Laboratory Faculty

Caroline J. Easton, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychology
Link to CV
Director of the FAV-Tech Research Lab 
Director of Training and Education in Behavioral Health
School of Behavioral Health
College of Health Sciences and Technology
585-475-4065
caroline.easton@rit.edu
Suite 1655 (Office 1667) Slaughter Hall

Degrees: University of Connecticut(PhD), University of Mass (PhD Respecialization in Clinical Psychology), Rochester Institute of Technology (BS).

Clinical Internship: Yale University School of Medicine
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Board Certified in Connecticut and New York

Teaches: Diagnosing the Criminal Mind, Researching the Criminal Mind, Digitized and Interactive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Trials, Medical Interactive & Avatar Assisted Technologies,  Didactic Seminar for Predoctoral Interns.

Dr. Caroline Easton is a Full Professor in Addiction and Forensic Psychology, Director of both Forensic Services and the Psychology Internship Training Program at the College of Health Sciences and Technology, RIT. Dr. Easton has over 20 years of experience providing addiction treatment and clinical research among populations of patients with addiction and aggressive behaviors.  Dr. Easton’s clinical research career began with training in Addiction and Forensic Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. More specifically, Dr. Easton’s clinical research experience is in behavioral therapy trials designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of substance abuse related disorders and co-morbid intimate partner violence. Dr. Easton has played a key role in clinical trials on the efficacy of a number of important treatments, including psychotherapy for alcohol dependence, family violence related problems, marijuana dependence, opioid dependence, and the treatment of co-occurring addiction and intimate partner violence (IPV) using cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT).  Dr. Easton has made numerous contributions to improving the methodology of behavioral therapy research with substance abusers, addressing methods for ensuring therapist competence and adherence, articulating a stage model for empirical validation for new treatments (e.g., using digital and Avatar Assisted CBT treatments) and handling issues related to co-morbidity of participants in clinical trials as it pertains to addiction and IPV.  While at Yale, Dr. Easton was a tenure track faculty member and director of a clinical research team and large ambulatory clinic. She served as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on NIH RO1’s and a Project Director and Co-Investigator on a large Center Grant for Substance Abuse (P50) Clinical Research Center focused on behavioral therapies. Over the past 20 years, Dr. Easton has been highly committed to mentoring trainees [60] ranging from junior faculty, pre-doctoral psychology interns, post-doctoral fellows, undergraduate students, practicum students, medical students and social work interns, including several T32 trainees and K awardees. Moreover, Dr. Easton is a clinical supervisor for clinicians and researchers within ambulatory addiction clinics in Monroe County. Dr. Easton has research space, equipment, and access to subject recruitment.

Dr. Easton is nationally and internationally known for her expertise on ‘best practice procedures’ for the treatment of clients with co-occurring addiction and IPV. She presents at international/national conferences, publishes in peer-reviewed journals, and has been the director of large outpatient drug diversion/family violence treatment clinics. She has also received funding as PI and Co-I from NIH regarding the implementation of randomized controlled trials and development of treatment products. Dr. Easton has the support of the criminal justice system, the commissioner for mental health and addiction across various states (e.g., NY and CT to name a few) and has support across many addiction programs to implement and conduct her co-occurring model of care for SADV (substance abuse & domestic violence). Dr. Easton’s current international work involves working as a CO-I and consultant on a funded grant and clinical trial to treat co-occurring addiction and IPV in the U.K. at King’s College in London. Moreover, she is working to set up a research study to assess the treatment of co-occurring addiction and IPV in Brazil at the Universidad of Sao Francisco, Brazil.  At the community level, Dr. Easton performs both court ordered competency to stand trial and mental health evaluations for forensic clients referred by the criminal justice system to the Socio-Legal Center in Rochester, NY.