Adaptive Health Psychology PLLC
Grounded in science, guided by compassion
About
Dr. Julia Johnston is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise treating youth with chronic or acute medical conditions and associated psychological concerns. She works with individual clients and their families to help support optimal physical health, psychological well-being, academic or vocational functioning, and movement toward client-identified goals. Her experience spans hospital settings (e.g., clinics, outpatient & inpatient), community clinics, camps for youth, and national and international conferences. Dr. Johnston's work is grounded in years of clinical experience and advanced training in evidence based care.
In addition to clinical work, Dr. Johnston remains active in scientific research with the goal of advancing understanding and care for children with chronic medical conditions. She is a clinical supervisor for doctoral level students providing psychological care to children and youth.
Education, Training, and Background
Pediatric Psychologist
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Post-doctoral fellowship
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Residency
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Ph.D
University of South Carolina
Pediatric psychologist specializing in hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
Combined clinical and research post-doctoral fellowship providing care in pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplant.
Pre-doctoral American Psychological Association (APA) accredited residency in Pediatric Psychology at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
Master's degree and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of South Carolina (APA Accredited) in the Pediatric Health and Neurodevelopment Laboratory.
My Approach
My goal is to help young people and their families build resilience, improve quality of life, heal, and achieve their goals through evidence-based therapies and a collaborative working relationship. I view my role as that of a guide — one who helps individuals navigate challenging emotions (e.g., anxiety, fear, sadness), minimize physical symptoms (e.g., pain, nausea) and their impact on daily functioning, and build lives that feel meaningful and fulfilling. I firmly believe that young people deserve comprehensive care from clinicians who truly understand the intersection of complex physical health and emotional well-being.
I utilize evidence-based interventions to support youth in therapy. These interventions have been scientifically evaluated and shown to help children and adolescents move toward their goals — whether that means managing anxiety, improving mood, or enhancing academic performance. Therapy is tailored to each individual, and progress is monitored through questionnaires and data to ensure that every young person is moving toward their outlined goals.
My approach draws on a range of evidence-based interventions, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), elements of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), exposure therapy, mindfulness-based interventions, and behavioral interventions.
Select publications
Frye, W. S., Ward, S. R., & Johnston, J. D. (2026). Patient-reported perspectives of a temporal relationship between autonomic dysfunction and mental health symptoms in a pediatric population. Autonomic Neuroscience, 103445.
Johnston, J. D., Schatz, J., & Gamwell, K. L. (2024). Commentary: Empirically derived profiles of neurocognitive functioning in youth and young adults with sickle cell disease. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 49(9), 614-615.
Johnston, J. D., Reinman, L. C., Bills, S. E., & Schatz, J. C. (2023). Sleep and fatigue among youth with sickle cell disease: A daily diary study. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 46(3), 440-450.
Johnston, J. D., Schatz, J., Bills, S. E., Frye, B. G., & Carrara, G. C. (2023). Preschool Pain Management Program for Young Children with Sickle Cell Disease: A Pre–Post Feasibility Study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 48(4), 330-340.
Johnston, J. D., Roberts, E. I., Brenman, A., Lockard, A. M., & Baker, A. M. (2023). Psychosocial functioning and adjustment to university settings: comparing students with chronic illnesses to healthy peers. Journal of american college Health, 71(4), 1143-1151.