Alumni
Jessica Anderton Reynolds, PsyD
jessanderton@gmail.com
"I very recently completed my postdoctoral training hours, and passed the licensing exams for Florida . I am still employed by my post-doc supervisor (Bloomfield Psychological Services) and I am considering options for the future. In my current position, I provide individual and group therapy to people involved with Federal Probation Services, and also for people involved with the Department of Children and Families (child protective services). In addition, I conduct evaluations of parental fitness, and assist with child custody evaluations. I very much enjoy the variety and the challenges in this position. I felt extremely well prepared by the C-I program, both in terms of specific clinical skills and by the open-minded, non-reductionistic approach to our training. On a personal level, I got married last year, and now have an 8-year-old step-son in addition to my own child Bobby (now 15). We bought a house, taught Bobby to drive (gulp) and taught the little one how to skateboard. It has been a full and eventful year."
Dr. Rose Flory, Psy.D.
roseflory@aol.com
"As a 1999 graduate, I became licensed as a clinical psychologist in 2001. I have worked as a supervisor at a home for women with mental illness, taught a class at Blue Ridge Community College, taught a number of ASAP (Alcohol Safety Awareness Program) classes, worked as a relief staff member for Community Services Board, and started a small private practice in my home. For the past two years, I have offered a free weekly support group for women with eating issues. This spring, I plan to make my six acres more wildlife-friendly by adding a pond, trees, and grasses. Thinking back on my time in the program, I am most grateful for the support and encouragement I received from professors and peers--to be myself, to continue on my journey, and to make a contribution to my community."
Judith Wheat, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
jwheat@valleyhealthlink.com
"I joined the Shenandoah Valley Family Practice Residency Program (SVFPRP) in 1998 as one of the core faculty was recently promoted to Associate Professor. I was licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in 2000. The SVFPRP is a medical residency affiliated with the Family Medicine Department of Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia . We have an intern year site at Winchester Medical Center as well as a community based clinic site in Front Royal, Virginia for all three post-graduate years. This is a Health Psychology oriented role where I work in conjunction with a Psychiatrist and other Family Physician faculty to train a cadre of 16 Resident Physicians in interviewing, communication skills, diagnosis and treatment of mental illness that presents in an undifferentiated manner in a primary care medical setting. The curriculum includes lectures and didactics in psychopharmacology, brief therapy, family systems, psychological assessment, substance abuse, domestic violence, crisis management, complementary and alternative medicine, and leadership training. The three years of training further emphasizes a biopsychosocial approach to management of serious and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and other conditions that are best managed with a holistic approach. Along with teaching responsibilities and seeing patients during their medical visits, I also maintain a small private practice in conjunction. I recently created and produced a chapter on Keeping the Family in Family Medicine for a training CD that is used by the VCU Department of Family Medicine to introduce medical students to the diversity of the Family Medicine specialty. I have also developed the Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) used by our program to observe and assess first year Resident Physicians as they interact with standardized patients. A major part of this assessment activity requires recruitment and training of standardized patients who present with complex symptoms related to co-existing emotional and physical conditions. As you know, on average, sixty percent of emotional conditions are seen first by primary care physicians. Our residency program has been cited at the national level for our dedication to provision of educational opportunities that prepare our graduates to manage and coordinate care for patients with complex mental illnesses. This has been an exciting and rewarding career path that highlights how the JMU C-I program and the PsyD degree well-prepared me to not only create but successfully implement the Behavioral Health curriculum for this training setting. Please visit us on the web at www.valleyhealthlink.com/residency_program/index.html."
Pam Throck-Morton, Psy.D.
throckph@jmu.edu
"I work as a Licensed clinical psychologist and clinical director at New Lifestyles in Winchester , VA. Also, I serve as an Assistant professor at JMU, which will be my 12th year of teaching (including TA assignments). Additionally, I work part-time in private practice."
Christina Connolly-Wilson, Psy.D, NCSP
dedication10@yahoo.com
"Following my excellent preparation in the JMU School Psychology program, I graduated from the C-I program in May 2005. I was married on 8/12/06 to Greg Wilson in Baltimore , MD. I currently live in Gurnee , IL , which is about 40 miles north of Chicago . I am working with the Waukegan Public Schools as a school psychologist and as the District-Wide Crisis Team Leader. I am also one of three trainers of the PREPARE Crisis Intervention Model in the state and one of 20 in the country. The program at JMU has helped me to expand my roles as a school psychologist to not just conduct assessments and consultations, but to be able to conduct therapy as well with the students that I serve. I also have a broader understanding of mental disabilities, systems theory, and conducting unique socio-emotional assessment tools like the Rorschach."
Brendan Kiernan Psy. D.
brendan_kiernan@jsd.k12.ak.us
"After graduating from the C-I program and obtaining licensure as a Psychologist in Alaska I began a private practice in 1998. I continue to work as a full-time School Psychologist in the Juneau Public Schools, therefore my private practice caseload typically runs 12 to 15 clients. Since I work with children in the schools I focus on adults, couples and families in my private practice. It’s a heavy workload but I really enjoy the therapeutic process with adults. My wife of ten years, Kris, is a 5 th Grade Teacher and we will both be able to retire from the Juneau Schools in 2 years, as it only takes 20 years of service in Alaska in order to retire with full benefits. Kris will only work half time as we have a 5-year-old little girl, Katie, and just had a baby boy on 1/23/07 , Samuel “Sam” Brady Kiernan. I have a wonderful life and owe a lot of that to my Undergraduate, Masters, Ed.S. and Psy. D. all from JMU. Particular thanks go to Doug Brown, Jerry Benson and Harriet Cobb for their support and patience. For those in the program, my advice is to continue to work hard, get your dissertation done quickly in order to graduate, and then begin to get acquainted with the National Licensure Exam. I recommend a study guide published by, “Association For Advanced Training In The Behavioral Sciences”. Hi to that first group that went through the first year of the Psy.D. program with me starting July, 1994 ; Renia, Judy, Liliane, Deanna, Vivian and Judith."
