Staff Social Worker
The University of Texas at Austin, 1996
Interests: Individual and group therapy; mindfulness and psychotherapy; sexual orientation; multi-cultural issues; self-esteem; depression; terminal illness; grief and loss; developmental and identity issues; spiritual concerns.
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of psychodynamic, relational, and existential approaches.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Leena Batra, Ph.D., LPC
Staff Psychologist, Asian American Specialist
Southern Illinois University, Counseling Psychology, 2001
Interests: Use of self relating to multicultural issues in counseling; identity and bicultural conflicts; trauma and integration of spirituality in healing process; outreach/consultation, and clinical services for Asian American students; working with developmental concerns of Asian American college women.
Professional Affiliations: American College Personnel Association
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of interpersonal process, existential, and Asian psychotherapies.
Research Interests: Asian American women's mentoring relationships; Stockdale, M.; Visio, M.; Batra, L. (1999). "The sexual harassment of men: Evidence for a broader theory of sexual harassment and sex discrimination." Psychology, Public Policy, and Law.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor (Texas)
Associate Director
Oklahoma State University, Counseling Psychology, 1984.
Interests: Outreach programming; Internet addiction; interpersonal violence issues; creative problem solving; disability issues; stress management; and group therapy. Has hiked the Grand Canyon 7 times and twice climbed Mt. Whitney, CA (highest elevation in the 48 states).
Research Interests: Internet Addiction: Bost, J.M. (1999). "Caught in the web." Register Report, 25, 1; Scherer, K. and Bost, J. (1997). "I can't-uh-won't--log off." Treatment Today; Time Management/Peer Counseling: Bost, J.M. (1984). "Effects of Time management peer counseling on grade point of academic probation freshmen." The Journal of Learning Skills; Suicide: Bost, J.M. & Ballou, R. (1992). "The issue of suicide: policy response for a small liberal arts university." Texas Counseling Association Journal; Abusive Relationships: Bost, J.M., Rasmussen, R., & Bickers, T. (1993). "Captive relationships". Campus Law Enforcement Journal; Disability Issues: Campbell, N.J., Dobson, J. & Bost, J. (1990-1991). "Educator perceptions of behavior problems in mainstreamed students." Annual Edition: Educating Exceptional Children; Career: Dorn, F., Schroer, A., & Bost, J. (1985) "A social influence model to choosing a major." Journal of College Student Personnel.
Professional Affiliations: American Psychological Association, American College Personnel Association, Capitol Area Psychological Association, Austin Group Psychotherapy Association.
Awards/Honors: Parents Association Outstanding University of Texas Staff Award (2004); Prinicipal Investigator for 3 grants (for a total of over $1 million in funding) from the Dept. of Justice to combat violence against women on campus (2000-2005); Principal Investigator for $5,000 research grant from the U.T. Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, summer, 2004, to study the effectiveness of the use of improvisational peer theatre techniques in changing studentsŐ attitudes and behaviors towards interpersonal violence; resource person to a national 1996 symposium on Ethical and Psychological Issues in Virtual Reality; expert witness on sexual assault for the State of Texas Committee on Higher Education.
Theoretical Orientation: An integration of interpersonal, solution-focused, motivational, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and feminist approaches.
Credentials: Licensed Psychologist (Texas) since 1985; National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.
Chris Brownson, Ph.D.
Director
University of Texas at Austin, Counseling Psychology, 2001
Interests: Primary care psychology; mind-body medical interventions; suicide prevention; stress and coping; smoking cessation; softball; program evaluation; gender issues; individual and group psychotherapy; playing or watching most sports; supervision and training.
Research Interests: Serve as the National Coordinator of the The Research Consortium of Counseling and Psychological Services in Higher Education. Other research interests include the impact of integrated behavioral healthcare on patient wellness and physician utilization; effects of mind-body interventions/stress management on patient outcomes; men's participation in parenting; multiple roles in families; psychoeducational group interventions.
Professional Affiliations: American Psychological Association (Division 17 Counseling Psychology, Section on University and College Counseling Centers, Counseling for Health Section; Divison 38 Health Psychology), American College Health Association (Mental Health Section), Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors, National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Interests: Individual and group psychotherapy; multicultural considerations in clinical services and supervision; adjustment, developmental and identity issues; program development, consultation and clinical services for international students; providing bilingual counseling and consultation in Mandarin Chinese and English; issues related to acculturation experiences; mind-body connections/mindfulness; supervision and training.
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of psychodynamic ego-state conceptualization, interpersonal process, humanistic perspectives and mindfulness-based approaches.
Professional Affiliations: American Psychological Association; Asian American Psychological Association; Taiwan Psychology Network.
Marla C. Craig, Ph.D.
Assistant Director for Clinical Services
Texas A&M University, Counseling Psychology, 2002.
Interests: Suicide prevention, sexual assault and relationship violence prevention, women's issues, stress management, early career professional development concerns, and supervision/training. Enjoys running, cycling, swimming and yoga.
Professional Affiliations: Board Member of the Texas Psychological Association (2009-2012) Board Member of the Association of the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services (2009)American Psychological Association, Texas Psychological Association, National Latino Psychological Association, Latino Psychological Association of Texas, and the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services.
Awards/Honors: Board Member Texas Psychological Foundation (2007-2008); Early Career Psychologist Delegate, American Psychological Association (2007); Diversity Delegate, American Psychological Association (2006); Special Interest Group Chair, Early Career Psychologists, Texas Psychological Association (2006-Present); Presidents Award, Texas Psychological Association (2006); Program Manager, Texas State of Mind, Texas Psychological Association (2006-Present); Program Chair, Texas Psychological Association; National Science Foundation Minority Honorable Mention (1994); and Career Opportunities in Research and Education Honors (1993-1991).
Research Interests: Childhood sexual assault and adult revictimization, suicide prevention among college students, and reproductive challenges and depression.
Credentials: Licensed Psychologist (Texas) since 2004.
Diana E. Damer, Ph.D.
Program Director for Group Therapy
Staff Psychologist, Anxiety Disorder Specialist
West Virginia University, Clinical Psychology, 1992
Interests: Anxiety disorders, adapting group therapy for the counseling center population, perfectionism
Professional Affiliations: Anxiety Disorder Association of America, American College Personnel Association
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of cognitive-behavioral, relational, and psychodynamic
Research Interests: Damer, D. (2009, March). Breaking the ice: a social skills group for students. Workshop presented at the meeting of the American College Personnel Association, Washington D.C.
Damer, D. (2009, March). Needle phobia in pregnancy poses significant risk: case study illustrating a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Poster session presented at the Anxiety Disorders Association of American Conference, Hyatt Regency Tamaya, NM.
Damer, D. (2009, February). If you build it, they will come: creating a robust group therapy program. Paper presented at the Texas University and College Counseling Center Conference, Houston, TX.
Damer, D. & Porter, S. (2008). Overcoming career decision-making paralysis: Strategies from a perfectionism therapy group. Career Watch: Newsletter from the ACPA Commission for Career Development.
Credentials: Licensed Psychologist, Texas.
Heather L. Davies, LMSW
Counseling Specialist, CMHC Voices Against Violence (VAV) Program
The University of Texas at Austin, 2004
Interests: Individual and group therapy; survivor issues related to relationship violence, sexual assault, and stalking; gay, lesbian, bisexual issues; transgender issues; HIV/AIDS; grief and loss; spiritual concerns; multi-cultural issues; navigating academics and the military; creativity and artistic flow
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers
Theoretical Orientation: Eclectic integrating various aspects of Relational, Psychodrama, Narrative, Gestalt, and Transactional Analysis theory
Research Interests: creativity/creative expression and mental health; trauma recovery; removing barriers to transgender health
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Laura Davenport Ebady, Psy.D.
Outreach Coordinator and Staff Psychologist
Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Clinical Psychology, 2003
Interests: Outreach and program development; individual and group therapy; gender and self-esteem; identity development; diversity awareness; modern psychoanalysis.
Research Interests: Characteristics of marital satisfaction; psychology of gender; identity development; gender and self-esteem; academically talented adolescents.
Theoretical Orientation: An integration of relational, psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and developmental approaches.
Professional Affiliations: American Psychological Association (Division 12: Clinical Psychology); American Group Psychotherapy Association (Women in Groups; LGBT Issues); Austin Group Psychotherapy Society; Association for University and College Counseling Center Outreach.
Credentials:Licensed Psychologist
Melissa Eshelman, M.D.
Chief Psychiatrist and Assistant Director
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, 1988
Psychiatry Residency: Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center 1988-1991
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry Fellowships: Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center 1991-1994
Interests: Crisis/emergency psychiatry, risk assessment, consultation/liaison psychiatry, ethics, developmental issues/child and adolescent psychiatry, mood disorders, eating disorders, supervision/training and psychopharmacology.
Professional Affiliations: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American College Health Association, American Psychiatric Association, Austin Psychiatric Society, Texas Society of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians.
Credentials: Licensed Physician (Texas) since 1989. Board Certified in Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Alicia Garces, LCSW, BCD
Social Work Training Director and Staff Social Worker
University of Texas at Austin, 1996
Interests: Individual, couples, and group therapy; training and supervision; treatment of abuse survivors; multi-cultural issues; women in midlife; older re-entry students; Hispanic and Latino populations; men's issues; bilingual therapy; grief and loss issues.
Research Interests: Hispanic/Latino populations and the process of change within the cultural context; Training and Supervision; Mentoring the Therapist in Training; Death and Dying and the Cultural Context; Couples Counseling.
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers; National Association of Social Workers/ Texas Chapter; former Board Member of Capital Area Mental Health Center.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker; Board Certified Diplomate.
Lynn Hoare, MFA
Theatre for Dialogue Specialist, CMHC Voices Against Violence Program
University of Texas at Austin, 1998
Interests: Applied Theatre and Drama, Theatre for Social Change; Theatre-In-Education (TIE); Interactive Theatre, Theatre of the Oppressed; Forum Theatre; Interpersonal Violence; issues of race and identity; youth violence; dating relationships and gender roles.
Professional Affiliations: American Alliance of Theatre and Education, Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed
Credentials: Master's in Fine Arts
Jamie Justus, LCSW
Staff Social Worker
University of Texas at Austin 2004
Interests: Individual, couples, and group psychotherapy; survivor issues related to trauma and interpersonal violence; anxiety and stress management; developmental issues in late adolescence and early adulthood; problematic Internet use; and relationship dynamics.
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of Relational, Cognitive-Behavioral, Existential, and Psychodynamic approaches.
Professional Affiliations: Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Greg Keilin, Ph.D.
Associate Director & Director of Psychology Training
Colorado State University, Counseling Psychology, 1987.
Interests: Individual, relationship, and group therapy; training and supervision; gender issues; multi-cultural issues; sexuality and sex therapy; gay, lesbian, and bisexual concerns; trauma; couples therapy; professional development; advocacy.
Research Interests: Training issues, internship selection and the APPIC Match, "Supply and Demand" issues in psychology, multicultural issues. Recent author or co-author of book chapters and articles on the APPIC Match and "Supply and Demand" issues. Co-author of the APAGS workbook, "Internships in Psychology." Chapter co-author (with S. Hamilton),"Reactions to the Threat of Nuclear War: A Laboratory Investigation of Emotional and Defensive Processes." Consulting editor for Professional Psychology: Research and Practice.
Professional Affiliations: Past Chair and Match and Clearinghouse Coordinator, Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC); Fellow, American Psychological Association; Board of Directors (1993-95), Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA); Board of Trustees (1996-1999), Capital Area Mental Health Center; Austin Group Psychotherapy Society.
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of psychodynamic, interpersonal, feminist, and systems approaches.
Credentials: Licensed Psychologist (Texas).
Mark Kutcher, M.D.
Staff Psychiatrist
State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, 1981.
Residency: Department of Psychiatry Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Chief Resident 1984-1985.
Interests: Diagnosis and treatment of depression, psychopharmacology, psychiatric education and training.
Research Interests: Psychopharmacology; Psychiatric rating scales for depression.
Professional Affiliations: Austin Psychiatric Association.
Credentials: Board Certification, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Allen Lambert, LCSW
Staff Social Worker
Clinician & Outreach/Program Development
The University of Texas at Austin, BA 1991, MSSW 2002
Interests: Individual, relationship, and group therapy; EMDR; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues; anxiety and stress management; diversity issues; men's issues; training and supervision; developmental issues in late adolescence and early adulthood; film production & criticism; history; and architecture.
Research Interests: EMDR efficacy and treatment of trauma survivors, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder.
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Social Workers/Texas Chapter.
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of Relational Model; strengths-based perspective; Cognitive-Bheavioral Therapy, especially for anxiety disorders; Feminist.
Credentials: Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Judith A. Mitchell, LCSW, LPC, LMFT
Staff Social Worker
University of Houston, Graduate School of Social Work, 1976
Interests: Individual, couple and marriage therapy; dysfunctional familly systems; treatment of depression/anxiety; stress management; conflict resolution; problem solving; enhancement of self-esteem/ self-confidence; grief and loss issues; HIV and AIDS; women's concerns; career development; adult psychiatric social work, African American population.
Research Interests: Treatment and effect of Alzheimer's disease in women; treatment of mental health issues with African American population.
Professional Affliations: National Association of Social Workers/Texas Chapter; Association of Black Social Workers; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (an international public service organization).
Theoretical Orientation: Reality therapy; cognitive-behavior and rational-emotive therapy; family systems.
Credentials: Licensed Certified Social Worker; Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work; Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; Licensed Professional Counselor.
Pauravi J. Rana, M.D.
Staff Psychiatrist
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 1988
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine, 1993
Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Baylor College of Medicine, 1994
Interests: Child and adolescent psychiatry; community and social psychiatry; consultation/liaison psychiatry; cross-cultural psychiatry; psychodynamic psychotherapy; psychopharmacological evaluation and management.
Professional Affiliations: American Psychiatric Association; American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians.
Credentials: Certified, American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.
Sarah K. Sloan, LCSW
Clinical Social Worker
Program Coordinator of Student Technology
Texas A&M University, Psychology, 1989
The University of Texas at Austin, Social Work, 2003
Interests: Individual, couples, and group therapy; training and supervision; grief and loss issues; GLBT population; ACOA, relationships; Stress Management, Technology, Mind/Body Interactions and Spirituality.
Research Interests: Mindfulness based stress reduction models for college population and low-income people.
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers; National Association of Social Workers/Texas Chapter
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Board Approved Supervisor
Marian E. Trattner, MSW
Health Educator, Suicide Prevention Coordinator
University of Missouri, 2008
Interests: Suicide prevention from a public health perspective; college student suicide; Macro Social Work; multi-cultural issues, program planning
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Social Workers/Texas Chapter
Credentials: Master's in Social Work with an emphasis in policy, and planning, and administration
Cary Tucker, RN, LCSW
Director, Integrated Health Program
The University of Texas at Austin, Nursing, 1983
The University of Texas at Austin, Social Work, 2001
Interests: Health and Healing, Spirituality, Stress Management, Mind/Body Interactions, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss, Individual Therapy, Meditation, Yoga.
Professional Affiliations: National Association of Social Workers, Society of Behavioral Medicine.
Theoretical Orientation: Integrative, Strengths-Based Perspective, drawing primarily on Relational, Existential, Cognitive-Behavioral, and psychodynamic approaches.
Credentials: Registered Nurse, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Mary Vance, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist (Counseling & Mental Health Center and Integrated Health Program - University Health Services)
The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Counseling Psychology, 1996
Interests: Individual and group therapy; health psychology; supervision and training; diversity issues; outreach programming; developmental and identity issues; treatment and assessment of mood, cognitive, and personality disorders; trauma issues; mindfulness-based stress reduction; hypnosis.
Research Interests: Change process; mindfulness; narrative psychology; hypnosis; enhancement of hope in therapy process.
Professional Affiliations: American Psychological Association (Div. 30 Hypnosis); American Society of Clinical Hypnosis; Capital Area Psychological Association; Society for Behavioral Medicine.
Theoretical Orientation: Integration of humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, existential.
Credentials: Licensed Psychologist (Texas, Kansas); Certification in Clinical Hypnosis, American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
Sara L. Weber, LPC
Eating Disorder Specialist, Mindful Eating Program and Eating Disorder Assessment & Support Team
Psychological Studies Institute, 2003
Interests: Individual and group therapy; eating disorder assessment and treatment; binge eating and emotional eating; body image; women's issues; spiritual concerns; multi-cultural issues; creativity and experiential therapies.
Research Interests: eating disorder assessment, college campus models for treatment of eating disorders, outreach and prevention, mindfulness based approaches to treatment of food related concerns. Relational and attachment theories as applied to addressing a dysfunctional relationship with food.
Theoretical Orientation: Eclectic integrating aspects of Cognitive behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Interpersonal, Psychodynamic, Solution Focused, Relational, Psychodrama, Narrative, Feminist, Gestalt, Rogerian, and Transactional Analysis, and Strength-based theories.
Professional Affiliations: Austin Eating Disorders Specialists, Austin Area Christian Counselors of Texas, National Association of Eating Disorder Professionals, and Academy of Eating Disorders.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Mark A. Zentner, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist
The University of Texas at Austin, Counseling Psychology, 1999
Interests: Assessment for ADHD/ADD and learning disabilities in adults, anxiety, depression, blending psychoeducational and process elements of group therapy, counseling and assessment with diverse populations, relational counseling, training/supervision, and the Minnesota Vikings.
Research Interests: Cognitive representations involved in depressive disorder; the influence of emotional expression through writing on physical and psychological well-being.
Theoretical Orientation: Integrative, drawing primarily on relational, Rogerian, feminist, and cognitive-behavioral approaches.
Professional Affiliations: Texas Psychological Association.
Credentials: Licensed Psychologist in the State of Texas since 2001.
