DR. RAYNA GODFREY
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Licensed Psychologist Jacksonville

Dr. Rayna Godfrey is a licensed psychologist in the Jacksonville, Florida area. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and French from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. She received an M.A. and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Denver. She has passed the required national and state exams to become a licensed psychologist. To maintain her license, she must demonstrate continued competence, obtain continuing education, and adhere to a stringent code of professional ethics. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Florida Psychological Association (FPA), and the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). Members in these associations are held to high ethical and professional standards.

 
 

why a psychologist

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Successful therapy is founded on the therapeutic fit between you and your therapist. This fit encompasses the connection you feel with them and the trust you are able to place in them. It also includes the confidence you have in their training and their ability to understand you and ultimately help you. 

It is important to consider therapeutic fit as you decide who to see. Information about psychologists in general, as well as my background in particular, can help you determine if there would be a good therapeutic fit between us.  

A psychologist has a doctoral degree in psychology requiring an average of five to seven years of graduate training and research beyond the four-year college degree. This includes intensive instruction in the practice of psychotherapy and in the psychological basis of human behavior. As part of our professional training, we must complete a full-time (2,000 hours) supervised clinical internship in a hospital or other organized health setting and have at least one year of post-doctoral supervised experience before we can be licensed to practice independently. It is this combination of doctoral-level training, clinical internship, and supervised experience that distinguishes psychologists. As such, psychologist is a protected title, meaning that you cannot refer to yourself as a psychologist or represent yourself to the public as one unless you have been licensed to do so.  

I am licensed as a psychologist in Florida (PY9227) and Colorado (CO2908). In addition to my education and training, this required passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), a national exam that ensures knowledge in all areas that form the foundation of psychology practice. I have also passed state exams on the laws and rules specific to practicing in these states. To maintain my licenses, I am required to demonstrate continued competence, obtain continuing education, and adhere to a stringent code of professional ethics. I am a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Florida Psychological Association (FPA), and the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). Members in these associations are held to high ethical and professional standards.   

I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology and French from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. I received an M.A. and Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Denver. As part of my training, I completed practical experiences at the Jefferson Center for Mental Health and the VA Medical Center of Denver. I did my supervised clinical internship at the VA Medical Center in Nashville, TN, with an additional rotation at the Vanderbilt University Counseling Center.  

Also important to note, a psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) who has specialized training in the biological basis of human behavior and mental health. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication. Nurse practitioners (A.R.N.P.) can also prescribe.  In most states, psychologists cannot prescribe. However, I am trained to help you decide if it would be beneficial for you to see someone who can evaluate you for medication, as an adjunct to therapy.