Education & Degrees

• B.A. (Psychology): Pepperdine University
• M.A. (Counseling Psychology): Northwestern University
• Ph.D. (Counseling Psychology): University of Denver
• Predoctoral Internship: Colorado State University Health Network
• Postdoctoral Fellowship (Severe Mental Illness Research & Treatment): Department of Veterans Affairs, VISN 19 MIRECC

Dr. Jeffrey Rings is an Associate Professor of Psychology (Clinical Teaching Track), the Coordinator of Clinical Training, and the Psychology Clinic Director at the University of Colorado Denver. He grew up and received his undergraduate degree in southern California before moving to the Bay Area, where he worked at various youth shelters and group homes. Upon receiving his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University in the Chicagoland area, Dr. Rings then moved to Seattle where he worked for several years as a Crisis Services Supervisor for their county’s crisis/suicide hotline. He then moved to Colorado to obtain his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Denver (DU) and simply never left. While at DU, he also provided clinical services at the DU Counseling Center, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, and the Colorado State University Health Network. Following graduation, he completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Severe Mental Illness Research & Treatment with the Denver VA VISN 19 MIRECC.

Dr. Rings then was hired on as an Assistant Professor in the Ph.D. Program in Counseling Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado, eventually earning a promotion to Associate Professor and tenure. While there, he served as the Coordinator for their CACREP-accredited Master’s Programs in Professional Counseling as well as the Director of their Psychological Services Clinic. Further, he Chaired or Co-Chaired 20 students’ doctoral dissertations and served on an additional 50 doctoral dissertation committees there as well. Finally, he was the recipient of the UNC College of Education and Behavioral Sciences’ 2016 Outstanding Teacher of the Year. 

In his primarily clinically based role here at CU Denver, Dr. Rings is not currently accepting doctoral students to join his research lab.

Selected Publications

Thomas, J. J., Moring, J., Bowen, A., Rings, J. A., Emerson, T., & Lindt, A. (2023). The influence of stress and coping on diabetes self-care activities among college students. Journal of American College Health, 71(5), 1317-1322.

Mahoney, M., Rings, J. A., Softas-Nall, B., Alverio, T., & Hall, D. M. (2023). Homecoming and college transition experiences of military veterans. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 37(2), 173-195.

King, C. K., & Rings, J. A. (2022). Adolescent sexting: Ethical implications for psychologists. Ethics and Behavior, 32(6), 469-479.

Hall, D. M., Rings, J. A., & Anderson, T. (2020). Military life narratives and identity development among Black post-9/11 veterans. Journal of Veterans Studies, 6(3), 36-46.

Schenck, L. K., Eberle, K., & Rings, J. A. (2016). Insecure attachment styles and complicated grief severity: Applying what we know to inform future directions. Omega: The Journal of Death and Dying, 73(3), 231-249. 

Rings, J. A., Gutierrez, P. M., & Forster, J. (2014). Exploring prolonged grief disorder and its relationship to suicidal ideation among veterans. Military Behavioral Health, 2, 283-292.

Rings, J. A., Alexander, P. A., Silvers, V., & Gutierrez, P. M. (2012). Adapting the Safety Planning Intervention for use in a veteran psychiatric inpatient group setting. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 34(2), 95-109.

Rings, J. A., Genuchi, M. C., Hall, M. D., Angelo, M. A., & Erickson Cornish, J. A. (2009). Is there consensus among predoctoral internship training directors regarding clinical supervision competencies? A descriptive analysis. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 3, 140-147. 

• Psychotherapy I
• Psychotherapy II
• Diversity
• Advanced Psychotherapy Seminar