ABOUT DR. EDWARDS

Bill Edwards, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice in the Dallas, Texas Metroplex. He enjoys working with others as they respond to difficulties and move forward to build a better life.

After graduating from Highland Park High School, the University of Texas at Austin, and Fuller Theological Seminary, Dr. Edwards began his career as a Presbyterian pastor at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. In his fourteen years of leadership at Westlake, the church grew from 300 to over 2,000 members during this time.

Dr. Edwards continued his education obtaining a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Psychotherapy from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary and then the Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.

In 1993, Dr. Edwards returned to Dallas as Executive Director of the Family Counseling Center associated with Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Dr. Edwards assembled a staff of psychologists, social workers and child development specialists to provide outpatient therapy and parenting education to the greater Dallas community.

In 2000, Dr. Edwards opened his private practice of clinical and consulting psychology. The clinical practice offers individual, marital, and family therapy for relationships, depression, anxiety; career issues; spiritual concerns and psychological testing for children and adults. The consulting service offers leadership development services to business and individuals. His consulting practice assists organizations select, develop and manage executive and upper-level leadership.

Educational Background
* Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling Psychology, University of Texas at Austin
* Residency in Clinical Psychology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio
* Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) in Pastoral Psychotherapy, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois
* Masters of Divinity (M.Div.), Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California
* Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Texas at Austin.

Credentials and Professional Affiliations
* Licensed Psychologist, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists, #25078
* Licensed Health Service Provider, Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
* Member, National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, # 43811
* Member, American Psychological Association
* Member, Dallas Psychological Association
* Clinical Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas

Dr. Edwards maintains his ordination as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church, USA. His service to the church has included a fifteen-year pastorate at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas and seven years as director of the counseling center at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. He served as Moderator of the Committee on Preparation for Ministry of Mission Presbytery and the Committee on Ministry in Grace Presbytery.

Clinical Orientation

Dr. Edwards' clinical expertise is in the area of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Scientific research has proven CBT to be effective in the treatment of depression, anxiety and a wide range of clinical disorders. It really does work.

In CBT the therapist and client work together to understand what is happening in the client's life and to change patterns of thinking and acting. CBT emphasizes active participation by the client. It is goal oriented and problem focused. It seeks to teach the client to be his or her own therapist. The result is enduring emotional and behavioral change. Clients feel better, worry less, and cope with stress better.

Clients gain life-long skills for better self-management. They develop a clearer understanding of their feelings, the thoughts that cause those feelings, and the strategies that create meaningful change.

Dr. Edwards studied cognitive therapy with Aaron and Judy Beck at the Beck Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since 1997, Dr. Edwards has served as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty Member in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas where he trains psychologists and psychiatrists in cognitive therapy.