My name is Rebecca Wald, Ph.D. I’m a licensed psychologist in the state of Maryland, and the owner and operator of Minds in Focus. I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology from the University of Iowa in 2003. During my doctoral education, I completed formal study, clinical practica, and research with both adults and children. My dissertation examined the effects of children’s physical and developmental disabilities on parenting practices, parent-child relationships, and family stress. Additionally, I completed a pre-doctoral internship at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, Department of Psychiatry.
Following graduate school and internship, I took a clinical research position at the University of Maryland Medical School. Working first in the Department of Medicine and then in the Department of Psychiatry, I worked on a variety of research projects examining the complex relationships between psychological factors and physical health, as well as providing clinical services in various medical settings. In 2007, I was appointed as an Assistant Professor.
My husband and I began homeschooling our children in 2010. In 2013, seeing an unmet need for psychological services adapted to the needs of homeschoolers, and seeking greater balance between work and family life, I left my university position and founded Minds in Focus as a private clinical psychology practice. Working with families is deeply rewarding for me. I enjoy helping parents find the tools and resources they need to support their children’s positive development.