Dr. Angela Pia Chafee joined the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in October 2017. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Central Connecticut State University, and went on to complete her graduate studies at the University of Hartford’s Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology. She was awarded a Masters of Arts in Clinical Practices in 2009 and earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2011.

 

During her doctoral training, Dr. Chafee completed clinical rotations at Cedarcrest Regional Hospital, Blue Hills Substance Abuse Services and in the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. She completed the Greater Hartford Clinical Psychology Consortium’s pre-doctoral internship program, during which Dr. Chafee worked with children, adolescents and young adults at the Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) Child Guidance Clinic. She was offered the opportunity to remain with CMHA to fulfill her postdoctoral fellowship requirement for licensure, and then went on to become a staff psychologist with the agency before taking a job in the private sector.

 

Between 2012 and 2017 Dr. Chafee worked as an Associate Psychologist in a private practice where she provided a variety of psychological services to individuals presenting with complex and varied psychiatric issues. Dr. Chafee has experience with psychosexual and violence risk assessment. She provided training and consultation to multi-disciplinary teams serving clients with complex psychiatric presentations, personality disturbance, substance abuse disorders and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Chafee also completed forensic competency evaluations for children and adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. In July 2017, Dr. Chafee started her own part-time private practice, with a focus on treating couples with Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), the only evidence-based treatment for couples work.

 

Dr. Chafee started out with DDS as a Clinical Psychologist in the North Region’s Public Program Division. She conducted psychological assessments, performed functional assessments, created positive behavioral support plans and provided ongoing consultation to multidisciplinary teams serving individuals residing in public group homes. She also provided forensic services, including restoration training and related testimony, and she supervised doctoral level students interning with DDS. In February 2019, Dr. Chafee was promoted to Supervising Psychologist 1. In her new role, Dr. Chafee provides clinical and administrative supervision to psychology staff working in the Public Program Division. She is passionate about carrying out the department’s mission by encouraging collaboration and cohesion within teams, in the service of enhancing quality of life for the individuals we support.