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Lara Ray, Ph.D., ABPP

Lara Ray, PhD, earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2007. During her training she specialized in the biological bases of behavior, including behavioral genetics and neuroscience of addiction. Dr. Ray completed her predoctoral internship at Brown University Medical School, where she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Addiction Psychology at the Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies. In 2008, Dr. Ray joined the faculty in the Department of Psychology at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where she is now a full professor. Dr. Ray has been actively engaged in research, teaching, and practice of psychology with a focus on addiction. She provides direct services to patients in her private practice and she leads a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Clinic for Addiction within the UCLA Psychology Clinic. Dr. Ray has over 200 peer-reviewed publications, mostly on the topic of addiction etiology and treatment. Dr. Ray has been widely recognized for her scientific contributions to the field, notably receiving the prestigious Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2017. Dr. Ray lectures nationally and internationally on the topic clinical research in addiction.
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Comorbidity between Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders (2 CEs) 
Friday, November 6, 2026 at 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM UTC
Lara Ray, Ph.D., ABPP
$59
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In this program, I will review the conceptualization of comorbidity, including its etiology. I will discuss why co morbidity occurs and how it impacts the course of treat ment. I will provide examples from the scientific literature on frequently comorbid conditions. I will then discuss the evaluation of patients with comorbid substance use disor ders and mental health disorders. This section will focus on considering a host of clinical data to inform treat ment planning for individuals with comorbid conditions. I will then spend time discussing the elements of success ful treatments for comorbid conditions. The premise of the session is that comorbid conditions should be treated concurrently for treatment to be successful. I will discuss examples of specific comorbidities (e.g., PTSD + substance use disorder) and review scientific developments to address these comorbid disorders. I will conduct this seminar by combining lecturing, question & answer periods, and polling tools to engage the audience.

session: 12691
Addiction: Conceptualization, Treatment, Clinical Updates and Provider Resources Home Study (2 CEs) 
Lara Ray, Ph.D., ABPP
$59
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 “Dr. Ray presented a great deal of information in a very organized manner and was gracious in answering questions. I look forward to attending more seminars with her! I learned more about the prescriptions used to treat addictions, such as naltrexone.”-Linnea T., Colorado

In this program I will review the conceptualization of addiction, including the biological bases for how alcohol and drugs alter the brain. I will then discuss evidence-based treatments for addiction, including pharmacological and psychosocial treatment options. I will review their evidence-based as well as provide practice advice on their implementation. Then, I will discuss the latest developments in substance use disorders, including vaping, cannabis use legalization, and the opioid epidemic. I will conclude by reviewing a host of free resources for evidence-based practices in addiction, primarily those offered by the National Institutes of Health. I will conduct this seminar by combining lecturing, question & answer periods, videos, and polling tools to engage the audience.

session: 7111
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Alcohol Use Disorder Home Study (3 CEs) 
Lara Ray, Ph.D., ABPP
$69
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In this program I will teach clinicians about the foundations of Cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol use disorder. I will then teach how these principles are applied to session by following an established (and publicly available) CBT manual for alcohol use disorder. I will review the treatment goals and techniques required to implement the CBT protocol with the highest fidelity. I will discuss each of the seven core sessions (including handouts) in the CBT program:
 

Session 1: Introduction to Coping Skills Training
Session 2: Coping with Cravings & Urges to Drink
Session 3: Managing Thoughts About Alcohol & Drinking
Session 4: Problem Solving
Session 5: Drink Refusal Skills
Session 6: Planning for Emergencies & Coping With a Lapse
Session 7: Seemingly Irrelevant Decisions
 

I will then review the optional sessions and I will conclude by reviewing a host of free resources for evidence-based practices in addiction, primarily those offered by the National Institutes of Health. I will conduct this seminar by combining lecturing, question & answer periods, videos, and polling tools to engage the audience.

session: 10964