Overview
The Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health encompasses hospital and clinic-based mental health services and educational programs in psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and couple and family therapy. The department consists of more than 10 full-time faculty plus over 30-community faculty associated with the many public and private facilities in Las Vegas with which we have collaborations.
Patient care services take place at Mojave Counseling, University Medical Center, and in collaboration with other public mental health agencies in the area. The UNLV Mojave Counseling clinic has been serving clients with mental illness in Las Vegas for the past 25 years. The success of our various programs can be seen across Southern Nevada with our graduates working in numerous private and public hospitals and clinics.
Not only is our program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), but both of our fellowships are as well, making our forensic fellowship the only one in the state, and our child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship one of two in the state, to be ACGME accredited.
We have also received both federal and state-funded grants, many involving integration with other departments in the medical school, across campus, and external partners.
Department Chair
Lisa Durette, MD
Associate Professor, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program Director, and Chair
Undergraduate and Graduate Programs
UNLV has the only couple and family therapy (CFT) program in the state of Nevada that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy. Accreditation places us in the top ranks of all marriage and family therapy programs nationally, with faculty scholarship and research productivity higher than the national average. Our faculty members have published more than 21 books on new therapies and techniques, which benefit couples and families all across the country.
Master of Science in Couple and Family Therapy
The program offers a full-time master's degree that prepares students for a profession as a marriage and family therapist or mental health counselor by integrating components of couple and family therapy theories as well as mental health diagnoses. The degree also qualifies students to apply for licensure in the state of Nevada and sit for the national marriage and family therapist licensing exam.
Minor in Family Studies
The family studies minor prepares students to pursue graduate work in family studies, human development, couple and family therapy, and other professions in mental health. The minor focuses on personal growth, maximizing your potential, and understanding both yourself and others better.
Graduate Medical Education
Residency Program
With a dedicated day for didactics and support, we are focused on program and resident development. Our residency graduates leave the program with extensive clinical experiences from diverse populations, both diagnostically and culturally. They have, without exception, attended the fellowship of their choice or obtained employment in the setting of their choice upon graduation. Many graduates remain in Southern Nevada to address clinician shortages here and several have created group practices in the region.
Fellowship Programs
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Our two-year child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) program prioritizes education and fellow well-being while serving underserved youth in the vibrant Las Vegas community. Currently, 100% of our graduates continue to practice in Southern Nevada and several opt to remain within our department as faculty members. Join us in making a difference!
Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship
Our forensic psychiatry program offers a strong foundation in forensic psychiatry, leveraging the rich training resources of the Las Vegas community. With diverse faculty and training sites, our one-year fellowship provides comprehensive support throughout your fellowship and beyond. Join us in this exciting and rewarding field!
Grants and Special Projects
The NV PAL is a statewide child psychiatry access program designed to enhance primary care clinicians' ability to diagnose and treat youth behavioral health issues. As part of the National Network of Child Psychiatry Access Programs, NV PAL bridges gaps in youth mental health care amid a shortage of child psychiatrists, recognizing that most children receive mental health services in primary care. It offers free, statewide access to mental and behavioral health resources for ages 0-25, providing primary care providers (PCPs) with expert support from child mental health professionals, Monday to Friday. Through consultations and online resources, NV PAL empowers PCPs with the skills needed to improve care for Nevada's youth and build a stronger behavioral health workforce.
BeHERE NV is a statewide workforce development initiative to increase the number of providers of behavioral health care in Nevada. BeHERE NV, led by Sara Hunt, PhD, is committed to the recruitment, retention, and ongoing support of Nevada's behavioral health workforce. Our main initiatives are to:
- provide outreach and education about behavioral health careers to K-12 and audit learners in Nevada;
- highlight education pathways within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) for behavioral health skills training, certificates, and degrees; and
- promote opportunities to retain our graduates and the existing Nevada behavioral health workforce.