Bernadette Davantes Heckman, PhD
- Professor
Department of Counseling and Human Development Services - Professor
Professional Counseling - Director of the Neuroscience and Aging Clinic
Center for Counseling and Personal Evaluation
Areas of Expertise
- Clinical Heath Psychology/Health Neuroscience
- Health Disparities/Health Equities
- Diversity/Multiculturalism
- Social Justice/Inclusion & Belonging
- Mindfulness/Self Compassion
- Opioid and SUDs
- Neuropsychological Assessment/Aging and Neurocognitive Disorders
Interests
- HIV/AIDS
- Chronic Pain
- Telehealth
- Headache Disorders
- Opioid and Substance Use Disorders
- Health Disparities/Health Equity
Concentrations
Education
- PhD in Clinical Psychology, 2001
Washington University, St Louis - PhD in Health Psychology Subspecialty, 2001
Washington University, St. Louis - MS in Clinical Psychology, 1997
Washington University
Contact
Research Summary
My research examines health disparities and merges my three passions in health psychology, multiculturalism, and social justice. My health disparities research focuses primarily on:
- Persons with chronic pain and severe headache disorders
- Persons living with HIV/AIDS
- The development and provision of integrated behavioral health care services for at-risk youths in schools
The short-term goal of my research is to identify health inequities and the bio-psycho-socio-cultural factors that cause and/or maintain these disparities. Long-term, I seek to develop culturally-contextualized interventions and mindfulness-based approaches to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes in under-represented and marginalized groups.
Grants
This project will increase the number and diversity of mental health providers from the University of Georgia’s School Counseling and School Psychology programs who will provide contextualized mental health services in five high-need schools in a high-need LEA in rural northern Georgia.
Award: $4.9 million