Biographical Sketch
Dr. Rolando J. Díaz is a clinical psychologist in independent practice in Arlington, Virginia. He completed his undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, in 1991. He received his master's (1994) and doctoral degrees (1997) in clinical psychology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
During his professional training, he had placements at the Alexandria (Virginia) Mental Health Center and at Affiliated Community Counselors in Rockville, Maryland. His predoctoral internship was at the Woodburn Center for Community Mental Health, Fairfax County's (Virginia) main mental health center.
Dr. Díaz has been in full-time private practice in Northern Virginia since 2000. His practice is bilingual (English/Spanish). The bulk of his practice is devoted to psychotherapy with individual patients. He works with children, adolescents, and adults, as well as working frequently with families. He specializes in the assessment of learning disabilities in both English and Spanish, as well as ADHD.
Areas of particular interest/specialization include working with children and adolescents, learning disabilities assessment, bilingualism and acculturation, men’s issues, post-deployment adjustment for members of the Armed Services, and the clinical needs of Roman Catholic clergy. He also works with language minority clients (mostly recent immigrants), often through local social service agencies.
In addition to his private practice, Dr. Díaz has taught doctoral-level courses in local graduate programs. He lectured on issues of assessment and cultural diversity at the American School of Professional Psychology/Argosy University. He also taught the Practicum in Assessment in the Catholic University of America's Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program for several years, and several courses on bereavement and on counseling for the Diaconate Formation program of the Archdiocese of Washington.
Dr. Díaz is available for presentations to the community. Past presentations include a mental health primer for the judges, staff, attorneys, clinicians, and probation officers of the Alexandria Best Practices Juvenile Court; a presentation on cultural awareness in working with immigrants and refugees for the National Association of Social Workers (DC Metro); mulitple presentations on culture and Spanish-language patients for the mental health staff of the St. Luke's Institute in Hyattsville, Maryland; and presentations by invitation on attachment and on understanding mental health assessment reports for the Virginia State CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocate) Conference. Dr. Díaz has presented on working with immigrant populations at the Virginia State-Wide Best Practices Courts Conference in Roanoke, Virginia and to the Association of Practicing Psychologists, in Silver Spring, Maryland.
In addition to his private practice, Dr. Díaz is an avid runner and has completed four marathons (Marine Corps Marathon three times and the Chicago Marathon once), nine Ragnar Relays, and many half-marathons. He provides pro-bono therapy for members of the U.S. military through Give an Hour. He coached youth soccer for seven years. He was a scout leader for 15 years, including serving as the scoutmaster for his sons' Boy Scout troop. In scouting, he also led high-adventure trips to Florida Sea Base, St. Thomas (USVI) Sea Base, the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, and Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He is the proud father of two Eagle Scouts.