Heath A. Grames, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy
(Clinical Member and Supervisor Candidate, AAMFT)

University of Southern Mississippi
Child and Family Studies
118 College Drive #5035
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
Phone:  (601) 266-6434   Fax:  (601) 266-4680
E-mail: Heath.Grames@usm.edu

Research:   family therapy in a primary care setting, medical and mental health collaboration, marital satisfaction, health, and illness, family therapy outcome, family therapy with Latinos

Teaching:   Psychopathology, Marital Therapy, Family Research, Practicum in Marriage and Family Therapy

Education:

2005    Ph.D.          Marriage and Family Therapy
                             Brigham Young University

2000    M.S.           Family and Consumer Science
(MFT Specialization) University of Nebraska-Lincoln

1997    B.S.            Family Science             
                             Brigham Young University

Statement of Interests:  My current interests are focused on the collaboration that exists between medical and mental health care professionals, and therefore, on improved patient care. To improve patient care in the area of collaboration, I wrote a grant (that was funded at over $300,000) to improve mental health care and increase capacity for mental health services in a medical setting. I am also currently involved in several university hospital based research projects. An additional interest is in improving mental health services for Latinos. I recently presented at the first Annual Latino Health Conference. My presentation was on providing culturally competent treatment for depression to Latinos using the Primary Mental Health Care Model. I have an article in press on the same topic.

Selected Publications/Presentations:

Brucker, P.S., Faulkner, R.A., Baptist, J., Grames, H.A., Beckham, L.G., Gulish, L., Walsh, L., Willert, A. (2005). The internship training experiences in medical family therapy of doctoral-level marriage and family therapy students. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 33, 131-146.

Grames, H.A. (In press). Depression, anxiety, and ataque de nervios: Diagnostic and treatment considerations in a Latino population. Journal of systemic therapies.

Grames, H.A. (In press). Suicide. In P. Paulman, A. Paulman, & J. Harrison (Eds.). 10 Minute Diagnosis. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott.

Prest, L. & Grames, H.A. (In press). Developmental transitions to illness. In D. Linville & K.M. Hertlein (Eds.), The therapist’s notebook for family healthcare: Homework, handouts, and activities for individuals, couples, and families coping with illness, loss, and disability.

Grames, H.A. (2006). Depression, anxiety, and ataque de nervios: Diagnostic and treatment considerations in a Latino population. An invited lecture for the Latino Health Conference, May 25, 2006.

Grames, H.A., Higgins, D.J., & Miller, R.B. (2002). Contextual Therapy and Marital Satisfaction in Midlife: The Relational Ethics Scale Reviewed. A poster presentation given at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy annual conference, October 25, 2002.

Grames, H.A., Higgins, D.J., & Stahmann, R.F. (2001). Therapists in the Classroom: Teaching Human Sexuality. A poster presentation given at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy annual conference, October 19, 2001.

Higgins, D.J., Grames, H.A., & Stahmann, R.F. (2003). Sexual Issues in Remarriage. A poster presentation given at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy annual conference, October 24, 2003.

Higgins, D.J., Grames, H.A., & Stahmann, R.F. (2002). Sexuality in Remarriage. Roundtable discussion presented at the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists annual conference, May 3, 2002.

Kiester, D. & Grames, H.A. (2006). Listening to Our Learners: Designing a Resident Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) Curriculum Using a Learner-Driven Method. A research presentation that has been accepted for the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine’s Annual Conference on Practice Improvement: Health Information and Patient Education, November 2006.

Prest, L., Abdouch, I, Grames, H.A., & Robinson, W.D. (2005). Collaboration: Does One Size Fit All? A workshop presentation given at the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association’s 7 th annual conference, October 7, 2005.

Smith, C.W. & Grames, H.A. (2000). Mental Illness and Families: A Rural Perspective. An invited research track workshop presentation given at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy annual conference, November 3, 2000.