Adult Track | Autism and Development Disabilities Track
Behavioral Medicaine | Child Track | Rehabilitation Neuropsychology Track
If you would like to speak to interns who have completed the program please email psychsom@uw.edu.
* Diversity Advancement Committee
General Adult Psychology
Esther Howe, MA
E-mail: eshowe@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of California – Berkeley
Clinical/Research Interests: Esther holds a BA from Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA), and has worked in a range of clinical and research settings, including at a mental health services program for refugees in Amman, Jordan, at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA, and at the San Francisco VA. In her research, Esther studies how posttraumatic stress symptoms change hour-by-hour, and how these changes might inform treatment.
Katherine O’Connell, MS, LMHCA*
E-mail: kloconn@uw.edu
Graduate Program: Seattle Pacific University
Clinical/Research Interests: Katherine Lavin O’Connell is an Army veteran, Tillman Scholar (2021), and doctoral candidate pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Seattle Pacific University. Her research interests primarily focus on systemic and interpersonal factors contributing to increased suicide risk, particularly among veterans and first responders. She enjoys clinically treating individuals with suicidal thoughts or behaviors and post-traumatic stress, as well as individuals and couples dealing with relationship distress, often with co-occurring suicidal thoughts or behaviors, post-traumatic stress, or mood disorders. She aims to integrate her clinical and research interests to treat individuals and couples facing complex mental health challenges as informed by population health principles. She enjoys watching hockey, playing card games, hiking, and hanging out with her husband while they try to keep up with their three children and puppy.
Emma Parrish, MS*
E-mail: parrishe@uw.edu
Graduate Program: San Diego State University/UC-San Diego
Clinical/Research Interests: Emma has worked in a range of outpatient, residential, and inpatient clinical settings, and she enjoys working with individuals with psychosis, complex comorbidities, suicide ideation, and/or acute psychiatric symptoms. Her research interests lie in understanding mechanisms related to suicide ideation and behavior among people with psychotic disorders. She is also interested in the application of real-time mobile interventions and assessments to suicide prevention in this population. Outside of work, Emma enjoys rock climbing, hiking, yoga, and spending time with friends and family.
Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Michal Cook, MSW, MA
E-mail: michallc@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Clinical/Research Interests: My research interests center around identifying and maximizing moderators of quality of life for autistic individuals. Currently, my work is focused on developing community-partnered interventions, with a particular interest in finding ways to facilitate low-cost, community-based programs that meet the expressed needs of autistic people. My clinical understanding of autism is grounded within a deep respect for learning style and culture. I take a neurodiverse-affirming approach to both therapy and assessment and greatly enjoy working with autistic individuals and their families to identify and target meaningful goals. In my spare time, I love to bake, read, and explore dog-friendly hikes!
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Wei Siong Neo, MS
E-mail: wsneo@uw.edu
Graduate Program: Purdue University – W. Lafayette
Clinical/Research Interests: My research interests focus on understanding phenotypic features of autism and developmental disabilities through an integrative approach that leverages behavioral, physiological, and computational methodologies. I aspire toward clinical translation of my program of research to inform early diagnosis of neurodevelopmental conditions and to optimize evidence-based interventions. Clinically, I am committed to serving autistic and neurodivergent children and their families. My clinical philosophy is rooted in collaborative, culturally sensitive, empirically supported, interdisciplinary, and strengths-based care. Through research and clinical practice, I strive to be an ally and advocate for the neurodiverse community.
Behavioral Medicine
Eleanor Battison, MS
E-mail: ebatt@uw.edu
Graduate Program: Oregon Health and Science University
Clinical/Research Interests: My research and clinical interests center around health and pain psychology, with a specific focus on post-surgical trajectories and outcomes. My previous work and current interests also emphasize health disparities, focusing on risk and resilience factors in marginalized and underserved populations in healthcare settings. I enjoy being part of multidisciplinary teams that provide comprehensive and integrated treatment to individuals with medical complexity.
Sam Doerr, MS, LMHCA
E-mail: samm@uw.edu
Graduate Program: Seattle Pacific University
Clinical/Research Interests: A Seattle native, Sam received her BA in psychology and political science from the University of Washington and is thrilled to be returning to her UW roots for this phase of her doctoral training. Her clinical and research interests include issues of trauma and personal identity, marginalized populations, as well as suicidality/self-harm, adjustment concerns and rehabilitation psychology, and culturally-responsive evidence-based care. She is passionate about multidisciplinary, patient-centered care and loves working within interdisciplinary teams to support whole patient health. Prior to her work in clinical psychology, Sam spent nearly two decades in technology public affairs for Microsoft and it was her experience working to fight technology-facilitated crimes, child exploitation, and human trafficking there that inspired her to want to work more deeply with people who have experienced trauma and loss. When not working, Sam enjoys spending time with her partner, their two kids, and their three badly-trained-but-very-cute pets.
Emily Kelly, MS, MSN
E-mail: ekelly@uw.edu
Graduate Program: Seattle Pacific University
Clinical/Research Interests: My research and clinical interests broadly focus on healthcare clinician wellbeing and systems of care. After working for many years as a registered nurse, I decided to pursue training in psychology to address the gap between physical and mental healthcare and to work for improved mental health for healthcare clinicians. My research activity has also included projects focusing on tele/rehabilitation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). My clinical approach is informed by a strengths-based and biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective, in which I use cognitive-behavioral, acceptance, and motivational interviewing techniques to support people in moving toward their goals and values. Outside of work, I am an avid soccer fan and regularly play on a co-ed soccer team. Some of my favorite activities include playing with my nieces and nephews, cycling around the city, and reading for fun.
Renée Martin-Willet, MA
E-mail: reneemwi@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of Colorado-Boulder
Clinical/Research Interests: Renée’s clinical research program applies a social justice lens towards more equitably impactful and translatable outcomes for underrepresented groups in the field of psychopharmacology. Specifically, she applies the principles of equity focused research to the development of integrated models of neurobiological and behavioral mechanisms of co-occurring psychiatric disorders, the neurobiology of aging, and psychological care for the medically ill. Clinically, Renée was trained as a third-wave cognitive behaviorist, with an emphasis on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), exposure-based treatments, and neuropsychology in the context of medical illness, psycho-oncology, traumatic injury, and co-occurring diagnoses.
Clara O’Brien, MS*
E-mail: claraeo@uw.edu
Graduate Program: Seattle Pacific University
Clinical/Research Interests: Clara O’Brien is a doctoral student at Seattle Pacific University attaining her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She has previous clinical and work experiences within inpatient rehabilitation, intensive outpatient teams, neuropsychological/neurodevelopmental assessment clinics, and a multiple sclerosis center. Her clinical interests include identity and life adjustment following traumatic injury, illness, and diagnosis. Her research interests currently include mixed method approaches to understanding experiences of discrimination and the role of intersecting identities. In her personal time, Clara enjoys audiobooks, backpacking, attending concerts, and playing video games with her fiancé.
Tanya Smit, MA
E-mail: tsmit@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of Houston
Clinical/Research Interests: The focus of my line of research is the interplay of mental and physical health problems among the chronic pain population, and particularly, co-occurring chronic pain and substance use (e.g., coping-oriented alcohol, opioid, and tobacco use). Within this area, I am especially interested in identifying and alleviating health disparities in chronic pain and substance use outcomes among historically underserved and minoritized groups through translational research. Clinically, my interests include supporting individuals with adjustment in the context of chronic health conditions and treating chronic pain and substance use with evidence-based practice. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my dog, trying new restaurants, and spending time with my friends and family.
General Child Psychology
Rashed AlRasheed, MAS, MS
E-mail: rashedr@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of Washington
Clinical/Research Interests: Rashed’s research broadly involves the implementation of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) in low-resource youth mental health settings domestically and internationally. He is interested in studying how different organizational characteristics and implementation strategies facilitate EBT implementation as well as how implementation outcomes (e.g., EBT feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability) are related to clinical and service outcomes. Clinically, Rashed has a longstanding passion for delivering EBTs to culturally diverse youth and their families. He adopts a science-informed treatment approach that involves cognitive and behavioral principles as well as developmental and systems theories, and he prioritizes tailoring treatment plans to patients’ context, needs, and values.
Christopher Gomez, MA
E-mail: cgomez77@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of Kansas
Clinical/Research Interests: My program of research focuses on contributing a personalized understanding of risk and protective factors associated with the well-being of ethnic/racial minority children. My doctoral dissertation is using a daily diary methodology to contextualize community violence exposure and school engagement in Latino adolescents. My clinical interests include trauma, internalizing symptoms, and third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies. On my free time, I enjoy cycling and participating in other endurance sports, spending time with my cat, and exploring new restaurants.
Sujin Lee, MS
E-mail: leesujin@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of Michigan
Clinical/Research Interests: My research interest focuses on children’s emotional and regulatory development in family contexts and its divergent long-term consequences, using a developmental psychopathology framework. Clinically, I am interested in using evidence-based treatments for culturally diverse and socioeconomically disadvantaged youths and families. I apply a developmental lens to case conceptualization and treatment planning, considering the ecological system and transactional mechanisms between children, families, and the environment. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new restaurants and cafes, reading good books, and spending time outside surrounded by nature.
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![Angelina Tsai, MS MA](https://pip.psychiatry.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AngelinaTsai.jpg")
Angelina Tsai, MS, MA*
E-mail: apttsai@uw.edu
Graduate Program: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Clinical/Research Interests: My research focuses on neurodevelopmental risk mechanisms following adversity and trauma in minority adolescents and on developing culturally responsive assessments and treatments. I leverage my engineering background including machine learning and advanced statistical methods in my work. Clinically, I specialize in working with adolescents and young adults, particularly those with marginalized identities. I’m eager to apply change-based and acceptance-based interventions, as well as trauma-informed treatments, including DBT, CPT, and TF-CBT. Personally, I enjoy traveling, hiking, and baking—I’m also a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu and trained with master chef Thierry Lerallu.
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Rehabilitation Neuropsychology
Humza Khan, MS
E-mail: hkhan25@uw.edu
Graduate Program: Illinois Institute of Technology
Clinical/Research Interests: My current research interests include examining social determinants and health in the context of neuropsychology, performance validity, and cognitive rehabilitation within complex medical conditions. Clinical interests include multiple sclerosis, autoimmune encephalitis, rehabilitation, and neuropsychological assessment in non-English languages. Outside of research, I am interested in non-profit work, architecture, and racket sports.