Biography
Dr. Gina Touch Mercer completed her PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Houston in 1996. Her clinical and research interests include assessment and treatment of dementia, anxiety and eating disorders, prevention and early intervention in clinical disorders, health and family issues, bereavement, creativity, music and the arts in therapy, and development of personal and family strengths.
Dr. Mercer is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the American School of Professional Psychology (ASPP) at Argosy University, Phoenix. She teaches courses in Family & Couples Theory and Therapy, Geropsychology, Cognitive Assessment and Personality Assessment, and all levels of practicum training. She provides mentoring and supervision of research and clinical work with doctoral students and prepares them for competency exams and professional practice with a variety of clients. She leads 37-week practicum seminars focusing on professional development, self-assessment of strengths and training goals, ethical assessment and treatment of clients, development of diagnostic skills, and development of "bedside manner" in sharing professional opinions and diagnoses.
Dr. Mercer has over 15 years of psychotherapy, assessment and consultation experience. She maintains a private practice where she conducts individual and family therapy, personality assessment, forensic assessment of guardianship for vulnerable older adults, and family enhancement workshops. She was formerly a Psychologist and Clinical Director of Geriatrics at the St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, and Director of Behavioral Health in an interdisciplinary health practice in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Dr. Mercer has presented nationally and internationally on such topics as dementia, eating disorders, and positive psychology. She was invited to Romania to present a 4-day training conference on family and couples therapy. She has made numerous contributions to the specialties of assessment and aging as a consultant, editor, and reviewer. Most recently, she co-authored an instructor's manual to accompany the Sattler & Ryan (2009) textbook Cognitive Assessment with the WAIS-IV.
Dr. Mercer is professionally affiliated with the Gerontological Society of America, the American Society on Aging, and the National Council on Family Relations.