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Expertise:
- Child development and adjustment
- Children’s understanding of sexuality and gender
Additional Information: Kevin O’Connor, PhD, RPT-S is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor. He is the Director of the Clinical PsyD and PhD Programs and the Coordinator of the Ecosystemic Clinical Child Psychology Emphasis at the California School of Professional Psychology-Fresno of Alliant International University.
Dr. O’Connor’s primary area of research and clinical interest is the ecosystemic context of the practice of psychology. This includes two elements. One is the conceptualization of the impact of a person’s entire personal and ecological experience on his or her ability or inability to cope at any given point in time. The other is the need for psychology to consider those ecosystemic variables in all aspects of case conceptualization, treatment planning and implementation in order to be effective. As such Dr. O’Connor has been particularly interested in all diversity issues but most specifically ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. One example of this multi or ecosystemic focus is the research he conducted on therapists’ attitudes toward the acceptability of gay and lesbian therapists working with children.
Dr. O’Connor’s clinical specialization is the treatment of children using play therapy. He is the cofounder and now Director Emeritus of the Association for Play Therapy. He is the author of the The Play Therapy Primer, Second Edition and numerous articles on child psychotherapy and professional practice. He is the co-author of Play Therapy Treatment Planning and Interventions. He is the co-editor of the Handbook of Play Therapy, Volumes I & II and Play Therapy Theory and Practice. His work has been translated into Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Japanese and German.
Dr. O’Connor is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association through Division 12, Society of Clinical Psychology, Division 29, Psychotherapy and Division 53, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.
Dr. O’Connor regularly presents workshops across the United States and abroad including workshops conducted in the Netherlands, Canada, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Kuwait and South Africa. His areas of specialization include: 1) Ecosystemic Play Therapy, 2) treatment planning, 3) Attachment Disorders, 4) the use of interpretation, 5) conducting structured groups and 6) the treatment of medically ill children. He also maintains a small private practice treating children and adults.
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