Jennifer Stoddard, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Stoddard is a licensed psychologist with more than fifteen years of experience in both research and clinical practice. She earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, and Master of Science degree in Experimental Psychology. Her Ph.D. is in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia. She completed a residency in Clinical Psychology at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) Clinical Psychology Consortium, and a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Walton Rehabilitation Health System, both with a specialization in health psychology/behavioral medicine. Since 1992, she has held research and clinical positions at MCG and the VAMC, and also served for two years as a behavior specialist for the Community Mental Health Center. For seven years, she worked as a psychometrist, conducting psychological evaluations for learning disabilities, mental retardation, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and other psychological disorders. Since 2001, she has been an adjunct member of the faculty in the Department of Psychology at Augusta State University, where she teaches a variety of undergraduate psychology courses such as Introductory Psychology and Lifespan Human Development. She recently earned a clinical faculty appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at the Medical College of Georgia.

Dr. Stoddard works with patients with a variety of presenting concerns, such as headache, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, and depressive and anxiety disorders. She commonly employs the empirically supported pain management techniques of relaxation and biofeedback skills training, as well as cognitive behavioral and person-centered therapy. In addition to her specialization in the treatment of pain disorders, Dr. Stoddard also provides individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy for anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders.

Dr. Stoddard is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Headache Society, the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the Southeastern Psychological Association, the Georgia Psychological Association, and the National Honor Society of Psychology.

Recently, Dr. Stoddard has won several awards, including the American Psychological Association’s Division 17 Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award and the NIDA/NIAAA Early Career Investigators Award. She has presented the results of her scientific research at the following scientific meetings over the past two years: the European Branch of the American Counseling Association Annual Conference in Bad Herranalb, Germany; the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association in San Francisco, CA and New Orleans, LA; the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback Annual Conference in Monterey, CA; the National Youth at Risk Annual Conference in Savannah, GA; and the Walton Rehabilitation Health System’s Lunch-n-Learn workshop.

Dr. Stoddard’s primary goal is to connect patients with the most current advancements in science which support psychologically-based treatments for pain and/or emotional disorders. This is done to facilitate a journey toward recovery and sustained improvement in overall quality of life. Dr. Stoddard’s approach to clinical care emphasizes the relationship between the mind and the body, with a deep appreciation for the critical role of social support and personal empowerment in the healing process.