Nicole Cross, Ph.D.

Dr. Nicole Cross is a Senior Staff Psychologist and the Director of Community Engagement with Cognitive Behavior Therapy Associates of Denver. Dr. Cross specializes in evidence-based psychotherapies for eating disorders, behavioral addictions, and substance use disorders. She also works with clients experiencing depression, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Dr. Cross has expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Dr. Cross works collaboratively with clients to explore connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and to use that insight to make concrete changes in their everyday lives. She uses individualized interventions to help clients reshape their lives and bring into focus what is important and meaningful to them. Her clinical approach emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship and empowers clients to be agents of change in pursuing their goals and values. Dr. Cross enjoys working with adult and adolescent clients.

Dr. Cross earned her undergraduate degree in English Literature and French Literature from Villanova University in Philadelphia, PA and also earned her master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Villanova University. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Bowling Green State University and completed her predoctoral internship at the Southern Illinois University Counseling and Psychological Services Center. Dr. Cross completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Renfrew Center of Philadelphia, a residential treatment facility for girls and women with eating disorders. As a fellow, she worked with patients experiencing comorbid diagnoses in addition to an eating disorder, including substance use disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma and dissociative disorders.

Dr. Cross enjoys speaking to groups and doing podcasts about wellness, resilience, and mental health. Dr. Cross is a member of the Colorado Psychological Association and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. She has published articles on substance use, eating disorders, and behavioral addictions including internet and online gaming addiction. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, hiking, camping, and gaming (in moderation).

Selected publications

Lang, B. A., Rosenberg, H., Lauritsen, K., Davis, A. K., & Cross, N. (2017). Psychometric evaluation of the Work Acceptance and Action Questionnaire of Psychological Flexibility modified for university students. Journal of College Student Development, 58, 1256-1260. doi:10.1353/csd.2017.0097

Cross, N., Kiefner, A., Borushok, J., Hinman, N., Rossi, J., … Burmeister, J. (2016). Facial attractiveness, weight status, and personality trait attribution: The role of attractiveness in weight stigma. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 11, 377-388. doi:1 HYPERLINK "http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2016.03.007"0.1016/j.orcp.2016.03.007

Cross, N. & Rosenberg, H. (2015). A review of the relationship of drug dreams with craving and consumption. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 146, e253. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.155

Osborn, L. A., Lauritsen, K., Cross, N., Davis, A. K., Bonadio, A. … Rosenberg, H. (2015). Self-medication of somatic and psychiatric conditions using botanical marijuana. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 47, 345-350. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2015.1096433

Lauritsen, K.. Osborn, L. A., Davis. A. K., Cross N., Lang, B. A., & Rosenberg, H. (2015). Reported use of non-prescribed marijuana for biomedical and psychiatric conditions among regular marijuana users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 146, e170. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.379

Davis. A. K., Cross N., Lauritsen, K., Rosenberg, H., & Ashrafioun, L. (2015). Psychometric evaluation of the marijuana reduction strategy self-efficacy scale with a community sample of marijuana users. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 146, 258-259. doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.09.169

Stump, T. K., Mineo, C. C., Cross, N., Else-Quest, N. M. (2015). The Measure of Disease-Related Stigma (MDRS): Construction and application in three disease contexts. Stigma and Health, No pagination specified. doi:10.1037/sah0000012

Ashrafioun, L., Rosenberg, H., Cross, N., Brian, T. J. (2013). Further evaluation of the construct, convergent, and criterion validity of the Gambling Urge Scale with university-student gamblers. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 39, 326-331. doi: 10.3109/00952990.2013.810746

Kurtz, J. E., Puher, M. A., & Cross, N. (2012). Prospective prediction of college adjustment using self- and informant-rated personality traits. Journal of Personality Assessment, 94, 630-637. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2012.672506

Davis, A. K., Osborn, L. A., Rosenberg, H., Cross, N., … Leith, J. (2014). Psychometric evaluation of the Marijuana Reduction Strategies Self-Efficacy Scale with young recreational marijuana users. Addictive Behaviors, 39, 1750-1754. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.07.005

Davis, A. K., Osborn, L. A., … Cross, N., Carhart, V., Baik, K. (2014). Development and evaluation of the Marijuana Reduction Strategies Self-efficacy Scale. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 28, 575-579. doi: 10.1037/a0036665

Carels, R. A., Rossi, J., Taylor, M., Borushok, J., Keifner-Burmeister, A., Cross, N., … Burmeister, J. M. (2015). Influencing weight bias: The impact of biased questionnaire anchors on stereotype beliefs and judgments. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, 9, 448-457. doi.org/10.1016/j.orcp.2015.02.002