Mary Alvord, PhD, on Building Resilience, Scaling Access, and Practice-Based Research in Real-World Settings

Research Matters Podcast

Dr. Mary Alvord is a clinical psychologist with over four decades of experience, known for her innovative work integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy with resilience training for youth. As founder of Alvord, Baker & Associates and the nonprofit Resilience Across Borders, Dr. Alvord has led a groundbreaking effort to merge clinical practice, research, and social impact.

In this episode, she shares how her early experiences as the daughter of immigrants shaped her mission to provide equitable mental health support for underserved communities. We explore her transition from private practice to conducting research in school-based and low-resource settings, her challenges navigating the grant and IRB systems, and her founding of a nonprofit to ensure long-term sustainability and scale.

Dr. Alvord discusses her emphasis on team collaboration, ethical imperatives for outcome research, and how she’s helping bridge the gap between evidence-based practice and community-based application.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

• Why Dr. Alvord created a nonprofit to sustain mental health research and services

• How early training in behavioral psychology inspired her lifelong research values

• The logistical and ethical challenges of conducting practice-based research in schools

• Strategies for integrating outcome research into clinical practice

• The importance of cultural responsiveness in designing and delivering mental health interventions

• How to create a team culture of collaboration and perseverance in the face of rejection

Tips from the episode:

On building resilient communities:

• Start with prevention and reach youth early — ideally within school settings

• Empower underserved communities by removing barriers to access

• Cultural relevance and linguistic inclusivity are essential in outreach materials

On sustaining research in real-world settings:

• Private practices can support research — if values and resources align

• Building partnerships with universities offers mutual benefits in research

• Establishing a nonprofit can open doors to grants and expand your impact

On leading a mission-driven team:

• Weekly research meetings foster continuity and shared vision

• Advisory boards and community members can help shape programs

• Perseverance is key — most grant applications and papers will face rejection, but the impact is worth it

Links from this Episode: https://alvordbaker.com/