Jackie Davis-Wright, Ph.D.

Dr. Davis-Wright is a licensed clinical psychologist, who provides individual psychotherapy services to adults (must be a resident of New York). She has particular expertise in the treatment of:

  • Trauma/PTSD

  • Anxiety

  • Insomnia/Sleep difficulties

  • Substance use disorders

She also works with many people experiencing:

  • Relationship difficulties

  • Grief

  • Life transitions

  • Work stress

  • Health-related stress

  • Parenting difficulties

Approach to Treatment

Dr. Davis-Wright uses evidence-based approaches to psychotherapy, meaning that research has shown these treatments/techniques to be effective for improving clients’ mental health. She primarily provides cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

In CBT, we focus on identifying patterns of thoughts and behaviors that are not working well for you and keeping you “stuck.” Sometimes the ways that we used to handle problems are no longer effective, or new stressors may require different solutions. In CBT, we collaborate to develop new, more effective ways of coping and responding to situations. Research has shown CBT approaches to be effective for a wide variety of mental health concerns. Dr. Davis-Wright also integrates other evidence-based methods into treatment, including mindfulness, emotion-focused therapy, and components of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Dr. Davis-Wright has specialized training in the following treatments:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders (CBT-SUD)

  • Exposure therapy for anxiety-related disorders

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Therapeutic Style

Dr. Davis-Wright believes a warm, empathic, and non-judgmental relationship is the foundation for healing and therapeutic growth. She approaches therapy with compassion, authenticity, curiosity, and (when appropriate) a sense of humor. She is attuned to systemic factors that influence an individual’s life experience, including stigma and discrimination. She is committed to establishing a safe, affirming, anti-oppressive space for all clients. She has extensive experience working with individuals of diverse cultural, racial/ethnic, gender, and sexual identities. As a Staff Psychologist with the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, she also has extensive experience working with military Veterans. She sees therapy as a collaborative relationship rather than one of passive listening. No two clients are the same, so she works with each individual to understand their goals and needs for treatment.

Education and Training

  • B.A. in Psychology, Boston College

  • M.A. in Clinical Psychology, DePaul University

  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, DePaul University

  • Doctoral Internship, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

  • Postdoctoral Fellowship in Trauma Psychology, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center

  • Clinical Practica:

    • CBT Clinic, University of Chicago Medicine

    • Behavioral Medicine/Integrated Primary Care Program, University of Chicago Medicine

    • Trauma Services Clinic, University of Chicago Medicine

    • DePaul Family and Community Services (Chicago, IL)

Certifications and Awards

  • APA Division 29/Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy, Mathilda B. Canter Education and Training Award (2023)

  • Certification in Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD

  • Certification in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders (CBT-SUD)

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Level 1 Trainer Candidate

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Therapist Candidate

  • Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE) Facilitator

Work and Research Experience

  • VA New York Harbor Healthcare System

    • Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program

    • Substance Use Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program

  • Massachusetts General Hospital, Pediatric Psychopharmacology and Adult ADHD Unit

  • Harvard University, Lab for Youth Mental Health

  • DePaul University, Chicago Asian American Psychology Lab

  • Harvard Business School, Negotiations, Organizations, and Markets Unit

Publications

Davis-Wright, J.O., McMahon, S.D., Miller, S.A., & Vas, S.N. (2025). Exploring the network structure of a measure of supervision competence and its prediction of trainee development. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 19(2), 106-115. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000506

Peist, E., McMahon, S., Davis-Wright, J.O., Keys, C. (2023). Understanding teacher-directed violence and related turnover through a school climate framework. Psychology in the Schools, 61(1), 220-236. http://doi.org/10.1002/pits.23044

 Davis-Wright, J.O. (2022). The impact and implications of childhood trauma among veterans. International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Trauma Blog. https://istss.org/public-resources/trauma-blog/2022-september/military-matters-childhood-
         trauma-among-veterans-i

Peist, E., McMahon, S.D., Davis, J.O., & Keys, C.B. (2020). Teacher turnover in the context of teacher-directed violence: An empowerment lens. Journal of School Violence, 19(4), 553-565. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2020.1779081

McMahon, S.D., Peist, E., Davis, J.O., McConnell, E., Reaves, S., Reddy, L.A., Anderman, E.M., & Espelage, D.L. (2020). Addressing violence against teachers: A social ecological analysis of teachers’ perspectives. Psychology in the Schools, 57(7), 1040-1056. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22382

McMahon, S.D., Peist, E., Davis, J.O., Bare, K., Martinez, A., Reddy, L.A., Espelage, D.L., & Anderman, E.M. (2020). Physical aggression toward teachers: Antecedents, behaviors, and consequences. Aggressive Behavior, 46(1), 116-126. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21870

McMahon, S.D., Davis, J.O., Peist, E., Bare, K., Espelage, D.L., Martinez, A., Anderman, E.M., & Reddy, L.A. (2019). Student verbal aggression toward teachers: How do behavioral patterns unfold? Psychology of Violence, 10(2), 192-200. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000256

Wozniak, J., Uchida, M., Faraone, S.V., Fitzgerald, M., Vaudreuil, C., Carrellas, N., Davis, J., Wolenski, R., & Biederman, J. (2017). Similar familial underpinnings for full and subsyndromal pediatric bipolar disorder: A familial risk analysis. Bipolar Disorders, 19(3), 168-175. https://doi.org/10.1111/bdi.12494

Wozniak, J., Faraone, S.V., Chan, J., Tarko, L., Hernandez, M., Davis, J., Woodworth, K.Y., & Biederman, J. (2015). A randomized clinical trial of high eicosapentaenoic acid omega-3 fatty acids and inositol as monotherapy and in combination in the treatment of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders: A pilot study. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 76(11), 1548-1555. https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.14m09267

Uchida, M., Davis, J., & Wozniak, J. (2014). Familiality and indicators of risk for bipolar disorder in youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Psychiatric Annals, 44(9), 423-427. https://doi.org/10.3928/00485713-20140908-06

Qualifications