About us

Nicolette Carnahan, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation who specializes in working with people who have chronic health conditions and disability. She sees patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with specific interest in working with people with spinal cord injury/dysfunction or amputation.Dr. Carnahan obtained her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from American University in Washington, D.C. She completed an internship in health psychology at the Central Virginia VA Healthcare System in Richmond, followed by a fellowship in rehabilitation psychology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.Dr. Carnahan’s research focuses on exploring the connection between physical and mental health conditions and how to harness this information to improve treatment. Her work has examined the psychological effects associated with conditions including chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, COVID-19 and cancer. Her research has also tested how to improve mental health outcomes by using behavioral and trauma-informed interventions.