Rate My Professor David Haaga

David A. F. Haaga is a Professor of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences at American University, where he has served on the faculty since 1989. He earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Southern California in 1988, following an M.A. in psychology from the same institution in 1985. He completed postdoctoral research and clinical training under Aaron T. Beck, a pioneer in cognitive therapy. Throughout his career, Haaga has held leadership roles including Director of the Gray Psychotherapy Training Clinic from 1997 to 2012 and previously served as Department Chair from 1996 to 2000. He directs the Clinical Psychology Research Lab, focusing on empirical investigations into psychological disorders and treatments.

Haaga's research specializations include depression, cigarette smoking cessation, trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling), body-focused repetitive behaviors, and cognitive behavior therapy. His lab developed a stepped-care model to enhance access to trichotillomania treatment, supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, and tested a manualized Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) model. Key publications include Carlson et al. (2021), 'Comprehensive Behavioral (ComB) Treatment of Trichotillomania: A Randomized Clinical Trial' in Behavior Therapy; Rogers et al. (2014), 'Stepped Care in the Treatment of Trichotillomania' in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology; Falkenstein et al. (2018), 'Sensory Over-Responsivity in Trichotillomania' in Psychiatry Research; and Nelson et al. (2014), 'Validating Indicators of Treatment Response: Application to Trichotillomania' in Psychological Assessment. With over 130 peer-reviewed articles, his work has garnered more than 14,600 citations and an h-index of 56. Haaga has influenced the field through editorial roles as former editor of Behavior Therapy and associate editor of Cognitive Therapy and Research, NIH and NSF grant reviews, and service on the Science Advisory Board of the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors. He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and has received the American University Scholar/Teacher of the Year award in 2018 and the Award for Excellence in Doctoral Student Mentoring in 2015, along with the 1992 Faculty Honor Award for graduate teaching and advising.