Sara H. Qualls, Ph.D., ABPP
Professional Summary
Since 1984, Dr. Qualls was a member of the Psychology faculty. She served as Department Chair (1993-2000), Director of Clinical Training (1987-96; 2004-07), Director of the UCCS Aging Center (2016-2018), and Associate Director of Clinical Training (2021-2023). She taught primarily at the graduate level, maintained a lab of research mentees, and conducted research on the caregiver program within the department's training clinic, the UCCS Aging Center.
Education
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology with Minors in Adult Development and Aging; Brain Organization and Function, Pennsylvania State University, 1983
M.S. Clinical Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, 1979
B.S. Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, 1977
Areas of Interest
Mental health and aging, family caregiving, integrated healthcare, senior housing and wellness, technology and aging.
Teaching
Dr. Qualls taught PSY 1100 (Professions of Psychology), PSY 5220 (Psychology of Aging 2), PSY 6730 (Cultural and Family Diversity), PSY 6610 (Clinical Geropsychology: Settings and Contexts of Practice), PSY 6740 (Clinical Supervision) and PSY 6930 (Clinical Supervision and Consultation). She also trained students at the UCCS Aging Center to provide caregiver interventions.
Certifications
ABPP in Clinical Geropsychology
Professional Experience
Dr. Qualls is a clinical psychologist who has provided clinical in various settings including a private practice for 23+ years, in integrated care settings such as senior housing, and at the UCCS Aging Center. She also has served as an organizational consultant assisting with strategic planning for non-profits and academic units.
Representative Publications
Segal, D. H., Qualls, S. H., & Smyer, M. A. (2018). Aging and mental health (3rd ed). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
Qualls, S. H. & Williams, A.A. (2013). Caregiver family therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.
O’Malley KA, Qualls SH & Jacobs ML. (2022). Models and Interventions for Caregiving in Later Life. G. Amunson (Ed). Comprehensive Clinical Psychology, 2nd Edition. Elsevier.
Qualls, S.H. (2021). Family caregiving. In K. Ferraro & D. Carr (Eds.), Handbook of Aging and Social Sciences (9th ed.) (pp. 221-238). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
O’Malley, K. A., & Qualls, S. H. (2022). Validation of a comprehensive measure of the family caregiver experience: the Caregiver Reaction Scale. Clinical Gerontologist, 45(3), 503-513. Doi: 10.1080/07317115.2020.1774455.
Arora, K., Qualls, S.H., Bobitt, J., Milavetz, G., & Kaskie, B. (2020). Older cannabis users are not all alike: lifespan cannabis use patterns. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0733464819894922
O’Malley, K.A., & Qualls, S.H. (2019). Application of fidelity in tailored caregiver interventions. Aging and Mental Health. Published online 8-12-2019. Doi: 10.1080/13607863.2019.1647134
Plys, E., & Qualls, S. H. (2019). Programmed activity attendance in assisted living: An application of the theory of planned behavior with additional health factors. Clinical Gerontologist. Published online 7-29-2019. Doi: 10.1080/07317115.2019.1645781.
Bobitt, J., Qualls, S.H., Schuchman, M., Wickersham, R.H., Lum, H.D., Arora, K., Milavetz, G, & Kaskie, B. (2019). A qualitative analysis of cannabis use among older Coloradans. Drugs & Aging, 36, 655-666. Doi: 10.1007/s40266-019-00665-w
Moye J, Karel MJ, Stamm KE, Qualls SH, Segal DL, Tazeau YN, DiGilio DA. (2019). Workforce analysis of psychological practice with older adults: Growing crisis requires urgent action. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 13, 46-55. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tep0000206.
O’Malley, K. & Qualls, S.H. (2017). Preliminary evidence for the validity and reliability of the Caregiver Reaction Scale. Clinical Gerontologist, 40, 281-294, doi: 10.1080/07317115.2016.1198858
O’Malley, K., & Qualls, S. H. (2016). Development and preliminary examination of the psychometric properties of the Behavior Problem Checklist. Clinical Gerontologist, 39, 263-281. doi: 10.1080/07317115.2015.1121196.
Honors & Awards
Pikes Peak Leadership Institute, Mary Lou Makepeace Community Trustee, 2018
Society for Clinical Geropsychology, Distinguished Contribution Award, 2016
APA Committee on Aging Award for Distinguished Service to Profession, 2014
Colorado Gerontological Society Distinguished Pioneer in Aging Award, 2014
American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) Certification in Geropsychology, 2014
Society for Clinical Geropsychology, Distinguished Clinical Mentorship Award, 2012
CU Technology Transfer New Inventor of the Year at UCCS, 2009
UCCS Endowed Chair – Kraemer Family Professor of Aging Studies, 2006
Fellow, Gerontological Society of America
Fellow, American Psychological Association, (Divisions 20 and 12).
Bank One Community Service Award, University of Colorado System.
Cornelia Sabine Award for Outstanding Contributions to Psychology, El Paso County Psychological Society
Organizations
American Psychological Association (Fellow)- multiple leadership roles within Divisions 20, and the Society of Clinical Geropsychology (Division 12-Section 2), member, Division 43.
Gerontological Society of America - Behavioral and Social Sciences Section
National Council of Family Relations
Psychologists in Long Term Care
Psychological Society of the Pikes Peak Region
Representative & Recent Service/Leadership Roles
Intergeneration Foundation, Trustee
APA Committee on Aging (2009-11; Chair 2011)
APA Inter-Organizational Work Group on Competencies for Psychological Practice in Primary Care (2012)
APA Geropsychology Workforce Working Committee (2010-14)
UCCS Psychology Department Associate Director of Clinical Training (2021-2023)
Licensure
Psychologist, State of Colorado
