Student Profiles: Rush Williams
Welcome to UT Southwestern Medical Center, and the Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology!
My path to UTSW was a bit more “round-about” than many students. I completed my undergraduate degree at Illinois Wesleyan University, majoring in music performance. I went on to obtain a master’s degree in vocal performance, and spent the next eight years of life as a working opera singer (and – early on – sometimes waiter, bartender, and office temp) across the United States and Europe.
I feel very fortunate to have had so many varied experiences with diverse people in diverse places, and I think it really laid the foundation for my approach with patients today. After living in New York City for a decade, I felt profoundly called to make a life change, and began the path that led me here.
My decision to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UT Southwestern was based on several factors, including my interest in the wide range of clinical training and research opportunities available to students in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program.
My research and clinical interests are focused on psychosocial adjustment to chronic illness (i.e. HIV) and trauma, and I have found that the unique placement of our Program within a major medical center fosters collaboration with experts across many different fields.
I am currently working on research with Alina Surís, Ph.D., ABPP, and my dissertation is investigating the effect of military sexual trauma and PTSD on quality of life and psychiatric comorbidity in U.S. Veterans. My clinical training has included individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy, as well as psychological assessments with various patient populations in forensic and healthcare settings. For my fourth year, I am completing my internship at the Counseling and Psychiatric Service of Southern Methodist University.
I enjoy speaking about my experience in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, and would love to hear from you if you have questions or would like additional information!
Best,
Rush Ciarán Williams
Co-Chief Resident
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, 4th year
