Graduate Students
Juliana Restivo Haney (1st Year)
I am broadly interested in improving mental health care for new mothers during the perinatal period through understanding risk factors, improving prevention/screening programs, and increasing awareness of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders during the perinatal period. I am currently planning to research the prevalence of anxiety, OCD, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder during a subsequent pregnancy after experiencing a previous pregnancy loss. I am also passionate about multicultural mental health and increasing access to and awareness of evidence-based psychological treatments for vulnerable and underserved populations in areas with historically limited access to mental health care.
In my free time I like to cook new recipes, spend time by the ocean/lake, try new restaurants, binge watch TV comedies and dramas, watch hockey/baseball/football games, and spend time with my husband, family, and friends!
I am broadly interested in improving mental health care for new mothers during the perinatal period through understanding risk factors, improving prevention/screening programs, and increasing awareness of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders during the perinatal period. I am currently planning to research the prevalence of anxiety, OCD, and/or post-traumatic stress disorder during a subsequent pregnancy after experiencing a previous pregnancy loss. I am also passionate about multicultural mental health and increasing access to and awareness of evidence-based psychological treatments for vulnerable and underserved populations in areas with historically limited access to mental health care.
In my free time I like to cook new recipes, spend time by the ocean/lake, try new restaurants, binge watch TV comedies and dramas, watch hockey/baseball/football games, and spend time with my husband, family, and friends!
Anishka Jean (2nd Year)
I am interested in understanding transdiagnostic risk factors that could help explain the development and maintenance of anxiety-related disorders, with a focus on perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety sensitivity. Relatedly, I am also interested in the role of perfectionism in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder. In addition, I am interested in ways to increase access to evidence-based treatments to underserved populations.
In my free time, I love to (stress) bake, spend time with my cat, Sushi, chase sunsets, watch reality TV, and listen to 80s music! I'm also working on growing my record collection.
I am interested in understanding transdiagnostic risk factors that could help explain the development and maintenance of anxiety-related disorders, with a focus on perfectionism, intolerance of uncertainty, and anxiety sensitivity. Relatedly, I am also interested in the role of perfectionism in the maintenance of social anxiety disorder. In addition, I am interested in ways to increase access to evidence-based treatments to underserved populations.
In my free time, I love to (stress) bake, spend time with my cat, Sushi, chase sunsets, watch reality TV, and listen to 80s music! I'm also working on growing my record collection.
Grace Wheeler (2nd Year)
My research interests involve the treatment of anxiety disorders with cognitive-based treatments, such as cognitive bias modification interventions. I am particularly interested in exploring emotion recognition in anxiety, and developing interventions to target incorrect emotion recognition.
In my free time, I enjoy being outside, hiking, watching the latest British crime miniseries, and finding dogs (and cats!) to pet.
My research interests involve the treatment of anxiety disorders with cognitive-based treatments, such as cognitive bias modification interventions. I am particularly interested in exploring emotion recognition in anxiety, and developing interventions to target incorrect emotion recognition.
In my free time, I enjoy being outside, hiking, watching the latest British crime miniseries, and finding dogs (and cats!) to pet.
Kaley Potter (2nd Year)
I am interested in moderating and mediating variables in personality disorder severity, interpretation bias and modification in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and the role of inner monologue activity in psychopathology severity. Additionally, I am interested in developing efficacious and evidence-based treatment options for ASPD and working with forensic populations.
In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, being outside, and spending time with my lovely cohort, friends, family, and cat.
I am interested in moderating and mediating variables in personality disorder severity, interpretation bias and modification in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), and the role of inner monologue activity in psychopathology severity. Additionally, I am interested in developing efficacious and evidence-based treatment options for ASPD and working with forensic populations.
In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym, being outside, and spending time with my lovely cohort, friends, family, and cat.
Kelsey Evey (5th Year)
I am interested in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. Specifically, I am interested in how cognitive factors such as thought-action fusion, perfectionism, and responsibility maintain OCD and related disorders. I am also interested in understanding how these mechanisms operate in the context of treatment. Lastly, I am interested in creating and disseminating evidence-based interventions through mobile technology, specifically smartphone apps.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, and shopping. I also enjoy traveling whenever I can! I am an avid lover of ice cream! Even greater than my love of ice cream, is my love of cats, which makes being part of the CAT lab even more amazing!
I am interested in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. Specifically, I am interested in how cognitive factors such as thought-action fusion, perfectionism, and responsibility maintain OCD and related disorders. I am also interested in understanding how these mechanisms operate in the context of treatment. Lastly, I am interested in creating and disseminating evidence-based interventions through mobile technology, specifically smartphone apps.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, and shopping. I also enjoy traveling whenever I can! I am an avid lover of ice cream! Even greater than my love of ice cream, is my love of cats, which makes being part of the CAT lab even more amazing!
CAT Lab Members on Internship:
Gabriella Ponzini
(on internship at Durham VA)
My research interests include reducing barriers and improving access to evidence-based treatments for anxiety and related disorders using technology. Specifically, I am interested in developing direct-to-consumer marketing campaigns to improve knowledge and attitudes about mental disorders and their gold-standard treatments. I also hope to utilize phone apps and internet-delivered psychotherapy to enhance the utilization of evidence-based treatments in populations with limited access to care.
In my free time, I love to dance, drink tea or wine, watch Netflix, and practice yoga. Though, I find the most joy in traveling and connecting with new people and their cultures, specifically through a shared appreciation for good food and cute animals.
(on internship at Durham VA)
My research interests include reducing barriers and improving access to evidence-based treatments for anxiety and related disorders using technology. Specifically, I am interested in developing direct-to-consumer marketing campaigns to improve knowledge and attitudes about mental disorders and their gold-standard treatments. I also hope to utilize phone apps and internet-delivered psychotherapy to enhance the utilization of evidence-based treatments in populations with limited access to care.
In my free time, I love to dance, drink tea or wine, watch Netflix, and practice yoga. Though, I find the most joy in traveling and connecting with new people and their cultures, specifically through a shared appreciation for good food and cute animals.
CAT Lab Graduates:
Amber Billingsley, Ph.D.
(Postdoc at Emory)
Overall, my research interests revolve around the etiological and maintenance factors underlying anxiety and OCD as well as ways to improve treatment outcomes for these disorders. I am interested in certain transdiagnostic processes related to psychopathology, including distress tolerance (DT) and intolerance of uncertainty (IU). More specifically, I am interested in understanding how DT and IU predict approach/avoidance behavior in anxiety-provoking situations, how they predict treatment outcomes, and the extent to which these characteristics can be modified. I am also interested in exploring the role that disgust plays in OCD symptomatology, specifically contamination fears. Lastly, I have a lot of interest in psychophysiological correlates of anxiety/disgust responses and novel treatment interventions, such as app-based and computerized treatment programs, cognitive bias modification, and virtual reality.
My main interests outside of research include cooking, traveling, outdoor activities such as hiking and swimming, and trying new restaurants. I also enjoy hanging out with my fiancé, Spencer, and my cat and dog, Louie and Finn, and can often be found sitting on my couch surrounded by furry animals with a cup of tea and Netflix.
(Postdoc at Emory)
Overall, my research interests revolve around the etiological and maintenance factors underlying anxiety and OCD as well as ways to improve treatment outcomes for these disorders. I am interested in certain transdiagnostic processes related to psychopathology, including distress tolerance (DT) and intolerance of uncertainty (IU). More specifically, I am interested in understanding how DT and IU predict approach/avoidance behavior in anxiety-provoking situations, how they predict treatment outcomes, and the extent to which these characteristics can be modified. I am also interested in exploring the role that disgust plays in OCD symptomatology, specifically contamination fears. Lastly, I have a lot of interest in psychophysiological correlates of anxiety/disgust responses and novel treatment interventions, such as app-based and computerized treatment programs, cognitive bias modification, and virtual reality.
My main interests outside of research include cooking, traveling, outdoor activities such as hiking and swimming, and trying new restaurants. I also enjoy hanging out with my fiancé, Spencer, and my cat and dog, Louie and Finn, and can often be found sitting on my couch surrounded by furry animals with a cup of tea and Netflix.
Mira Snider, Ph.D.
(Postdoc at Lurie Children's Hospital)
My research is primarily focused on the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices in community treatment settings. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how specific implementation strategies such as training and feedback can improve evidence uptake by treatment providers and clients and how these strategies can be targeted to increase the adoption, fidelity, and sustainability of evidence post-implementation. Additionally, I am interested in understanding the core components underlying evidence-based treatments and how these components can be leveraged to optimize the delivery of mental health care.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, playing video games, and learning new languages. I am also an avid consumer of documentaries and Bollywood musicals.
(Postdoc at Lurie Children's Hospital)
My research is primarily focused on the implementation and dissemination of evidence-based practices in community treatment settings. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how specific implementation strategies such as training and feedback can improve evidence uptake by treatment providers and clients and how these strategies can be targeted to increase the adoption, fidelity, and sustainability of evidence post-implementation. Additionally, I am interested in understanding the core components underlying evidence-based treatments and how these components can be leveraged to optimize the delivery of mental health care.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, playing video games, and learning new languages. I am also an avid consumer of documentaries and Bollywood musicals.
Cierra Edwards, Ph.D.
(Clinical Psychologist at Pittsburgh VA)
Broadly, my research interests involve understanding the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. I am particularly interested in developing treatments specific to postpartum onset anxiety and OCD. In addition, I am interested in healthcare utilization and how anxiety influences behavior with providers (e.g., health anxiety, blood-injection-injury phobia, dental fear). I am also passionate about increasing accessibility to mental health care through the use of technology. The dissemination potential of cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I), virtual reality, and internet delivered CBT is incredibly exciting. I am interested in studying the efficacy of these and similar treatments as they apply to anxiety disorders and OCD.
For my daily units of fun, I like to spend time with my husband and daughter. I also enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy novels, staying current on world news, and consuming political satire.
(Clinical Psychologist at Pittsburgh VA)
Broadly, my research interests involve understanding the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders and OCD. I am particularly interested in developing treatments specific to postpartum onset anxiety and OCD. In addition, I am interested in healthcare utilization and how anxiety influences behavior with providers (e.g., health anxiety, blood-injection-injury phobia, dental fear). I am also passionate about increasing accessibility to mental health care through the use of technology. The dissemination potential of cognitive bias modification for interpretations (CBM-I), virtual reality, and internet delivered CBT is incredibly exciting. I am interested in studying the efficacy of these and similar treatments as they apply to anxiety disorders and OCD.
For my daily units of fun, I like to spend time with my husband and daughter. I also enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy novels, staying current on world news, and consuming political satire.
Undergraduate Students
Current Research Assistants:
Grace Sullivan
Caroline Clark
Manar Hesino
Sabrina Siegan
Hattie Murphy
Lauren Swarr
Ayah Aldebyan
Lindsey Montgomery
Kaitlyn Donalson
Amanda Lewis
Grace Sullivan
Caroline Clark
Manar Hesino
Sabrina Siegan
Hattie Murphy
Lauren Swarr
Ayah Aldebyan
Lindsey Montgomery
Kaitlyn Donalson
Amanda Lewis
Research Assistant Alumni:
Charlie Boone
Lauren Gerrard
Kira Henson
Brittany Rinehart
Hannah Decanio
Belle Camerlin
Miranda Signorelli
Julean Bender
Erin Brancheau
Emma Pino
Sarah Segear
Sarah Ghabra
Logan Moore
Taylor Stark
Ilona Carenbauer
Madison McCormick
Annika Glitzer
Miranda Shupp
Kat Koval
Madeline Price
Regina Biafore
Olivia Gandee
Angelyn Gemmen
Jazmine Singletin
Hannah Salway
Zubaira Khan
Alexis Lohm
Amanda Caloccia
Trinity Shaver
Jessica Durann
Lora McDonald
Joshua Dolin
Victoria Bonafield
Jimmie Austin
Alexandra Gold
Daniel Smith-Fichter
Morgan Kaiser
Julie Bullock
Lacey Sawyers
Dillan Curry
Charlie Boone
Lauren Gerrard
Kira Henson
Brittany Rinehart
Hannah Decanio
Belle Camerlin
Miranda Signorelli
Julean Bender
Erin Brancheau
Emma Pino
Sarah Segear
Sarah Ghabra
Logan Moore
Taylor Stark
Ilona Carenbauer
Madison McCormick
Annika Glitzer
Miranda Shupp
Kat Koval
Madeline Price
Regina Biafore
Olivia Gandee
Angelyn Gemmen
Jazmine Singletin
Hannah Salway
Zubaira Khan
Alexis Lohm
Amanda Caloccia
Trinity Shaver
Jessica Durann
Lora McDonald
Joshua Dolin
Victoria Bonafield
Jimmie Austin
Alexandra Gold
Daniel Smith-Fichter
Morgan Kaiser
Julie Bullock
Lacey Sawyers
Dillan Curry
