Bridget Bailey

Bridget Bailey, PhD, LICSW is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry at West Virginia University. She joined WVU in 2022 after completing her Ph.D. at Ohio State University College of Social Work in 2020. Her work focuses on expanding access to mental health care in rural and underserved settings through community engagement and integrated service models.

Education

• Ph.D., Ohio State University College of Social Work, 2020
• MSW, Ohio State University, 2010
• B.Phil in Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, 2009

Research and Clinical Focus

Dr. Bailey’s research emphasizes:

• Behavioral health interventions for at-risk populations
• Trauma and resilience, particularly in school-based mental health contexts
• Suicide prevention strategies tailored to rural communities
• Implementation of evidence-based treatments like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) for mood disorders and trauma
• Community-engaged approaches to bridge gaps in behavioral health workforce capacity

Her work with the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) Program aims to enhance mental health service delivery in underserved areas.

Professional Affiliations

• Society for Social Work Research
• Council on Social Work Education
• National Association of Social Workers
• International Society for Bipolar Disorders
• International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy
• National Alliance on Mental Illness

Service and Contributions

• Assistant Director, Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Training (RIBHT) Program
• Program Coordinator for RIBHT within the WVU MSW program
• Past service on committees at the Department of Behavioral Medicine & Psychiatry, including the Service Committee and Resident Psychotherapy Training Committee

Dr. Bailey integrates her clinical expertise in DBT and IPT for mood disorders and trauma into her teaching and research, advocating for interdisciplinary collaboration in mental health education and practice.