Dr. Robert A. Pierce graduated summa cum laude from Springfield College in 1959. He studied Theology at the University of Chicago from 1959 to 1961 before coming to the University of Rochester for his doctoral studies. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rochester in June of 1965 and took a position at the Student Health Service in July. Bob was the first psychologist on the staff of what, several names later, has become the University Counseling Center. In 1973 Bob moved to part time status and has continued his association with the UCC since then.
Bob has a private practice, seeing individuals, couples and groups. One of his weekly groups has been running continuously since 1973. (When are these people going to get better?) He also runs a group for midlife men, and a group for women.
Bob has written about emotional expression in psychotherapy, treating couples, the use of humor in therapy, and also dreams. For some inexplicable reason his dissertation was on delay of gratification. Many years in personal therapy have failed to reveal the reason for this choice of topic. More recently, having given up his search for truth, his writing interests have turned to fiction. He's written a number of short stories and memoir pieces and is now working on a novel.
Pierce, R.A. Need similarity and complementarity as determinants of friendship choice. Journal of Psychology,76,231-238. 1970
Pierce, R.A. and Wolfe,T. Modification of group psychotherapy for use on the college campus. Journal of the American College Health Association. 18, 234-237. 1970
Pierce, R.A. and Schwartz, A.J. Personality styles of student activists. Journal of Psychology, 79,221-231. 1971
Schwartz, A.J., Pierce, R.A., and Bernard, H.H. Comparative effectiveness of three group-oriented interventions with college undergraduates. Journal of the American College Health Association. 23,114-123. 1974
Pierce,R.A. Dreams, Supervision and Feelings. Psychotherapy in Private Practice 4, 109-117.1986.
Pierce, R.A. Use and abuse of laughter in psychotherapy. Psychotherapy in Private Practice. 3,67-73. 1985
Pierce, R.A. and Nichols,M.P. Catharsis in psychotherapy. In Innovations in Clinical Practice:A Source Book Vol 4 Professional Resource Exchange. Sarasota. 1985
Pierce,R.A. Helping couples make authentic emotional contact. In The Heart of the Matter Johnson, S.M. and Greenberg,L.S.(Eds) Brunner/Mazel, N.Y. 1994
Pirece,R.A., Nichols, M.P. and DuBrin, J.R. Emotional Expression in Psychtherapy Gardner Press, N.Y. 1983