Where do you work and in what capacity?
I am a fourth-year counseling psychology PhD candidate at the University at Albany – SUNY. I am currently the co-assistant director at the University at Albany Psychological Services Center, a community-based training clinic operated jointly by our counseling and clinical psychology doctoral programs. As co-assistant director, I engage in community outreach and help develop new services. At the center, I also provide psychotherapy and assessments and facilitate a weekly psychotherapy group. My remaining time is spent conducting research at the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research within the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology.
Where did you do your training?
I completed my undergraduate and post-baccalaureate research training at the University of Kansas, under the mentorship of Dr. Bruce Liese. I am completing my graduate training at the University at Albany – SUNY under the mentorship of Dr. Jessica Martin and Dr. Dolores Cimini.
What are your research interests?
My research aims to support equitable access to addiction treatment and improve the effectiveness of treatment for patients using substances. This is accomplished through two parallel avenues of scientific inquiry: (1) implementation and evaluation of community-based psychological treatments for addiction and (2) assessing patient and therapist factors that facilitate or impede addiction recovery. For example, I have published implementation and evaluation studies of peer-delivered CBT-based addiction mutual help groups, integrative multimodal group treatment for veterans with PTSD and addictive disorders, and prevention navigation services to reduce risk for substance use problems among college students. My research into patient factors that influence addiction recovery has examined how substance use motives influence substance use frequency and consequences. More recently, I have become interested in how therapists make clinical decisions when treating addictive disorders. My dissertation examines the extent to which therapists make biased clinical judgments and decisions based on how they feel toward patients (the affect heuristic) and if biased judgments and decisions can be reduced through training in cognitive science principles.
What are your clinical interests?
I initially pursued a career in psychology hoping to specialize in treating addictive disorders. My first clinical experience involved facilitating CBT-based SMART Recovery groups during my post-baccalaureate training. While facilitating these groups I realized that many people with addictions experienced difficulties regulating emotions and sustaining healthy relationships. As I learned more about psychopathology in graduate school, I realized some of the individuals I saw in SMART Recovery were likely experiencing mood, anxiety, or personality disorders. To become effective at treating these co-occurring conditions, last year I pursued an advanced practicum at an outpatient clinic at an academic medical center, where I developed a secondary interest in personality disorders. I feel privileged whenever patients invite me into their lives and allow me to help them change and grow. My “home” theoretical orientation is Cognitive Therapy, but I integrate principles and practices from third-wave CBTs and interpersonal approaches as well.
What are your policy/advocacy interests?
When first studying addiction psychology as an undergraduate student, I was surprised to learn of the vast amount of research that has been conducted on treatments for addictive disorders. People struggling with addictions and their families may not be aware of the variety of treatment options available to them. Even if people are aware of treatment, they might not have access to it in their communities. As such, in my advocacy work, I aim to increase awareness of and access to the variety of addiction treatments so people can make an informed choice about which will be most beneficial for their own recovery.
How did you become interested in addictive behaviors?
One of the first psychology courses I enrolled in as an undergraduate student was Psychology of Addictive Disorders, taught by Dr. Bruce Liese. I expected we would discuss how people developed addictions, but we spent even more time discussing how to treat them effectively. While I joined that course interested in “how people become addicted,” I left it interested in “how people recover.”
What motivated you to join the Society of Addiction Psychology (Division 50)?
I attended my first Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction in 2019 and knew then that SoAP was my professional home. Since then, I have sought opportunities to give back to Division 50 on the Education and Training Committee, the Student Committee, assisting with planning annual APA and CPA conferences, and now as the incoming Student Representative. The Division’s commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and psychological science has been apparent in my interactions with students and faculty over the last six years. It has been a joy to give back and receive so much from SoAP!
Any other information that you would like to share about yourself with other SoAP members?
If you are a student looking to be more involved in Division 50, please reach out via email to myself (cmonley@albany.edu) or the senior student representative, Katherine Berry (kberry11@uwyo.edu). We are always eager to have more students involved in Division 50!
Resources are available for those struggling with addiction and numerous effective treatments exist. Whether you are looking for help for yourself or a loved one, we encourage you to seek out help.