Abby Girard, PsyD

Abby Girard, PsyD, is an assistant professor and the coordinator of the Relationship and Sex Therapy Program. She was the second Michael E. Metz postdoctoral fellow at the Program in Human Sexuality, with research and clinical work centered on couples’ sexual health. Her dissertation research focused on the role of infidelity typologies in predicting attachment anxiety and avoidance. Her clinical training has included psychotherapy experience in community counseling centers, outpatient sexual medicine clinics, and treating individuals and couples in private practice.

Dr. Girard’s areas of interest include sexual health and functioning, sexual desire discrepancy, compulsive sexual behavior, gender and sexual identity development, couples/relationship intimacy concerns, sexual trauma/abuse recovery, and social justice advocacy. Dr. Girard received her MA in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego, and her Psy.D. in Marital and Family Therapy from Alliant International University. 

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Girard, A., Connor, J.J., Wooley, S. (in press). An exploratory study of the role of infidelity typologies in predicting attachment anxiety and avoidance. Submitted to Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, January 29, 2018.

Girard, A., & Woolley, S. (2016). Using Emotionally Focused Therapy to treat sexual desire discrepancy in couples. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. doi: 10.1080/0092623x.2106.1263703

Girard, A., & Brownlee, A. (2015). Assessment guidelines and clinical implications for therapists working with couples in sexually open marriages. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 30, 1–13. doi:10.1080/14681994.2015.1028352