Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Crowley. Ph.D.
Dr. Crowley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
After growing up in Dallas, I went to college at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, where I began to major in English. But, after taking a few psychology courses, I found that I was more interested in understanding the characters in the English novels I was reading and their behaviors. So, I decided to double major in psychology and English. After college, I moved to Jackson Hole, WY, where I taught ski school to 3-6-year-olds while applying to graduate school for clinical psychology. It was here that I became passionate about working with children and also adopted my dog, Moose, a 95-lb chocolate Lab (more to come on Moose later). I moved back to Dallas to attend the APA-accredited doctoral program in clinical psychology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. During my graduate training, I gained diverse experience working with patients across a variety of clinical and medical settings, including schools, hospitals, and mental health clinics. I then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in private practice, where I specialized in treating anxiety disorders using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and consulting with parents of children with behavioral challenges (e.g., ADHD).
Coupling my clinical work treating children with worries along with my English degree, I decided to fulfill my childhood dream of writing a children’s book. Given that anxiety is on the rise in the United States, my co-author, Dr. Kristen Ohlenforst, and I saw a need for an accessible children’s book that doubled as a clinical tool for teaching kids anxiety management strategies. Together, we co-authored “Moose the Worry Mutt Goes to Doggie Daycare” based on my anxious but affable dog, The book portrays Moose’s transformation from “worrier to a warrior,” as he learns to face his fears and run with the big dogs. Moose the Worry Mutt is meant to be a playful way for parents/caregivers to start conversations with children about anxiety and model adaptive coping strategies. Kristen and I hope that by starting these conversations at a young age, we can help de-stigmatize anxiety and promote healthy management of stress/worry across the lifespan. A therapeutic companion worksheet aimed at helping kids learn how to “bark back” at their worries is available for free download on www.MooseTheWorryMutt.com.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Is writing a dissertation ever a smooth process? Of course, there were challenges! But, I love to look back thus far and see how all the dots somehow managed to connect – how all my interests somehow merged together and led me to where I am today – getting to help individuals overcome their own personal obstacles and achieve their goals. All the challenges I faced along the road certainly helped me to grow as a person, a clinician, and as a mother.
Jaime Crowley Ph.D., PLLC – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a licensed psychologist who provides individual psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults struggling with a range of emotional and behavioral difficulties. I currently work in private practice at Dallas Wellness Group offering individual therapy services utilizing evidence-based treatment modalities as well as parent consultation. I specialize in treating children and adolescents with anxiety disorders as well as providing parent consultation to address behavioral issues, such as ADHD. I believe in patient-centered care, which includes working empathically and collaboratively with individuals, their families, and other healthcare providers to improve overall mental health and well-being.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment in my career so far was co-authoring the therapeutic children’s book, “Moose the Worry Mutt Goes to Doggie Daycare.” Roughly one-third of all children and adolescents in the U.S. experience clinically significant levels of anxiety at some point during their youth. And, approximately 80% of those will never receive any treatment. Even if a child does not have a diagnosable anxiety disorder, everyone has worries! Moose the Worry Mutt enables me to reach children, who may never gain access to therapeutic services, and help increase their understanding of worries and how to manage them.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5949 Sherry Ln., Suite 1235
Dallas, TX 75225 - Website: http://www.dallaswellnessgroup.com/
- Phone: 972-914-9212
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moosetheworrymutt/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moosetheworrymutt/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MooseWorryMutt
- Other: http://moosetheworrymutt.com/
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