Tracy Jalaba OTD, OTR/L (she/her/hers)
Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy
HRA 500
(323) 442-3340
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Tracy Jalaba completed her doctoral residency at the USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice (OTFP), where she focused on expanding and improving the Lifestyle Redesign® program for Adults and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). As a clinical faculty member, Dr. Jalaba continues to work at the OTFP primarily within their ASD, college student, mental health, sleep disorders, and health coaching programs. She has completed the training course for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia and is a PEERS® Young Adult Certified Provider. Dr. Jalaba serves as a professional development coordinator for AOTA’s Mental Health Special Interest Section’s steering committee. In addition to her work at OTFP, she represented occupational therapy in the USC Office for Student Accessibility Services for seven years.
Education
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
2015 | University of Southern California
Master of Arts (MA)
in Occupational Therapy
2014 | University of Southern California
Bachelor of Science (BS)
in Exercise Biology
2010 | University of California, Davis
Selected Publications
Keptner, K., Lambdin-Pattavina, C., Jalaba, T., Nawotniak, S., & Cozzolino, M. (2024). Preparing for and responding to the current mental health tsunami: Embracing Mary Reilly’s call to action. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(1), 7801347010. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050200 Show abstract
Although occupational therapy has its roots in mental health practice, the profession has not been able to adequately and consistently address mental health issues that face society today. As we continue to experience both the protracted coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and political and social unrest, occupational therapy professionals must take action at individual, state, and national levels to assist in mitigating the current mental health tsunami and improving a fractured mental health care system. In this column, we define and explore issues facing the mental health care system and the different roles and perspectives that are relevant to occupational therapy professionals. Recommendations for the future are provided: actions that can be facilitated at the individual level, in practice, education, and research; at the state level, through state organizations and strategic partnerships; and at the national level, through the American Occupational Therapy Association and other means of advocacy. We want to honor Mary Reilly’s vision that occupational therapy become one of the greatest ideas of our time.
Jalaba, T. (2022, May 2). Occupational therapy’s role in addressing the mental health crisis on college campuses. SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, 7(2), 18–20. Full text
Jalaba, T., Smith, L., Rice, C., & Lawlor, M. (2018). Promoting wellness and healthy living for individuals with ASD. In R. Watling & S. L. Spitzer (Eds.), Autism across the lifespan: A comprehensive occupational therapy approach (pp. 447-464). Bethesda, MD: AOTA Press. Full text
In Chan News
April 15, 2020
Stress Management Tips for National Stress Awareness Day, from Dr. Tracy Jalaba of the USC OT Faculty Practice.
In the Media
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