PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS

09/2024 - Present Founder/Owner, LP

VastMind Wellness, PLLC, El Paso, TX

• Provide culturally responsive, evidence-based telehealth services including comprehensive diagnostic assessments, individualized treatment plans, and individual psychotherapy

• Specialize in supporting women navigating life transitions, relational challenges, and identity-related concerns
  

05/2023 - 08/2024 Suicide Prevention Coordinator

Suicide Prevention Program, Psychology Service, South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, TX

• Conducted comprehensive risk assessments and coordinated high-risk case management for Veterans identified as being at elevated risk for suicide

• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop and implement individualized safety and treatment plans

• Facilitated consultation and education on suicide risk mitigation strategies to clinical and non-clinical staff

• Monitored and analyzed data to track trends in suicide-related behaviors and inform quality improvement efforts

• Served as a liaison between the VA and local/state agencies to enhance continuity of care and crisis response for Veterans

• Provided short-term, goal-oriented individual therapy to Veterans at elevated risk for suicide, integrating evidence-based interventions to support stabilization and enhance coping
  

08/2019 - 05/2023 Staff Psychologist

Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program and DBT Program, Psychology Service, South Texas Veterans Healthcare System, San Antonio, TX

• Provided comprehensive psychological services within an interdisciplinary team, including diagnostic assessments, treatment planning, and evidence-based psychotherapy for Veterans with diverse mental health concerns

• Delivered individual and group therapy using evidence-based modalities such as CBT, DBT, ACT, PE, and CPT, with a focus on complex clinical presentations including emotion dysregulation, PTSD, depression, and suicidality 

• Served as a core team member of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program, co-facilitating DBT skills groups and providing individual DBT therapy

• Participated in treatment team meetings to support coordinated care and promote recovery-oriented outcomes 

• Provided consultation to interdisciplinary team members on psychological diagnoses, treatment planning, and risk assessment 

• Contributed to program development and quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing access to care and treatment effectiveness.

SUPERVISED CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

08/2018 – 07/2019 Postdoctoral Fellow, Substance Use Disorders/Homelessness Emphasis

APA Clinical Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229

• Clinical activities: Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program and Domiciliary Care for Homeless Veterans Program: structured diagnostic assessments; treatment planning; brief solution-focused therapy; evidence-based practice in the treatment of substance use disorders and comorbid conditions (MI, CBT, ACT); group therapy (psychoeducational, skills-based, process-oriented); interdisciplinary collaboration, consultation; Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP, general outpatient mental health clinic): individual psychotherapy

• Populations: Socioeconomically diverse veterans, criminal justice-involved, homeless, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, dual diagnosis, trauma, SMI

09/2017 - 08/2018 Postdoctoral Fellow 

Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Addiction Treatment Program, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, 7400 Merton Minter Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78229

• Clinical activities: Structured diagnostic assessments and treatment planning for Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program; brief psychotherapy; evidence-based practice in the treatment of substance use disorders and comorbid conditions (MI, CBT, ACT); group therapy; interdisciplinary collaboration, consultation

• Populations: Socioeconomically diverse veterans, criminal justice-involved, homeless, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, dual diagnosis, trauma, SMI

07/2016 - 08/2017 Pre-doctoral Intern

University of Alabama at Birmingham - Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center (UAB-BVAMC) Clinical Psychology Internship Consortium, 700 19th St S, Birmingham, AL 35233

VA Rotations: VA Primary Care Mental Health Integration, VA Substance Abuse Clinic, VA PTSD Outpatient Clinic, VA Blind Rehabilitation

UAB Department of Psychiatry Rotations: Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment, Residential Addiction Recovery Program, Inpatient/Outpatient Neuropsychology

• Clinical activities: Psychodiagnostic, neuropsychological, and transplant evaluations; semi-structured diagnostic assessments and treatment planning; short and long-term evidence-based practice in individual treatment (CBT, MI, CPT, PE); group therapy; consultation; interdisciplinary collaboration; tiered supervision

• Populations: Socioeconomically diverse adults, veterans, criminal justice-involved, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, dual diagnosis, trauma, SMI

07/2015 - 06/2016 Advanced Psychology Extern

The University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy Program, 5801 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

• Clinical activities: Semi-structured diagnostic assessments and treatment planning; evidence-based practice in outpatient individual treatment (CBT, ACT, MI, Interpersonal); case management and community support; case presentations

• Populations: Socioeconomically diverse adults, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, trauma

07/2014 - 06/2015 Neuropsychology Extern

Northshore University Healthsystem, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2650 Ridge Ave., Evanston, Illinois

• Clinical activities: Administration, scoring, and interpretation of standardized test results assessing multiple domains of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning; test selection; preparation of integrative neuropsychological reports; case presentations

• Populations: Socioeconomically diverse adults with a variety of medical, psychiatric, and neurological conditions

07/2013 - 06/2014 Advanced Psychology Extern

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Behavioral Health Services, 836 W Wellington Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

• Clinical activities: Semi-structured diagnostic assessments and treatment planning; evidence-based practice in monolingual and bilingual (Spanish) outpatient individual and family treatment (CBT, psychodynamic, family systems, mindfulness, behavioral modification); co-facilitation of mindfulness skill-building group with adults; case management and community support; case presentations

• Populations: Socioeconomically disadvantaged adults, adolescents, and children from the community; mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, SMI, disruptive behavior disorders, substance abuse, trauma

07/2012 - 07/2013 Practicum Student

DePaul Family & Community Services, 2219 N. Kenmore, Byrne Hall, Room 300, Chicago, IL 60614

• Clinical activities: Evidence-based practice in individual and family treatment (family systems, behavioral modification); diagnostic evaluations for treatment planning; collaboration with administrators and teachers for the implementation of school-based interventions; delivery of mental healthcare services in community settings; case management and community support; case presentations

• Populations: Socioeconomically disadvantaged youth and their families from the community; mood disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive behavior disorders
  

PUBLICATIONS

Fowler, P. J., Henry, D. B., Schoeny, M., Landsverk, J., Chavira, D., & Taylor, J. J. (2013). Inadequate housing among families under investigation or child abuse and neglect: Prevalence from a national probability sample. American Journal of Community Psychology, 52, 106-114.

Fowler, P. J., & Chavira, D. (2014). Family Unification Program: Housing services for homeless child welfare-involved families. Housing Policy Debate, 24(4), 802-814.

Fowler, P. J., Henry, D. H., Schoeny, M., Taylor, J. J., & Chavira, D. (2014). Developmental timing of housing mobility: Longitudinal effects on externalizing behaviors among at-risk youth. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 53(2), 199-208.

Fowler, P. J., McGrath, L. M., Henry, D. B., Schoeny, M., Chavira, D., Taylor, J. J., & Day, O. (2015). Housing mobility and cognitive development: change in verbal and nonverbal abilities. Child Abuse & Neglect, 48, 104-118.

Chavira, D., Lopez-Tamayo, R., & Jason, L. A. (2016). Factors associated with community corrections involvement among formerly incarcerated people in recovery. Criminal Justice Policy Review. doi: 10.1177/0887403416644012. Published online April 18, 2016.

Chavira, D. & Jason, L. A. (2017). The impact of limited housing opportunities on formerly incarcerated people in the context of addiction recovery. Journal of Addictive Behaviors and Therapy, 1(1), 02.

Chavira, D., Fowler, P. J., & Jason, L. A. (2018). Parenting and the association between maternal criminal justice involvement and adolescent delinquency. Children and Youth Services Review, 87, 114-122.

Chavira, D. & Jason, L. A. (2021). ‘Maybe this is the place for me:’ A qualitative study examining needs and length of stay in recovery house residents. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 1-12.

PRESENTATIONS

Ballesteros, K. A., Richard, D. M., Hill-Kapturczak, N., Chavira, D., Tong, W., Batteen, K., Martinez, J., & Dougherty, D. M. (2011, July). Effectiveness of contingency management for reducing alcohol intake: Use of continuous measurement of transdermal alcohol concentrations. Poster session presented at the 34th annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Richard, D. M., John, S. E., Furr, R. M., Chavira, D., Hill-Kapturczak, N., Ballesteros, K. A., Martinez, J., Bateen, K., & Dougherty, D. M. (2011, July). Laboratory-controlled validation of transdermal alcohol concentration as a reliable method for accurately estimating alcohol consumption. Poster session presented at the 34th annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Atlanta, Georgia.

Chavira, D., Richard, D. M., Hill-Kapturczak, N., Furr, R. M., Ballesteros, K. A., Tong, W., & Dougherty, D. M. (2011, July). Estimating alcohol consumption using transdermal alcohol monitoring: A viable alternative to self-report. Poster session presented at the 34th annual meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, Atlanta, Georgia.

Chavira, D., & Fowler, P. J. (2012, May). Examining the pathway from parental criminal involvement to adolescent delinquency. Poster session presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D. & Fowler, P. J. (2013, June). Dimensions of parenting influencing incarceration effects within the child welfare system. In P. J. Fowler (Chair), Adolescents involved with Child Protection Services: Longitudinal analyses of child, family, and contextual risks. Symposium presented at the Society for Community Research and Action Biennial, Miami, FL.

Chavira, D., Wilmoth, C., Lopez-Tamayo, R., & Jason, L. (2013, November). Differences and commonalities among African Americans, European Americans, and Latinos in addiction recovery. Paper presented at the Midwest Ecological-Community Psychology Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Wilmoth, C., Chavira, D., Weaver, C., Harvey, R., Olson, B., & Jason, L. A. (2014, May). Housing and substance use patterns of a formerly incarcerated population. Poster session presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

McConnell, E. A., Suffrin, R. L., Chavira, D., & Adams, K. L. (2014, May). Outward Bound FINS: The process of developing an immersion evaluation. In E. A. McConnell (Chair), Immersion experiences: Process, causal mechanisms, and positive outcomes. Symposium presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

McConnell, E. A., Suffrin, R. L., Dalbey, K., & Chavira, D. (2014, June). The process of evaluating a wilderness program for at-risk youth. In E. A. McConnell (Chair), Approaches to community evaluation for social change. Symposium presented at The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Biennial, Portland, OR.

Chavira, D., Suffrin, R. L., Todd, N. R., & Sanchez, B. (2014, June). Assessing mentor cultural competence: Initial exploratory factor analysis results. Poster session presented at The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Biennial, Portland, OR.

Odahl, C. O., Houston, J. D., & Chavira, D. (2014, June). Exploring the impact of self-care strategies and primary relationships on rape crisis advocates. In R. L. Suffrin (Chair), Social support and wellbeing: The power of community. Symposium presented at The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Biennial, Portland, OR.

Chavira, D., Lopez-Tamayo, R., & Jason, L. A. (2014, October). Differential risk across ethnicity among ex-offenders on community supervision. Poster session presented at the Midwest Ecological-Community Psychology Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D., Ram, D., & Jason, L. A. (2014, October). Methodology employed to examine the effect of dwelling on substance use. Poster session presented at the Midwest Ecological-Community Annual Conference Psychology, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D., Lopez-Tamayo, R., & Jason, L. A. (2015, May). Community supervision: Population characteristics and opportunity for intervention. Poster session presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D., & Jason, L. A. (2015, May). Housing characteristics associated with increased substance use. Poster session presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D. & Vollinger, L. (2015, May). Housing problems and their impact on other aspects of reentry. In D. Chavira (Chair), Barriers facing justice-involved individuals and promoting community-based solutions. Symposium presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D., & Fowler, P. J. (2015, June). Examining caregiver profiles to estimate program effects for the Family Unification Program. Poster session presented at the Society for Community Research and Action Biennial, Lowell, MA.

Chavira, D., Salina, D., Ram, D., & Jason, L. A. (2015, June). Diagnosis is a political word: Use it right. Roundtable session presented at the Society for Community Research and Action Biennial, Lowell, MA.

Chavira, D. & Lopez-Tamayo, R. (2015, June). Breaking the community corrections cycle of reincarceration. In D. Chavira (Chair), Moving beyond research findings to impact criminal justice reform. Symposium presented at the Society for Community Research and Action Biennial, Lowell, MA.

Chavira, D., Lopez-Tamayo, R., Jason, L. A., Torres-Harding, S., & Hall, T. (2016, May). Multicultural issues in practice and research: Managing distress associated with client or participant microaggressions. Roundtable session presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D. (2016, May). Advantages of Mixed Methods Research Designs. In Stevens, E. (Chair) & Jason, L. A. Trying to learn more- Populations, measures, & methods of a large study. Symposium presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Siegel, Z., Stevens, E., Chavira, D., Droege, J., & Howe, S. (2016, May). Problematizing the “evidence” in applied applications of evidence-based practice. Roundtable presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D. & Jason, L. A. (2016, May). Voices of recovery home residents: Implications for research and practice. Poster session presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D., Lopez-Tamayo, R., Droege, J., & Jason, L. A. (2017, April). Employing community psychology approaches within healthcare settings. Roundtable presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Droege, J., Singh, A., Stevens, E., Chavira, D., Guerrero, M., Yulish, N., & Jason, L. A. (2017, April). Prevention, intervention, and aftercare: Considerations for veterans with substance use disorders. Roundtable presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D. (2017, April). Relationships and recovery. In Guerrero, M. (Chair) & Reilly, A. Social Interaction and Group Living: A Mixed Perspective Analysis. Symposium presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D., Lopez-Tamayo, R., Droege, J., & Jason, L. A. (2017, April). Employing community psychology approaches within healthcare settings. Roundtable presented at the Midwest Psychological Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

Chavira, D., Johnson, M. K., McCluskey, D. L., Mata-Galán, E., & Finley, E. P. (2018, May). Quality improvement in residential substance abuse treatment: A methodology for gap analysis and improvement planning. Poster presented at the 6th Annual Research and Quality Improvement Day at UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.

Chavira, D. (2018, May). QI in SARRTP: Assessing needs and implementing sustainable change. Oral presentation at the VA Inteprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Addiction Treatment Scholarly Presentation Symposium.

McCluskey, D. L., Roache, J. D., Chavira, D., Mata-Galan, E. L. (2018, October). Integrated Behavioral Intervention for Trauma and Substance Use (IBITS): A Novel Approach to Treating PTSD and Substance Misuse. Poster presented at the San Antonio Combat PTSD Conference, San Antonio, TX. 

Chavira, D., Johnson, M. K., McCluskey, D. L., Roache, J. D., & Finley, E. P. (2018, November). Feasibility on the frontline: Using a systematic approach to assess local conditions in addiction treatment improvement efforts. Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Conference of The Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction (AMERSA), San Francisco, CA.

Peterson, T. A., Chavira, D., & McCluskey, D. L. (2018, November). Implementing evidence-based practices in substance abuse treatment. Workshop conducted at the Texas Psychological Association Annual Convention, Frisco, TX.

Blount, T., McCluskey D. L., Chavira, D. (2018, November). Comorbid PTSD and Substance Use: Evidence for a Concurrent Approach to Treatment. Symposium presented at the Texas Psychological Association Annual Convention, Frisco, TX. 

McCluskey, D.L, Roache, J. D., Chavira, D., Medina, M. K., Moore, T., & Mata-Galan, E. (2018, November). An Integrative Behavioral Intervention for Trauma and Substance use (IBITS) as an adjunct to Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Co-Occurring PTSD and Opiate Use Disorder. Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Conference of The Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction (AMERSA), San Francisco, CA.

McCluskey, D.L, Roache, J. D., Chavira, D., & Mata-Galan, E. (2018, November). Integrated Behavioral Intervention for Trauma and Substance misuse (IBITS): A Novel Approach to Treating PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Conference of The Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction (AMERSA), San Francisco, CA