University of Missouri Kansas-City - Daniel Maitland (FC/ACT/FAP/BA/DBT; PhD; USA)

I run the Psychotherapy Research or Study of Connection, Intimacy, and Loneliness (PROSOCIAL) lab. The psychotherapy component of my research emphasizes elucidation of the process of change, mechanisms of action, efficacy, and effectiveness of contemporary behavior therapies.

While my research emphasizes Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), I am also interested in furthering the evidence base of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Behavioral Activation, and process-based therapies.

My research in the social domain emphasizes understanding the bidirectional association between our social lives, especially deep meaningful relationships, our mental or physical health, and clinical-adjacent targets such as discrimination and stigma. 

Currently, my lab is conducting research and preparing grant applications focused on the intersection of loneliness, social connection, and alcohol use. Additionally, I have limited interest in childhood or how childhood experiences impact current social disruptions or loneliness. 

My research group is very active, typically running three or more studies at a time and is actively implementing experiments to better understand our variables of interest. I work closely with my students to incorporate their specific interests into the research of the lab. You can find more information about my research by visiting my ResearchGate page (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Daniel-Maitland) and my Google Scholar page (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wq9WpiIAAAAJ&hl=en).

Typically, my research group is able to admit one graduate student every other year. Please contact me in advance if you're interested in applying to work with me.

I am recruiting a graduate student for admission in Fall 2027. All application materials must be received by December 1, 2026 via the official UMKC process to be considered for admission in Fall 2027.

(This webpage was last updated August 24, 2026).