Biographical Sketch: LINDA WHITNEY PETERSON Ph.D, RN, MSN, MFT
Former Director, Behavioral Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, now Emeritus Professor


Educational Record:
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Department of Psychology, Post Doctoral Consultation. Union Graduate School, Yellow Springs, Ohio. Ph.D in Medical Psychology University of Washington, Seattle, Master of Nursing in Maternal and Child Health. University of Washington, Seattle, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Professional Experience:
Dr. Peterson's professional life includes consultation, administration and teaching. From l964 to l969 she worked on a U.S Children's Bureau project with severely Mentally Retarded Children and taught at the University of Washington. From 1969 to 1974 she was Director of Nursing at the Adler Zone Center for autistic children in Champaign, Illinois. In l974 she came to the Nursing Faculty at UNR, where she taught in the first nurse practitioner program for Nevada. By l978 she joined the Medical school faculty of Pediatrics and began a practice in forensic counseling. Later she was Director of Behavioral Sciences in the Department of Family Medicine. Dr. Peterson has published over 60 professional papers and is author of the book, Children in Distress: A Guide for Screening Children’s Art. First published in 1997, Children in Distress continues to be consulted by the medical & mental health communities as a reliable reference to identify signs of child abuse through artwork indicators. She currently writes a book on the same subject adapted for parents and teachers called: Between the Lines.

Personal:
Linda is complex and simple. She is steeped in Western medicine and is an advocate of alternative and natural approaches to health. She loves counseling and is equally happy in jeans and boots on the back of a horse. She's into natural foods and cooks chocolate chip cookies! She likes yoga and martial arts. She is understood best by her husband Rene, her 40 year old son, Blake and her 12 year old West Highland terrier. She is enormously proud of her husband, Rene’who works as CFO at American Valley Aviation.. Her son Blake teaches Chemistry at the University of Kansas and pursues research with an interface between chemistry and biology. Her dog MacTavish, shows up for client sessions, and offers his paw to depressed and anxious kids and adults in her practice. Now “retired” from formal teaching, Linda hikes the Sierras, supports a ranch for abused children and embraces programs that lead to empowerment. Meanwhile she sees clients in her Reno, NV private practice and offers group workshops. She devours books on tape and plays the piano for anyone who will listen. Few would want to!