Elizabeth Richardson

Elizabeth Richardson, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she teaches courses in research methods, behavioral medicine, and human development. She is affiliated with the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences.

Dr. Richardson earned her BA in Psychology from Indiana University in 1992, followed by an MA (1995) and PhD (1997) in Clinical Psychology from Louisiana State University. She completed her Postdoctoral Internship and Residency at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University in 1999.

Her research focuses on adolescent and young adult health risk behaviors, growth and resilience, equine assisted learning, and mindful parenting. Dr. Richardson integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy approaches in her work, particularly in university settings where she explores innovative interventions for student mental health. She teaches PSY 505: Research Methods & Design and PSY 598: Graduate Thesis, where she prepares students for research through hands-on statistical analysis and thesis development.

Dr. Richardson's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on practical applications of psychological principles to improve mental health outcomes, particularly for young adults. Her publications show expertise in nonsuicidal self-injury, equine-assisted therapy, and mental health interventions in educational contexts.

Her significant contributions include:

• Development of brief ACT interventions for undergraduate students
• Research on equine-assisted learning and its psychological benefits
• Exploration of obsessive-compulsive disorder and nonsuicidal self-injury comorbidity
• Creation of resources for parents of individuals who self-injure

Through her teaching and research, Dr. Richardson actively mentors graduate students in psychological research and contributes to advancing knowledge in clinical psychology with practical applications for improving mental health outcomes.