Rachel Waford, Ph.D.

I am a licensed clinical psychologist at Decatur Family Psychiatry in Decatur, GA.  I offer psychotherapeutic and psychological assessment services to adolescents, teens, adults, and families.  I have a genuine interest in the unique experience of individuals and strive to understand how hardships and joys are experienced by those I am fortunate to help.   A proponent of the recovery model of mental illness, I strive for development of healing, hope, and empowerment.  As an integrative clinician I value and utilize a variety of psychological techniques.  Because treatment is not “one size fits all,” the process is collaborative and tailored to the unique needs of the individual.

 

Throughout my training I have had the opportunity to provide treatment in a variety of settings including inpatient facilities, day treatment programs, and community mental health centers.  I specialize in treatment for stress-related disorders and work with adolescents, adults, and families to address significant changes in functional abilities. I am particularly interested in early intervention for adolescents and young adults who are experiencing difficult life transitions.  I also offer assessment services to better understand unique psychological challenges.  Overall, my aim is to help clients reduce psychiatric distress through increased understanding and acceptance, refining methods of coping, and developing a more authentic engagement with the world around them.

 

I received my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.  My pre-doctoral internship was completed at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Mental Health Center in Boston, Massachusetts, and my post-doctoral fellowship was completed at Emory University School of Medicine/Grady Health System.  In addition to my private practice I am also a clinical research faculty at the Emory University School of Public Health, and an adjunct faculty in the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at Emory University.