Alexandria “Alex” Pruitt, PsyD
We were very pleased to welcome Dr. Alexandria “Alex” Pruitt to Pediatric Psychological Associates in 2015. Dr. Pruitt’s experience includes conducting psychological assessments and therapy in both outpatient and inpatient settings, including multiple children’s psychiatric and medical hospitals such as Johns Hopkins and Kosair Children’s Hospital. Dr. Pruitt has worked with numerous children, adolescents and their families with a myriad of clinical presentations including chronic medical conditions, eating disorders, as well as mood and anxiety disorders. In her practice, Dr. Pruitt focuses on building self-esteem and equipping children and teens with the coping and life skills needed to face today’s challenges.
Dr. Pruitt acquired specialty training in eating disorders through her post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt Health Systems in Towson, Maryland. She provided individual and group therapy to children, teens and young adults diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Avoidant and Restrictive Food Intake Disorder and Unspecified Eating Disorders. Dr. Pruitt utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy as well as interpersonal therapy to help ameliorate comorbid diagnoses of mood disorders, trauma, substance use and personality disorders. She also works closely with nutritionists and other members of the medical team to promote a collaborative treatment approach. Dr. Pruitt’s specialty in the treatment of disordered eating and related conditions will fill a much needed service in the Louisville area.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies in 2008 from Wheaton College in Massachusetts, Dr. Pruitt moved to Kentucky to start at the School of Professional Psychology at Spalding University. She graduated in 2014 with a Doctorate of Psychology with a specialization in health and pediatric psychology.
Dr. Pruitt and her husband moved to Baltimore, Maryland in 2013 where she completed her predoctoral internship at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She provided evidence based therapies to children with medical conditions and their families through the Department of Behavioral Psychology with the Pediatric Psychology Consultation-Liaison Service. She worked in multiple clinics including the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs, Sleep Medicine, Spina Bifida and Pain Clinics. She received specialized training in desensitization therapy to aid patients in preparation for medical care and procedures (e.g., MRI, EEG, injections/blood draws, pill swallowing, and bowel/bladder procedures). Dr. Pruitt provided cognitive behavioral therapy with children, adolescents and their families with a wide range of medical and psychological needs in order to improve coping, adjustment and management of his or her condition.
Dr. Pruitt is passionate about research in Pediatric Psychology and was an active member of the Health Research Interest Group at Spalding University. She also worked at the University of Louisville School of Medicine as a research assistant investigating the manualized treatment for chronic pain in youth.
