Phoenix J. Cooper, PsyD, MS

Affiliated Programs

• Clinical Psychology (PsyD)

Education

• PsyD, Clinical Psychology Childhood Trauma (2022)
  West Chester University (PA)
• MS, Clinical Psychology (2020)
  West Chester University (PA)
• MS, Forensic Medicine (2017)
  Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PA) 
• BA, Psychology (2015)
  West Chester University (PA)

About Me

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my bio! To begin, I graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Psychology from West Chester University before beginning my graduate career. During my graduate career, I earned a MS (cum laude) in Forensic Medicine and a MS (magnum cum laude) in Clinical Psychology. Last, I earned a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology (PsyD, magnum cum laude) with a specialization in childhood trauma. During my graduate career, I’ve trained at CHOP, University of Pennsylvania, NYU, and Montefiore.  These diverse experiences have afforded me the ability to uniquely conceptualize human psychopathology and wellness from both a medical and psychological perspective.

In addition to my clinical experiences, I manage a part time bakery and holistic healthcare vlog. I bring all of these clinical and personal experiences into the classroom by offering an eclectic and inclusive model of teaching and learning. I take a developmental approach to teaching, understanding that all students are entering the classroom with their own individual experiences and level of education. 

I aspire to provide a safe space for all students to feel heard, seen, and respected. I know first hand how difficult being a student can be and believe that it is up to faculty and staff to provide a sense of safety so that our students can have a proper foundation to learn and grow. I am personally a lifelong learner that is always open to new ways of learning and adjusting to a constantly changing world. 

I will leave you with this quote: “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep the faith, it will all be worth it in the end". 

Research Interests

• Childhood trauma
• Childhood psychopathology
• Neurobiology of trauma and toxic stress 
• Behavioral biomarkers of toxic stress and trauma 
• Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) antibody/antigen extraction 
• Measuring stress hormones: cortisol, oxytocin, alpha amylase etc.
• Nervous system dysregulation
• Allostatic Load
• Intergeneration/Transgenerational Trauma
• Compassion, relational therapy, and Self Care
• Developmental disorders 

Media Expertise

• Childhood trauma
• Complex trauma
• Toxic stress
• Neurobiology of toxic stress & trauma 
• Childhood mental illness
• Racial trauma

Publications

• Grassetti, S. N., Meehan, Z. M., Beveridge, R. M., Teachman, B. A., Stanton, A. G., Cooper, J., & Daniel, K. E. (2023). Evaluating the “visit day” tool for supporting underrepresented and/or marginalized students in applying to doctoral programs. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 17(1), 43–52.
• Johnson, V.K., Cooper, J. Eleuteri, J. Miller, B., Stahl, D., Gans, S., (2019, March) The Nature and Context of Social Buffering in Emerging Adulthood. Poster session presented at the bi-annual meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Baltimore, Maryland.
• Johnson, V.K., Gans, S., Cooper, J. (2018, April). Triadic Family Concordance in Salivary Alpha Amylase Response to Challenge. Poster session presented at the bi-annual meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Clarke, A. T., Atuahene, M.K., Chaudhary, N.S., Cooper, J., Still, V., Foster-Drain, R., & Sudler Milligan, C. (2014, May). Adolescent sexual risk reduction in low-income housing developments: A pilot study of the effectiveness of an intensive summer youth development program. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Washington, DC.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

• Society of Research on Adolescence (SRA)
• American Psychological Association (APA
• Pennsylvania Psychological Association (PPA)
• Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, Graduate

Awards

• 2020 Graduate Dean Scholarship Award, Graduate Student Association
• 2018 College of the Sciences and Mathematics Research Award, Graduate Research Award