Cassidy Tennity Ph.D.
Cassidy Tennity
Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor Hs
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Clinical Psychology; Clinical Research; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Forensic Psychiatry; Psychology
Professional Summary:
Dr. Cassidy Tennity has a PhD in clinical psychology with expertise in forensic mental health and implementation science. She provides psychological services across jail, juvenile detention, and outpatient settings, including forensic evaluations (e.g., competency to stand trial), individual psychotherapy, and psychological testing for ADHD and other clinical concerns. Her research and clinical work center on trauma-informed, culturally responsive care for underserved and justice-involved populations across the lifespan. Dr. Tennity is currently obtaining her postdoctoral clinical hours for licensure.
Education and Training:
- Internship, Doctoral Psychology Internship, University at Buffalo, Department of Psychiatry (2025)
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, The University of Southern Mississippi (2025)
- MA, Psychology, West Chester University of Pennsylvania (2020)
- BA, Psychology, University of Delaware (2018)
Awards and Honors:
- UBMD Cynthia Pristach Community Award (2024)
- USM Graduate Student Hall of Fame (2024)
Journal Articles:
- Tennity, C.L., Grassetti, S.N., Boniface, R.L. Charles, N.E., and Paprzycki, P. (2025) Do Externalizing Problems Impact Change in Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms for Youth in a School-Based Group Intervention?. School Mental Health (Jul) doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-023-09583-0
- Tennity, C. L., & Grassetti, S. N. (2022) Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes from a Non- Randomized Trial of the Free Talk Program in a Short-Term Juvenile Detention Facility. Children and Youth Services Review (Jan), 137 doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106470
- Bonfils, K. A., Tennity, C. L., Congedo, B. A., Dolowich, B. A., Hammer, L. A., & Haas, G. L. (2022) Functional outcomes from psychotherapy for people with posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders (Jan), 89 doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102576
- Grassetti, S.N., Tennity, C.L., Charles, N.E., Turner, E.A., & Barry, C.T. (2025) Parenting practices and callous unemotional traits predict behavioral infractions at military-style youth challenge academies. Current Psychology (Jan) doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-02203840-2
- Fergerson AK, Karnick A, Caulfield NM, Tennity CL, Capron DW. (2024) The Indirect Effects of Proximal Stressors Associated with Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Severity among Sexually Victimized Sexual Minority Women: A Cross-Sectional Path Analysis. Violence against women (May), 30(6-7): 1517-1537.
- Strong SJ, Charles NE, Bullerjahn MR, Tennity C, O'Dell C, Cordova E. (2024) Confirming Eight-Factor Structure of the Substance Use Motives Measure in a Sample of US College Students. Psychological reports (Jan)332941241226901.
- Charles NE, Tennity CL, Anestis JC, Kim H, Barry CT. (2023) Evaluating Measures of Externalizing Personality Pathology Traits in Black and White American Adolescents in a Program for at-Risk Youths. Journal of personality assessment (Jan), 105(4): 508-519.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Lee, T. T. C., Charles, N. C., Brown, K. L., & Tennity, C. L. (2021) Assessment of personality and psychopathology via multi-scale inventories. In: Comprehensive clinical psychology: Assessment. Elsevier
Professional Memberships:
- Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
- Society for Community Research and Action
- APA Division 41 American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS)
Presentations:
- "Trauma Symptoms in Detained Adolescents: Gender Differences and Implications for Treatment" American Psychology Law Society (AP-LS) 2025 Conference (2025)
- "Examining Personality Profiles of At-Risk Adolescents Based on Substance Use History" Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy (ABCT) 2024 Annual Convention (2024)
- "Trauma Informed Care in Medical Settings: From Recognition to Recovery" “Lunch and Learn” Behavioral Health Didactic Series for Hospital Staff at Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) (2024)
- "Does Emotion Regulation Mediate the Relationship Between Post-Traumatic Stress and Types of Aggression?" 2021 Annual Convention for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) (2021)
- "Iatrogenic Effects in Group Treatment: Do Externalizing Problems Impact Treatment Outcome for Youth in Group Therapy for PTSD?" Annual Convention for the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (ABCT) (2021)
- "The Mediating Effect of Risk Behavior on the Relationship Between Traumatic Stress and Disciplinary Infractions." American-Psychology Law Society (AP-LS) 2021 Conference (2021)
- "The Prevalence and Correlates of Trauma Exposure in Justice-Involved Adolescents" Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies 54th Annual Convention