Dr Tim Cavell

Hi.  I’m glad you’re here. I hope this site is helpful to you.

I grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and I now live in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I’m a clinical child/family psychologist but I wear lots of hats.

I’m a husband. My wife’s name is Lauri and, simply put, she’s one of the most loving people I’ve ever met. Being her husband is like winning the love lottery: I have this wonderful prize and I did nothing to deserve it! One mother’s day I described Lauri as our children’s best hope for feeling the unconditional love of another human being.

I’m a father. We have 2 daughters and a son: Hannah, Hope, and Graham. All are in college, all are in their 20s, and all are finding their own way in life. For us currently, parenting is an interesting mix of the occasional big (and expensive) problem coupled with the joy of knowing your children actually like and respect you—as individuals.

I’m a practicing psychologist. I work generally with troubled kids, defiant teens, worried parents, or struggling couples. I’m the only male psychologist at my clinic, so I also work with “lost men”. That’s my term for men who have successful careers but who’ve lost their way in life and are also at risk of losing their wife and family.

I’m a college professor. I teach in the Department of Psychological Science at the University of Arkansas. I train doctoral students to be clinical psychologists, I teach undergraduate classes, and I have a program of research.

I’m a social scientist. My research focuses on ways to help children through improved parenting or helpful mentoring. Most of the work has focused on children who are at risk for later problems because they’re either very aggressive or chronically bullied (or both). I’ve published books, chapters, and scientfic journal articles and my work has been funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Institute for Educational Sciences.

I’m a mentor. I’m a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters and I’ve been mentoring my Little Brother for over 2 years. He’s way fun and I feel fortunate that he and his mother allow me to be part of his life.

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A common theme across these different roles is my interest in the “gifts” that come from being in healthy, caring relationships. There are so many good things–emotionally, physically–that are made possible when our relationships are safe, loving, and sustained. And these gifts can be found across a variety of close, meaningful relationships: parent-child relationships, sibling relationships, friendships, and romantic relationships.

But there are some of us who struggle to find, create, or maintain healthy relationships.

And most of us, at one time or another, can get caught in relationship snags—low points or scary periods when we feel wounded and there’s a chance that we could lose a valued part of our lives.

My hope is that this site can provide some measure of hope to those who are hopeless, a little bit of guidance to those who are lost, and plenty of affirmation to those whose relationships are usually health and growth promoting.

Thanks for stopping by.

-Tim