Ayorkor Gaba, Psy.D.
Ayorkor Gaba, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. She serves as the director of the Behavioral Health Equity Advancement Lab and co-director of the Equity Division at the Massachusetts Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts.
Dr. Gaba specializes in co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (COD) and its treatment. Through direct care, research, and training, her work aims to enhance behavioral health care and support for system-impacted individuals and their families. Her recent research centers community engagement to identify and address multi-level barriers contributing to racial and ethnic disparities in access, engagement, and outcomes in recovery courts. Dr. Gaba trains behavioral health providers, criminal legal system staff, recovery coaches, and students in trauma- and culturally informed approaches to COD care.
In addition, she is the Column Editor for the Research, Community, & Services Partnerships column in the Psychiatric Services journal. Dr. Gaba is an appointed American Psychological Association (APA) NGO representative to the United Nations.
