Dr. BJ Boyd Recognized as Distinguished American Indian Alumni
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- Published: Wednesday, 16 December 2020 09:39
On November 5th, 2020, Dr. B.J. Boyd gave a presentation entitled ‘Tending the Fire: Practicing Clinical Psychology in Indian Country’ at a colloquium for the Psychology Department and was awarded the Distinguished American Indian Alumnus award from the Psychology Department at Oklahoma State University to honor his achievements and contributions to American Indian communities across the state of Oklahoma.
Dr. B.J. Boyd III is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and is an alumnus of Oklahoma State University’s Clinical Psychology doctoral program, graduating with his PhD in clinical psychology in 2003. Following completion of his doctoral degree, he pursued a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychopharmacology at Alliant International University, graduating in 2008. He served as a clinical psychologist and the Director of Behavioral Health for the Cherokee Nation from 2003 until 2015, administering mental health and substance abuse programs and providing direct psychological services including diagnostic assessments, individual psychotherapy, and family therapy. Currently, Dr. Boyd serves as the Senior Psychologist for the Chickasaw Nation.
During his presentation, Dr. Boyd discussed the importance of being involved in the American Indian community as a clinical psychologist in Indian country, and how this can allow for improved rapport, increased referrals, and overall improved outcomes for both psychologists and the communities with which they are involved. Further, Dr. Boyd emphasized the importance of preventative care and making it more readily available to American Indian communities. He sees the need for a dramatic shift from crisis-oriented to prevention-oriented behavioral and medical health care delivery to better serve Indian Country. Dr. Boyd closed his presentation by saying, “When you’re spending all of your time putting out fires, you can’t tend to the forest.”