Clinical Psychology PsyD Program

Patricia Gao

My name is Patricia Gao, and I am from Montgomery, AL. I received my B.S. in Psychology with departmental honors from the University of Miami in May of 2024. During my time as an undergraduate, I served as a research assistant and as a lab coordinator in a team dedicated to studying child/adolescent emotions and behavior. It was through my research interactions with children that I discovered my desire to pursue clinical work and provide therapeutic support. I also completed an honors thesis investigating the associations between childhood adversity and emotional impulsivity in adulthood, which has shaped my interest in providing early intervention to support adolescent development and well-being. Broadly, I am interested in examining ways to improve accessibility for individuals who face significant barriers to mental health care, particularly for adolescents and their caregivers. I look forward to continuing my education here at App State and working with my mentor, Dr. Jacqueline Hersh, to pursue my passions and career.

Marissa Marcus

My name is Marissa Marcus, I was born on Long Island and grew up in Mooresville, NC. I earned a B.A. in Psychology and a B.F.A in Acting from Emory & Henry College (now University!) in 2019.  As an undergraduate I completed an honors thesis focusing on the relationship between perceptions of god/views of suffering on attitudes toward mental health help-seeking. I also completed an internship at a community mental health center in Southwest Virginia. Prior to joining the ASU PsyD program, I served as a research assistant at Bradley Hospital in RI, conducting outcomes research for their virtual and in-person adolescent partial hospitalization program. I am so excited to be returning to Appalachia for my clinical training and to have Dr. Josh Broman-Fulks serve as my mentor as my research focus shifts to the prevention and intervention of anxiety, especially through mindfulness.

Eric Sexton

My name is Eric Sexton. I am from New Bern, NC. I received my B.A. in Music and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019. From 2020 to 2024, I have worked in education, most recently as an academic advisor to the military and high school populations at Craven Community College. During that time, I became a mental health crisis counselor assessing suicidal ideation and goal setting. I also worked on publications in the field of forensic psychology and psychopathology. I am most interested in working with minority populations pertaining to substance use and social media's impact on cravings. I am working with my mentor, Dr. Lisa Curtin, to help make an impact in my community and pursue my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. Some of my hobbies include playing the piano, composing music, and event planning.

Isabel Zimmerman

My name is Isabel Zimmerman. I am from Charleston, SC. I graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from the College of Charleston in 2022. I have experience as a peer counselor to college students, a research assistant with elderly and teen populations, and as a psychometrist administering neuropsychological batteries to patients of all ages. Through these experiences, I discovered a passion for working with individuals with ADHD. I was interested in App State’s PsyD program due to their generalist training model and emphasis on clinical training. I am excited to work with Dr. Canu as my mentor to investigate factors linked to better mental health outcomes in young adults with ADHD.

Anna Edson-Huessi

My name is Anna, and I am an international student from the UK. I joined the Clinical Psychology Doctorate here at App State after working as an Assistant Psychologist in Yorkshire, UK. For as long as I can remember, I have been working towards a career in Clinical Psychology. My goal has been to obtain clinically relevant experience and knowledge in the field so that I could be better prepared for training at the doctoral level. My work experience has also allowed me to gain insight into my interests. Most recently, I worked in a specialist Eating Disorder Service for children and adolescents. Prior to this I worked as an Assistant Psychologist in an Autism and ADHD assessment service. I also obtained my MSc at the University of York in Child Development, Disorders and Clinical Practice. Over time I have come to realize that I am passionate about working with children and families in addition to developing the mental health resources available to them. I was drawn to the program at AppState due to its emphasis on meeting the needs of underserved and rural communities. I am excited to be a part of this mission and hope that I can make an impact in the local community. I am thrilled to be working with Dr. Hersh as my mentor as our research interests align around child and adolescent mental health, adapting interventions and working in partnership with local schools. Currently, my research interests fall broadly into the realm of exploring children’s perspectives towards school-based mental health programs, including how they define their needs in their own words. I am also interested in emotional language and how this is used within families.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health

Josef Kaplan

Born and raised in New York, Josef Kaplan attended West Point for his undergraduate studies. He was subsequently commissioned an Army Infantry Officer and served in the 101^st Airborne Division and 75^th Ranger Regiment across several combat deployments. Following his service in the military, Josef held roles in the financial, non-profit, and most recently healthcare sector. During that time, Josef earned his MBA from Northwestern University. Across these diverse experiences, Josef further confirmed his passion for serving others and made the vocational transition to pursue his dream of becoming a clinical psychologist. Josef’s mentor is Dr. Broman-Fulks, where he supports research related to evidence-based support for mindfulness interventions.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; App State Counseling Center

Jen Nelson

My name is Jen Nelson and grew up in Morganton, NC, just down the mountain! I received my undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2018 and my M.A. in psychology from Pepperdine University in 2021. While pursuing my M.A. degree, I moved from North Carolina to Rochester, New York to pursue a position at an OCD and trauma clinic called Genesee Valley Psychology. During my time at Genesee Valley Psychology, I was able to gain relevant clinical experience by providing exposure and response prevention (ERP) to clients presenting with OCD. I was also able to gain related research experience by helping develop the OCD and Trauma Timeline (OTTI), a diagnostic tool, as well as publish my first, first author paper, a literature review on the overlap of OCD and panic disorder. I am both grateful and excited to be a part of the PsyD program at Appalachian State University. Growing up in a small, rural town, I am passionate about providing and expanding evidence-based care in rural settings and for underserved populations. I have the pleasure of working with Dr. Canu as my mentor and I am excited to explore the possible implications presented by the overlap of OCD and ADHD.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; App State Counseling Center

Nicolette Nutter

My name is Nicolette Nutter, and I graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a concentration in human services and a minor in dance. During my time at Appalachian, I was able to serve as a research assistant in the Anxiety, Exercise, and Mindfulness Lab. I was initially drawn to this program due to its focus on rural communities. I am originally from Oxford, North Carolina, a very small and rural town. Growing up there allowed me to see the lack of resources in rural areas and the effects that has on the population. I am very excited to conduct research with my mentor, Dr. Denise Martz, exploring areas such as negative body talk, female relationships, and eating disorder prevention.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center

Gabriel Simerly

My name is Gabriel Simerly and I was born and raised in Limestone Cove, Tennessee. I received my B.S. in clinical psychology at East Tennessee State University after discharging from Military Service. After graduating, I worked as a military contractor before being hired as an exercise therapist at a large psychiatric hospital where I worked until being accepted to ASU. For most of my life I’ve known that I would spend my life working in psychology, though I didn’t know exactly in what capacity until I worked in a psychiatric setting. From that experience I realized the best way to use my interest and knowledge was to pursue clinical licensure. I intend to use my education to give rural Americans the resources they need in order to live their lives as fully and happily as they can. I’m being mentored by Professor Broman-Fulks and will be working in his Anxiety, Exercise, and Mindfulness Lab.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center

Breanna Woodham

My name is Breanna Woodham, and I am originally from Ocala, FL. I completed my B.S. in Psychology at the University of Florida in May 2022, graduating with high honors. Throughout this experience, I developed my research skills by completing an honors thesis exploring the association between self-efficacy and Covid-19 related stressors. I also had the opportunity to volunteer with Hospice’s Bereavement Department and a counseling center for children who have suffered from abuse and/or neglect, where I was exposed to several health disparities in psychology, namely rurality and low socioeconomic status. These experiences led me to choose App State’s PsyD program, as I knew the focus on underserved populations, emphasis on evidence-based practice, and a strong generalist training model would help me accomplish my goal of becoming a well-rounded clinical psychologist. My research interests include suicidality, stigma, and the dissemination of care to underserved populations. I am beyond grateful and excited to continue my development as a student, clinician, and researcher under the mentorship of Dr. Lisa Curtin.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center

Kelly Davis

My name is Kelly Davis and I am from Trinity, N.C. I completed my undergraduate degree in 2018 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Sociology. During my undergraduate degree, I was selected to be a Golden Leaf Scholar, which helps provide education to students from North Carolina's rural or economically distressed counties. With aspirations of becoming a therapist, I enrolled back at UNC Chapel Hill and received my M.S. in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling in May 2020. My graduate studies cemented my interest in becoming a clinical psychologist with a focus in rural and underserved populations and integrated care settings. Dr. Lisa Curtin serves as my mentor in the program.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; App State Counseling Center; App State Behavioral Health Consultants; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center; UNC Appalachian Behavioral Health

Internship: Utah Psychology Internship Consortium

Kim Holt

My name is Kim Holt, and I was born and raised here in Watauga County. I spent several years focusing my career on finance and administrative assistant work. It wasn't until I worked with families facing various struggles, including poverty, illness, and chronic mental health concerns at an elementary school that I realized my true passion. During this time, I realized the need for mental health services in rural areas. I enrolled at ASU, and in the Spring of 2020, I received my B.S. in Psychology. I was drawn to the PsyD program at ASU because it offers strong generalist training and will prepare me to work in a clinical setting with rural and underserved populations. My research interests are child and adolescent psychopathology and improving mental health services for children and adolescents in rural areas. I am excited to work with my mentor, Dr. Kurt Michael, who has spent the past 20 years developing and implementing school mental health services in Watauga and neighboring counties.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; App State Counseling Center; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center; Frontier Health

Internship: Western Carolina University Counseling and Psychological Services Center

Esther Killius

My name is Esther Killius and I graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor's in Psychology and a minor in Spanish in the spring of 2019. Originally, I am from Cleveland, Ohio and came to Boone because of a love for hiking and for the friendly community. During my undergraduate years, I was fortunate to have an internship at the Hospitality House and study abroad in Spain. Throughout my experiences, I developed an interest in risk factors for substance abuse and addiction, as well as the practice of mindfulness meditation. I plan to continue researching these topics in addition to rural mental health alongside my mentor, Dr. Broman-Fulks.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; App State Counseling Center; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center; Southeast Psych

Shayla Moniz

My name is Shayla Moniz and I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. I received my bachelor's degree in Psychology with a human services concentration here at Appalachian State. I spent a year after graduating working in an inpatient psychiatric facility with children and adolescents, which really solidified my desire to earn a doctorate in clinical psychology and have the chance to influence the legislation about and systems surrounding mental health. Two of my current research interests are suicidology and culturally appropriate mental health care for ethnic/racial minorities living in rural areas. I will be achieving these goals under the supervision of my mentor Dr.Jameson, who also mentored me during my undergraduate honor's thesis.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center; Crossroads Counseling

Internship: National Psychology Training Consortium - Cascades

Shraddha Selani

My name is Shraddha Selani, and I am an international student from Mumbai, India. I had the incredible opportunity to attend school here in the United States for my undergraduate at Ohio University where I received my B.A. in Psychology from the honors program. I worked in a Pain Psychophysiology lab during my undergraduate studies, which helped develop my research skills. Concurrently, I was able to intern at the Cleveland Clinic for their ADHD treatment program for children during the summer. Both of these experiences propelled me into the Clinical Psychology Psy.D. program at Appalachian State University. Being from a country with a predominantly rural population, I was immediately attracted to this program and its core values of providing the best possible resources to the rural population. I hope to better support the vulnerable population of Appalachia and bring light to important social justice issues under the mentorship of Dr. Denise M. Martz.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; App State Counseling Center; High Country Community Health; UNC Chapel Hill Comprehensive Cancer Support Program

Internship: Carnegie-Mellon University Counseling and Psychological Services Center

Maggie Witherspoon

My name is Maggie and I grew up in a small town close to Boone and spent four years as an undergraduate student at Appalachian State University. I participated in the Aging, Growth, and Experience lab in which I conducted research and worked directly with children in Boone. I graduated in Spring of 2019 with a Bachelor's in Psychology. Living here my whole life has made me passionate about helping members of rural communities and hopefully helping to reduce the stigma of mental health in small-town areas. In the Clinical Psy.D. program, I am interested in conducting research on telehealth and I look forward to further researching ADHD with Dr. Canu as my mentor.

Practicum Placements: App State Psychology Clinic; App State Counseling Center; Assessment, Support and Counseling Center

Internship: LSU Health Shreveport