Stephen Saunders

Stephen Saunders, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Marquette University, where he directs the Mental Health Services Research Lab. He earned his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Northwestern University. His research examines mental health service delivery systems, including treatment effectiveness, therapeutic alliance dynamics, spirituality in care, and barriers to help-seeking—particularly for conditions like trichotillomania and depression.

Dr. Saunders teaches undergraduate courses (General Psychology, Introduction to Clinical Psychology) and graduate seminars in interviewing skills, supervision, and research methods. He mentors doctoral students researching topics ranging from suicidal behavior assessment to cultural factors in treatment efficacy.

Recent publications focus heavily on trichotillomania interventions, with emphasis on acceptance-enhanced behavior therapy efficacy, neurocognitive predictors, and long-term outcomes. His work integrates spirituality/religion with clinical practice and addresses stigma in mental healthcare.

No scientific awards were noted in available records.

He advises PhD students on projects covering military mental health access, therapeutic alliance, and borderline personality disorder treatments. Undergraduate assistants in his lab frequently pursue advanced degrees. No grant details were provided.

Dr. Saunders leads the Mental Health Services Research Lab, collaborating on studies related to treatment barriers, spirituality in therapy, and outcome measurement optimization.