Dennis Tyrell, Ph.D.
Dr. Dennis Tyrell is a licensed psychologist with a specialty in forensic psychology. Since graduating in 2002, Dr. Tyrell has been employed at the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital providing services on the psychiatric units of the Department of Mental Health, which is commonly referred to as Metro Boston Mental Health Units (MBMHU).
Dr. Tyrell grew up in the Caribbean and pursued undergraduate studies at the University of the Virgin Islands where he graduated with a BA in Psychology. Soon thereafter, he immigrated to the Boston area and worked primarily in human services (residential care), before entering the master’s level counselor training program at University of Massachusetts/Boston. Dr. Tyrell did his master’s internship at the Community Center School (for youths with emotional and academic adjustment issues). On graduation in 1994, he was invited to join the clinical staff, and that year his colleagues recognized him with an award for outstanding service to the students and the school.
Dr. Tyrell earned his doctoral degree from Boston College. His pre-doctoral internship training was at the Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology (CMTP) at Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine. CMTP provides training and services in the culturally competent practice of professional Psychology and is regarded as a national leader in this endeavor. During the training year, he did major forensic rotations at Concord State Prison, Bridgewater State Hospital (six months each) and a year-long placement at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital. Upon completing pre-doctoral internship, he was invited to join the staff at Shattuck Hospital as a post-doctoral fellow and following licensure, he was appointed as staff psychologist. Major responsibilities at the Shattuck include coordinating a lecture series and providing individual and group supervision for 10-12 pre-doctoral interns and advance practicum students, conducting competence to stand trial and criminal responsibility evaluations, individual and group treatment DBT therapy/consultation, and helping to provide leadership for his assigned unit.
In his clinical work, Dr. Tyrell is fascinated with the life stories that help individuals to understand where they come from and where they are going. These life narratives can be a tremendous source of strength and pride or may undermine the goals that individuals want to achieve. Using a cognitive behavioral approach, he empowers clients to deconstruct the invalidating experiences and to frame them in a manner that brings insight, healing, and the power to forge ahead and successfully embrace life’s challenges.