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Carli Obeldobel, PhD

  • Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Dr. Carli Obeldobel is a licensed psychologist embedded in the Paul C. Gaffney Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.  She supports the medical coping needs of children, adolescents, and young adults with a wide range of pediatric behavioral health concerns, including mood concerns, chronic pain, somatic concerns, and complex medical conditions.  She has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), is certified in Comprehensive Intervention for Tics (CBIT) through the Tourette Syndrome Behavior Therapy Institute, and facilitates the virtual Comfort Ability Program for children and adolescents with chronic pain through the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. 

Professional and Scientific Society Memberships 

  • Society of Pediatric Psychology (American Psychological Association Division 54) 

Education & Training

  • BA, Psychology and Cellular & Molecular Biology, Washington & Jefferson College, 2015
  • MA, Psychological Sciences, Kent State University, 2019
  • Doctoral Internship through WellSpan Philhaven CBT, WellSpan Health, 2021-2022
  • PhD, Clinical Psychology, Kent State University, 2022
  • Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, 2022-2023

Selected Publications

Kerns, K. A., Kochendorfer, L. B., Obeldobel, C. A., & Brumariu, L. E. (2023). Parent-child attachment and emotion regulation dynamics in late middle childhood. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 69(1), 84-117. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2023.a909260 

Obeldobel, C. A., Brumariu, L. E., & Kerns, K. A. (2023). Parent-child attachment and dynamic emotion regulation: A systematic review. Emotion Review, 15(1), 28-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/17540739221136895 

Rodrigues, G. A., Obeldobel, C. A., Kochendorfer, L. B., Brumariu, L. E., Fareri, D. S., & Kerns, K. A. (2022). Parent-child attachment security and depressive symptoms in early adolescence: The mediating roles of gratitude and forgiveness. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-022-01394-9 

Kerns, K. A., Obeldobel, C. A., Kochendorfer, L. B., & Gastelle, M. (2022). Attachment security and character strengths in early adolescence. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02230-3 

Obeldobel, C. A., & Kerns, K. A. (2021). A literature review of gratitude, parent-child relationships, and well-being in children. Developmental Review, 61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2021.100948 

Obeldobel, C. A., & Kerns, K. A. (2020). Attachment security is associated with the experience of specific positive emotions in middle childhood. Attachment & Human Development, 22(5), 555-567. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2019.1604775 

ORCID Profile: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9072-5467