Mathias McDonald Sanyer

Biography

My research interests focus on the intersections between mental and physical health, focusing on somatic symptom disorders and psychophysiology. I am particularly interested in how our brain and body interact in both the maintenance and regulation of psychological distress. My research involves using psychophysiology, EMAs, and machine learning to improve our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic pain and health conditions. I am also interested in how we can implement our findings within medical systems, through training or clinical care, to improve patient outcomes. Prior to USU, I was a research analyst at the University of Utah’s Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Healthcare Intervention Development. My work involved the psychophysiological mechanisms and outcomes of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of chronic pain and opioid misuse/abuse. As a practitioner from the Physical and Mental Health Interactions Lab, I utilize process-based therapy and assessment through a biopsychosocial perspective. Given the crossover between somatic symptoms and neuropsychology, I have training in neuropsychological and psychoeducational assessment. Across these domains, I work with individuals to identify processes of dysfunction that underly a diagnosis. My training at USU includes Behavioral Health Interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Parent Management Training.