Introduction

Stacie Craft DeFreitas is a licensed psychologist and licensed specialist in school psychology who has worked in a variety of diverse settings such as the Houston Independent School District.  Dr. DeFreitas is also a tenured Associate Professor and the Director of Clinical Training for the Adolescent Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at Prairie View A & M University. Her research focuses on issue of ethnicity, academic achievement, and mental health stigma.  Her recent text, African American Psychology:  A positive psychology perspective, examines the African American community from a strengths-based perspective highlighting the importance of history, context, and diversity.

Research

Dr. DeFreitas has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Duke University.  Her current research focuses on developing a wellness intervention for youth of color.  She has recently published a peer reviewed article examining the impact of colorism on education for African American youth. Another recent publication in Mental Health for Hispanic communities examines mental health stigma among the Latino/a/x population. She strives to engage in scholarship that improves outcomes for people of color, particularly youth, and is committed to social justice.  Further, she remains invested in understanding mental health stigma, especially as it is related to African American and Latino/a/x American individuals’ avoidance of mental health treatment.

Teaching

Dr. DeFreitas has taught a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses. She has taught courses such as Multicultural Issues in Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Psychopathology and Ethics at the graduate level. At the University of Houston-Downtown, she most frequently taught African American Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Counseling and Psychotherapy, and Research Methods to undergraduates.  Dr. DeFreitas is invested in student growth and development.  She prioritizes knowledge that is relevant to the real world and helping students to consider ideas that are new and challenging.  Further, she strives to assist students in developing skills that will help them in their careers such as strong writing and communication skills and knowledge of issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Consultation

Dr. DeFreitas consults with school districts, hospitals and other institutions concerning engaging marginalized students in assessment and teaching, issues of racism and social justice, mental health stigma, and self-care. Her experience with communities of color—and how others perceive them—as a clinician, researcher, professor, and advocate provide her a unique perspective for understanding these populations.

Personal Life

Dr. DeFreitas lives with her husband and two children in Houston, Texas.  She loves reading, writing fiction and nonfiction, traveling, and enjoying outdoors.  March is her favorite month because she is a dedicated college basketball fan and she always supports her undergraduate alma mater, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Go HEELS! 

Connect with Dr. DeFreitas on LinkedIn, X, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar.

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

~Maya Angelou