Katherine Walbam

Katherine Walbam is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Salem State University. She holds a Ph.D. in social work from Simmons College, an MSW from Boston University, a BSW from Siena College, and specialized certification in Clinical Practice with Children and Adolescents. As a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) fellow at Children's Hospital Boston, she developed expertise in interdisciplinary approaches to developmental care.

With 18 years of clinical experience, Walbam has worked extensively with children and families in Head Start programs, school systems, and clinical settings. Her research focuses on sensory processing differences, attachment patterns, caregiver accommodation strategies, and interdisciplinary practice frameworks. She employs mixed-methods approaches to examine the intersection of developmental psychology and clinical social work.

Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on sensory processing disorders across developmental stages, innovative teaching methodologies in social work education, and critical examinations of power structures within the profession. Recent work explores caregiver experiences and educational interventions.

Courses taught include Human Behavior and Social Environment, Integrated Practice with Children and Families, Field Education seminars, and specialized topics in health/mental health services.