B.A. in psychology from Spelman College
Paris J. Ball, Ph.D. (she/her) is a Postdoctoral Clinical Scholar Fellow at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia. Prior to her current role, Dr. Ball completed a pre-doctoral APA-accredited internship in adult psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medicine, where she provided individual therapy across various clinics, including general outpatient, eating disorders, women’s reproductive health, and psych-oncology.
Dr. Ball brings a wealth of clinical and assessment experience, having worked with individuals across the lifespan and from diverse cultural backgrounds on a range of emotional, behavioral, and relational issues. She also provides clinical neuropsychological assessments for all age groups, from early childhood through adulthood. These strength-based assessments are designed to accurately identify core issues, guide individuals toward the most effective support, and help them unlock their full potential. Her expertise extends to presenting and lecturing on topics such as managing chronic health conditions, women’s and girls’ reproductive health, and racial trauma.
Her therapeutic approach blends cognitive-behavioral techniques with Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and relational methods. She also integrates parent management training and Emotion-Focused Therapy in couples’ work. Committed to cultural responsiveness and LGBTQ-affirmative practices, Dr. Ball views therapy as a space for growth and empowerment, guided by Carl Jung's belief: "I am not what happened to me; I am what I choose to become."
Dr. Ball is a National Register of Health Psychology and the American Psychological Association member.
Ball, P. J., Scott, E. D., Latimer, A., Jones, M., & Leath, S. (2024). Black Students’ Mental Help-Seeking Processes During College Matriculation. Journal of Black Psychology, 50(4), 503-530. https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984241235502
Leath, S., Ware, N., Seward, M.N., McCoy, W.N., Ball, P., & Pfister, T.A. (2021). A qualitative study of Black college women’s experiences of misogynoir and anti-racism with high school educators. Social Sciences, 10(29), 1-29. https://doi.org/10.3390/sosci10010029
Leath, S., Ball, P., Mims, L., Butler-Barnes, S., & Quiles, T. (2022). “They need to hear our voices”: A multidimensional framework of Black college women’s sociopolitical development and activism. Journal of Black Psychology, 48(3–4), 392–427. https://doi.org/10.1177/00957984211016943
Leath, S., Ball, P., Mims, L., Butler-Barnes, S., & Ball, P. (2022, under review) Black girls’ negotiation of adultification bias and disciplinary surveillance from teachers in desegregated schools. Submitted to American Educational Research Association.
Invited Presentations:
Hair Care, Hair Loss, and Health of African Event, University of Chicago October 2023 Presentation Title: Managing the Stress & Mental Health Effects of Living with Alopecia
Women and Girls Health: Fact Vs. Fiction, University of Chicago Medicine November 2023 Panelist & breakout session leader discussing women and girl’s mental health development