Claire Simpson, Ph.D.

Thank you for your interest in my practice. My passion is helping those with learning, cognitive, psychological, and social skill difficulties navigate the complex evaluation and treatment process.

I am licensed and trained to practice psychology in the state of Texas.  I received my Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Southern Methodist University and an additional master’s degree in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience with a specialization in Neurological Diagnosis from the University of Texas at Dallas.  I have been trained to perform adult neuropsychological evaluations at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Baylor Institute for Rehabilitation, pediatric neuropsychological evaluations at Child Neuropsychology and Counseling Center, adolescent and adult therapy at Metrocare Services, and in the evaluation and therapy of those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and anxiety at Spectra Therapies and Evaluation  Center.  

Services Provided and Insurance

I currently provide evaluations for ages 5 and up and accept Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare PPO Plans.  I do not provide therapy at this time.

 I look forward to helping you and your family

Licensure

State of Texas Licensed Psychologist (License # 36902)

Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Clinical Psychology  (2017)
APA Accredited Clinical Psychology Program
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
Dissertation Title:  Multisensory Integration in Schizophrenia: Processing of Audio and Visual Cues

Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology  (2012)
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas

Master of Science, Applied Cognition and Neuroscience  (2010)
University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas
Specialization:  Neurological Diagnosis

Clinical Experience
Licensed Clinical Psychologist   (2018-2019)
Spectra Therapies and Evaluation Center, Dallas, Texas
*  Psychological testing of children and adults and provided diagnostic impressions or medical/psychiatric diagnoses, documentation of relative strengths and weaknesses, accommodations, recommendations, and treatment planning
* Provided integrative reports and feedback to clients and parents
* Facilitated social skill groups for children and young adults with socially-related difficulties including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, and depression

Postdoctoral Fellowship  (2017-2018)
Spectra Therapies and Evaluation Center, Dallas, Texas
Supervisor: Michelle Kandalaft, Ph.D.
* Psychological testing of children and adults; Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluations; provided cognitive behavioral therapy, executive functioning and social skills training to clients; facilitated social skills groups

Clinical Internship  (2016-2017)
Spectra Therapies and Evaluation Center, Plano, Texas
Supervisor: Michelle Kandalaft, Ph.D.
* Psychological testing of children and adults; Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluations; provided cognitive behavioral therapy and social skills training to clients 

Practicum Clinical Experience
Child Counseling and Neuropsychology Center, Dallas, Texas   (2014-2017)
Supervisor:  Lindy Pottinger, Ph.D.
* Neuropsychological testing of children and adolescents with suspected learning disabilities, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury; interpreted the results of the tests, wrote integrative reports, and provided feedback sessions to parents

Baylor Institute of Rehabilitation, Dallas, Texas  (2014-2015)
Supervisors:  Mark Barisa, Ph.D., ABPP
Leslie Rosenstein, Ph.D., ABPP
* Neuropsychological testing in individuals with stroke, brain tumor, and traumatic brain injury; interpreted the results and assisted supervisors with writing integrative reports and provided feedback sessions to patients

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas (2013-2014)
Supervisor: Laura Lacritz, Ph.D., ABPP
* Neuropsychological testing in individuals with suspected dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis; interpreted the results of the tests, wrote integrative reports, and provided feedback sessions to patients 

Metrocare Services, Dallas, Texas  (2012-2013)
Supervisor: Verena Harter, Psy.D.
* Diagnostic interviews, individual and group therapy for patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder and comorbid conditions; introduced and led the Social Cognition and Interaction Training group for schizophrenia; facilitated a social anxiety group

Psychoeducation and Psychosocial Assessments (2011-2012)
Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University
Supervisor: Robert Hampson, Ph.D.
* Conducted psychological and psychoeducational assessment of children and adults

Research Experience
Project Coordinator (2010-2014)
Social Cognition and Schizophrenia Lab, Southern Methodist University
Supervisor:  Amy Pinkham, Ph.D.
* Designed an emotion perception study in schizophrenia that included eye tracking techniques and collected data from 60 individuals
* Collected data for a study of social cognition in autism
* Managed and trained undergraduates in a study of subclinical paranoia
* Collected data for a NIH study of measures of social cognition

Research Assistant (2009-2010)
Neuropsychology Lab, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Supervisor: Laura Lacritz, Ph.D.
* Assisted with presentation topics such as Moya Moya disease, MoCA normative data, and a book chapter on dementia
* Trained to administer CVLT-II, BVMT-R, FAS, and Stroop Color and Word

Research Assistant   (2008-2009)
Center for Brain Health, UT Dallas
Supervisors:  Dr. Daniel Krawczyk, Ph.D. and Dr. Gloria Yang, Ph.D.
*  Trained peers on research protocol on the effects of aging on figurative language comprehension
*   Performed DTI analysis on the uncinate fasiculus in TBI patients and assisted with fMRI scans

Publications
Sasson, N.J., Pinkham, A.E., Weittenhiller, L.P., Faso, D.J., & Simpson, C. (2016). Context effects on facial affect recognition in schizophrenia and autism: behavioral and eye-tracking evidence. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 42, 675 – 683.

Pinkham, A. E., Liu, P., Lu, H., Kriegsman, M., Simpson, C., & Tamminga, C. (2015). Amygdala hyperactivity at rest in paranoid individuals with schizophrenia. American Journal of Psychiatry, 172, 784-92.

Pinkham, A. E., Sasson, N. J., Kelsven, S., Simpson, C. E., Healey, K., & Kohler, C. (2014). An intact Threat Superiority Effect for nonsocial but not social stimuli in schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123(1), 168-177.

Simpson, C., Pinkham, AE., Kelsven, S., & Sasson, N. (2013). Emotion Recognition across Stimulus Modalities in Schizophrenia and the Role of Visual Attention. Schizophrenia Research, 151(1), 102-106. 

Yang, F., Edens, J., Simpson, C., Krawczyk, D.C. (2009). Metaphor Processing: Differences in Task Demands Influence the Hemispheric Lateralization and Neural Correlates of Metaphor. Brain and Language, 111(2), 114-124.

Presentations
Sasson, N., Pinkham, A.E., Faso, D., Simpson, C., and Kelsven, S. (2014).  Comparing Social Cognitive Profiles in Autism and Schizophrenia. Poster presented at the International Society for Autism Research Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, May 16, 2014.

Simpson, C., Kelsven, S., Trueba, A., and Pinkham, A.E. (2013).  Multisensory Integration During Emotion Perception in Schizophrenia.  Poster presented at the Society for Research in Psychopathology  Annual conference, Oakland, CA, September 22, 2013. 

Simpson, C. & Pinkham, A.E. (2012).  Affective Prosodic Comprehension in Schizophrenia: Do facial cues improve performance? Poster presented at the Society for Research in Psychopathology Annual Conference, Ann Arbor, MI, October 4, 2012.

Simpson, C. & Pinkham, A.E. (2011). The Role of Subclinical Paranoia in Social Skill and Social Functioning. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Psychopathology Annual Conference, Boston, MA, September 22, 2011.

Noll, K, Cullum, CM, O’Bryant, S, Hall, J, Simpson, C & Lacritz, LH. (2010). Normative Data for Logical Memory Story A in Alzheimer’s Disease and Normal Controls. Poster accepted for presentation at the 30th annual conference of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, Vancouver, British Columbia, October 15, 2010.

Simpson, C., Yang, F.G., Marquez de la Plata,C., Zakeri, K. & Krawczyk, D.C. (2009). Working memory and semantic competence in older adults’ complex language comprehension. Poster presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA March 2009. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, [suppl]. 150.

Teaching Experience
- Guest lecturer at Southern Methodist University