Dr. Julia Buch Wamstad, Psy.D.

• adapting to the many changes and challenges brought on by Covid-19
• parenting a child with a complex medical diagnosis or catastrophic injury
• adjusting to life after a complex medical diagnosis or catastrophic injury
• struggling with loss or grief
• challenges that stem from navigating various transitions and changes in life

I help my patients increase “psychological flexibility” using an inclusive, culturally-relevant, and evidence-based approach to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). I believe helping patients discover their values and goals is an essential step towards living in the present moment, even with the challenges that life inevitably brings. Living in the present moment means embracing your thoughts and feelings rather than fighting or feeling guilty for them. When you accept the things that are out of your control and commit to facing problems instead of running from them, you are able to focus your energy on actions that enrich your life. My goal in therapy is to help patients better define what enriches their lives and act in ways that are consistent with values that are most important to them. In combination, these approaches help patients experience less distress and more wellbeing, even in the face of on-going or new challenges.

At this time, I am doing exclusively telehealth using our secure portal. I have received specialized training on how to most effectively and ethically conduct telehealth. 

I am fully licensed as a psychologist in GA.

As a PsyPact member psychologist, I am permitted to provide therapy via telehealth to patients in the following states: AL, AZ, AR, CO, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, CT, DE, District of Columbia, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, & WY. I am based in GA.  

MY AVAILABILITY

I see patients between the hours of 9am-2pm via telehealth. I do not currently offer in-person services.

MY EXPERIENCE

In my career, I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings, including a children’s hospital, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, schools, a college counseling center, and a private practice. As a clinical health psychologist, I was trained to understand acute and chronic mental illness as well as the complex interplay between mind and body to work with pediatric and adult patients in various stages of health and wellness as well as disease and disability. In addition to my clinical experience, I have been part of research teams studying the impact of traumatic brain injury on neurocognition and quality of life; my presentations and publications are listed below.

Here are more details about my professional training, and experiences…

ACADEMIC TRAINING

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Health Psychology

University of Virginia Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics

Psy.D., Clinical Psychology

Xavier University

B.A., Psychology; minor in German

Emory University

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

MEMBER, Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Wamstad, J.B., Norwood, K.W., Rogol, A.D., Gurka, M.J., DeBoer, M.D., Blackman, J.A., Buck, M.L., Kuperminc, M.N., Darring, J.G., Patrick, P.D. (2013). Neuropsychological recovery and quality of life in children and adolescents with growth hormone deficiency following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury.

Wamstad, J.B., Cantore, L., Norwood, K., Darring, J., Blackman, J., Patrick, P.D. (2010, Issue 4). Comparison of the very young child (ages 0 through 5) with the young child (ages 6 through 10) in a prolonged low response state following severe brain injury. International NeuroTrauma Letter.

Norwood, K.W., DeBoer, M .D., Gurka, M.J., Kuperminc, M.N., Rogol, A.D., Blackman, J.A., Wamstad, J.B., Buck, M.L., Patrick, P.D. (2010). Traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents: Surveillance for Pituitary Dysfunction. Clinical Pediatrics.

Patrick, P.D., Wamstad, J.B., Norwood, K.W., Darring, J.G., Cantore, L., Blackman, J.A. (2009). Descriptive Analysis of Children and Adolescents in a Low Response State Following Severe Brain Injury. International Brain Injury Association Newsletter.

Patrick, P.D., Wamstad, J.B., Mabry, J.L., Smith-Janik, S.B., Gurka, M.J., Buck, M.L., Blackman, J.A. (2009). Assessing the relationship between the WNSSP and therapeutic participation in adolescents in low response states following severe traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 23(6):528-534

Norwood, K.W., & Wamstad, J.B. (2009). Post acute care of low response children and adolescents: A review of current practices. Brain Injury Professional, 6(1), 12-15.

PRESENTATIONS:

Reed, B. & Wamstad, J.B. (2017, December). OBGYN Psychology. Workshop presented for the Georgia Psychological Association, Atlanta, GA.

Wamstad, J.B., Schultz, J.R., & O’Donnell, J.R. (2007, August). A quantitative and qualitative analysis of passive versus aggressive panhandlers. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

Anderson, C., Jenkins, C., Buch, J., & Muller, C. (2006). Formations of power and resistance: A feminist response to sexual harassment and assault at Xavier University. Paper presented at the meeting of the National Women’s Studies Association, Oakland, CA.

Buch, J. (2006). I beg to differ: a quantitative and qualitative analysis of passive versus aggressive panhandlers. Presented at Xavier University’s Graduate Student Scholarly Project Exhibition, Cincinnati, OH.

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Cantore, L., Elgin, K.E., Norwood, K.W., Wamstad, J.B., Matt, C.K., Allaire, J.H., Patrick, P.D. (2010, September). Severe pediatric brain injury: Managing the prolonged low response state. Poster accepted for presentation at the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Washington, DC.

Wamstad, J.B., Norwood, K.W., DeBoer, M.D., Rogol, A.D., Gurka, M.J., Blackman, J.A., Buck, M.L., Kuperminc, M.N., Darring, J.G., Patrick, P.D. (2010, March). Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiencies in children and adolescents following traumatic brain injury: the impact on neuropsychological recovery. Poster session presented at the 8^th World Congress on Brain Injury (International Brain Injury Association), Washington, DC.

Wamstad, J.B., Norwood, K.W., Blackman, J.A., Gurka, M.J., Rogol, A.D., DeBoer, M.D., Buck, M.L., Darring, J.G., Patrick, P.D. (2009, September). Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiencies in children and adolescents following traumatic brain injury: the impact on neuropsychological recovery. Poster session presented at the American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Scottsdale, AZ.

Norwood, K.W., Kuperminc, M.N., Rogol, A.D., DeBoer, M.D., Wamstad, J.B., Gurka, M.J., Blackman, J.A., Buck, M.L., Darring, J.G., Patrick, P.D. (2009, May). Expected and unexpected patterns of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I deficiencies in children/adolescents. Poster session presented at the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital Annual Research Symposium, Charlottesville, VA.

Lamprecht, A., Wamstad, J.B., Patrick, P.D., Grossman, L.B., & Kaufman, D.A. (2009, May). Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of fluconazole prophylaxis in ELBWs. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, Baltimore, MD.

Norwood, K.W., Kuperminc, M.N., Rogol, A.D., DeBoer, M.D., Wamstad, J.B., Gurka, M.J., Blackman, J.A., Buck, M.L., Darring, J.G., Patrick, P.D. (2009, May). Expected and unexpected patterns of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I deficiencies in children/adolescents. Poster session presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, Baltimore, MD.

Dr. Wamstad, Psy.D. provides services to Atlanta CBT on a contract basis via Wamstad Psychological Services, LLC.