David Clayman, PhD

For 25 years, Dr. Clayman has worked within the WV Division of Corrections and Regional Jail Authority (now WV Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation) offering clinical and management services as a private practice psychologist. As one of the founders of PSIMED and now as Clinical Director since 2009, he has been responsible for oversight of professional quality standards. He develops programs, provides supervision to clinical staff and interacts with institutional and government officials. With his extensive career as a forensic psychologist and consultant to a wide range of private and public organizations, Dr. Clayman brings a unique expert skill set that covers issues from clinical interventions for individuals with complex mental health problems to program systems issues. His “no nonsense approach” to complex issues has become his trademark as he helps individuals, families, businesses and organizations define problems and implement practical solutions. For nearly 40 years, Dr. David Clayman has provided forensic psychological services in approximately 5000 civil and criminal cases. He has been qualified as an expert in both state and federal courts. In addition, he served as a Medical Expert in for the Office of Hearings and Appeals of the Social Security Administration for 15 years. Governor Joe Manchin appointed Dr. Clayman to serve on the Sexually Violent Predator Task Force and the Eyewitness Identification Task Force. He is one of two psychologists who served as an advisor to the Office of Behavioral Health Services for the WV Department of Health and Human Resources regarding forensic evaluators and quality of reports submitted to the court. His involvement with the Division of Corrections has included risk assessments/fitness for duty evaluations for problematic personnel as well as assistance in dealing with sensitive inmate issues.

After receiving his B.A. with Honors in Psychology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, he earned a Phd. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Vermont with specialized training in Medical Psychology. In 1974 he joined the faculty in the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry of the WVU School of Medicine where he attained the rank of Associate Professor. Since 1981, Dr. Clayman has been in private practice with increasing focus on forensic work that also includes conducting evaluations pertaining to fitness for duty, return to work, risk, and disability. He continues to maintain a clinical caseload providing pro bono clinical services to law enforcement, first responders and veterans. Currently, he is the Director of the firm Clayman & Associates, pllc which specializes in criminal and civil forensic evaluations. He continues to conduct workshops and training for lawyers, law enforcement, community organizations as well as other psychologists on state and national levels.

On a national level he is a founding member of the Division of Health Psychology of the American Psychological Association and the Society of Behavioral Medicine. Among his commitments at home, he is the founding president of Hospice Care, Inc. and served as the first chairperson of Mission West Virginia, the Faith-based initiative initiated by Governor Underwood. He has been the chair of the Small Business Committee of the State Chamber of Commerce, and was Chair of the Board of Leadership West Virginia in. In 2009 he was the recipient Mental Health Association's Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Tribute Award for his life-long contributions. He serves as media consultant to all local TV affiliates and has been tapped as an on-air consultant to The ID Discovery Channel and Vice Channel.