Specialties and Interests

• Common factors of change in Marriage and Family Therapy
  
• Process/observational couple interaction research
  
• The role of theory in Marriage and Family Therapy practice and training
• Bridging the scientist/practitioner gap in MFT research and training
  
  

Courses Taught

• PSY 9325, Advanced MFT Research II (Qualitative)
  
• PSY 6317, Parent/Child Therapy Techniques
  
• PSY 6311, Introduction to Psychopathology
  
• PSY 7614, Human Sexuality
• PSY 6313, Family Therapy Techniques
• PSY 7360, Practicum and Reflecting Practices
• PSY 7311, Couples Therapy
  
• PSY 7312, Sex Therapy in MFT
• PSY 6308, Interviewing Techniques
  
  

Research: Publications and Presentations 

Publications

• PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
  
  • Blow, A. J., Davis, S. D., & Sprenkle, D. S. (in press). Therapist worldview: A fruitless dialogue without more evidence. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
  • Butler, M. H., Davis, S. D., & Seedal, R. (2008). Common pitfalls of beginning therapists utilizing enactments. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34, 269-286.
  • *Davis, S. D. & Piercy, F. P. (2007). What clients of MFT model developers and their former students say about change, Part I: Model dependent common factors across three models. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 318-343.
  • *Davis, S. D. & Piercy, F. P. (2007). What clients of MFT model developers and their former students say about change, Part II: Model independent common factors and an integrative framework. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 344-363.
  • *Blow, A. J., Sprenkle, D. S., & Davis, S. D. (2007). Is who delivers the treatment more important than the treatment itself?: The role of the therapist in common factors. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 298-317.
  • Davis, S.D. (2005). Beyond technique: An autoethnographic exploration of how I learned to show love towards my father. The Qualitative Report, 10, 532-541.
  • Huebner, A. J., Shettler, L., Matheson, J. L., Meszaros, P. S., Piercy, F. P., & Davis, S. D. (2005). Examining ethnic differences in predictors of female adolescent smoking in rural Virginia. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse, 15, 27-61.
  • Davis, S. D., & Butler, M. H. (2004). Enacting relationships in Marriage and Family Therapy: A conceptual and operational definition of an enactment. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30, 319-334.
  • Davis, S. D., Piercy, F. P., Meszaros, P. S., Huebner, A. J., Shetler, L., & Matheson, J. L. (2004). Female adolescent smoking: A Delphi study on best prevention practices. Journal of Drug Education, 34, 295-311.
  • Huebner, A. J., Shettler, L., Matheson, J. L., Meszaros, P. S., Piercy, F. P., & Davis, S. D. (2004). Factors associated with former smokers among female adolescents in rural Virginia. Addictive Behaviors, 30, 167-173.
  • *Three of the five most cited journal articles of all articles published in the top-ranked Journal of Marital and Family Therapy between 2005-2008. 3
    
• BOOK CHAPTERS
  
  • Piercy, F. P., Soekandar, A., Limansubroto, C., & Davis, S. D. (2005). Family therapy with Indonesians. In M. McGoldrick, J. Pearce, & J. Giordano (Eds.), Ethnicity and family therapy (3rd ed. pp. 332-338). New York: Guilford.
  • Benningfield, A. B. & Davis, S. D. (2005). Family business consultation: Opportunities for MFTs. In S. M Harris, D. C. Ivey, & R. A. Bean (Eds.), A practice that works: Strategies to supplement your stand alone therapy practice (pp. 211-223). New York: Taylor & Francis.
    
• MONOGRAPHS
  
  • Davis, S. D., Piercy, F. P., Meszaros, P. S., Huebner, A. J., Shetler, L., & Matheson, J. L. (2004). Female adolescent smoking: A Delphi study on best prevention practices. In Matheson, J. L. (Ed.), Adolescent females and smoking. Monograph prepared for the Virginia Tobacco Settlement through the Virginia Youth Tobacco Coalition. Blacksburg, VA.
• BOOKS
  
  • Davis, S. D. (2009) Common factors in the practice of MFT model developers. Saarbrucken, Germany: VDM Publishers.
  • Sprenkle, D. H., Davis, S. D., & Lebow, J. (2009) Common factors in couple and family therapy: The overlooked foundation for effective practice. New York: Guilford Press.
  • Datillio, F. M., Jongsma, A. E., & Davis, S. D. The family therapy treatment planner. (2nd ed.) New York: John Wiley & Sons. (Expected publication Spring 2010).
    
• BOOKS IN PROGRESS
  
  • Davis, S. D., & Dattilio, F. M. The couple therapy treatment planner. New York: Guilford.
    

Presentations

• PEER-REVIEWED
  
  • Fife, S., Whiting, J. Davis, S. D., & Bradford, K. (2009, November). The therapeutic pyramid: Connecting techniques, the therapeutic relationship, and the therapist’s way of being. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Council of Family Relations, San Francisco, California.
  • Kaupert, K. & Davis, S. D. (2009, November). MFT trainee’s theoretical preference selection process. Poster presented at the meeting of the National Council of Family Relations, San Francisco, California.
  • Davis, S. D. & Sprenkle, D. H. (2009, October). MFT common factors: Practice, research, and training. Seminar presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Sacramento, California.
  • Crandall, N. & Davis, S. D. (2009, October). From no sex to yes please: LDS couples’ sexual satisfaction. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Sacramento, California.
  • Karam, E. A., Sprenkle, D. H., & Davis, S. D. (2009, October). Nurturing the therapeutic alliance in MFT. Seminar presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Sacramento, California.
  • Cole, E. M., & Davis, S. D. (2009, October). Integrating cultural competence into common factors in MFT. Seminar presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Sacramento, California.
    
  • Davis, S. D. & Sprenkle, D. H. (2007, October). MFT common factors: Practice, research, and training. Seminar presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Long Beach, California.
  • Davis, S. D., Brimhall, A. S., Matheson, J. L., & Ward, D. B. (2007, October). The MFT assistant professor job search: Fact and fiction. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Long Beach, California.
  • Davis, S. D. & Butler, M. H. (2006, October). Common pitfalls in enacting relationship change. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Austin, Texas.
  • *Davis, S. D., Butler, M. H., Gardner, B. C., Brimhall, A. S., & Bird, M. H. (2005, October). Enacting marital change: A contemporary developmental model. Pre-conference 5 institute conducted at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Kansas City, Missouri.
  • Davis, S. D. (2005, October). The next step: A common factors conceptual framework for MFT. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Kansas City, Missouri.
  • Davis, S. D. (2004, September). Softening in couple’s therapy: A common factors perspective. Poster presented at the meeting of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Meszaros, P. S., Piercy, F. P., Huebner, A., Matheson, J., Davis, S. D., & Shetler, L., (2003, November). Female adolescent smoking: A family health concern. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the National Council on Family Relations, Vancouver, British Columbia.
    *equal author contributions
    
• INVITED
  
  • *Davis, S. D., Stein-Stover, B., Mitroff, I. I., & Wilson, H. (2009, January). Critical thinking in higher education. Panel presentation at the Alliant International Faculty Conference, San Jose, CA.
  • Davis, S. D. (2008, December). Enacting change in family therapy. Invited presentation at the Family Institute of Pinole, San Francisco, CA.
  • Davis, S. D. (2008, November). Couple therapy that works part II: Common factors of change across different couple therapy approaches. Invited presentation at the conference of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapy – California, Sacramento Division.
  • Davis, S. D. (2009 and 2008, July). Common factors of change in Marital and Family Therapy. Invited teleconference presentation at Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.
  • Davis, S. D. (2008, May). Emotionally-focused therapy for couples. Invited presentation at the conference of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists – Sacramento Chapter.
  • *Davis, S. D., & Caldwell, B. E. (2008, February). Emotionally-focused therapy for couples. Invited presentation at the conference of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapy – California, Sacramento Division.
    
  • Davis, S. D. (2006, November). Couple therapy that works: Common factors of change across different couple therapy approaches. Invited presentation at the first annual conference of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapy – California, Sacramento 6 Division.
  • Davis, S. D. (2007, April). How does therapy work?: Common factors of change in Marriage and Family Therapy. Invited presentation for Alliant International University, Irvine Campus.
  • Davis, S. D. (2005, March). Self-of-the-therapist issues in marital and family therapy. Invited presentation for FAM 686, Theories and Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Kentucky.
    
  • Davis, S. D. (2005, February). Suicide assessment and prevention. Invited presentation for FAM 686, Theories and Methods in Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Kentucky.
  • Davis, S. D. (2001, November). Enhancing your communication skills. Invited presentation for United Way, Provo, UT.
    *Equal author contributions
    

Grant Writing

• Davis, S. D. (2006). 2006 AAMFT Thesis/Dissertation Award (awarded $750 to assist AAMFT conference travel costs).
• Davis, S. D. (2005). 2005 AAMFT Graduate Student Research Award (awarded $2250 to offset dissertation research costs).
• Davis, S. D. (2003). Dr. Michael Sporakowski Travel Grant. Department of Human Development, Virginia Tech (funded for $500).
  
  

Degrees, Professional Licenses, Certifications and Honors

• 2008-present Approved Supervisor, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
  
• 2006-present Clinical Member, American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
  
• 2008-present California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#45885)
  
• 2001-present PREP/ENRICH Certified Counselor.
• 2006-present American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy – California
  
• 2006-2008 Member, AAMFT-California Sacramento Steering Committee
  
• 2006-2007 Kentucky Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#KY-0634).
  
• 2006-2008 California Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (#51865)
  
• 2005-2006 Kentucky Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (#05-0033).
  
• 2004-2008 AAMFT Supervisor in Training.
• 2004-2006 Kentucky Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
• 2005-2006 Associate Member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
  
• 2001-2005 Student Member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
  
• 1999-2000 Kappa Omicron Nu, National Honor Society for family, home, and social sciences. Award given for being in top 10% of class. 10
  
• 1999-2000 BYU Pre-Marriage and Family Therapy Student Association, a student organization designed to assist undergraduates in preparation for training in marriage and family therapy.
  
  

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Professional and Honorary Memberships

• 2008 Author or co-author of three of the five most cited articles of all articles published in the top-ranked Journal of Marital and Family Therapy during 2005-2008.
  
• 2007 More publications during 2007 in the top-ranked Journal of Marital and Family Therapy than any other researcher in the world.
• 2006 AAMFT Dissertation Award, a nationally competitive award for an outstanding completed dissertation. The first person in the history of AAMFT to win both the Dissertation and Graduate Student Research Awards. 9
  
• 2005 AAMFT Graduate Student Research Award, a nationally competitive award for innovative dissertation research.
• 1999 Winner of a Brigham Young University academic scholarship, a competitive scholarship awarded to select members of the general student body based on outstanding academic achievement.
• 1997 Maintained standing on the high honor roll, Utah Valley State College.
  
• 1997 Winner of the Utah Valley State College Behavioral Science departmental scholarship, a competitive, full tuition scholarship awarded to one person each year.
• 1993 Salutatorian, Escalante High School.
  
  

Community Service - Presentations, Lectures, & Publications

• Davis, S. D. (2009, March). Love at home: Using gospel principles to establish healthy family relationships. Invited presentation at the Roseville, CA Stake Women’s Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (125 participants).
  
• Davis, S. D. (2008, September – present). Teaching values to teenagers. Hour-long weekly course for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Roseville, CA (12 participants).
• Davis, S. D. (2007-2008, September-August). Principles of marriage and family living. Hour-long weekly course for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Roseville, CA (26 participants).
  
• Davis, S. D. (2008, February). Interviewed and quoted extensively as an Alliant faculty member in Valentine's Day articles about romance in three local papers: Granite Bay View, Inside Lincoln, and Rocklin View.
  
• Davis, S. D. (2007, April). Shouldn’t there be something deeper? Moving beyond techniques in 14 marital communication. Invited presentation for the Calvine Ward, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Elk Grove, California (2 hours, 20 participants).
  
• Davis, S. D. (2006, April-July). Principles of marriage and family living. Hour-long weekly course for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Lexington, KY (14 participants).
  
• Davis, S. D. (2006, February). Developing communication skills. Invited presentation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Lexington, KY (1 hour, 30 participants).
• Davis, S. D. (2004, August). Common factors in marriage and family therapy. Article in the Virginia Tech Department of Human Development newsletter.
  
• Davis, S. D. (2003, September). Helping your family cope with trauma. Invited presentation at a community preparedness fair for Radford, VA (2 hours, 30 people).
• Davis, S. D. & Jeffs, R. L. (2003, August). Finding strength in diversity: Learning to appreciate those you don’t understand. Invited presentation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Radford, VA (2 hours, 25 participants).
  
• Davis, S. D. (2003, August). The destructive cycle of gossip: A Bowenian approach to healthy relationships. Invited presentation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Christiansburg, VA (1 hour, 30 participants).
• Davis, S. D. (2003, February) Parenting difficult teens. Invited seminar for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Christiansburg, VA (2 hours, 15 participants).
  
• Davis, S. D. & Rowden, T. J. (2002, August). Forgiveness in Families. Online article written for Brigham Young University’s Forever Families website. Article can be retrieved at http://www.foreverfamilies.net/xml/articles/forgiveness_in_families.aspx?&publication=short
• Davis, S. D. (2001, October) Who knew the first year would be so hard: A look at newlywed marital interaction. Invited presentation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Provo, UT (1 hour, 30 participants).
• Davis, S. D. (2001, September). Building resilient children: A look at shame, attachment, and autonomy. Invited presentation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Provo, UT (2 hours, 20 participants).