David Black, Ph.D.

David H. Black, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist with expertise in psychotherapy and psychological evaluations. Dr. Black has experience treating patients presenting with an exceptionally wide range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, addictive behaviors, relationship concerns, workplace and career difficulties, health-related problems, and adjustment issues.

In addition to his counseling and therapy work, Dr. Black is a volunteer consultant to the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Team in Sacramento. He has conducted psychological pre-employment evaluations for the State Personnel Board and numerous agencies including the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the California Department of Consumer Affairs. He has also conducted pre-employment evaluations for local law enforcement agencies such as the Sacramento Police Department and the Elk Grove Police Department.

Dr. Black has also conducted pre-surgical psychological evaluations for surgeons and medical groups throughout Northern California. He has given talks in California and Florida on psychological issues related to bariatric surgery and behavior change, and has consulted with several hundred surgical patients in his private practice.

In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Black has conducted personality, behavioral, and competency-based assessments of business executives from North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and has spoken on leadership topics to management groups at Cisco Systems and Starbuck’s Coffee. He has provided coaching and conflict resolution services for managers and executives, and has worked with CEOs and other senior-level executives to promote top talent within their organizations.

An award-winning university instructor, Dr. Black has taught at the University of California, Davis; California State University, Sacramento; and the University of Georgia. Undergraduate and graduate courses he has taught over the years have included Abnormal Psychology; Methods of Psychology; Psychology of Adjustment; Theories and Techniques of Counseling and Psychotherapy; Alcohol and Chemical Dependency: Assessment and Treatment; Human Sexuality, Partner Abuse, and Couple Counseling; and Personality Theory.

Dr. Black received his Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees from the Clinical Psychology program at The University of Georgia, where he taught and conducted research in the Department of Psychology, provided clinical supervision, and treated patients in the UGA Psychology Clinic. He also received specialized Clinical Psychology training at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle, WA; Children’s Hospital Regional Medical Center in Seattle, WA; the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New Orleans, LA; and in private practice settings in California and Washington. He graduated with dual baccalaureate degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from The University of Washington, where he assisted with psychological research programs at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute and the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics.

Dr. Black is licensed (PSY 19195) to practice psychology in California and is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Sacramento Valley Psychological Association.