Dr. Gerald E. Nissley

Graduate Program Director

Assistant Professor of Psychology

I am licensed as a clinical psychologist and have actively served and worked in direct service, supervision, consulting, teaching, and research. I joined the faculty at East Texas Baptist University in 2011, where I have primarily facilitated courses in counseling and clinical psychology.  I have over ten years of experience providing psychological services to adults, children, and families. More recently, I have been consulting with non-profit clinics that provide assessment and intervention to uninsured and underinsured children and their families. I am a husband, and I have two wonderful children. My clinical and research interests are diverse. I have published research in the areas of God-concept and the connection between spirituality and resilience. I have served on a national task force within the American Psychological Association for promoting psychological literacy. More recently, I have been involved in research on the use of Christian Cognitive Therapy among older adults with dementia.  I have specialized in consulting with and providing treatment to children diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder within specialized foster care settings. I have frequently provided invited talks related to assessment and treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder. I have previously specialized in pediatric forensic evaluation, and have become a court expert in multiple jurisdictions.

"Two things I ask of You, Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown You and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:7-9)

Education/Degrees/Years of attainment:

• Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (2009)
  Capella University, Minneapolis, Minnesota
   
• M.S. in Clinical Psychology (2001)
  Millersville University, Millersville, Pennsylvania 
  B.A. in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude (1999)
  Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania
   

Counseling/Research/Teaching Interests:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy; role of spirituality/religiosity in resilience; self-management; Christian cognitive therapy; rural psychology; assessment and treatment of Reactive Attachment Disorder.
   

Recent Scholarly activity (presentations, publications, etc.):

• Nissley, G. (2013, March). Hope springs: A pilot study on the effects of Christian Cognitive Therapy for treatment of depression among adults with Dementia of the Alzheimer’s Type. Paper presented at the Mid-Year Research Conference of Division 36 Psychology of Religion of the American Psychological Association, Columbia, Maryland.
• Nissley, G., & Haygood, B. (2013, January). Creating a common tongue: Training pre-professional counselors in evidence-based approaches to integration of faith in counseling. Content session presented at mid-year conferences of the Texas Association for Counseling Education and Supervision, Austin, Texas.
• Nissley G. (In Press).  Double Bind Theory.  In Cultural sociology of mental illness: An A to Z guide.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. 
• Nissley, G. (In Press).  Milieu Therapy.  In Cultural sociology of mental illness: An A to Z guide.  Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
• Nissley, G. (In Press).  Urban vs. Rural.  In Cultural sociology of mental illness: An A to Z guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.   
• Storen, D. (Producer & Director). (2010). Breadth of Hope [Documentary]. Drewsy Media. [Provided commentary for documentary on research on resilience in psychology of religion literature]
• Nissley, G. (2010, April). Self-monitoring of target behaviors by individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Paper presented at the annual convention of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Dallas,Texas.
• Nissley, G. (2009, June). Rural behavioral healthcare. Invited talk presented at TeamCare, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
• Nissley, G. (2009, May). Attachment: Developmental and clinical applications. Invited talk presented at TeamCare, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
• Nissley, G. (2009, April). Rural resilience: A model for the role of spirituality and religiosity in resilience among rural adults. Paper presented at the Mid-Year Research Conference of Division 36 Psychology of Religion of the American Psychological Association, Columbia, Maryland.
• Nissley, G. (2008, November). Doing psychology: Forensic psychology. Invited talk presented at Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania.
• Seegobin, W., Reyes, R., Hostler, H., Nissley, G., & Hart, A. (2007). Relationship with parents, God concept, self-esteem, and relationship intimacy. In P. Hegy (Ed.),What do we imagine God to be? The function of "God images" in our lives (pp.57-66). Lewistown, NY: Edwin Mellen.
   

Professional Memberships:

• Member of the American Psychological Association
• Member of Division 2 of the American Psychological Association (Teaching of Psychology)
• Member of Division 36 of American Psychological Association (Psychology of Religion)
• Member of the Texas Psychological Association
• Member of East Texas Psychological Association
• Psi Chi

Community/Public Service:

• Member of Central Baptist Church in Marshall, Texas – I lead a Grief/Recovery Small Group there.
• American Red Cross: Disaster Mental Health Worker
• Give An Hour - I provide free counseling services to military members and their families.
   

Contact Me

gnissley@etbu.edu
903-923-2095