An Exploratory Study: The Existence of Independent Emotions of a Fetus. Journal for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health; 36(3), 60-75, Fall 2022.
https://apppahjournal.birthpsychology.com/wp-content/uploads/journal/published_paper/volume-36/issue-3/zbprkbvz.pdf
2022 | September
Cerqueira M, Jacobs J, Lavin K, Holmberg J, Vozar T. Under the Surface: A Mother’s Journey in the NICU, Exploring the Importance of Early Intervention and Attachment-Based Supports. Poster. 2022 Biennial Conference of the International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health. London, England. September 2022.
Cerqueira M, Flanagan E, Rubio E. Nosotros Jugamos: Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Cooperative Learning Caregiver-Infant/Toddler Groups for the Latinx Community. Poster. 2022 Biennial Conference of the International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health. London, England. September 2022.
Cerqueira M, Moran Vozar TE, Jacobs J, Lavin K, Gross L. We Don’t Talk (Enough) About Perinatal PTSD: A Collaborative Call to Action Across Interdisciplinary Professionals. 2022 Biennial Conference of the International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health. London, England. September 2022.
Moran Vozar TE, Jacobs J, Cerqueira M, Lavin K, Guyon-Harris K. Introducing the Colorado OUD/SUD Training Program as One Model for Clinicians Offering Comorbid Mental Health & Substance Treatment. 2022 Biennial Conference of the International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health. London, England. September 2022.
Flanagan E, Cerqueira M, Rubio E. Nosotros Jugamos: Culturally and Linguistically Sensitive Cooperative Learning Caregiver-Infant/Toddler Groups for the Latinx Community. Zero to Three 2022 Conference. Virtual.
2022 | July
Cerqueira M, Flanagan E, Jacobs J, Pinch S, Lavin K, Vozar T. Parentline Colorado: Examining the Effectiveness of a Perinatal Telebehavioral Health Service. Poster. 35th Annual Postpartum Support International Conference. New Orleans, LA. July 2022.