Shannon B. Underwood
|
Shannon is a seventh-year graduate student in the Anxiety Disorders Research Program currently completing her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Prior to entering the lab, she received her B.S. at West Virginia University, graduating with minors in women's and gender studies and disability studies. Shannon's research interests include the role of Relational Frame Theory in clinical interventions, individual differences that serve as barriers to cultivating self-compassion, and the contradictory, detrimental effects of the wellness industry. Shannon's clinical rotations have included the Samuel S. Stratton Albany VA Medical Center, the University at Albany's Psychological Services Center, and MindWell Psychology LLP.
A West Virginia native, Shannon loves spending time hiking in the mountains. She also enjoys practicing yoga and mindfulness techniques in her daily life. In her free time, she has interests in interior design and is always on the lookout for antique, mid-century, and Danish furniture. She finds joy in nutritious home-cooking, thriving house plants, and stand-up comedy. |
|
Sara V. White
|
Sara is a fifth-year graduate student in the Anxiety Disorders Research Program, currently completing her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. Sara received her B.A. from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) with a major in psychology with a minor in human development and her M.A. in psychology from the University at Albany, SUNY. Sara was first introduced to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy while working as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Steven C. Hayes' lab at UNR.
Broadly, Sara's research interests include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Relational Frame Theory and how they may alleviate psychological suffering, specifically for diverse populations. Sara is especially interested in psychological processes underlying mental health stigma. Sara has secondary interests in self-compassion and how it may alleviate distress associated with self-stigma. Sara's clinical rotations have included, the University at Albany's Psychological Services Center, the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center, and University at Albany's Counseling and Psychological Services. Sara specializes in process-based therapies. In her free time, Sara enjoys exploring the outdoors, experimenting with new and elaborate dinner recipes, and hanging out with her cat, Fawkes. |
|
Leah R. Howard
|
Leah is a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral candidate in the Anxiety Disorders Research Program. She received her B.A. from Bowdoin College with a major in psychology and a minor in Hispanic studies. Since completing her undergraduate eduction, Leah has worked at Massachusetts General Hospital and Cambridge Health Alliance pursuing her interests in mental health, well-being, and mindfulness- and acceptance-based approaches. In these roles, Leah worked with teams researching adaptations of mindfulness-based interventions for various populations, including those with advanced lung cancer, opioid use disorder, substance use disorder, anxiety, and depression.
Leah is excited to continue pursuing her research and clinical interests in mindfulness, compassion, and acceptance-based approaches within the larger framework of ACT. She also has clinical interests in LGBTQIA+ populations. Leah is currently doing her clinical rotation at the University at Albany's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and works as a supervisor for the University at Albany's Middle Earth Peer Assistance hotline. She has previously completed clinical rotation trainings at the University at Albany's Psychological Services Center and the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center. In her free time, you can find Leah hiking with her dog, snowboarding, practicing yoga, meditating, watching reality TV, or spending time with friends and family. |
|
Te'Airra DeCount
|
Te’Airra is a fourth-year graduate student in the Anxiety Disorders Research Program. She received her B.A. from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) with a major in psychology and a double minor in community health science and Spanish, language and society. Te’Airra had her first clinical encounter with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy working with children with autism spectrum disorders as a registered behavior technician (RBT). During the last year of her undergraduate career, Te’Airra also worked as a research assistant in Dr. Steven C. Hayes' lab at UNR. Te'Airra's research interests broadly include exploring the role of psychological flexibility and compassion as a context for behavior change. She is particularly interested in how processes interact to shape individuals' experiences of and responses to suffering. Te'Airra has completed clinical training rotations at the University at Albany's Psychological Services Center (PSC) and the Samuel S. Stratton VA Medical Center. She currently serves as a graduate assistant at UAlbany's PSC. You can also find Te’Airra outside of the lab practicing yoga and mindfulness techniques, trying new baking recipes, and tuning into self-improvement podcasts. She also loves spending time outdoors and enjoying quality time with friends and family. |
|
Marcus Cunha
|
Marcus is a first-year graduate student in the Anxiety Disorders Research Program. He earned his B.A. in Psychology, with a minor in General Business, from Western Michigan University (WMU). As an undergraduate Research Assistant, Marcus began helping with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) projects, ultimately completing his Honors Thesis before graduation. These experiences fostered his passion for Clinical Psychology within a Contextual Behavioral framework and motivated him to pursue graduate school.
As a research clinician in training, Marcus is excited to deepen his understanding of ACT, particularly in the way the core processes of ACT contribute to psychological flexibility. He is also interested in the role of language in human suffering, whether through how people relate to their thoughts, experiences, and sense of self. Outside of school, Marcus enjoys playing soccer, creating experimental and ambient music, reading, cooking, and growing herbs indoors. |
|
Minke
|
Minke is a fourth-year Ph.Dog student in the Anxiety Disorders Research Program. His clinical interests include cuddles and unconditional love and his research focuses on chicken and squirrels. He loves to attend lab meetings every now and then to give students some support, laughter, and motivation.
|
|