Pollyanna V. Casmar, Ph.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
e-mail: pollyanna.casmar@med.va.gov
Phone: (858) 552-8585, ext 7837
Fax: (619) 297-0650

Biography 
Dr. Casmar provides clinical service to veterans and families with Spinal Cord Injury and Disease. Additionally, she provides education in behavioral medicine practices throughout the VASDHS and UCSD services with specializations in meditation, mindfulness, hypnosis, group dynamics and integrated interpersonal therapy. She enjoys supervising psychiatry residents and psychology trainees in a wide variety of cases, teaching trainees how to manage supervision and their own career development, and leading process oriented group experiences for the 1st and 2nd year psychiatry residents. Dr. Casmar also provides conflict resolution and communication instruction support for staff when appropriate.

Research Focus 
Clinically based interventions and the creation of manualized treatments for focused populations

Clinical Focus 
Rehabilitation/behavioral medicine, adjustment to disability, multicultural interventions, management of grief and loss, spirituality and its impact on healing, family and systems interventions, interpersonal relationships, pain management.

Selected Publications 

• Casmar, P. V. & Lang, A. J. (2005). Meeting the mental health needs of primary care patients: The "Play Your Cards Right" intervention. In Abelian, M. E. (Ed.), Focus on Psychotherapy Research (pp. 241-254).Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

• Lang, Ariel J.; Norman, Gregory J.; Casmar, Pollyanna V. A randomized trial of a brief mental health intervention for primary care patients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2006 Dec Vol 74(6) 1173-1179

• Lang, A. J. & Casmar, P. V. (2005, March). Meeting the mental health needs of primary care patients: Preliminary results of the "Play Your Cards Right" intervention. Presented paper, Anxiety Disorders Association of America Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.