My research focuses on examining communication and relationships in high risk settings and the effects these interactions have on individual outcomes. My earlier work has explored how family communication patterns are shaped by the stressors introduced by a parent’s harmful alcohol use and the role of communication in bolstering resilience among offspring. My current work examines communication patterns among health care providers, family members, and patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. I employ a mixed-methods approach, incorporating interviews, survey data, coded interactions, and biomarker tools to facilitate a comprehensive view of communication behavior and effects. General areas of study include interpersonal communication, family interaction, and health communication.