College of Education and Human Development

School of Social Work

Michael Van Wert

  • Pronouns: he, him, his

  • Clinical Trainer and Research Associate, Center for Practice Transformation; SSW Community Faculty

  • School of Social Work
    Peters Hall
    1404 Gortner Ave
    Saint Paul, MN 55108-6160

  • vanwe027@umn.edu
Michael Van Wert
Biography

Michael joined the Center for Practice Transformation in 2022 after working for the previous 12 years in community psychiatry programs using group and individual therapy rooted heavily in cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior orientations helping adults cope with and heal from acute mental health challenges.  

He has been involved in mixed methods research and quality improvement initiatives to study the prevention and treatment of psychological trauma, stabilization of acute behavioral health symptoms (e.g., suicide, self-harm, substance abuse), integration of routine measurement-based care into mental health practice, human cognition, the use of technology in mental health care, and the impact of health disasters on psychological well-being.  

As an educator, he has trained mental health clinicians and students in effective therapeutic techniques, and public health practitioners in program evaluation and research methods.  At the Center, Michael develops curriculum, trains clinicians/students, and evaluates training initiatives.