Amanda Acevedo-Morales, PsyD., recently graduated in Clinical Psychology from Northern Arizona University (NAU). Dra. Acevedo was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She is an active member of different psychology organizations at the state (AzPA, AASP) and national level (APA, NLPA, NHSN, NASP, The Trust) and serves on the AZPF board. She is on the Student Advisory Board for the Journal of Latinx Psychology. In 2024, she received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award (AzPA). Her clinical interest includes promoting mental health awareness in children, adolescents, and adults living in rural/underserved communities and providing psychotherapy services in both Spanish and English.

Faren Akins is a psychologist and attorney licensed in Arizona and California with more than 40 years professional experience. He completed his doctorate in psychology at the University of Arizona graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree with Honors at Santa Clara University. He has taught at the University of Arizona, San Jose State University, and Santa Clara University. He is a published author and has received grants and fellowships. As an attorney he represents clients with licensing board complaints and provides consultation about law and ethics issues. His forensic psychology practice is devoted to work in family and juvenile law matters where he routinely provides evaluations and expert testimony.

Jodi Brown is a fourth-year Psy.D. student in Northern Arizona University’s Clinical Psychology program. She also obtained her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from ASU in 2017. Since, she has engaged in clinical work at all levels of care. Her clinical work and interests include neuropsychology, trauma, veterans, and first responder health psychology. Her research areas of interest include the intersection of the aforementioned topics and substance use, which led her to a certificate in Culturally Competent Addictions Research, which included a project that partnered with Southwest Behavioral Health and assessed the impact of social determinants of health in substance use treatment. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her hunting dogs, cooking and baking, and training for CrossFit and triathlons.

Shannon Burke is a fourth-year student in Northern Arizona University’s Clinical Psychology doctoral program. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Education from Arizona State University. Prior to seeking her Psy.D., Shannon worked as a middle school teacher and equity and inclusion coordinator. Her clinical experiences have involved treatment in juvenile corrections, pediatric neuropsychology, and hospital-based autism assessment. Shannon’s research interests include the myths and nuances of autism, Her passions include therapy with children and adolescents, autism diagnostics, hiking, and camping.

Dr. Burrell is a licensed clinical psychologist in Arizona and an advocate for change, both personally and systemically. She enjoys working with teens and adults, specializing in individual therapy for BIPOC patients who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, systemic racism, and generational trauma. She believes we all have unique experiences and offers treatment that personalizes individual needs while also recognizing the systems that may hurt us. She works from a strength based, client directed approach, utilizing solution focused, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral techniques.She also specializes in treating individuals who have engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviors or poor boundaries. She conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations to include psychosexual evaluations and diagnostic clarification for adolescents and adults.

Gabriella Corsino is a third-year Doctoral Student in Clinical Psychology at Northern Arizona University. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, and deeply rooted in Southern California, Gabriella relocated to Phoenix in 2022 she began her studies at NAU North Valley in August of 2023. In 2021, she graduated with departmental honors from Chapman University where she earned two Bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Political Science. Gabriella is passionate about using her voice to foster leadership and advocacy. During her time at Chapman, Gabriella was part of the Student Government Association and completed an internship at Chapman's Brain Institute. She is currently the co-president and event chair of Pride Jacks, a 2SLGBTQ+ student organization at NAU North Valley. She has experience volunteering with the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) and The National Association for Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) is passionate about working with these populations amongst many others. Gabriella is a yoga teacher (RYT 200) and loves bringing a mind-body integrated approach to her practice as a clinician. Gabriella completed her first practicum placement and Serin Center from 2024-2025 and will be completing her second at Psychological Counseling Services from 2025-2026. She completed her basic training from an EMDRIA approved EMDR training program and is on track to become certified in EMDR therapy

Kelli Gonzales, M.A., M.Ed., LAAC is a dynamic, licensed program manager with extensive experience at The Guidance Center in Flagstaff, Arizona. She excels in program performance analysis, team leadership, and the implementation of evidence-based practices to enhance service delivery and stakeholder engagement. Kelli has a proven track record of driving improvements in program outcomes and client satisfaction through strategic procurement, relationship building, and innovation in service models.

Dr. Juan Gonzalez earned his Psy.D. from Carlos Albizu University in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he completed his dissertation on videogame abuse in Latino adult males. His clinical experience has largely centered around community mental health, with a focus on supporting survivors of natural disasters and individuals living with personality disorders and OCD. He currently serves as a professor at Northern Arizona University, where he continues to pursue his passion for mentoring and supporting others. His research and teaching interests include videogames, personality disorders, and holistic approaches to wellbeing. In addition to his academic role, Dr. Gonzalez maintains a private practice dedicated to providing culturally sensitive, client-centered care to mainly Latinx individuals and families.

Shane Haberstroh Ed.D. is a professor of counseling in the Department of Educational Psychology at Northern Arizona University. He currently serves on the Executive Committee, teaches within, and directs program evaluation activities for a NIDA funded interprofessional doctoral training program in culturally centered addiction research at NAU. His research focuses on technology in counseling, creativity and relational development in counseling, Developmental Relational Counseling, and the losses and recovery processes related to addiction, crises, and traumatic events.

Sheryl W. Harrison, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who has maintained a full-time private practice for over 30 years and part-time practice since 2003 when she began teaching full-time. She is a Professor in the Clinical Psychology, Psy.D. Department at NAU where she teaches ethics and various therapy courses including Animal Assisted Therapy. Her private practice focuses on anxiety disorders, grief, couples’ issues, equine facilitated psychotherapy and sport/performance interventions. She received a post-doctoral certificate in Sport Psychology in 2001. Dr. Harrison has been a member of the Arizona Psychological Association’s Ethics Committee since 2022.

Megan Jeffreys, PhD, is a pediatric clinical psychologist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Dr. Jeffreys has expertise in diagnosing and treating children and adolescents with anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression. Dr. Jeffreys has expertise in use of cognitive behavioral therapy for treating anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the San Diego State University/UC San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology. During her graduate work, her research focused on implementation of behavioral therapy for anxious and depressed youth in primary care. She completed her predoctoral internship in the Vanderbilt-Veterans Affairs Internship in Clinical Psychology program. Prior to her work at Phoenix Children’s, Dr. Jeffreys worked in a private practice setting in the valley for six years working with children and their families.

Dr. Jessica Kaffer is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Kaffer Psychological Services, a virtual group practice specializing in maternal mental health and trauma. With over a decade of experience, she provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals navigating fertility challenges, pregnancy, postpartum transitions, and parenting. Dr. Kaffer is certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) and offers advanced trauma-informed therapies including PE, CPT, and ART. She has also served in academic, supervisory, and consulting roles, and frequently presents on topics related to mom rage, birth trauma, and psychological resilience. Her work is grounded in integrative, collaborative care.

Dr. George M. Kapalka, a Distinguished Professor in the California School of Professional Psychology and the Program Director of its MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology, is a prescribing and clinical psychologist based in Albuquerque, NM. He is board certified in clinical psychology (ABPP) and psychopharmacology (FICPP) and is a Fellow of APA Divisions 53 (child/adolescent psychology) and 55 (prescribing psychology). He is in practice for over 30 years and primarily treats children and adolescents. His research has focused on the psychological, pharmacological and combined treatments of pediatric disorders (particularly ADHD), collaborating with primary care (particularly pediatricians), and behavior management training for parents and teachers. He is an author of six books (one of which was translated into ten foreign languages) and dozens of journal articles and other publications.

Dr. Daniel Kaufmann, Ph.D., LMHC / LPC, CGT, ICGC-II, IGDC, BACC (pronouns are he/him)

Social Links: @DrGameology

Dr. Kaufmann is the Director of Gaming Services & Program Development at Kindbridge Behavioral Health and is an Associate Professor at Grand Canyon University. He is currently serving as the co-chair of the APA research task force on video game issues and is working on several nationwide training programs to help mental health professionals understand video games in innovative ways. His research on the psychology of player types has been presented internationally and continues to evolve with each new world players can inhabit across PCs and consoles. Dr. Kaufmann's publications cover the areas of video games, personality theory, online education, and counselor development. He offers supervision to an international list of clinicians to help bridge the gap in learning about technological impact on society and specific insights related to effective treatment for clients experiencing games-related issues. To further his mission of educating counseling professionals to better support clients who are interested in games-related issues, Dr. Kaufmann is also the former Board President for the International Problem Gambling and Gaming Certification Board (IPGGC), which establishes training and expertise standards for counseling and prevention professionals to assist clients who enjoy or struggle with gambling and video game activities.Despite many professionals having a negative view of video games, Dr. Kaufmann is a fearless advocate for the positive elements of video games, and credits them with many of the thought processes that have proved critical in helping him overcome professional and personal journeys in life. As a result, Dr. Kaufmann became more involved in the Geek Therapeutics community in 2020 as a presenter for online trainings, content writer, and author of the award-winning book entitled The Gamer’s Journey. Dr. Kaufmann is a Twitch Partner and streams regularly as Dr. Gameology as a never-ending quest to discuss mental health and video games to encourage audiences of all types to be their very best as they continue the journey. You can email Dr. Kaufmann at daniel.kaufmann@drgameology.com or visit his profiles on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Researchgate.

Jennifer Lee is a Clinical Psychology doctoral student at Northern Arizona University. She is a current intern at the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System for her pre-doctoral internship. Previously, Jennifer was a scholar in the Community Centered Addictions Research Training (C-CART) graduate program with NAU’s Center for Community Health and Engaged Research (CHER). Her project focused on addressing social determinants of health and substance use disorders among postpartum mothers in rural populations. She continues to support community research through her role as a C-CART scholar mentor and alumnus.

Brennan Lines is a fourth-year student in Northern Arizona University’s PsyD program. He received a B.S. in Political Science and a B.S. in Psychology from Arizona State University in 2020. He worked for Amazon through the COVID-19 pandemic before applying to study clinical psychology at the doctoral level. His clinical interests include the treatment of substance use disorders and the provision of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He has prior experience in treating substance use disorders, personality disorders, and severe mental illness within a residential treatment setting.

Tamara Martin-Causey, PhD is a licensed Arizona psychologist and a PSYPACT telehealth provider. She maintains a full-time therapy practice for couples and individuals and provides assessments for impaired physicians when required by the AZ Medical Board. She serves as Council Representative for Arizona, is a member of the AzPA Ethics Committee and is a Past-President of APA Division 42 (Independent Practice). Her previous experiences include teaching as adjunct professor for doctoral psychology programs and at a naturopathic medical school. She serves on non-profit boards in her community. She has also provided pro-bono services to her local foodbank and school system.

Dr. Amanda McBride (she/her) is the Director of Clinical Training of the APA-accredited Psychology Training Program at Copa Health and a licensed psychologist in the State of Arizona. She received her M.A. and Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Phoenix, in 2014. Dr. McBride completed her pre-doctoral internship at Talbert House in Cincinnati, Ohio, a community behavioral health agency, and post-doctoral residency with Southwest Behavioral & Health Services in Phoenix. She served in a blended clinical, administrative, and supervisory role at Southwest Behavioral & Health Services for over 6 years before joining Copa Health in 2021. Dr. McBride has extensive experience providing strengths-based, solution-focused care to clients in the form of therapy, assessment and treatment planning, and psychological testing. Since 2016, she has been a primary supervisor for doctoral practicum students, pre-doctoral interns, and post-doctoral residents. She is passionate about providing high quality supervision, education, and training to the “next generation” of psychologist clinicians and supervisors.

Jeni McCutcheon, PsyD, MSCP, ABPP, a licensed psychologist for 25 years, is double board-certified in Clinical Psychology and Police and Public Safety Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology. Her practice in Phoenix, Arizona specializes in police and public safety psychology, developing systems for psychological service provision in both agency and independent practice settings. She is a published author, holds leadership roles, serves on the American Board of Professional Psychology's Ethics Consultation Committee, and is the co-chair of the Arizona Psychological Association’s Ethics Consultation Committee. She enjoys providing and attending professional training and offering consultation services to other psychologists.

Ramona Mellott, PhD is the Dean and Professor in the College of Education at Northern Arizona University (NAU). She serves as the Multiple Principal Investigator for the Culturally-Centered Addictions Research Training Program (C-CART) program. She also supports training and clinical experiences for the PhD program in Combined Counseling/School Psychology. She also provides oversight as dean for the Doctor of Psychology program in Clinical Psychology at NAU. As a licensed psychologist in Arizona, she served for 17 years on the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners. Currently, she serves on the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Board of Directors.

Dr. Michelle Melton is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Phoenix Metro area. She provides clinical supervision, consultation, training, and workshops.

She is experienced working in a variety of settings including private and state psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse recovery programs, community mental health settings, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Dr. Melton provides training in the public and private sectors on mental health wellness, organizational development, and diversity education and leadership. She has been published in state and national scholarly journals. Dr. Melton’s aim is to use psychological sciences and professional knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and communities. By enterprising diversity and inclusion, she seeks to facilitate personal transformation and institutional innovation.

Rob is in his fourth year as a Psy.D. student in Northern Arizona University’s Clinical Psychology program. He holds a Master’s Degree from Arizona State University and certificates from the FBI and Harvard University. He is retired from the Tempe Police Department, where he helped lead the Crisis Negotiation and Peer Support Teams. His clinical interests include individual and family therapy with first responders. His prior experience includes critical incident management, suicide response, victims of interpersonal violence, and teens. In their free time, Rob and his wife enjoy traveling the back roads of the southwestern United States. They reside in Phoenix, near their two adult children.

Katherine Mommaerts earned a PhD in Interdisciplinary Health, with a focus in health equity and psychosocial health, from Northern Arizona University, and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has over ten years of experience in clinical, supervisory, and leadership experience in diverse settings, including integrated care, community mental and behavioral health, hospice, and schools. She is a licensed clinical social worker and certified personal trainer. Her education, training, experience, and practice incorporates an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to her research. Her research focuses on mental health and health disparities, particularly with female Mexican American adolescents.

Zorash Montaño, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in pediatric psychology and consultation-liaison. She is also a bilingual psychologist. She is passionate about working with multidisciplinary teams in the treatment of children with comorbid mental and physical diagnoses. Dr. Montaño has become particularly interested in FNSD and as such has delivered various presentations across her hospital and is excited to share her knowledge about FNSD with psychologists who work in the community

Deborah Partington, PsyD maintains a full-time private practice in Phoenix. She is former director of the psychology training and internship program at Southwest Behavioral Health Services, which achieved APA accreditation in 2015. She has been a member of AzPA’s Ethics Committee for the past 12 years. Dr. Partington is the recipient of AzPA’s Distinguished Mentor Award and Distinguished Contribution to Diversity Award, and is a founding member of the Women in Psychology interest group. Dr. Partington holds a Master’s of Fine Arts/Creative Writing from ASU. She is the author of two published novels: Telling Secrets (2015) and Telling Shadows (2022).

Vesna Pepic Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist licensed in Arizona, Illinois, and Wisconsin. She earned her Ph.D. in Combined Counseling and School Psychology from Northern Arizona University. Dr. Pepic is proficient in several evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to treat complex presentations of PTSD, OCD, and ASD. Dr. Vesna Pepić has made significant contributions to the field through numerous professional presentations and publications, with a focus on culturally grounded interventions, resilience in Indigenous youth, and wellness education. Her work has been featured in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national conferences, including the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Psychological Association Dr. Pepic currently practices for A Ray of Hope, a private practice within the Phoenix area that provides psychological, psychiatric, and neurological services. Dr. Pepic specializes in the assessment and treatment of autism, OCD, and PTSD.

Dr. Alice Pickering is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in perinatal mental health, trauma, depression, anxiety, and life transitions. She brings a decade of clinical experience across inpatient, outpatient, and academic settings, and integrates trauma-informed, client-centered care into aspects of her work. As the owner of a private practice and a PSYPACT-authorized provider, Dr. Pickering offers psychotherapy and education to support the mental health of women, mothers, and first responder families. She is dedicated to delivering compassionate, research-informed care that acknowledges the nuanced challenges her clients face, with a focus on long-term emotional growth and psychological well-being.

Julie Roddy, PhD (Economics) is a Professor and the Wurgler Chair of Criminal Justice and Behavioral Health in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Arizona University. She is an enrolled member of the federally recognized Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She serves as an Executive Board Member, an instructor and a research mentor for the Culturally-Centered Addictions Research Training Program (C-CART) program. She also serves on many local community boards including Native Americans for Community Action, Flagstaff Shelter Services, the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Council, the Police Citizens Liaison Committee and as a Community Advisory Board Member for Working Alternatives, Inc.

Casey Swenson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over a decade of experience in the mental health field. Casey specializes in Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Complex Trauma and PTSD (CTPSD), and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for adult clients. With a diverse background that spans residential treatment, community mental health, partial hospitalization, and Casey currently practices in a private practice setting. As a practicing therapist for six years, Casey is proficient in several evidence-based therapeutic approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT). Casey has also contributed to the field through professional presentations, including at the Southwestern School for Behavioral Health Studies on the application of EMDR in community mental health settings, as well as at the Arizona Counselors Association, where the focus was on techniques for reducing grudges and fostering forgiveness. Casey earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Arizona University and is a certified Clinical Supervisor through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (AZBBHE).

Dr. Warner is a Clinical Associate Professor in counseling and counseling psychology in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA). She is the Director of PhD Training and Associate Director of the Counselor Training Center (CTC). She has nearly 20 years of teaching and training in counselor preparation. Dr. Warner’s scholarship and teaching focus on development of cultural competence, clinical supervision, and professional development. She has clinical experiences in community mental health, university counseling center, private practice, and military settings. Dr. Warner completed her pre-doctoral and post-doctoral training at Georgia State University Counseling Center. She is a licensed psychologist in Arizona, Indiana, and South Carolina.