Bethany A. Teachman, PhD, is awarded a Presidential Citation for her leadership in advancing evidence-based practice in psychology and in applying technology to mental health research and practice.
Teachman has served as a member and chair of APA’s Advisory Steering Committee for the Development of Clinical Practice Guidelines. In that role, she has championed efforts to evaluate the real-world impact of guidelines, using innovative web-analytic techniques and other methods from dissemination and implementation research. She has also contributed thoughtfully to the important dialogue within APA and the field about the place of research evidence and guidelines in clinical decision-making and practice.
In addition, Teachman is the founding chair of the Coalition for the Advancement and Application of Psychological Science (CAAPS). In just three years under Teachman’s leadership, CAAPS has facilitated agreement among diverse scientific and professional organizations, including APA, on the key elements of evidence-based practice, and is becoming an increasingly prominent voice for evidence-based practice to journalists and the federal government.
In her own research, Teachman has made significant contributions to the study of fear and anxiety disorders. Much of her current work aims to strengthen the effectiveness of psychological treatments for anxiety and expand access to them through the development of web- and mobile phone-based interventions.
Teachman combines a rigorous scientific approach with a collaborative work style. Her leadership helps to ensure the continued progress of psychology as a research discipline and health profession.