Shandia Johnson, PsyD
Doctor of Clinical Psychology
Meet Dr. Johnson
Shandia Johnson, Psy.D. is a doctoral graduate of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Washington D.C., specializing in integrative behavioral care, cross-collaborative human service management and consultation. She is a Lexington, Kentucky native and graduated with a bachelor's degree of psychology from Midway University before graduating with a master's degree of clinical psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in Northern Virginia.
Dr. Johnson employs a person-centered approach of care, with a specific appreciation of the biopsychosocial lens. Having substantially experienced both direct service and operational roles in the realms of human service, she firmly believes there is incredible value in working collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimized results in meeting the unique needs of individuals and organizations. Her extensive knowledge and experience in clinical assessment, psychotherapy, and clinical consultation for organization management demonstrates her passion and commitment to vulnerable populations with complex needs, as well as larger entities who aim to enhance quality of life for these societies and communities.
Clinical Externship
GUIDE School of Mental Health
Gaithersburg Elementary
During this Master's practicum experience, Dr. Johnson performed individual therapy with low-income children in grades K-5 and their families, addressing various emotional and behavioral diagnoses. She completed intake and diagnostic sessions in addition to psychoeducational sessions with clients and families, providing assistance with referrals for additional case management needs.
One of her most memorable learning experiences was creating curriculum and executing a weekly social skills training group for 3rd grade boys, as well as a children's grief coping group.
Clinical Externship
D.C. Superior Court
Child Guidance Clinic
This doctoral externship included a full assessment experience. Dr. Johnson performed psychoeducational and psychological assessments to vulnerable minors, mandated by honorable judges of the District of Columbia. Training included intake and diagnostic sessions with clients and caregivers, as well as other essential and/or court-ordered collateral contacts.
After psychological and/or psychoedcuational assessment administration, she completed comprehensive psychological reports to aid in legal recommendations for rehabilitation. Primary assessment instruments included WISC-V, WAIS-IV, Woodcock-Johnson-IV, CBRS, BASC-3, TDCC, PAI, MACI, YSR, and the Vineland.
Veterans Affairs Hospital
Primary Care Mental Health Integration
Clinical Externship
Serving as her intermediate doctoral externship, the DC VA Primary Care Mental Health Clinic provided Dr. Johnson's initial opportunity to engage in clinical practice using an integrative primary care model of care management. Utilizing the PC-MHI Behavioral Consultation model, she provided therapeutic services to Veterans with mild-to-moderate symptom distress and/or concerns in the areas of stress management, weight management, chronic pain, sleep hygiene/insomnia, CPAP compliance, smoking cessation, grief, relationship difficulties, and mild-to-moderate alcohol use. Execution of services through this collaborative care model allowed for as-needed consultation with primary care providers, psychiatrists, nurses, and pharmacists.
Dr. Johnson also co-led sexual miltary trauma groups, and served as a planner for the VA Annual Mental Health Summit.
Clinical Externship
Childrens National Medical Center
Solid Organ Transplant Clinic
Dr. Johnson's advanced externship provided an even more concentrated training experience within the integrative behavioral care model. She provided psychological services to kidney and heart transplant services to children aged 0-17 and follow-up care to patients up to age 21. She collaborated with multidisciplinary transplant teams while providing transplant readiness evaluations, adjustment to diagnosis and treatment, preparation for transplant, and follow up care for adjustment and adherence. Psychosocial difficulties that lead to or contributed to nonadherence to medications and medical recommendations was a hallmark focus. Additionally, Dr. Johnson provided psychological services of the same nature in dialysis clinics, to children receiving dialysis as renal replacement therapy. The nature of services included consultation with families, outpatient therapy services, pre and post-transplant, and inpatient consultation with patients and families.
Clinical Internship
Prince William Family Counseling
During this final year of training, Dr. Johnson utilized her externship training to provide evidence-based, ethically sound, and culturally sensitive clinical human services and outpatient care. She provided psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and service coordination to individuals, couples, and families across the lifespan.
One of her favorite learning experiences included the heavy supervision and consultation training component. Dr. Johnson provided these services to clinical students and staff, as well as local schools and business entities, while fully embracing the operational learning opportunities of running a large, successful private practice.
Completed Graduate Core Coursework
Presentations
Research
Despite the resilient nature of African American women, this population remains to be the subject of many heath and wellness disparities within the United States. The rate of African American infant mortality presents a stark disparity when compared to that of Caucasian infant mortality rates, occurring 2.2 times more often. Depression symptoms, while shown to negatively affect maternity factors in general, presents a particularly significant risk factor of poor pregnancy and birth outcomes regarding African American maternity.
Dr. Johnson's functionally published dissertation, African American Infant Mortality: The Impact of Maternal Depression, examines bodies of literature that highlight and discuss biological and psychosocial factors related to depression and high infant mortality rates among African American women within the United States. Dr. Johnson's research in this area was fueled by her passion for understanding the mind-body interface in physical and mental well-being, and treating the whole person.
"Shandia shows high skill with a diverse range of clients from children to adults in both therapy and assessment. She has an exceptionally warm and comforting presence within the office, with clients, colleagues, staff, and students. This allows her to build strong therapeutic alliances, which subsequently allows her to challenge and present interpretation and build insight with all of her clients. She conceptualizes cases from an integrated standpoint. Shandia's assessment reports are extremely well-written, integrating test data as well as research to help clients understand how particular areas of deficit might impact their lives, functionally."
Dr. Hemini Naik, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Director, Prince William Family Counseling
What Others Say About Her
"One of her most important characteristics relates to her being open-minded and empathic about clients' diverse experiences and backgrounds. She is highly respectful of others with whom she interacts and is able to communicate with them effectively. Most importantly, she is open to feedback and constructive criticism; she has exceptional flexibility and great ability to adapt to situational demands."
Dr. Nahid Nasrat, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, President APA Division 48
"Mrs. Johnson has demonstrated strength in research skills, and consistent integrity, accountability,
and concern for others. She demonstrates a deep awareness of diversity issues and how they affect relationships and the therapeutic environment, and she demonstrates strong communication and interpersonal skills. She has an energetic, open manner that fosters communication."
Dr. Edward Shearin, PhD, Professor, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Let's Connect!
For any inquiries, email me at johnson.shandia@gmail.com or call at 703-298-7208.
References Available Upon Request