University of Louisiana at Lafayette
M.S. in Psychology
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette offers a research-intensive master’s degree that I would describe as a doctoral launch program rather than a terminal clinical degree. We do have some students who have successfully applied for Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) status in Louisiana after completion of the program. Of note, the Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) designation in Louisiana is new, and criteria for licensure are still evolving. Students at UL’s master’s program complete rigorous training in psychological science, research methods, and statistics while preparing for competitive doctoral programs. This program is best suited for students actively planning to take what they learn about Clinical Behavior Analysis on into a Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Behavior Analysis, Human Factors, or related behavioral sciences degree.
Students interested in Clinical Behavior Analysis currently have opportunities to work with two laboratories emphasizing contextual behavioral science from complementary perspectives.
THRIVE Lab
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Director: Angela Coreil
Dr. Coreil focuses on developing new methods for measuring clinically meaningful behavior while integrating behavior analysis, contextual behavioral science, and emerging computational technologies. I welcome research collaborators worldwide; if our interests align, contact me.
The Contextual Behavioral Science Lab
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Director: Emily Sandoz
Dr. Emily Sandoz’s laboratory focuses on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, contextual behavioral science, clinical intervention, and translational research. Students receive mentorship in both basic and applied contextual behavioral science while working within one of the longest-established ACT research programs. Dr. Sandoz is widely known for the ability to move back and forth from clinical application to deep technical explanation. Please note that Dr. Sandoz’s lab and my own are entirely independent labs. Please contact Dr. Sandoz directly if you’re primarily interested in her work.
University of Nevada, Reno
For many behavior analysts, the University of Nevada, Reno has long been considered one of the historical centers of Clinical Behavior Analysis, Relational Frame Theory, and Contextual Behavioral Science.
Its behavior analysis program helped launch much of the work surrounding ACT and RFT and continues to provide graduate training grounded in behavior analysis while encouraging translational work bridging laboratory science and clinical practice.
Linda Hayes deserves particular recognition for helping establish one of the strongest graduate behavior analysis training environments in the United States while making foundational contributions to philosophy of science, graduate education, and behavior analysis.
Luisa Cañon, PsyD, BCBA-D, is a lecturer and graduate faculty member in UNR’s online and satellite behavior-analysis programs. She is both a licensed clinical psychologist and a clinical behavior analyst. Her broader work includes clinical behavior analysis, interbehaviorism, cultural responsiveness, trauma, and psychological flexibility.
Contextual Behavioural Science Laboratory
University College Dublin (Ireland)
Director: Louise McHugh
The Contextual Behavioural Science Laboratory at University College Dublin is one of the world’s leading centers for Relational Frame Theory and Clinical Behavior Analysis research. The laboratory explicitly bridges basic behavioral science and applied clinical work, with research examining the development of the self, perspective taking, psychological flexibility, stigma, chronic health conditions, smoking cessation, and other clinical applications of CBS.
University of Edinburgh (Scotland)
Clinical & Health Psychology
David Gillanders
David Gillanders has played a major role in integrating Contextual Behavioral Science into mainstream clinical psychology. His research program focuses on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, behavioral process measurement, supervision, chronic health conditions, and translating contextual behavioral science into routine clinical practice. Students interested in combining clinical psychology with rigorous process-based behavioral research should strongly consider his laboratory and training program. On a more personal note, David Gillanders is rather famous for his ability to so fluidly talk and sing about Relational Frame Theory (RFT) that, if memory serves me right… he may have won the ACBS follies one year.
Eastern Michigan University
Behavior Analysis Research Laboratory
Director: Adam Briggs
Dr. Adam Briggs directs the Behavior Analysis Research Laboratory at Eastern Michigan University. His laboratory emphasizes translational behavior analysis, functional assessment, treatment durability, relapse, caregiver training, and generalization. For students seeking rigorous training grounded in applied behavior analysis while maintaining strong connections to clinically relevant behavioral research, this laboratory represents an excellent option.
Clinical Psychology Program
Western Michigan University
Scott T. Gaynor, PhD
Dr. Gaynor is a Professor of Psychology and Co-Director of Clinical Training in Western Michigan University’s APA-accredited Clinical Psychology doctoral program. His laboratory is grounded in the scientist-practitioner model, emphasizing both rigorous empirical research and clinically meaningful intervention.
The laboratory’s research focuses on psychotherapy process and outcome, with particular emphasis on contemporary behavioral therapies. Current projects examine behavioral interventions with children, adolescents, and adults while attempting to understand not only whether treatments work, but also why they work and the behavioral processes responsible for change.
For students seeking doctoral training that explicitly integrates behavior analysis with clinical psychology, Western Michigan remains one of the few programs where Clinical Behavior Analysis is a main focus of study and the program leads to doctoral-level licensure.
Angela Coreil, PhD, BCBA
Clinical Behavior Analyst, Methodologist & Trainer
Angela J. Coreil, PhD, is a professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, clinical behavior analyst, and methodologist. Formerly director of an OCD and anxiety IOP/PHP, she integrates behavior analysis, ACT, Interpersonal Behavior Therapy, CBT, and exposure-based treatment. Her work develops practical improvements in behavioral science, and she provides consultation, professional training, workshops, and continuing education across disciplines.
Views expressed are those of Dr. Coreil or the explicitly named author, not the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.