Meet Alaris Wiggins

Dallas Clinical Psychology Impact Fellow

Alaris Wiggins is a doctoral student in clinical psychology at The Chicago School, Dallas Campus, where she previously received her master’s degree in forensic psychology. A challenging childhood growing up in Detroit where she was bullied as a child and watched a family member descend into addiction inspired Wiggins to learn more about why people behave in destructive and self-destructive ways. Ultimately, these early life experiences helped her realize that understanding human behavior sometimes calls for more than compassion and empathy; it also requires scientific rigor and advanced clinical expertise.

As an undergraduate at Spellman College, Wiggins was active in a range of student-run organizations, including the Morehouse Spelman Pre-Law Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and graduated in the top 10% of her class.

While completing a master’s degree in forensic psychology at The Chicago School, Wiggins received hands-on professional experience previously as a behavioral health case manager and mental health technician. Her experience in these settings inspired her to one day pursue research into child trauma and neglect and their possible connections to psychotic disorders. Her experience in these clinical settings contributed her professional competence and allowed her to support and empower the communities she wishes to serve.

Wiggins will be entering the Psy.D. clinical psychology program in the fall and is looking forward to establishing new initiatives, fostering close faculty relationships, and implementing meaningful community-based projects.

“I seek not only to practice,” she says, “but to lead and elevate the discourse surrounding mental health in underserved communities and ultimately contributing to academia as a future professor and advocate.” As an Impact Fellow, she is determined that her interest will extends beyond supporting individuals to developing a new framework of comprehension that promotes greater equity within both mental health and legal systems.