Biography of Patrick McCawley Florida
Licensed and Board Certified Clinician
Patrick McCawley of Sarasota, Florida, is a nationally board-certified clinician licensed in Florida and Massachusetts With more than 25 years of professional experience, he has dedicated his career to providing specialized clinical evaluations, therapy, and counseling services to a diverse range of populations, including adolescents, adults, geriatric individuals, and those with histories of violent or sexual offenses. As a board-qualified supervisor, he has
guided clinicians through their internships, ensuring they acquire the necessary skills and expertise to handle complex clinical cases. His extensive experience across various clinical settings including psychology and counseling clinics, community mental health centers, residential treatment facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and forensic institutions has solidified his reputation as a leader in mental health care. His therapeutic approach is rooted in evidence-based methodologies, incorporating cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), behavior modification techniques, solution-focused skill-building, and insight-oriented therapies His commitment to providing individualized and research-supported interventions has allowed him to impact countless patients throughout his career positively
Comprehensive Clinical Expertise
Patrick's clinical expertise spans numerous specialty areas, allowing him to work with individuals suffering from various psychological, cognitive, and neurological disorders He has extensive experience working with individuals diagnosed with neurocognitive disorders such as traumatic brain injuries, post-concussion syndrome, sports-related head trauma, strokes, and conditions resulting from residual COVID-related syndromes His proficiency in treating neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and other age-related cognitive impairments, has been a crucial component of his clinical practice. His cognitive rehabilitation and retraining techniques enhance memory, attention, processing speed, mental flexibility, speech-language abilities, and executive functioning Additionally, his expertise in pain management allows him to support patients suffering from chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, neuropathy, headaches, and cervical-lumbar pain Beyond neurological conditions, he specializes in treating behavioral medicine issues, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, substance use disorders, anger management, stress-related conditions, grief, bereavement, men’s health
issues, and sports psychology His ability to integrate various treatment approaches ensures that each patient receives a tailored plan that addresses their specific mental health and rehabilitation needs
Professional Career in Mental Health and Forensic Psychology
McCawley's career includes working as a licensed clinician at Comprehensive MedPsych Systems in Sarasota, Florida, an esteemed organization comprising board-certified physicians, neuropsychologists, and mental health professionals. Before assuming this role, he spent 16 years at the Florida Civil Commitment Center (FCCC), where he conducted specialized clinical evaluations for sexually violent predators. His extensive experience in forensic psychology
allowed him to serve as Clinical Director of a secure treatment facility, overseeing rehabilitation programs for juvenile and adult sexual offenders. His background also includes serving as a Neuropsychology Clinician and Cognitive Rehabilitation Specialist at a medical practice specializing in neurosurgery, neurology, and neuropsychology.
Patrick's forensic expertise extends to law enforcement and correctional settings, where he worked as a psychological specialist and hostile tactics negotiator on a Special Operations Response Team (SORT) with the Department of Corrections In this capacity, he conducted forensic psychological assessments of violent offenders and collaborated with agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His role involved applying behavioral analysis methodologies to assess crime scenes and offender profiles, significantly contributing to understanding criminal behavior He has conducted comprehensive evaluations and psychological assessments of high-profile violent and sexual offenders within the prison system and forensic institutions His ability to bridge clinical psychology with forensic applications has allowed him to make meaningful contributions to criminal rehabilitation, law enforcement, and offender risk assessment
Academic Background and Research Contributions
Patrick McCawley of Florida's academic training has shaped his neuropsychology and forensic psychology expertise He completed his clinical practicum at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, focusing on neuropsychological evaluations for patients with head injuries, brain trauma, and various forms of dementia. His commitment to advancing the field extends beyond clinical practice into research, where he has contributed to multiple projects in clinical neuropsychology and forensic behavioral sciences
At the Florida Civil Commitment Center, Patrick conducted research on inter-rater reliability in sex offender evaluations. He contributed to data collection for DSM-5 classifications of Paraphilic Coercive Disorder and Pedohebephilic Disorder His doctoral dissertation, titled “A Neuropsychological Day Treatment Program for Evaluation and Treatment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury,” provided insights into the development of treatment programs for individuals recovering from neurological trauma His master’s thesis explored the role of neurotransmitters in alcohol detoxification, further highlighting his expertise in addiction psychology. Additionally, he contributed to research on the pharmacotherapeutic effectiveness of Lupron in treating cognitive symptoms of dementia and participated in data collection studies for the Wechsler Memory Scale-III. His scholarly work has improved assessment techniques and refined neuropsychology and forensic psychology treatment methodologies
Professional Affiliations and Industry Recognition
McCawley's dedication to professional development is evident in his active membership in various esteemed organizations He is a member of the American Psychological Association’s Division 40 (Society of Clinical Neuropsychology), the Brain Injury Association, the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and the Society of Cognitive Rehabilitation. His engagement with these professional groups ensures that he remains at the forefront of emerging trends, best practices, and scientific advancements in psychology. Through his continuous involvement in research, professional training, and clinical practice, he has contributed to the evolution of psychological assessment and treatment methodologies
Personal Interests and Hobbies
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Patrick maintains an active lifestyle and enjoys a variety of personal interests Since the mid-1990s, he has been actively involved in high-performance offshore powerboat racing, competing in kilo runs, shootouts, and poker runs Participating in these events demonstrates his dedication to technical precision and competitive endurance In addition to powerboat racing, he prioritizes physical fitness, engaging in weight, martial arts, and high-intensity interval training. His deep interest in sports nutrition complements his commitment to optimal health and performance. He also enjoys spending time on the golf course, where he appreciates the sport's mental and strategic challenges His diverse hobbies reflect a well-rounded lifestyle, balancing his professional expertise with personal passions that enhance his well-being
