Bruce Cappo, Ph.D., ABPP
Bruce Michael Cappo, PhD, ABPP is a distinguished American clinical psychologist, recognized for his contributions to forensic psychology, police and public safety assessment, and psychological diagnostics. He is the founder and president of Clinical Associates, P.A., and has served as a leader, mentor, and innovator across both professional and community platforms.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Cappo completed his undergraduate, master's, and doctoral studies in psychology at the University of Kansas, earning his PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1987. He also completed an APA-approved clinical internship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Professional Career
Dr. Cappo founded Clinical Associates, P.A. in 1992—now a large multidisciplinary practice with offices across Kansas and Missouri. Under his leadership, the organization has grown to encompass over 85 professional providers in psychiatry, psychology, social work, nursing, counseling, substance use and therapy, serving clients from childhood to late adulthood. Clinical Associates is an accredited site for psychology post-doctoral fellowships, internships, practicums and psychiatric nursing preceptorships, frequently hosting trainees at all levels.
Throughout his career, Dr. Cappo’s clinical practice has focused on three principal areas:
Forensic evaluations and consultation: He conducts evaluations for federal, state, county, and municipal courts, gives expert testimony, and assesses mental status, competency, risk, and more for both prosecution and defense.
Public safety and risk assessment: He provides applicant assessments, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and consultation for law enforcement and governmental agencies—including DEA, ICE, DOE, FOH, TSA, NOAA, Homeland Security, and numerous police departments.
Diagnosis and treatment planning: Dr. Cappo offers clarifying assessments referred by other practitioners on complex diagnostic issues.
He holds board certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in Police and Public Safety Psychology and currently coordinates their maintenance of certification process. He is recognized nationally for his expertise in these areas.
Academic and Leadership Achievements
Dr. Cappo is a Fellow and Past-President of the Kansas Psychological Association and the Kansas Association of Professional Psychologists. He has served on the University of Minnesota Press Advisory Committee for psychological testing and acted as an ad hoc reviewer for several peer-reviewed psychology journals. His academic appointments have included guest lectureships, professorial rounds, and psychology instruction at multiple universities. He has worked on sex offender evaluation and treatment programs, both at state and federal levels, including the Kansas Sexual Predator Transition Panel, and has collaborated on designing outpatient and residential treatment programs.