Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Beitra is employed by Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists, the multispecialty group practice of Nicklaus Children’s Health System. She is a licensed clinical psychologist within the Department of Psychology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Dr. Beitra earned her doctorate from Nova Southeastern University and completed her predoctoral internship at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Beitra then pursued a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical child and adolescent psychology with an emphasis in pediatric health at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas. Dr. Beitra specializes in working with children and families affected by chronic illness and provides consultation, evaluation, and intervention services within numerous multidisciplinary pediatric settings. Her primary clinical interests include adjustment, coping, quality of life, and resilience in response to life-threatening diagnoses.

Dr. Beitra is a member of the American Psychological Association, Society of Pediatric Psychology, Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and she has presented at both national and international conferences.

 Dr. Beitra sees patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

The Department of Psychology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital offers unique therapeutic programs in both the inpatient and outpatient settings using a collaborative approach that enlists the cooperation of professionals, child and family. It offers consultations, therapy, and assessment services to children and adolescents, including psychological, psycho-educational, developmental, and neuropsychological assessments. The care team works with medically complex children and adolescents, as well as addresses a wide range of conditions that include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD,) anxiety, depression, adjustment disorders, bipolar disorder, developmental delays, psychotic disorders and autism, among others.


Publications

El-Behadli, A.F., Beitra, D., Zullo, L., Mbroh, H., Stewart, S.M. (2018). Measuring Thwarted Belongingness and Perceived Burdensomeness in Clinically Depressed and Suicidal Youth: Refinement and Reduction of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire. Suicide & life-threatening behavior, View in Pubmed

Beitra, D., El-Behadli, A.F., Faith, M.A. (2018). Measuring emotion socialization in families affected by pediatric cancer: Refinement and reduction of the Parents' Beliefs about Children's Emotions questionnaire. Journal of child health care, 22(2), 287-303. View in Pubmed

DeLucia, C., Bergman, B., Beitra, D., et al (2015). Beyond abstinence: An examination of psychological well-being in members of Narcotics Anonymous. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(2), 817-832.

Black, R. A., Yanyun, Y., Beitra, D., & McCaffrey, S. (2015). Comparing fit and reliability estimates of a psychological instrument using second-order CFA, bifactor, and essentially tau-equivalent (coefficient alpha) models via AMOS 22. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 33(5), 451-472.

DeLucia, C., Valenzuela, J., Heinowitz, A., & Beitra, D. (2013). Research methods and statistics. New York. Springer. EPPP Fundamentals: Review for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.

Suarez-Morales, L., & Beitra, D. (2012). Assessing substance-related disorders in Hispanic clients. New York. Springer. Guide to Psychological Assessment with Hispanics.


A clinician identified with a Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists logo is an affiliate of Nicklaus Children's Health System. All other clinicians listed on the website are in independent medical practices.