Dr. Betsy Gard is a Licensed Georgia Psychologist who received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She worked with Veterans at Jefferson Barracks as a V.A. trainee and did her Clinical Internship at the University of North Carolina’s Department of Psychiatry in the Medical School at UNC.

Dr. Gard came to Atlanta as an Assistant Professor in the Emory Medical School Department of Psychiatry. She worked at Grady Hospital in their Child and Adolescent Clinic, supervising graduate students and interns. She also worked with Psychiatry Fellows and has lectured in the school of public health as well as nationally and internationally. She continues to serve as an adjunct clinical faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry/Psychology of the Medical School of Emory.

Dr. Gard created a blended family. She loves to write creative stories and poems. Her favorite activities are walks in nature, travel, and writing. She also enjoys being active in the community and serving on nonprofit Boards which have included the Institute for the Studies of Disability and Disadvantaged, the Georgia Psychological Association, The Georgia Psychological Foundation, the American Psychological Association Regional Consultant to the State of Georgia’s Disaster Response Network, the State of Georgia Crisis Consortium, the Refugee Mental Health Resource Network, the Metropolitan Red Cross Disaster Board and the Temple Sinai Board. She also has served as a national trainer for Red Cross Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) in facilitating Reconnections Workshops for returning veterans, their significant others, and children of military personnel.

Additional information about Dr. Betsy Gard’s background and experience as an Atlanta Psychologist:

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

• Doctor of Clinical Psychology, 1978, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
• Clinical Year of Internship at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine 
• VA Trainee. 1974-1975. Jefferson Barracks, VA Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.  Conducted research, diagnostic assessment and psychotherapy with veterans and family.
• A.B. Psychology & Sociology, 1972, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Graduated with Honors and High Distinctions)
• APA College of Professional Psychology, Certified in Treatment of Alcohol and other Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders, 1997– 2014
• Licensed State of Georgia, 1979 – present
• PSYPACT Member, 2022-present (Able to practice in states that are part of the Interjurisdictional Compact)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

GARD PSYCHOLOGICAL AND CONSULTING
Private Practice, 2025-present.
Individual, couple, family and organizational, team consultation and training.
Telepsychology through PSYPACT, Interjurisdictional practice.

ATLANTA AREA FAMILY PSYCHIATRY CLINIC, Atlanta, Georgia
Private Practice, 1979 – 2025
Individual, family and group therapy. Consultation to child psychiatrists and clinical social workers. 

SCOTTISH RITE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL  1986-2005.  Consulting Psychologist to the Neurofibromatosis Clinic.  Consulting to physicians to assist in the emergency room and  in-patient children with mental health concerns.   

EMORY UNIVERSITY, Atlanta, Georgia
Adjunct Faculty, Professor, Department of Psychiatry (Psychology), 1982 – Present
Provide supervision to Psychiatry Residents and lectures to Psychology Interns and Fellows, clerkships and practicums, providing consultation, serve on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, serve on the Promotion Committee, serving on the Immigration and Refugee Committee.

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE PROGRAM, Atlanta, Georgia
Clinical/Technical Consultant, 2015 – 2020 (PRN)
Screen women refugees and provide stabilization and referral. Provide technical support and referral for victims of torture and survivors of domestic abuse.

REFUGEE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE NETWORK
An Interdivisional Project of the American Psychological Association; Vice Chair of the Steering Committee, 2016-2019.
• Provide national webinars and programs at the APA National Convention
• Develop and promote live and recorded Webinars for APA and Division 56, the Division of Trauma Psychology

RED CROSS-NATIONAL DISASTER MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING TEAM
Team Member, 2016-Present
Provide consultation on revisions to Red Cross Courses including;
• Psychological First Aid (Webinar and Instructor-led)
• Disaster Mental Health Introduction
• Disaster Mental Health Fundamentals-Part 1 (on-line)
• Disaster Mental Health-Part 2- for in-person presentation
• Response to Terrorism and Transportation Events
• Lead Disaster Mental Health in planning for Family Assistance Center, Super Bowl 2019

IN HOUSTON – In Honor of the Responders and Red Cross to Hurricane Harvey and in memory to those who experienced the devastation. RED CROSS-NATIONAL DISASTER MENTAL

RED CROSS SERVICES TO THE ARMED FORCES (2011-current)
National and Lead Trainer and Facilitator for Coping with Deployments, Reconnection/Resiliency Workshops for Military personnel, their families, and children. Contributor for and Reviewer of Virtual Workshops for COVID Stress Solutions; for Red Cross Staff, Military personnel and their significant others.

STATE OF GEORGIA-PAROLE AND PROBATION
Trainer and Presenter, 2018.
7 Hour workshop; Gard, B. Georgia Office of Victim Services; Statewide Victim Offender Dialog; Self and Other care.(2018)
Parole and Probation; Trauma and Beyond; Gard, B. & Freeman, P. (2018)

STATE OF GEORGIA DISASTER COORDINATOR
Consultant, 2007 – 2009
Consultation for Website of Disaster Mental Health (http://georgiadisaster.info) and Distance Learning module.
Consultant, 2009 – 2013
Developing a Crisis Response Team and creating a consortium of colleges that can respond in a
Member (2011-current) State Crisis Consortium Team

SCOTTISH RITE CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER, Department of Psychiatry, Atlanta, Georgia
Allied Health Professional – Psychologist, 1986 – 2006
Assessment and consultation to the Neurofibromatosis Clinic and Emergency Room assessments.

RIDGEVIEW HOSPITAL, Atlanta, Georgia Allied Health Professional, 1983 – 2001 Assessment and Treatment.

EMORY UNIVERSITY, Department of Psychiatry, Atlanta, Georgia
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Tenure Track, 1978 – 1981
• Assessment and treatment of minority and disadvantaged families and children at Grady Memorial Hospital;
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service;
• Supervision of psychology interns as part of an A.P.A. approved internship;
• Teaching and consultation to medical students, interns and residents of the Emory Medical School in group and individual therapy, behavior modification of children and adolescents.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• American Psychological Association (1979 – Present)
• Board Member, Georgia Psychological Foundation (2017)
• Georgia Psychological Association, Fellow (1979 – Present)
• Georgia Crisis Consortium (2009 – Present)
• Manager in Red Cross Disaster Services Human Resources System (2004 – Present)
• Board Member of the Institute for the Studies of Disability and Disadvantage (2009 – 2017)
• Regional Advisor for the State of Georgia Disaster Mental Health (2014 – 2016)
• Chair of the Pro Bono Network of the Georgia Psychological Association (2011 – 2012)
• Co-Chair State Disaster Response Network, State of Georgia, Georgia Psychological Association (2009 – 2012)
• Vice-Chair of the Refugee Mental Health Network Database; A CODAR Interdivisional project of the American Psychological Association (2016-2018)

For more detailed information about my experience, please download my CV (PDF).