About

I am currently a pre-doctoral intern at the VA Palo Alto Heath Care System. I received my graduate training at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (Ph.D. expected May 2012), where I worked under the mentorship of Daniel L. Segal, Ph.D. I also received a Master’s degree in Counseling at Teachers College, Columbia University (2004) and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Rice University (1999).

Within the broad field of mental health and aging, my current research interests include coping and adjustment in older adults, as well as protective factors against late-life suicide. My dissertation examined the connection between emotional well-being and attitudes towards relationships among older adults, including perceptions about their closeness to others and the degree to which they are a burden on important people in their lives. My clinical interests include providing services to older adults and their families through integrated medical settings, such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and primary care clinics.