Dr. Leilani Feliciano joined the faculty at UCCS in 2007. She is a Clinical Psychologist by training and specializes in both geropsychology and behavioral medicine.  Dr. Feliciano teaches undergraduate courses in abnormal psychology (senior seminar) and the psychology of diversity. She teaches graduate courses in the clinical skills laboratory, psychology of aging II, cultural and family diversity (professional development II), and she supervises a clinical practicum rotation through the UCCS Aging Center and Peak Vista Community Health Centers. Dr. Feliciano serves as the Director of Clinical Training for the Psychology Department.

In addition to teaching and supervision, Dr. Feliciano maintains an active research program, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students within her lab.  Her research program broadly targets mental and physical health, cognition, and aging. Dr. Feliciano's primary research interest is in studying and applying behavioral interventions for clinical problems and mental disorders in older adults. Specific areas of interest include: late-life depression, sleep disturbances, managing co-morbid psychological and medical problems, and behavioral problems associated with dementia.

• NIMH T-32 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Francisco, 2005-2007
• Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, Western Michigan University, 2005
• M.A. Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Behavioral Medicine, University of the Pacific at Stockton, 2000
• B.A. Psychology, University of Southern California, 1997

Clinical psychology, mental health and aging, behavioral medicine, and behavioral gerontology

• PSY 1100 - Professions of Psychology
• PSY 3450 - Psychology of Diversity
• PSY 4280 - Seminar in Abnormal Psychology
• PSY 5220 - Psychology of Aging II
• PSY 5710 - Clinical Skills Laboratory
• PSY 6730 - Diversity of Culture and Family: Professional Development II
• PSY 6740 - Clinical Practicum (Peak Vista)

Feliciano, L., Johanson, K. A., Okun, M. E., & Walden, A. (2022). Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the emotional and physical health of older adults compared with younger cohorts. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(1), 45-57. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2021.1966561

Walden, A., & Feliciano, L. (2022). A virtual reality intervention to reduce dementia-related agitation using single-case design. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(4), 1044-1054. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2021.1954121

Okun, M. L., Obetz, V., & Feliciano, L. (2021). Comparison of longitudinal diary and actigraphy-assessed sleep in pregnant women. Sleep Medicine, 88, 149-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2021.09.015

Broxson, J., & Feliciano, L. (2020). Understanding the impact of caregiver stress. Professional Case Management, 25(4), 213-219.  DOI: 10.1097/ NCM.0000000000000414

Okun, M., Obetz, V., & Feliciano, L. (2020). Sleep disturbance in early pregnancy, but not inflammatory cytokines, may increase risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-020-09880-x

Renn, B. N., Obetz, V., & Feliciano, L. (2020). Comorbidity of depressive symptoms among primary care patients with diabetes in a federally qualified health center. Journal of Health Psychology, 25(9), 1303-1309. doi.org/10.1177/1359105318755260

Garcia, S., Feliciano, L., & Ilem, A. A. (2018). The stability of preferences in older adults with dementia.  Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 18(1), 78-91.

Ilem, A. A., & Feliciano, L. (2018). Finding your way home: A systematic investigation of shadowboxes for optimizing wayfinding in dementia care. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 18(1), 41-61.

Ilem, A. A., Feliciano, L., & LeBlanc, L. A. (2015). Recognition of self-referent stimuli in people with dementia: Names and pictures as prosthetic memory aids.  Clinical Gerontologist, 38(2), 157-169. doi:10.1080/07317115.2014.990602

Steers, M. E., Renn, B. N., & Feliciano, L.  (2014). Increasing nutritional adherence in an African American woman with type 2 diabetes. Clinical Case Studies, 13(4), 368-386. doi:10.1177/1534650113514291

Feliciano, L., Horning, S. M., Klebe, K. J., Anderson, S. L., Cornwell, R. E., & Davis, H. P. (2013). Utility of the SLUMS as a cognitive screening tool among a nonveteran sample of older adults. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(7), 623-630.

Renn, B.N., Feliciano, L., & Segal, D.L. (2011). The Bidirectional Relationships of Depression and Diabetes: A Systematic Review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 1239-1246.

Silva-Smith, A., Feliciano, L., Anderson, L., Hiroto, K. E., Kluge, M., Yochim, B. P., & Qualls, S. A. (2011). An interdisciplinary wellness model in senior housing. The Gerontologist, 51(3), 406-414. doi:10.1093/geront/gnq117.

Feliciano, L., LeBlanc, L. A., & Feeney, B.  (2010). Assessment and management of barriers to fluid intake in community dwelling older adults. Journal of Behavioral Health and Medicine, 1, 3-14.

Mackin, R.S., Ayalon, L., Feliciano, L., & Areán, P.A. (2010).  The sensitivity and specificity of cognitive screening instruments to detect cognitive impairment in older adults with severe psychiatric illness. The Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology, 23(2), 94-99.

Feliciano, L., Steers, M. E., Elite-Marcandonatou, A., McLane, M., & Arean, P. A. (2009). Applications of preference assessment procedures in depression and agitation management in elders with dementia. Clinical Gerontologist, 32(3), 239-259.

Ayalon, L., Gum, A., Feliciano, L., & Areán, P. A. (2006).  The effectiveness of nonpharmacological interventions for the management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with dementia: A systematic review.  Archives of Internal Medicine, 166, 2182-2188.

LeBlanc, L. A., Cherup, S. M., Feliciano, L., & Sidener, T. M. (2006).  An evaluation of the utility of choice assessments in increasing activity engagement and positive affect in elders with dementia. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, 21(5), 318-325.

Feliciano, L., Vore, J., LeBlanc, L. A., & Baker, J. C. (2004).  Decreasing entry into a restricted area using a cloth barrier. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 37(1), 107-110.

• UCCS Psychology Department Director of Clinical Training (2017-Present)
• UCCS Psychology Department Director of the Geropsychology Clinical PhD Program (2016-2017)
• President of the Psychological Society of the Pikes Peak Region (2013-2015)

• Psychologist, State of Colorado
• Credentialed Provider, Peak Vista Community Health Center

Leilani Feliciano, PhD