Richard G. Heimberg, Ph.D.
AACT Clinic Director & Professor of Psychology

Richard G. Heimberg is Professor and the David Kipnis Distinguished Faculty Fellow in Psychology. He also serves as Director of the Adult Anxiety Clinic of Temple University. Dr. Heimberg is well known for his efforts to develop cognitive-behavioral treatments for social anxiety and examine their efficacy in comparison to (or in combination with) medication treatments. More recently, he and his colleagues have initiated a program for the study and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. His research has been supported by a number of grants from the National Institute of Mental Health.Dr. Heimberg has published more than 275 articles and chapters on social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and related topics. He is co-editor or co-author of several books on these topics.

Dr. Heimberg is Past President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. He currently serves as Editor of Behavior Therapy, the flagship journal of that association and on 9 additional editorial boards. Dr. Heimberg was named one of the four most influential psychological researchers in anxiety in a 2001 survey of members of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, and he serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of that association. He is a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and was the inaugural recipient of the Academy's A.T. Beck Award for Significant and Enduring Contribution to Cognitive Therapy. He is a previous recipient of the Outstanding Research Award of the American Society for Group Work. More recently, he received awards from the Department of Psychology at his graduate alma mater Florida State University (2005 Doctoral Graduate of Distinction), from Temple University (2005 Paul Eberman Award for Excellence in Research), and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (Outstanding Mentor 2006).

Deborah Roth Ledley, Ph.D.
Associate Director

Michael R. Ritter, Ph.D.
Assistant Director

Dr. Ritter received his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2006. He completed his predoctoral internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Currently, Mike joined the Adult Anxiety Clinic of Temple where he works as a postdoctoral fellow on an NIMH treatment development grant for generalized anxiety disorder. His clinical work and research have focused on the nature and treatment of the anxiety disorders.

Student Therapists
Our clinic is also staffed by graduate students from Temple University's Ph.D. program in clinical psychology. All student therapists are trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders and are dedicated to helping clients manage their anxiety and meet their personal goals. Students are closely supervised by our clinic director, Dr. Heimberg. In addition to conducting therapy, our student therapists conduct research aimed at improving our understanding of and treatment for various anxiety disorders, including social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Student therapists for the 2007-08 academic year include: Michelle Blackmore, Faith Brozovich, Elizabeth Gordon, Tejal Jakatdar, Ellen Jørstad-Stein, Leanne Magee, Kristin Pontoski, and Anna Rosenberg.

Research Assistants
Our research assistants are undergraduate Temple University students interested in gaining research experience in the etiology and treatment of anxiety disorders. RAs for the 2007-08 year include: Shraddha Atluri, Rachel Barrick, Jason Brakoniecki, Adam Christmann, P. Brandon Diefenbach, Eric Dougherty, Kyle Dumond
Ngalula Fluerant, India Hardy, Lutana Henry, Dalissy Jose, Leah Jung, Thalia Moshos, and Jennifer Subliskey.