Faculty: Brian D. Ott, PhD

Brian Ott

Brian D. Ott, PhD

Professor, Clinical Psychology Department

Director, Center for Psychological Science

Email
brian_ott@williamjames.edu

Dr. Brian Ott is on sabbatical for Spring 2024.

Degree Major/Emphasis Institution Year
PhD Clinical and School Psychology Hofstra University 1980

Dr. Ott joined the faculty of MSPP/WJC in 1989. He is currently Professor of Clinical Psychology in the Clinical PsyD Program and Director of the WJC Center for Psychological Science. He is Chair of the WJC Institutional Review Board and member of the Clinical PsyD Curriculum Review Committee.  He formerly served as the faculty representative to the Board of Trustees and member of the Institutional Academic Policies and Standards Committee of the Board of Trustees, the Institutional Curriculum Committee, and the Clinical PsyD Curriculum, Steering and Faculty Evaluation Committees. Dr. Ott has also held the positions of Chairperson for the Technology Committee and the Human Research Committee, and representative to the annual meeting of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology.

After receiving his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Hofstra University in 1980, Brian completed post-doctoral fellowships at Temple University Medical School/Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute with Joseph Wolpe and the Institute for Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy with Albert Ellis in New York City.

Courses

  • Research Methods
  • Exposure Therapies for Anxiety Disorders

Research and Practice Interests

Research Interests

  • Application of Exposure and Response Prevention and Cognitive Restructuring to Anxiety and Eating Disorders.
  • Assessment of and Adherence to Empirically Validated Components of  Exposure and Response Prevention
  • Research – Assessment the Role of Social Diffusion in Responses to Suicidal Communications

Clinical/Professional Interests

  • Patients Suffering From Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Phobias
  • Public Education in the Use of Exposure And Response Prevention in the Treatment of Anxiety and Eating Disorders

Professional Licenses and Certifications

  • Licensed Psychologist in Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey
  • Certified School Psychologist in New York State

Awards

  • Mintz Chair in Professional Psychology 2006-2008, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
  • Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence June 6, 2007, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
  • Dr. Stephen D. Hayes Award for Leadership and Service to Underserved Populations May 5, 2009, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
  • Service Excellence Award for Administrative Innovation June 1, 2016, Partners Health Care / Massachusetts General Hospital

Publications and Presentations

  • Ott, B.D. (2016) Orienting Patients to ERP and Cognitive Restructuring Components of CBT for Anxiety. Seacoast Anxiety Symposium.
  • Allen, K., Burda, T., Ott, B., and O’Connor, M. (2016) Distractibility and Aging: Relationship of Scores on the Useful Field of View Across Age and Mini Mental Status Exam. Journal of Psychological Sciences, 2, 130-147.
  • Tillman, E. and Ott, B.D. (2017). The effect of anticipated access to search engines on implicit memory. Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science.
  • Ott, B.D. and Joseph, L. S. (2017). Mysticism, technology and the music of the summer of love. Journal of the American Society on Aging, 41, 45-53.
  • Ott, B.D. (December - 2017) Cognitive neuroscience and effectively orienting patients to exposure and response prevention. Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education / Cambridge Health Alliance.
  • Ott, B.D. (Symposium Chair) (2018) Myths and Data Regarding the Use of Technology Mediated Psychological Intervention. Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science.
  • Ott, B.D. and Cottrell, Z. (2018) The mediating role of self-esteem in performance anxiety. Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science.
  • Volpacchio, A., Glazier Leonte, K., and Ott, B. (2018) Alarmingly Low Rates of Utilization and Knowledge of Exposure and Response Prevention for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Among Mental Health Providers. Paper presented at the International Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation Annual Convention, Washington D.C.
  • Ott, B.D. (2018) Staring Down Panic: A Guide to Effective Use of Exposure and Response Prevention.Boxford: Matchstick Books.
  • Allard, T., Ott, B., and Venkataraman, S. (2019) Deployment communication and its relationship to adjustment and relationship satisfaction. Annual Convention of the Association for Psychological Science.
  • Ott, B.D. (2020) Behavioral health provider and general public bias regarding use of technology mediated and artificial intelligence assisted interventions. Symposium presentation, Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.
  • de Mello Barreto, L., Borkum, D, Gerstel, B., Kanen, R., Kola, A., & Ott, B.D (2022). Fidelity to the  inhibitory learning model, functionality, and availability of free anxiety treatment apps. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science doi.org/10.1007/s41347-022-00244-8

Concurrent Leadership, Service and Professional Activities

  • Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards – member of EPPP Step 2 Implementation Task Force/Template Development and Item Writing Workgroups
  • Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown HealthCare - Associate Unit Director for Behavioral Health Services - consults to providers in the internal medicine, cardiology and neurology departments and is on the faculty of the Harvard Medical School supervising clinical fellows and residents in the Department of psychiatry.

Prior Experience

  • 2017 - present, Member, Exam Item Construction Committee, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
  • 2017 - 2019, Board of Directors, Massachusetts Psychological Association
  • 2016 Coordinator, Media Psychology Committee, Massachusetts Psychological Association
  • 2005 – 2006, Instructor - Certification Program in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies, Amir Duwan for Social Development, Kuwait City, Kuwait
  • 1993 – 1995, Mental Health Advisory Board / Member of Mental Health External Appeals Panel, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. Boston, Massachusetts
  • 1989 – 1998, Executive Director and Director of Pain Management and CBT Services, Behavior Management Services, Boston, MA
  • 1986 – 1989, Director of Behavioral Medicine and Coordinator or CARF Accreditation, North Shore Pain Center / Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Peabody, MA
  • 1982 – 1985, Director of Clinical and Health Services and Coordinator of JACHO Accreditation, St. Mary's Residential Treatment Center, Syosset, New York
  • 1982 – 1985, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York
  • 1980 – 1981, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Manhattan College, Bronx, New York

Professional Affiliations

  • Association for Psychological Science
  • Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
  • International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation

Previous Affiliations

  • Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Psychological Association (MPA)
  • Chair of the MPA Membership Committee and member of the MPA Education and Program Committees.

Community Involvement

Away from teaching and professional practice, Brian is an avid amateur musician and is active in local community and repertory theaters in the Boston area.