Established in 1991, Clinical Psychology of Fort Smith was founded by Dr. Phillip W. Barling and Dr. Richard “Rick” Murphy, Jr. Candace York, LPC joined the practice part-time about 10 years ago and has been practicing with the clinic full-time since June of 2022. Together, our expert mental health professionals have several decades of combined experience committed to offering qualified mental health care. As licensed psychologists and a licensed professional counselor, they each provide quality treatment to people of all ages, addressing a wide range of issues. Our practitioners are committed to maintaining professional and ethical standards that ensure quality care and instill confidence and comfort, while also providing effective treatment that addresses patient needs for confidentiality, security and respect.
Meet the Staff
Phillip Barling, PhD
Co-Founder of Clinical Psychology of Fort Smith, LLC, Dr. Phillip W. Barling is a licensed psychologist with over 40 years experience in the field of psychology. Dr. Barling has extensive training and experience working with adults, adolescents, children, couples and families. He utilizes an Integrative Therapy approach which employs cognitive-behavioral, emotional processing, interpersonal and existential techniques. Dr. Barling conducts a general practice with emphasis on relationships, self-awareness and self-regulation, adolescence and mental health promotion.
Dr. Barling has held faculty appointments with the Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Tennessee Center for the Health Sciences, Dept. of Psychology, University of Memphis, and the Dept. of Psychology, University of Arkansas Little Rock. He has also taught courses for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith.
Dr. Barling has published professional articles in the areas of brief psychotherapy, professional training, prevention, and program evaluation.
Degrees: Ph.D., Saint Louis University; Clinical Psychology, 1978; M.S. in Psychology, Saint Louis University, 1975
Professional Association Memberships: American Psychological Association (APA), Arkansas Psychological Association, Division of Psychotherapy, APA; Division of Independent Practice, APA.
Candace York, LPC
Candace York is a licensed professional counselor with over 20 years of experience in the field of mental health. Candace has had extensive training and experience in counseling adults, children and families. Her experiences include inpatient and outpatient treatment settings as well as school based treatment with children, staff and families in Arkansas.
Her overall counseling approach is existential and focused on helping clients find meaning and solutions to everyday challenges. She also uses cognitive behavioral strategies and play therapy. Her focus is on building insight to increase self-awareness which helps increase coping skills than can be used every day. She is open to working with all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.
Her education includes a Master of Science degree in Counseling from the University of Arkansas in 1997 and more recently a Child Centered Play Therapy Certification from the University of North Texas in 2020.
The information on this website is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be psychological advice and should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a licensed mental health professional.
Clinical Psychology of Fort Smith, LLC • 900 South 21st St • Fort Smith, AR 72901 • 479-783-0445
Clinical Psychology of Fort Smith 