Bio

Clinical Focus

  • Psychology
  • Couples and family therapy, marital relationships, child and adolescent mental health, individual coping with stress and illness, influence of technology on family functioning, health technology innovation, team learning and design

Academic Appointments

  • Clinical Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Administrative Appointments

  • Director, Team Learning and Design, Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign (2014 - Present)
  • Chief, Couples and Family Therapy Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (1993 - Present)
  • Director, Stanford Advanced Psychotherapy Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (2012 - 2013)
  • Faculty, Stanford Center for Adolescence (1997 - Present)
  • Director, Family Therapy Program, VA Palo Alto Health Care System (1992 - 2016)

Honors & Awards

  • Award for Excellence in Teaching, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (2020)
  • Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium (2018)
  • Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium (2015)
  • Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium (2013)
  • Most Inspiring Mentor Award, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (2012)
  • Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium (2012)
  • Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium (2011)
  • Academic Faculty Teaching Award, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (2010)
  • Outstanding Professor of the Year Award, PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium (2009)
  • Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (1997)
  • Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University (1994)
  • Joan Sadow Award for Excellence in Teaching, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Medical Center (1991)

Professional Education

  • Advanced Externship, Family Therapy Supervision - Salvador Minuchin/Family Studies, NY (1988)
  • Externship, Ackerman Institute for Family Therapy, NY (1986)
  • Fellowship, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/Cornell Medical College, NY (1986)
  • Fellowship, Children's Hospital-Judge Baker Guidance Center/Harvard Medical School, MA (1985)
  • Ph.D., University of Colorado at Boulder, CO (1985)
  • A.B., magna cum laude w/Honors, Brown University, RI (1979)

Contact

    Fax: (650) 321-3470
    • Tel: (650) 723-5868
  • Stanford Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic 401 Quarry Rd MC 5722 Stanford, CA 94305
    • Tel: (650) 323-3219
    Fax: (650) 723-2269

Links

Research & Scholarship

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

Dr. Rait's clinical and research interests include couples and family therapy, the family context of health and illness, family-systems training in medical education, work-couple-family balance, the influence of technology on family relationships, health technology innovation, multidisciplinary team performance, and digital applications in the behavioral sciences.

Teaching

2020-21 Courses

Graduate and Fellowship Programs

Publications

All Publications

  • Whatever Happened to Couples and Family Therapy in Psychiatry? American journal of psychotherapy Rait, D., Heru, A., Glick, I. D. 2019: appipsychotherapy20190014

    View details for DOI 10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.20190014

    View details for PubMedID 31752507

  • Couples and family therapy in clinical practice. 5th edition. London: Wiley/Blackwell. Glick, I., Rait, D., Heru, A., Ascher, M. 2015
  • Including family members in caring or the patient with cancer: A family-centered approach Psycho-Oncology Rait, D. S. Oxford Press. 2021; 4th: 723?729

    View details for DOI 10.1093/med/9780190097653.003.0090

  • Live supervision: It?s all right there In S. DeGolia & K. Corcoran (Eds.), Supervision in psychiatric practice: Practical approaches across venues and providers Rait, D. S. APA Press. 2019: 113?119
  • Supervision of couples and family therapy: Learning to work systemically In S. DeGolia & K. Corcoran (Eds.), Supervision in psychiatric practice: Practical approaches across venues and providers Rait, D. S. APA Press. 2019: 219?226
  • Friendships and romantic relationships of college students. L. Roberts (Ed.), Student mental health: A guide for psychiatrists, psychologists, and leaders serving in higher education. Washington: APA Press Rait, D. S. Washington: APA Press. 2018: 121?134
  • The Impact of Postgraduate Health Technology Innovation Training: Outcomes of the Stanford Biodesign Fellowship ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING Wall, J., Hellman, E., Denend, L., Rait, D., Venook, R., Lucian, L., Azagury, D., Yock, P. G., Brinton, T. J. 2017; 45 (5): 1163-1171

    Abstract

    Stanford Biodesign launched its Innovation Fellowship in 2001 as a first-of-its kind postgraduate training experience for teaching biomedical technology innovators a need-driven process for developing medical technologies and delivering them to patients. Since then, many design-oriented educational programs have been initiated, yet the impact of this type of training remains poorly understood. This study measures the career focus, leadership trajectory, and productivity of 114 Biodesign Innovation Fellowship alumni based on survey data and public career information. It also compares alumni on certain publicly available metrics to finalists interviewed but not selected. Overall, 60% of alumni are employed in health technology in contrast to 35% of finalists interviewed but not selected. On leadership, 72% of alumni hold managerial or higher positions compared to 48% of the finalist group. A total of 67% of alumni reported that the fellowship had been "extremely beneficial" on their careers. As a measure of technology translation, more than 440,000 patients have been reached with technologies developed directly out of the Biodesign Innovation Fellowship, with another 1,000,000+ aided by solutions initiated by alumni after their training. This study suggests a positive impact of the fellowship program on the career focus, leadership, and productivity of its alumni.

    View details for DOI 10.1007/s10439-016-1777-1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000399805600001

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5397448

  • A family-centered approach to the patient with cancer. In J. Holland, W. Breitbart, P. Jacobson, M. Loscalzo, R. McCorkle , P. Butow (Eds.), Psycho-Oncology: Third Edition. New York: Oxford Press. Rait, D. S. 2015; 561-566
  • Primary Treatment Approaches in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Training ACADEMIC PSYCHIATRY Rait, D. S. 2012; 36 (6): 487?89

    View details for PubMedID 23154700

  • Family therapy training in child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship programs. Academic Psychiatry Rait, D. 2012; 36: 448-451
  • Opening steps: A structural approach to working with couples. In A. Gurman (Ed.), Clinical casebook of couple therapy. New York: Guilford. Rait, D. 2010: 232-254
  • Schizophrenia: A family psychoeducational approach. In C. Taylor (Ed.), How to practice evidence-based psychiatry: Basic principles and case studies. Washington: American Psychiatric Press. Rait, D., Glick, I. 2010: 225-233
  • A model for reintegrating family therapy training in psychiatric residency programs. Academic Psychiatry Rait, D., Glick, I. 2008; 32: 81-86
  • Reintegrating family therapy training in psychiatric residency programs: Making the case. Academic Psychiatry Rait, D., Glick, I 2008; 32: 76-80
  • Marital and family therapy: 4th Edition Marital and family therapy: 4th Edition. Washington: American Psychiatric Press. Glick, I., Berman, E., Clarkin, J., Rait, D. 2000
  • Perspectives on the therapeutic alliance in brief couples and family. In J Safran & JC Muran (Eds.), The therapeutic alliance in brief psychotherapy. Washington: Amer Psych Assn Rait D 1998: 171-191
  • Working with couples and families: A systemic aproach. In M O?Connor (Ed.), Treating the psychological consequences of HIV Rait D, Ross J, Rao S 1997: 225-269
  • Solving family conflicts, Fears and phobias in children, Chronically ill children and adolescents, Family therapy The Parent Handbook: Microsoft Network. Redmond: Microsoft Corporation. Rait, D. 1996
  • AN INFERTILITY PRIMER FOR FAMILY THERAPISTS .1. MEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS FAMILY PROCESS Meyers, M., Diamond, R., KEZUR, D., Scharf, C., WEINSHEL, M., RAIT, D. S. 1995; 34 (2): 219-229

    Abstract

    A seemingly "self-evident truth" in most people's lives is that one day they will have children. This universal, biopsychosocial assumption goes unchallenged until a couple faces infertility. Although the effects of such a challenge are profound, infertility is often treated as a nonevent--both within our society as a whole, and within the field of family therapy in particular. To assist clinicians who work with this numerically increasing population, and the many others who have been affected by their encounter with infertility in the past, this article discusses the biological/medical, psychological, and social factors that shape the experience of infertility in our society.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995RK04900008

    View details for PubMedID 7589419

  • AN INFERTILITY PRIMER FOR FAMILY THERAPISTS .2. WORKING WITH COUPLES WHO STRUGGLE WITH INFERTILITY FAMILY PROCESS Meyers, M., WEINSHEL, M., Scharf, C., KEZUR, D., Diamond, R., RAIT, D. S. 1995; 34 (2): 231-240

    Abstract

    The distress of infertility and its medical treatments are profound, and the effects reverberate in each partner, the couple dyad, and the couple's relationships with family, friends, and medical systems. Yet family therapists, like others in our society, are often uninformed or misinformed about the experience of infertility. While the legacies of infertility may be painful and enduring, they often remain unspoken, and hence may be overlooked in standard interviews. This article describes the experiences of couples struggling with infertility, most of whom have sought medical intervention, and it provides treatment interventions for guiding couples through this difficult and often uncharted terrain. Case vignettes derived from 2 years of this clinical research study are included.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995RK04900009

    View details for PubMedID 7589420

  • The therapeutic alliance in couples and family therapy: Theory in practice IN SESSION-PSYCHOTHERAPY IN PRACTICE RAIT, D. S. 1995; 1 (1): 59-72

    View details for Web of Science ID A1995UC99200007

  • Dimensions of work-family interface. Community Psychologist Cramton C, Rait D 1994; 27: 45-48
  • LIVES IN A BALANCE - PERCEIVED FAMILY FUNCTIONING AND THE PSYCHOSOCIAL ADJUSTMENT OF ADOLESCENT CANCER SURVIVORS FAMILY PROCESS RAIT, D. S., Ostroff, J. S., Smith, K., Cella, D. F., Tan, C., Lesko, L. M. 1992; 31 (4): 383-397

    Abstract

    Childhood cancer patients have a greater likelihood of long-term survival than ever before. This study examined both the perceived family functioning of adolescents who had successfully completed treatment for pediatric cancer and the relationship between family functioning and post-treatment adjustment. Eighty-eight adolescent survivors of hematologic malignancies were assessed regarding their family functioning, mental health, self-esteem, global competence, and problem behaviors. Contrary to expectations about the influence of cancer on these families, adolescent cancer survivors reported lower levels of family cohesion than the normative sample of healthy adolescents and their families. While current age, gender, age at diagnosis, and time since treatment completion were generally not associated with adolescents' adjustment, perceived family cohesion and adaptability were strongly related to post-treatment psychological adjustment.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992KG44800005

    View details for PubMedID 1289123

  • Family assessment in oncology settings. Cancer Nursing Feldstein M, Rait D 1992; 15: 161-172
  • The family context of AIDS. Psychiatric medicine RAIT, D. S. 1991; 9 (3): 423-439

    View details for PubMedID 1924830

  • Informed consent in the electroconvulsive treatment of geriatric patients. The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Levine, S. B., Blank, K., Schwartz, H. I., RAIT, D. S. 1991; 19 (4): 395-403

    Abstract

    The past 15 years have been marked by an increasingly stringent regulatory atmosphere regarding the administration of ECT, leading to delays in treatment and declines in usage. Regulatory changes requiring judicial intervention in clinical decisions are driven by the notion that only the courts can provide adequate due process protections when legal rights and clinical need conflict. We retrospectively reviewed the documentation of the informed consent process for 62 geriatric patients receiving ECT to assess the degree to which clinicians conformed to the spirit of the informed consent doctrine in a state that allows significant clinical discretion in decisions to administer ECT to patients lacking decisional capacity. In the eight cases in which the patient's decisional capacity was questioned, we found appropriate documentation of the patient's failure to comprehend his condition or the proposed treatment, evidence of a high degree of family involvement in decision making, and extensive use of outside consultants to document decisional incapacity and the need for treatment. Evidence of family participation in decision making was present for a high percentage of cases in which decisional capacity was unquestioned. Our review demonstrated high compliance with the procedural safeguards contained in the state regulation and with the spirit of the informed consent doctrine.

    View details for PubMedID 1786419

  • A FAMILY - SYSTEMS-APPROACH TO THE PATIENT WITH CANCER CANCER INVESTIGATION RAIT, D. S. 1989; 7 (1): 77-81

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AD32500008

    View details for PubMedID 2736406

  • The family of the patient with cancer In Holland, J.C. & Rowland, J. (Eds.). Psychological Care of the Patient with Cancer: Handbook of Psycho-oncology. New York: Oxford Press. Rait, D., Lederberg, M. 1989: 585-597
  • CHARACTERISTICS OF PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATIONS IN A PEDIATRIC CANCER CENTER AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY RAIT, D. S., Jacobsen, P. B., Lederberg, M. S., Holland, J. C. 1988; 145 (3): 363-364

    Abstract

    Data on psychiatric consultations with 58 pediatric cancer patients are summarized. Although most patients received DSM-III axis I diagnoses, adjustment disorder was diagnosed in 30 cases (52%). The patients with primarily depressive features were significantly older than those with anxious features.

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988M329100018

    View details for PubMedID 3344854

  • Family therapy practice survey. Family Therapy Networker Rait D 1988; 1: 52-56
  • Stress reactions in adolescent cancer patients. Leukemia Rait D, Smith K, Cella D, Lesko L 1988; 2: 194
  • Pediatric cancer: Psychosocial issues and approaches. Mediguide to Oncology Rait DS, Holland JC 1986; 6: 1-5

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