The University of Alabama Clinical Geropsychology Training Program

The UA Geropsychology subarea offers a wide variety of clinical training opportunities, some with stipends, with older adult populations.  These include:

1. 1. Geropsychology Clinic (required): Psychology graduate students in the third year and above provide individual and family psychotherapy to older adults and caregivers in the clinic, in home, and via telehealth. Students also conduct cognitive assessments and capacity evaluations for independent living, financial decision-making, medical consent, testamentary capacity, and capacity to complete an advance care directive and execute a durable power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney.
   2. University Medical Center Geriatrics Clinic (required): Psychology graduate students in the third year and above work as part of an interprofessional team with geriatricians, social workers, a geriatric pharmacist, and learners across disciplines to provide assessment within the context of primary care to older adult outpatients. An interprofessional education series also is available beginning in the first year of training.
   3. Mary S. Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center (potential paid placement): Psychology graduate students conduct assessment and consultative services and provide group and individual therapy to geriatric psychiatric inpatients.
   4. Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center Community Living Centers (CLCs): Psychology graduate students may gain VA experience and work with the geropsychologist in the CLCs, the VA term for skilled nursing facilities. Students provide interventions and conduct assessments with residents, work with interdisciplinary teams, and potentially provide staff training.

CORE FACULTY INFORMATION (in alphabetical order):

More specific information may be obtained by contacting these professors or on our website at https://psychology.ua.edu/. 

Rebecca S. Allen, PhD, ABPP (1994, Washington University in St. Louis).  rsallen@ua.edu

Professor and Geropsychology Coordinator, Executive Director of the Alabama Research Institute on Aging (ARIA; https://aria.ua.edu).  Dr. Allen’s research and clinical interests are: 1) clinical training (substance and opioid use disorders; empowering communities to facilitate effective treatment delivery through community-based partnerships; health and mental health disparities), 2) interventions to reduce stress among individuals with advanced chronic and terminal illness and their care partners, and 3) the cultural dynamics of healthcare and financial decision making.  She has published over 130 articles, three books, and nineteen book chapters. Dr. Allen is board certified in Geropsychology and is an oral examiner for the American Board of Geropsychology. She is Past-President of the Society of Clinical Geropsychology, a former Chair of the Council of Professional Geropsychology Training Programs, and President-Elect of Division 20 (Adult Development and Aging) of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Allen teaches Clinical Psychology of Aging Assessment & Intervention, Affective and Lifespan Development, and Geropsychology Practicum.

Sheila Black, PhD (1994, Washington University in St. Louis). sblack@ua.edu

Associate Professor of Cognitive Psychology.  Dr. Black is interested in age-related changes in attentional and semantic processes. She is also interested in age-related changes in episodic memory.  Dr. Black teaches the cognitive aging class in the geropsychology emphasis, and clinical students also have the opportunity to work with her on projects involving cognitive aging.

Michelle M. Hilgeman, PhD (2010, University of Alabama) Michelle.Hilgeman@va.gov

Psychologist Clinician Investigator at the Tuscaloosa VA and Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at UA. She is also an Affiliate Investigator at the Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC). Dr. Hilgeman’s work examines the effectiveness and implementation of evidence-based interventions designed to reduce psychological distress, enhance social connection, and improve clinical and functional outcomes for veterans and caregivers at increased risk of inequities in health. For example, two current projects are: 1) a hybrid implementation-effectiveness clinical trial of Montessori-based approaches to resident-directed care in 8 VA Community Living Centers, and 2) evaluation of the Pride in All Who Served health promotion group for LGBTQ+ Veterans currently available in more than 60 VA Medical Centers. Her work has been supported by VA Rehabilitation Research & Development, VA Health Services R&D, the National Institute on Aging, and operations support from the VA Innovation Ecosystem, Office of Health Equity, Office of Rural Health, & Office of Mental Health & Suicide Prevention. Dr. Hilgeman is a strong mentoring presence in the geropsychology program and regularly serves on thesis and dissertation committees for graduate students. Dr. Hilgeman is not currently teaching courses at UA, but she does teach didactic seminars for Psychology Interns at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center on topics including: ethics, rural health, capacity assessment, environmental & behavioral modification, and cultural humility / diversity issues (LGBTQ Veterans, individuals with disabilities).

Lindsey Jacobs, PhD, MSPH, ABPP (2014, University of Alabama) jacob008@ua.edu

Director of Clinical Training and Associate Professor of Clinical Geropsychology. Dr. Jacobs’ interests include: 1) development, adaptation, and implementation of third-wave cognitive behavioral interventions and other behavioral health interventions for older adults and caregivers; 2) culturally sensitive interventions and capacity assessments for older adults; 3) clinical training, particularly in the areas of geropsychology and capacity assessment; and 4) suicide in late life. Her work has been supported by funding from VA Research and Development, VA Innovators Network, VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service, Department of Defense, the Deep South Resource Center for Minority Aging (RCMAR), and Council of Professional Geropsychology Training Programs. Examples of current projects include development of a culturally responsive mindfulness-based telehealth group protocol for older African American Veterans, development of a culturally sensitive capacity assessment training and competency evaluation tool, implementation of a telehealth Acceptance and Commitment Therapy group with older Veterans to improve pandemic-related coping, and evaluation of group telehealth intervention for older Veterans experiencing distress related to mild cognitive impairment. Dr. Jacobs is board certified in Geropsychology, serves on the American Board of Professional Geropsychology, and is President of the Society of Clinical Geropsychology. She is a former Chair and Secretary of the Council of Professional Geropsychology Training Programs and former Convener for the Mental Health Practice and Aging Interest Group of the Gerontological Society of America. She teaches Advanced Geropsychology Practicum, Introduction to Ethics, and Basic Practicum.

Lynn Snow, PhD (1998, Texas A&M University).  Lsnow@ua.edu

Professor of Clinical Geropsychology.  Dr. Snow’s main research interests are in nursing home quality improvement and organizational change and related efforts in nursing home leadership, team, and staff development and quality of care interventions.  Dr. Snow has a secondary interest in the development and evaluation of assessments and treatments of distress in persons with dementia. Finally, she has a developing professional interest and long-standing personal practice in mindfulness.  She is located part-time at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center and is the College of Arts and Sciences Liaison to the VA.  She teaches undergraduate/graduate seminars on effective scientific communication and presentation; the intersection of the science of mindfulness and behavior change; and person-centered approaches to dementia and cognitive impairment.