PROFESSIONAL  PSYCHOLOGY  GROUP, INC.

Barbra McDowell, Ph.D. 
Dr. Barbra McDowell is trained in the field of Clinical Psychology with a specialty in Child Psychology.  She has received subspecialty training and experience in Pediatric Health Psychology, Pediatric Neuropsychology, and Pediatric Rehabilitation Psychology.  Her philosophy is to evaluate and treat the whole child, understanding the context and impact of his/her whole environment.  This includes addressing systemic issues including family functioning, educational placement, social adjustment, as well as any other context in which the child may function (i.e. legal, health).
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Dr. McDowell's clinical focus is on the evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents with a variety of health conditions; including chronic illness, neurological trauma, learning disabilities, and cognitive deficits secondary to illness, trauma, or developmental delay.  She also treats patients with general emotional and behavioral difficulties.  

Dr. McDowell has consulted within the public and private school settings.  She evaluates children for the identification of learning disorders and assists with determining appropriate educational placement.  

In addition to her work with patients in her private practice, Dr. McDowell has extensive experience working with inpatient medical teams and educational teams.  She has consulted with pediatric rehabilitation teams where she evaluated and treated children and adolescents with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological conditions.  She has also worked with hematology/oncology, pulmonary, and endocrinology teams.

Credentials:
  • Ph.D., M.A., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology
  • Certificate: Ecosystemic Child and Family Psychology
  • Internship: Children's Hospital of Orange County
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship:  Children's Hospital of Orange County
  • Member:  American Psychological Association
  • Member:  California Psychological Association
  • Member:  Orange County Psychological Association
  • Member:  National Academy of Neuropsychology
  • Member:  Association for Play Therapy

Licensure:
Psychologist, California:  PSY15622

Education:  

California School of Professional Psychology (1991-1996)
Program:  Clinical Psychology
Specialty:  Child Clinical Psychology
Degrees:  M.A. and Ph.D.

California State University, Fresno (1985-1991)
Major:  Psychology 
Degree:  B.A.

Invited Lectures and Workshops:

  • McDowell, B (Oct, 2010).  Learning Disorders in Pediatrics.  Presentation:  Fountain Valley Medical Center.  Fountain Valley, CA.

  • McDowell, B.  (Jan, 2006).  Behavioral management of pediatric rehabilitation patients with traumatic brain injuries.  Presentation:  Miller Children’s Hospital.  Long Beach, CA.

  • Lechuga, D., McDowell, B., & Seay, R.  (Mar, 2004).  Health Psychology Ground Rounds: Child, Adolescent, & Adult Cases. The California Psychological Association (CPA) Annual Conference.  San Diego, CA.

  • Lechuga, D., McDowell, B., & Ragual, T.L. (Apr, 2003). The California Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Project. Presentation: The California Psychological Association (CPA) Annual Conference.  San Jose, CA.

  • Softley, T., McDowell, B.A. & Tyler, J. S. (Mar, 2002). Neuropsychological Assessment, School Re-entry, and the IEP Process. Presentation: The ABC’s of ABI: Conference on Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury.  Miller Children’s Hospital at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Long Beach, CA.

  • Lechuga, D.M., McDowell, B.A., Seay, R.D., & Freas, S. (Jan., 2001).  Distillation of Clinical Neuropsychology Specialty and Subspecialty Practice Approaches for Speech and Language Pathologists.  Presentation:  California Speech and Hearing Association.

  • McDowell, B.A. (November, 2001).  Neuropsychological assessment and school re-entry for children with traumatic brain injuries.  Presentation:  Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Department of Health Psychology, Orange, CA.

  • McDowell, B.A. (June, 2001).  Play therapy with abused and neglected children.  Presentation:  Prevent Child Abuse – Orange County Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA.

  • McDowell, B.A. (Feb., 1999).  Have MS – will overcome:  Challenging and overcoming the cognitive, psychological, and emotional effects of MS.  Presentation:  sponsored by Berlex Laboratories, Long Beach, CA.

  • McDowell, B.A.  (Oct., 1998).  Clearing up the questions of the mind: Memory and cognitive dysfunction inn multiple sclerosis.  Presentation:  The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Tucson, AZ.

  • Lechuga, D.M. & McDowell, B.A. (June, 1998).  The neurobehavioral aspects of multiple sclerosis.  Presentation:  sponsored by Berlex Laboratories, Mission Viejo, CA.

  • Lechuga, D.M. & McDowell, B.A. (May, 1998).  Managing the cognitive effects of multiple sclerosis in the workplace.  Presentation:  The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Irvine, CA.

  • McDowell, B.A.  (Feb., 1998).  Play therapy: A special focus with hospitalized children.  Presentation:  Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Department of Health Psychology, Orange, CA.