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Calm Sea

About Me

Wandner, Laura_photo.JPG

I am a committed and compassionate clinical psychologist with advanced training and expertise in clinical health psychology.  I am licensed to practice in the state of Maryland and can see patients via tele-therapy in any of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) participating states (full list here). My interests are in helping patients to understand the mind-body connection, helping them to improve their quality of life despite experiencing chronic health conditions, and improving the way that they live despite stress and hardships. I specialize in health psychology, which focuses on promoting overall well-being as well as coping with acute and chronic illnesses. I specialize in treating patients with acute and chronic pain, EDS, headaches, and migraines.  I also have extensive experience treating insomnia, weight management, fertility, and managing life stressors.

 

While I have spent  the majority of my career working in hospital settings, I now seek to increase community access to health psychology services.  In my part-time private practice, I hope to continue helping you live your best values-driven life. I take a very collaborative approach to ensure that you feel that you are being heard and that your goals are being met. My therapeutic style is warm, genuine, and empathetic.  I remain present as we work on navigating your physical and emotional obstacles together. 

Professional Background

Education & Licensure

Active

State of Maryland

Licensed Psychologist. LIC#05533

2015

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Postdoctoral Fellowship. Rotations in the integrative pain clinic, opioid reassessment clinic, anesthesiology pain clinic, sleep clinic, primary care setting, and spinal cord stimulator evaluation clinic.  

2014

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Clinical Internship. Rotations in chronic pain, insomnia, psycho-oncology, tobacco cessation, weight and diabetes management, primary care treatments, and inpatient consultation liaison services.

2014

University of Florida

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Clinical and Health Psychology, Behavioral Medicine track.

2011

University of Florida

Master of Science (M.S.). Clinical and Health Psychology, Behavioral Medicine track.

2007

Connecticut College

Bachelors of Arts (B.A.). Education Summa Cum Laude in Psychology and Government

Active

PSYPACT

APIT Number. 13717

Employment

2019-present

2019-2023

2015-2019

2013-2015

Program Director. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institutes of Health

Red Cross Volunteer, Pain Psychologist. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Pain Psychologist. Health Psychology Department, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Health Psychology. VA Connecticut Healthcare System

2009-2013

Center for Pain Research and Behavioral Health at the University of Florida

2007-2009

Health and Early-Childhood Divisions, Child Trends

Organization Memberships

U.S. Association for the Study of Pain (USASP)

International Association of Pain (IASP)

American Psychology Association (APA) - Division 38, Health Psychology

National Register of Health Service Psychologists

Maryland Psychological Association (MPA)

Selected Publications

Wandner, L.D., Aklin, W.M., & Freed, M.C. (2020). Guest editorial: Psychologists aim to HEAL the opioid and pain crisis. American Psychologist, 75(6), 866-868.

 

Higgns, D.M., Buta, E., Heapy, A., Driscoll, M.A., Kerns, R.D., Masheb, R., Becker, W.C., Hausmann, L.R.M., Bair, M.J., Wandner, L.D., Janke, A.E., Brandt, C.A., & Goulet, J.L. (2020). The relationship between Body Mass Index and Pain Intensity Among Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders: Findings from MSD Cohort. Pain Medicine, 1-10.

 

Wandner, L.D., Fenton, B.T., Goulet, J.L., Carroll, C.M., Heapy, A., Higgins, D.M., Bair, M.J., Sandbrink, F., & Kerns, R.D. (2020). Treatment of a large cohort of veterans experiencing musculoskeletal disorders with spinal cord stimulation in the Veterans Health Administration: Veteran characteristics and outcomes. Journal of Pain Research, 13, 1687-1697.

 

Wandner, L.D., Prasad, R., Ramezani, A., Malcore, S., & Kerns, R. (2019). Core competencies for the emerging specialty of pain psychology. American Psychologist, 74(4), 432-444.

 

Prasad, R., Wandner, L.D., (2019). Psychosocial and cultural aspects of pain.  In Academic Pain Medicine. (51-58). New York: Springer.

Call: 301-525-9264

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