Jeff Grand
Background:
Psy.D, Wright Institute (Dissertation title: “A Study of an Innovative Approach to the Delivery of Mental Health Services in Rural Appalachia”)
BA, University of St. Thomas, Houston (Philosophy)
Jeff was born in Lafayette, LA and raised in Houston, TX, his father worked for Southern Pacific Railroad and his mother was a secretary. Jeff and his wife live in the Philadelphia suburbs, where they spend much of their time taking care of their young twin daughters and traveling to Houston and Bogota to be with their family. He studied to be a diocesan priest for six years, and worked as a manager in the hospitality industry with Marriott Hotels and Resorts.
Current Work:
Jeff works with adults and adolescents in private practice, treats clients at a local hospital's physical rehabilitation unit, and provides forensic and disability evaluations.
I enjoy my rural practice. I get a full range of experience in the community through close relationships with physicians, hospital professionals, and pastors. The Wright Institute gave me a great foundation in clinical practice and therapeutic techniques in a variety of modalities. I have the expertise to work at a hospital with stroke patients and their families, or sit in a jail cell with a prisoner and complete an effective evaluation. Every day I work, I put into practice the skills, knowledge and insights I learned at the Wright. The Wright also introduced me to a valuable community of professional psychologists and researchers - a resource network from around the country that I use today to learn about current research and cases. Wright offers a very supportive, non-competitive learning environment.
The APA Internship:
Jeff completed an APA accredited internship with the East Kentucky Rural Psychology Predoctoral Internship in Hazard, KY, a consortium of five diverse rural agencies. He worked at the adult inpatient psychiatric facility, in Appalachian community mental health centers, and he taught medical residents about the psycho-social aspects of patient health at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine.
My internship prepared me well for an incredibly demanding rural practice by exposing me to a wide variety of clients and issues. I deal with everything that comes through the door.
About the Wright:
He completed two years of practica at John George Psychiatric Pavilion (San Leandro, CA). Jeff worked on a Latino-oriented unit with a bilingual staff doing intakes, team conferences, treatment planning, assessment, group and individual interventions, and discharge planning.
Working with psychiatrists, social workers and nurses taught me about multidisciplinary approaches to treatment and the role of the psychologist. It was challenging, moving, and gratifying.
The Wright community is challenging, supportive, and serious about the business of teaching people how to be skilled psychologists.