Barbara J. Peterson, PhD
Adjunct Faculty
bpeterson@wi.edu

BA Psychology, University of Southern California, 1977
MA Psychology, California State University, Sacramento, 1980
PhD University of Missouri, St. Louis, 1985

Dr. Peterson is a psychodynamically trained clinical psychologist with extensive experience in long-term treatment of adolescents and adults with mood disorders, personality and behavioral disorders, and sexual trauma. Her clinical practice in Walnut Creek also includes psychological assessment including cognitive and personality testing within a collaborative framework. She conducts psychodiagnostic assessments, pre-surgical and disability evaluations and pre-adoption screenings. She has practiced in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.

Dr. Peterson received her doctoral internship training at Napa State Hospital, where she worked with the adult population in acute inpatient treatment, and adolescents in long-term inpatient treatment. She coordinated the sexual abuse treatment program at Oak Grove Adolescent Center developing and leading groups, and consulting with staff on effective treatment interventions. She served as the Group Treatment Coordinator at the Child and Family Therapy Center in Concord, where she supervised therapists, practicum students and post-doc interns. In addition, she was the Director of the Psychological Services for Health Discovery for Women Medical Centers for many years. Dr. Peterson has extensive experience in hospital practice, having been one of the original groups of psychologists to achieve full admission privileges and Active Staff membership at CPC Walnut Creek Hospital and Oak Grove Adolescent Center. She was previously also a member of the medical staff at San Joaquin General Hospital. In addition to teaching at the Wright Institute, she has been an instructor at the University of California, Berkeley, Extension Division, in the Department of Counseling and Psychotherapy, where she taught graduate level and Continuing Medical Education courses on diagnosis and treatment of Depression and Bipolar Disorders. She frequently speaks to community and professional groups about Mood Disorders and adolescent development.