Madeleine is a third-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of Houston. Before coming to grad school, Madeleine worked in global health research at Baylor College of Medicine as a clinical research coordinator on intervention studies in China, Liberia, Brazil, and in the United States. Madeleine is passionate about delivering evidence-based interventions in underserved settings. Since starting at UH, Madeleine has been working clinically with adolescents and their families impacted by emotional and behavioral problems. Her research focuses on the development and implementation of mental health interventions for trauma-exposed caregivers and their children, including HIV-affected populations in South Africa and survivors of intimate partner violence in Houston. Madeleine is passionate about increasing access to high quality care.

Nayoung Choi is a sixth-year doctoral student in school psychology at the University of Houston. She is passionate about promoting mental health and enhancing the social, emotional, and behavioral well-being of individuals. Before joining the DBT center, she worked as a psychology intern in various settings including at The Harris Center S.T.A.R.S. clinic, Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP), The Center for Children and Women, and two school districts (Galena Park and Katy ISDs). Nayoung is very excited that she can continue to serve the Houston community through The DBT Center and is looking forward to getting to know all those with whom she will work! She is originally from Seoul, Korea, where she was an English teacher and has lived in various places in the USA including Indiana, California, and Hawaii. She considers herself a global citizen and feels passionate about issues regarding cultural diversity and sensitivity in clinical practices as well as research in psychology.

Tarik is a second-year counseling psychology Ph.D. student at the University of Houston. He is originally from Florida and earned his B.S. in Biology with a minor in psychology and M.S. in Community Psychology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Prior to entering the doctoral program, Tarik worked as an Admission/Discharge coordinator in an inpatient crisis stabilization unit at the Apalachee Center Inc. in Tallahassee, Florida. Tarik’s research focuses on factors affecting LGBTQ+ health, and he is particularly interested in substance use and the experiences of those with intersecting marginalized identities. He is committed to serving members of underserved and marginalized communities and is excited to begin working at the DBT Center and serving the Houston area!

Sophie is a fourth-year clinical psychology Ph.D. student at the University of Houston. Before beginning graduate school, she worked as a diagnostician and research assistant in a partial hospital program at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital. She is dedicated to delivering compassionate, collaborative, and evidence-based psychotherapy with a focus on teens, parents, and families. Additionally, she has authored over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and textbook chapters focused on the assessment and treatment of mental health problems. Her research focuses particularly on personality disorders, parent-child relationships, and families impacted by the incarceration of a parent. Sophie is passionate about preventing and reducing mental health problems in underserved and marginalized populations, and as a Houston native, she is particularly excited about how the DBT Center Training Institute could impact our community!

Rachel is a second-year counseling psychology Ph.D. student at the University of Houston. Before beginning her doctoral program, she worked as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a licensed alcohol and substance abuse counselor (LADC) in settings ranging from juvenile detention centers, community mental health/suboxone clinics, and the university counseling center setting. She has worked with youth between the ages of 13-18, young adults, as well as elderly, in addition to those from diverse, minoritized, and underrepresented communities. Her passion is centered on trauma, substance use, and self-acceptance, and she is dedicated to providing healthy, ethical, and evidence-based treatment. Furthermore, she is active in research and has authored one peer-reviewed journal article, with another in the review process. Her research focuses on the reproductive health in black women and substance use. Finally, Rachel is passionate about helping those from minoritized and underrepresented communities address and work through their mental health and substance abuse struggles.