Cassandra Berbary Headshot

Cassandra Berbary

Research Faculty

Behavioral Health
College of Health Sciences and Technology
cmbihst@rit.edu
585-475-4577
Office Location
SLA-A668

Cassandra Berbary

Research Faculty

Behavioral Health
College of Health Sciences and Technology

Bio

Dr. Cassandra Berbary joined the College of Health Science and Technology at RIT as research faculty in 2019. She is a licensed psychologist and is jointly appointed with Rochester Regional Health. Dr. Berbary received her doctorate degree in school psychology from Duquesne University and specializes in working with children and adolescents.  Dr. Berbary’s clinical work focuses on child and adolescent diagnostic assessment as well as evidence-based mental health and substance use program implementation and training of clinicians and pre-doctoral interns. Dr. Berbary was recently awarded a HRSA grant to increase training opportunities and the number of interns trained to provide interdisciplinary behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and transitional youth in highly underserved communities of Monroe County in upstate New York. Her research focuses on the use of interactive technology within mental health and substance use treatment for youth. She is currently developing an avatar-assisted cognitive behavioral therapy platform for treatment of substance use and co-occurring psychiatric distress among adolescents.

cmbihst@rit.edu
585-475-4577
Areas of Expertise
Child Psychology
Technology-Based Treatment
Family Violence
Substance Abuse
Mental and Behavioral Health

Currently Teaching

BHNS-311
Diagnosing the Criminal Mind
3 Credits
This course will introduce students within the biomedical sciences, physician assistant, psychology and criminal justice fields to understand basic clinical diagnostic terms, symptoms and behaviors that pertain to clients who commit crime. The course will introduce students to the relationship between mental health, drug addiction, crime and violence. Students will be involved in mock trials, debates and case write ups.
BHNS-411
Researching the Criminal Mind
3 Credits
This course will introduce students to clinical research as it pertains to symptoms, behaviors, the prediction of violent behaviors and treatment outcomes among offenders who commit crime. The course will introduce students to evidenced based science and the application to forensic populations, manuscript preparation, clinical case write ups and small grant proposals.
BHNS-800
Psychology Internship Seminar
0 Credits
The internship seminar is designed to provide the didactic component to help interns achieve the training competencies required by the American Psychological Association, the accrediting body for training in clinical psychology. Interns will be exposed to a variety of doctoral-level clinical psychology content experts in the local community who discuss the ethical conduct of clinical psychologists within the domains of practice, education, consultation, and research with a focus on empirically supported treatment, addiction, and working with diverse populations. The seminar will provide balanced programming for trainees pursuing work with child and adult populations.

In the News

  • September 14, 2021

    group of seven women standing on steps outdoors.

    RIT wins $1.5 million to increase behavioral health workforce in Monroe County

    The $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has expanded RIT’s accredited Priority Behavioral Health and Clinical Psychology Internship program to focus on delivering integrated care for young clients who struggle with substance use, mental health issues, and trauma from exposure to high rates of violence within the community.

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