Meet Our Staff

Established in 1989, Clinical Psychology of Fort Smith was founded by Drs. Phillip W. Barling and Richard “Rick” Murphy, Jr. We are a group practice offering over 100 years combined experience committed to offering competent mental health care. Our clinical staff are licensed mental-health professionals who provide quality treatment to people of all ages, addressing a wide range of issues. As a group, we are committed to maintaining professional and ethical standards ensuring quality care that instills confidence and comfort while providing effective treatment that also addresses patient needs for confidentiality, security and respect.

Phillip Barling, Ph.D.

Co-Founder of CPFS, Dr. Phillip W. Barling is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years experience in the field of psychology. Dr. Barling has extensive training and experience working with adults, adolescents, children, couples and families. He utilizes an Integrative Therapy approach which employs cognitive-behavioral, emotional processing, interpersonal and existential techniques. Dr. Barling conducts a general practice with emphasis on relationships, self-awareness and self-regulation, adolescence and mental health promotion.

Dr. Barling has held faculty appointments with the Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Dept. of Psychology, University of Memphis, and the Dept. of Psychology, University of Arkansas Little Rock. He has also taught courses for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. Dr. Barling has published professional articles in the areas of brief psychotherapy, professional training, prevention, and program evaluation.

Degrees: Ph.D., Saint Louis University; Clinical Psychology, 1978; M.S. in Psychology, Saint Louis University, 1975

Professional Association Memberships: American Psychological Association (APA), Arkansas Psychological Association, Division of Psychotherapy, APA; Division of Independent Practice, APA.

Richard “Rick” Murphy, Jr., Ph.D.

Co-Founder Dr. Rick Murphy is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years experience counseling adults, adolescents, children, couples and families. Dr. Murphy’s general practice includes specializing in Post-Traumatic Recovery and Growth, AD/HD, anxiety/stress management, depression and grief, as well as performance enhancement and crisis debriefing for groups and individuals. Dr. Murphy’s theoretical orientation includes positive psychology, neuropsychosocial, and cognitive-behavioral treatments.

Previously, Dr. Murphy served as Director of Psychological Services with Western AR Counseling & Guidance Center and held a position as an adjunct clinical professor with the University of Arkansas as well as a contract psychotherapist with the VA Vet Center. Earlier in his career, Dr. Murphy served on the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Psychology (the state licensing board for psychologists and psychological examiners) and as President of the Arkansas Psychological Association.

Degrees: Ph.D., University of Arkansas: Clinical Psychology, 1976; Masters of Science, Marquette University, 1969

Professional Association Memberships: American Psychological Association, Divisions of Health and Exercise, Division of Trauma Psychology, Arkansas Psychological Association, Credentialed Registrant of National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, Charter Member of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association, Arkansas State Coordinator for EMDRIA, Humanitarian Assistance Program Crisis Volunteer, Founder of Imagine That…Performance with an Attitude, and Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Provider.

Richard H. Barrett, II, Ph.D.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Richard Barrett came to CPFS in 2003. Dr. Barrett’s extensive training and experience is in adult psychotherapy. He utilizes an eclectic approach primarily consisting of cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal and ego-state approaches, paired with hypnotherapy when appropriate. Dr. Barrett conducts a general practice with emphasis on anxiety disorders, mood disorders and addictions, as well as, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other functional disorders.

Before joining CPFS in 2003, Dr. Barrett served as Staff Psychologist and Director for the Adult Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program at Harbor View Mercy Hospital. Dr. Barrett is a past President of the Arkansas Psychological Association.

Degrees: Ph.D., University of Arkansas: Clinical Psychology, 1996; M.A., University of Arkansas: Clinical Psychology, 1994

Professional Association Memberships: American Psychological Association (APA), APA Divisions 30, Society of Psychological Hypnosis and 42, Psychologists in Independent Practice, Arkansas Psychological Association (Past President), American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Approved Consultant (C9239), Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis.

Anitra S. Fay, Ph.D.

Dr. Anitra Fay is a licensed psychologist and has over 25 years experience counseling adults, children of all ages and medical patients as well as athletes, performers and musicians. Dr. Fay has been practicing with CPFS since 2004 specializing in anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, medical illness, life transition/upheaval and performance enhancement. Her theoretical orientation is cognitive behavioral therapy.

Before joining CPFS, Dr. Fay practiced with the Department of Behavioral Medicine of Holt-Krock Clinic andSparks Medical Foundation, as well as independently with Ronald E. Huisman, Ph.D. and Anitra S. Fay, Ph.D., Psychological Consultants, P.A. Dr. Fay is a past president of the Arkansas Psychological Association.

Degrees: Ph.D., University of Arkansas: Clinical Psychology; Pediatric Psychology emphasis internship, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Professional Association Memberships: American Psychological Association, Divisions of Psychotherapy, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Society of Pediatric Psychology, Division of Exercise and Sport Psychology, Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, EMDR International Association and Arkansas Psychological Association, Arkansas Psychological Association (Past President); Credentialed Registrant of National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, CPQ Certification by ASPPB.

Janissa Jackson, Ph.D.

Dr. Janissa Jackson is a licensed clinical psychologist with five years experience in the clinical assessment and treatment of children and adolescents as well as adults. Dr. Jackson is joining Clinical Psychology of Ft. Smith after five years of private practice in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She has extensive experience in cognitive behavioral treatment and conducting developmental and psychological evaluations. In particular, she specializes in problems of childhood including: Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Autism and Asperger’s Disorder), working with children with chronic illness, aggression and behavior problems, parenting skills, school problems, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety and depression. Degrees: Ph.D., University of Arkansa

Degrees:Ph.D., University of Arkansas: Clinical Psychology; Clinical Internship with the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) located at Arkansas Children’s Hospital

Professional Association Memberships:American Psychological Association, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Society of Pediatric Psychology, Member of Psychologist of Northwest Arkansas