Jennifer G. Pearlstein, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Researcher, and Scholar
About
Jennifer Pearlstein, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and scholar. Dr. Pearlstein is currently employed as a clinical assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis in the Pain Management Center through the Department of Anesthesiology. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Washington in Rehabilitation Medicine. She strives to improve mental healthcare through research, clinical practice, writing, and advocacy.
Dr. Pearlstein became passionate about mental health and psychological science while completing undergraduate psychology and cognitive science majors at Truman State University. Following undergrad, she worked at Stanford University, contributing to research on early interventions for childhood depression and bipolar disorders. During graduate school at UC Berkeley, her work spanned basic emotional and cognitive mechanisms of psychopathology, clinical intervention development, and the influence of stress and identity for mental health outcomes. Her post-doctoral work focused on improving mental health outcomes for people with diverse forms of disability.
Dr. Pearlstein strives to improve mental healthcare. She provides clinical services and conducts research to help people cope with stress and build a life worth living. She believes in therapy as a means of healing and emphasizes a strengths-based approach. She encourages you to reach out for support if you are struggling.
As a person with a disability, she is a dedicated advocate for improved patient care and social justice. She is involved in several forms of advocacy, including serving as the Health Service Psychology subgroup leader of the Disability Advocacy Research Network. She writes a blog about ableism in academia and submits work to academic and public-facing outlets related to disability identity.
In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors, nature, travel, delicious food, and spending time with friends and family.
Education
2022-2023
Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine
University of Washington, Seattle, W
Mentor: Dawn Ehde, PhD
2021-2022
Pre-doctoral Clinical Internship, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
2015-2022
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Clinical Science, Department of Psychology
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Mentor: Sheri L. Johnson, PhD
2008-2012
B.S. Psychology, B.S. Cognitive Science, Truman State University
Kirksville, MO
Minor: Statistical Methods
