Jeffrey S. Yarvis, PhD, LCSW, BCD, ACSW

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Get to know Licensed Clinical Social Worker Dr. Jeffrey S. Yarvis, who practices in Austin, Texas.

Colonel (U.S. Army Ret) Dr. Yarvis holds the position of Senior Professor of Practice at Tulane University School of Social Work, located in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Louisiana. He joins the faculty after a 35-year career with the U.S. Army, culminating in command of a Brigade and a Combat Hospital. Indeed, he was the first social worker in the history of the active-Army to command at such a prestigious level.

Wearing multiple professional hats, Dr. Yarvis is the CEO of Victory Leadership Consulting, LLC and is a high reliability organization functional subject matter expert to the Veterans Health Administration, contributing to executive leadership development, coaching, and strategic guidance. Simultaneously, he holds the role of an Online Adjunct Instructor at Fordham University, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Georgia, and a Visiting Professor of Social Work at the Institute for Clinical Social Work. 

His educational background includes a PhD in Social Work from the University of Georgia, MSW in Clinical Social Work from Boston College, MS in Executive Leadership from Norwich University, M.Ed. in the Integrated Study of Curriculum and Instruction from Cambridge College, MSS in National Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Indiana University.

Reflecting a life dedicated to service and excellence, Dr. Yarvis is a 35-year veteran leader in executive medicine, clinician, life-long educator, and military social work scholar in the field of psychological trauma. A transformational leader, he has built, restored, and grown large medical organizations and optimized their performance. His dissertation titled “Subthreshold PTSD in Canadian Peacekeepers with Different Levels of Traumatic Stress” served as springboard into hundreds of international and national peer reviewed conference presentations and over 120 publications on the deleterious effects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the reintegration of America’s returning warriors to their families and to campus.

In addition to being a Fellow of the American Psychotherapy Association, Dr. Yarvis is an active member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Society of Social Work Research, the Academy of Healthcare Executives, and the Council of Social Work Education..

Furthermore, he holds board certifications in clinical social work and psychotherapy, as well as serves on the International Military Social Work Working Group.

Social work is an academic discipline and profession that concerns itself with individuals, families, groups, and communities in an effort to enhance social functioning and overall well-being. A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) works with patients in order to help them deal with issues involving mental and emotional health. There are a wide variety of specializations the LCSW can focus on, including mental health issues, substance abuse, public health, school social work, medical social work, marriage counseling or children and family therapy.  Dr. Yarvis specializes in clinical care and hypnotherapy for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, rape trauma, military sexual trauma, moral injury, and combat-induced trauma.

Dr. Yarvis published a book on “Combat Social Work” with world renowned authors Dr. Charles Figley and Dr. Bruce Thyer and a previous book on “Subthreshold PTSD.” He continues to conduct research on evidenced-based treatments for PTSD and serve on the editorial boards of several peer-reviewed journals.  

His various accolades include 2022 DSW Professor of the Year at Tulane University, 2021 NASW Pioneer in Social Work, 2021 Research Professor of the Year-Texas A&M University-Central Texas, 2017 Global Health & Pharma Excellence Award in Veterans PTSD Research, 2015 DiversityMBA.org-Top 50 Executives Under 50, 2008 Uniformed Social Worker of the Year, 2007 US Army Social Worker of the Year, 1997 International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (Bell/Coyell County Chapter) Mental Health Professional of the Year, 1996 Social Work Consultant to the Army Surgeon General’s Social Worker of the Year, Military Alpha Designator as a Scholar in Social Work, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Combat Action Badge, and Order of Military Medical Merit. He was also elected to the Randolph High School (NJ) Hall of Fame for his international humanitarian efforts.

Happily married to his amazing wife, Laura, Dr. Yarvis has two remarkable children, Jacob and Olivia. In his free time, he enjoys both marathons and recreational vehicle (RV) travel. His favorite places to vacation include Amsterdam, New England, Alaska, Mexico, and Port Aransas, and his favorite professional publications include the Journal of Traumatic Stress, Health Care Executive, Military Medicine, and Social Work Research.

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