Caroline Easton
Research Faculty
Caroline Easton
Research Faculty
Education
BS, Rochester Institute of Technology; Ph.D. University of Connecticut
Bio
Dr. Caroline Easton is the Training Director of RIT’s internship program and over the past 20 years, has been highly committed to mentoring trainees [60] ranging from undergraduate students, practicum students, pre-doctoral psychology interns, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty, including several T32 trainees and K awardees. Dr. Easton is also a licensed psychologist and Professor of Clinical and Forensic Psychology in the College of Health Science and Technology at RIT. 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 has expertise in assessment, treatment and translational research among forensic populations, populations with chronic and persistent mental illness as well as within the field of clinical neurosciences. She presents at international/national conferences, publishes in peer-reviewed journals and has been the clinical director of large outpatient drug diversion/family violence treatment clinics across New Haven County, CT and now director of programs and clinics in Upstate, NY. 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 been collaborating with Investigators from India, Brazil and England regarding the treatment of IPV among substance abusers and using digital CBT treatments among clients with trauma, addiction and medical related problems. Dr. Easton and her team collaborate with investigators from India and the U.K. regarding the development of models of care to treat chronic mental illness, addiction, co-occurring mental health and medical health (e.g., cardiac health) and Intimate Partner Violence. Their model of care is patent pending and they have submitted $17 Million dollars in funding this past 2 years and obtained nearly $7 Million dollars of funding in less than 2 years. More recently, Dr. Easton has adapted this therapeutic modality into a digital therapy platform with an interactive Avatar Therapy Coach ( RITch®-CBT ) that is customizable and client centered. Modules were developed to be narrated and deployed by the Avatar in a user friendly fashion. This new innovative tool has the ability to progress the field with a transferable platform that can be disseminated across the globe. The goal is to help provide clients in need with best care that is accessible to all. provide a supervised, intensive, experiential learning opportunity focused on the delivery of efficient and comprehensive psychological services. Dr. Easton’s experience makes her well qualified to lead this training program which provides a supervised, intensive, experiential learning opportunity focused on the delivery of efficient and comprehensive psychological services.
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In the News
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June 12, 2023
RIT and FDA test digital therapy/avatar to treat addiction, reduce intimate partner violence
Researchers from five colleges at RIT are testing a new way to deliver mental health therapy to people struggling with alcohol/drug addiction and aggressive behavior. RIT is running a randomized clinical trial with the Food and Drug Administration to test the therapy platform “RITchCBT” as a tool for treating people whose substance use disorders have led to intimate partner violence.
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October 18, 2022
Digital therapy treatments give RIT researchers tools to reach rural communities in N.Y. and N.H.
RIT behavioral health researchers are providing remote mental health care and addiction therapy to rural communities in New York and New Hampshire and training for therapists to deploy the digital treatments at their clinics.
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January 18, 2022
A grassroots mental health strategy
The Rochester Beacon features Caroline Easton, director of the RIT Priority Behavioral Health and Clinical Psychology program.
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June 13, 2023
RIT pilots digital therapy platform aimed at better access to mental health care
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November 13, 2019
Telepsychology resources growing in upstate NY