Mary K. MacDonald

Mary K. MacDonald, M.A., M.S. – Mary is a PhD candidate in School Psychology at the University of Kentucky and an intern in Weld Re-8 Schools. She earned her M.S. in Educational Psychology from the University of Kentucky, her M.A. in Slavic and East European Studies (Russian) from The Ohio State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Capital University. Her clinical interests include advanced assessment, with a focus on autism and ADHD across the lifespan, as well as suicide-focused care interventions with people experiencing thoughts of suicide. Her approach to both focuses on creating a collaborative, solution-focused space to help clients feel like a partner in their own care.

Her strong interest in suicide prevention practices led to her dissertation, titled “Training Mental Health Professionals in Suicide Prevention: A Focus on Current Practices in School Psychology Graduate Programs,” where she explored how mental health professionals in general, and how school psychologists in particular, receive training to work with clients thinking about suicide. Her other research focuses on classroom interventions for students with ADHD, mental health challenges affecting farmers, and suicide prevention strategies in rural areas.