Meet Our Mental Health Treatment Specialist, John Pita, Ph.D, LSOTP-S
One of the many factors that make Solutions Psychological Services different from other Plano practices is that Dr. Pita has such a diversity of experience and expertise working with multiple populations that have significant complex psychological, social and interpersonal issues. He is a trauma trained specialist. He has worked for over 30 years with some of the most difficult populations the metroplex has to offer. Much of his experience has been with adults, families and youth with multiple psychiatric diagnosis, within conflicted homes with little or no support. He has intimate familiarity with complex trauma, broken homes, family conflict, drugs, gangs, medical issues, heartbreak and healing. Life stories and issues that would give the average person pause is where he has lived and breathed for over 30 years. What that means for you is there probably isn’t anything you could tell him that he hasn’t already encountered on multiple occasions.
Dr. Pita worked as the Chief Psychologist for Dallas County Juvenile Department where he was employed for 30 years. During his tenure, he developed the juvenile department’s Clincal Services Division into the largest, most comprehensive treatment division of its kind, for youth and their families in the state of Texas. Simultaneously, he opened a private practice with a focus on forensic and medical assessment and the treatment to adults, youth and couples. Following his recent retirement from the juvenile department, he entered into full-time private practice and continues to offer therapy and assessment to adults, couples, families and youth.
Dr. Pita completed his undergraduate degree and first masters degree at Hardin-Simmons University. He earned a Bachelor of Education degree in Counseling and Human Development in 1982 followed the next year with a Master of Education degree in the same field of study. He went on to earn his Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology at Abilene Christian University in 1985. He completed his formal school education with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Clinical Psychology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas, Texas in 1991. He has extensive training and experience in the treatment and assessment of traumatized youth (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)), adults and youth with numerous psychiatric diagnosis such as depression, and anxiety. He is well versed in treating issues related to conflict resolution, family conflict, substance abuse, communication skills, stress management, as well as in the supervision of mental health professionals, the creation, clinical supervision and management of multiple mental health treatment centers for males and females, conduct disordered youth, juveniles with sexual behavior disorder and medical patients. He is also a Licensed Sex offender Treatment Provider – Supervisor (LSOTP-S.
