Board of Advisors

Jim Spira, PhD

Jim Spira, PhD, MPH, ABPP, is a licensed clinical psychologist, board certified in Clinical Health Psychology. Dr. Spira is Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, and Senior Research Scientist, RTI International.  Dr. Spira received his MPH and doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed a postdoctoral clinical fellowship in psychiatry from Stanford University and a postdoctoral research fellowship in Neurology from Scripps Institute. He served on the faculty of Duke University where he directed the Program in Health Psychology before becoming Head of the Division of Health Psychology and Research Coordinator at Naval Medical Center San Diego.

Dr Spira’s current research focuses on prevention and treatment of combat-related disorders, including PTSD and mTBI. He has trained US Marines and Navy SEALs in arousal control and attentional retraining. Dr Spira has studied Zen since 1970, including four years in a Rinzai Zen Monatery, Tai Chi since 1980. He holds a 2nd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwan Do and is a certified instructor by the World Ranking Martial Arts Association. He is founding President of the International Movement Therapy Association, and taught movement re-patterning, bodywork, and breath work for 15 years prior to becoming a licensed psychologist.  He currently is the Director of National Center for PTSD, Pacific Islands Division.