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Galen Alessi

School Psychology Interim Director, Professor 3534 Wood Hall (269) 387-4470

Dr. Galen Alessi is a professor of psychology and a member of the clinical psychology faculty. He received his B.S. degree from Maryland in 1969, his M.A. from Western Michigan University in 1972, and his Ph.D. in 1974 from Maryland.

His research interests include strategic and family therapy and behavioral pediatrics. He completed a post doctoral fellowship in behavioral pediatrics at the Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins Medical School. He has also completed a one-year intensive training program in strategic and structural family therapy at the Family Therapy Institute in Washington, D.C. He is a licensed psychologist in Michigan and Maryland.

Educational Background

Post doctoral

Completed a one year intensive training program in strategic and structural family therapy at the Family Therapy Institute in Washington, D.C. under direct supervision of Jay Haley and Cloe Madanes.

Post doctoral fellowship in behavioral pediatrics at the Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins Medical School. Awarded Post-doctoral Fellowship in Behavioral Pediatrics.

The University of Maryland

Ph.D. 1974

Western Michigan University

M.A. 1972

The University of Maryland

B.S. 1969

Research Interests

• Brief interventions in couple therapy
• Brief interventions in the pediatric office for a variety of narrowly defined child adjustment problems
• Study of assessment and treatment of childhood behavior problems: ADHD, ODD
• Brief interventions to treat unipolar depression
• Theoretical analyses of how change occurs in therapy

Recent Publications

Schlinger, Henry D. & Alessi, Galen (2011)  Verbally Conditioning Client Behaviors in the Therapeutic Setting.  Clinica y Salud: Investigacion Empirica en Psicologia, Vol. 22, n.3, 245-255.

Cornelius, T. & Alessi, G. (2008)  Behavioral and physiological components of communication training: Does the topic affect outcome?  Journal of Marriage and Family.

Cornelius, Tara; Alessi, Galen & Shorey, Ryan (2007)  The Effectiveness of Communication Skills Training With Married Couple:: Does the issue discussed matter?  The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, Vol. 15, No. 2, April 2007.  124--132.

Awards

• Psychologist of the Year: Western Michigan Psychological Association, 1998 and 2001.
• Presidential Recognition Award, by the Michigan Association of School Psychologists
• Excellence in Teaching Award, by the Association for Direct Instruction
• Mergan Medal, from the Western Michigan Chapter of the AAUP
• Outstanding Dissertation Award: National Council for Diagnostic and Prescriptive Mathematics.

Licensure and Certification

• Fully licensed psychologist in Michigan and Maryland
• Certified Social Worker: Michigan
• Fellow and Diplomate: American Board of Medical Psychotherapists

Course Information

• Marital Therapy
• Family Therapy
• Behavioral Assessment
• Child Behavior Therapy
• Abnormal Psychology
• Supervises clinical doctoral students in advanced practicum