Randal Lawrence Williams, in fulfilling the requirements for a Psy.D., in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England, has written and published a dissertation titled, Exploring Subjective Cognitive Decline and Ageism: At-Risk Older Adults’ Lived Experience.
This research explored the potential for preventive care among at-risk older adults in the pre-clinical phase of dementia. A qualitative study, Williams’ dissertation explored how ageism shapes the lived experience of SCD among at-risk older adults. Williams conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 participants, all doctoral-level clinical practitioners, aged 60 to 79, and analyzed them using thematic analysis, guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping (TMSC).
Ageism pervades three ecological domains—intrapersonal, interpersonal, and systemic—contributing to emotional distress, behavioral restriction, and reduced healthcare engagement. This study extends the current literature on this topic by identifying ageism as a socio-cultural determinant of perceived cognitive health, shaping the outcome trajectory, and underscores the need to address ageism through clinical interventions and systemic reforms.
Williams brings a person-centered approach to holistic care, informed by three decades of mindfulness-based education and the study of traditional healing systems. Randal currently serves as an integrative care behavioral health clinician with Behavioral Health Network (BHN) and as an educator with Canyon Ranch.
Read and download Williams’ dissertation, Exploring Subjective Cognitive Decline and Ageism: At-Risk Older Adults’ Lived Experience, here.
