Dr. Leah S. Horvath, Ph.D.
Title:
Program Director, Illinois School of Professional Psychology
Associate Professor
Programs/Classes Taught:
- PSYD715/716 Professionalization Group
- PSYD745 Psychometric Theory
- PSYD788 Advocacy Psychology
Areas of Expertise:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Treatment of Individuals with Eating Disorders
- Exposure-Based Interventions for Anxiety Disorders
- Cognitive Processing Therapy for Clients with Trauma-Related Disorders
- Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies
Biography:
Leah Horvath, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and the Program Director of the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and her MS and PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Kentucky, with a focus on cognitive-behavioral treatments and clinical administration. Dr. Horvath is a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Illinois with a small private practice and many years working in Psy.D. education and training. She has specialized clinical training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), including completing her pre-doctoral fellowship in the DBT program at the Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital. Dr. Horvath completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the University Counseling Service at New York University, where she specialized in the treatment of individuals with eating disorders. Her clinical areas of interest involve Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), treatment of individuals with eating disorders, exposure-based interventions for anxiety disorders, cognitive processing therapy for clients with trauma-related disorders, and mindfulness and acceptance-based cognitive-behavioral therapies.
Dr. Horvath is active in professional organizations, having served as the Secretary-Treasurer of the National Council of Schools and Programs in Professional Psychology; as a member of the Illinois Psychological Association’s Legislative Committee, where she helps to organize the annual IPA Advocacy Day; and was a member of the 15th cohort of APA’s Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology.
Education:
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky
- MS, Clinical Psychology, University of Kentucky
- BS, Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Her clinical areas of interest involve Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), treatment of individuals
with eating disorders, exposure-based interventions for anxiety disorders, cognitive processing
therapy for clients with trauma-related disorders, and mindfulness and acceptance-based
cognitive-behavioral therapies. Her research interests include issues in romantic relationships,
therapy outcome research, and factors related to the positive professional development of
psychologists and trainees.
Selected Presentations:
Horvath, L.S., & Mann, M. (2026, October). Leadership and Advocacy: Exploring Equitable Ways to Develop Leadership and Advocacy Skills in Clinical Psychology. Paper presented at the Illinois Psychological Association Annual Convention, Lisle, IL
Vitalis, E., Biedermann, C., Horvath, L.S., Mann, M., & Rivers, A. (2025, October). Let’s Talk about Menopause: From Symptoms and Stigma to Empowerment. Paper presented at the Illinois Psychological Association Annual Convention, Skokie, IL
Horvath, L.S., Hines, H., Levitt, T., & Zabinski, M. (2022, January). Antiracism and Intersectionality Work Group: A review of one program’s efforts to engage with discomfort. Poster presented at the 2022 Midwinter Conference of the National Council of Schools and Program in Professional Psychology (NCSPP), Virtual Conference.
Zabinski, M., Hines, H., Levitt, T., & Horvath, L.S. (2021, October). Rising Waters: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples. Lighting talk and discussion presented at the 79th Annual Conference of the International Council of Psychologists, Virtual Conference.
Levitt, T., Horvath, L. S., Zabinski, M., & Luzzi, T. (2021, March). Multicultural and antiracist education: Why clinical psychology programs should adopt both into their curricula. Lighting talk and discussion presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for Women in Psychology, Virtual Conference.
Zabinski, M., Luzzi, T., Levitt, T., & Horvath, L. S. (2021, March). Are you truly 'woke' or are you putting on airs: A discussion and review of performative allyship. Structured discussion presented at the Annual Conference of the Association for Women in Psychology, Virtual Conference.
Newberry, K., Horvath, L. S., & Grant, G. (2021, January). Balancing personal self-care needs with those of the students and clients we serve in the midst of dual pandemics. Paper presented at the 2021 Midwinter Conference of the National Council of Schools and Program in Professional Psychology (NCSPP), Virtual Conference.
Horvath, L.S., Zabinski, M., Levitt, T., & Luzzi, T. (2020, December). Antiracism training: What works, what doesn’t and what we can do better. Lighting talk and discussion presented at the 78th Annual Conference of the International Council of Psychologists, Virtual Conference.
Bae, S. H., Horvath, L. S., & Rector, C. (2019, March). Does CBT transcend culture, race, gender and socioeconomic status? Challenges we face working with people who identify with multiple marginalized groups. Roundtable discussion at the Anxiety and Depression Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
Rector, C., Horvath, L.S., & Sabaz, A. (2018, October). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) experiential discussion. Invited symposium presented at the Illinois Psychological Association Annual Convention, Schaumburg, IL
Contact Information:
