Rachel Cherner, LMSW 

Rachel Cherner, LMSW, is a second-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Teachers College. She leads the Relationships and Psychotherapy (RAP) Lab, where her research focuses on understanding attachment in the context of psychotherapy and romantic relationships. She holds a master's degree in social work from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University. Prior to beginning doctoral studies, Rachel worked as a school counselor at a DOE public school, as a child and family therapist in the Child and Family Outpatient Department at Mt. Sinai, and as a program manager and clinical staff member in the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department at the New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University Medical Center.

Rachel can be reached at rc3382@tc.columbia.edu.

Hannah Ades

My name is Hannah, I was born in NYC but raised between New York, Argentina (where my family is from), and Uruguay (I grew up going to school in Punta del Este during summer breaks here). I graduated from Harvard in 2018 with a concentration in Psychology and a secondary in Theatre. Recently, I completed my master’s in clinical psychology at TC. Before pursuing my master’s, I worked at various advertising agencies as a producer for several years. While at TC, I worked for Dr. Barry Farber as an RA for Shana Dickstein, looking at the impact of self-disclosure of identity on the therapeutic alliance. I also worked with Dr. Christine Cha, exploring patterns related to future thinking, suicidality, and disclosure in suicidal and non-suicidal adolescents. In pursuit of my Integrative Project, I sought to identify variations in suicidal ideation, disclosure patterns, and help-seeking tendencies among ethnically and racially minoritized adolescents. As a first-year doctoral candidate, I hope to shift my focus toward examining romantic relationships, their nature, impact, and dissolution, among college age and young adults. In my free time, I love to cook, read, and go to the gym, and always spend winter break with family and friends in Argentina and Uruguay.

Tiana Allen

Tiana Allen (she/her) is a recent graduate of the M.A. program in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from a small town in Mississippi, Tiana grew up immersed in the unique cultural landscape of the rural South, which shaped her passion for understanding how systemic factors and intersectional identities influence mental health. She earned her B.A. in Spanish and Chemistry from the University of Mississippi, where she developed a deep interest in language, culture, and their roles in shaping mental health experiences. Following graduation, Tiana taught English in Madrid, Spain, working with immigrant children from diverse cultural backgrounds, further solidifying her commitment to providing culturally attuned and accessible therapy interventions.

At Teachers College, Tiana’s research focused on the intersection of therapeutic effectiveness, disclosure, and attachment styles, as well as mental health accessibility for underserved and veteran populations. For her integrative project, she developed a therapy manual for adolescents with ADHD, combining cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques to improve executive functioning among underserved students. Her professional and research interests also include trauma-informed care, particularly for individuals affected by gender-based violence, and the integration of mindfulness and somatic practices into therapy. Outside of academics, Tiana is a certified yoga teacher and an advocate for holistic mental health approaches. She is dedicated to combining her skills and passions to make therapy more inclusive and accessible, particularly for rural and marginalized communities. After earning her master’s degree, Tiana plans to pursue a doctorate in Psychology, continuing her work in trauma-informed care and systemic mental health disparities. 

Niklas Kei Nyblom

Niklas Kei Nyblom is a second-year student in the Psychology in Education (Clinical Psychology) M.A. Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Niklas was brought up in Stockholm, Sweden, in a multicultural household, including his Swedish father, Japanese mother, and two younger sisters. As a prior professional swimmer, he started to pursue his academic career at Keiser University as a collegiate athlete, where he earned his B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in human services. His research interests include the dynamics of relationships, explicitly understanding factors that affect inter- and intrapersonal conflicts and the outcomes that form the qualities of relationships and individual well-being. In his free time, Niklas competes in triathlon, reads, and loves playing sudoku. After obtaining his Master's Degree, he intends to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, continuing his research interests on a global scale.

Sydney Lee

Sydney Lee is a first-year M.A. student in Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Raised in Las Vegas, she is a Chinese-Korean American who earned a B.A. in Psychology and Dramatic Arts from Vassar College. Sydney has a diverse professional background as a former ballet dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and Joffrey Ballet, as well as a professional actor trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. Sydney is passionate about exploring the mental health impact of stress in high-performance professions, focusing on how social media, public scrutiny, and performance demands shape identity and relationships. Her research integrates evidence-based practices with mindfulness, meditation, and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to address career-related stress. As an RA in the RAP Lab, Sydney is interested in the effects of social stress on attachment and intimacy. With clinical interests in mood disorders, OCD, perfectionism, rumination, and eating disorders, Sydney plans to pursue a Ph.D. and is dedicated to advocating for comprehensive mental health support in the entertainment and sports sectors.

Katherine Blazeby

Katherine Blazeby is a first-year master’s student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teacher’s College, Columbia University. Born and raised in NYC, she’s the daughter of two immigrants, an English father and a Lao refugee mother. She began her studies by earning a B.A. in Psychological and Behavioral Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Her research interests revolve around the determinants of psychotherapy efficacy and therapeutic alliances as well as the impacts of intersectionality and culture on the communication of psychopathology. After graduation, Katherine plans on pursuing a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys reading, gaming, and journaling.

Vincente (Vinnie) Gonzalez

Vincente (Vinnie) C. Gonzalez Jr. (they/them) is a second-year graduate student at Teachers College of Columbia University, where they are pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and an Advanced Certificate in Sexuality, Women, and Gender. A proud Latine first-generation college student, Vincente earned their undergraduate degrees in psychology and kinesiology from San Francisco State University, giving them a holistic understanding of human behavior, wellness, and the intersections of mental/physical health. Vincente’s research interests center on mental health disparities within marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ populations, with a focus on how interpersonal relationships and systemic factors influence mental well-being. They bring experience in qualitative data analysis, systematic reviews, and participant recruitment and have worked across multiple labs examining topics such as trauma, resilience, coping mechanisms, and emotion regulation. After graduating, Vincente plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to further their commitment to community-based research addressing health inequities and fostering resilience in underserved populations.