Clients Assessment of Tact, Concealment, and Honesty (CATCH)

Clients' Assessment of Truth, Candor and Honesty (CATCH) Lab Members

AJ is a first-year master's student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Before entering the program, he graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Psychology as well as one in Communication, Arts & Sciences. While in undergrad, he studied technology as a means of supplementing the therapeutic experience through the use of ecological momentary assessments for generalized anxiety and social anxiety disorders. He is in the Disclosure & Psychotherapy lab but still continues to work with the PSU lab. His present research interests include how worry in patients with anxiety disorders can affect the therapeutic alliance. He hopes to go on to study psychotherapy in a doctoral program to work with adolescent populations. AJ loves listening to music, watching shows, and meeting new people. 

Brittany Riemer is a second-year in the Clinical Psychology Masters program at TC. She graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Quinnipiac University. Brittany’s current research interests include self-disclosure in therapy, treatment of psychotic and other psychological disorders, as well as stigma surrounding mental illness. After obtaining her masters, she hopes to pursue a PhD, continuing on with her research interests. In addition, she aspires to train in order to become a clinician and work directly with patients. She would like to fulfill her dream of teaching on a collegiate level.

Grace Myers is a first year student in the Masters program studying Clinical Psychology at Teachers College, Columbia. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience from the University of Maryland, College Park. Previously, she worked as a research assistant at UMD studying the connection between ADHD and problematic drinking. She also has experience working with clients suffering from dementia, autism, selective mutism, and traumatic brain injuries. Before Teachers College, she administered neurocognitive evaluations at a specialty neurology office in Virginia. Grace can be reached at gmm2194@tc.columbia.edu. 

Francesca Balest is a first-year in the Clinical Psychology Masters program at TC. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Allegheny College in 2021. Her research interests include psychotherapy, emotion regulation, and trauma. She is currently a member in the CATCH Lab researching client’s perception of therapist dishonesty. After obtaining her master’s she hopes to continue her studies in a PhD program and hopes to one day work as a clinician.

Luisa Garbowit is a first-year MA student in the Clinical Psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in English Literature. Luisa is currently involved in researching client’s perceptions of therapist dishonesty in the CATCH lab. In addition to working in the CATCH lab, she is a research assistant in TC’s Spirituality & Psychology lab and a digital crisis counselor at the Trevor Project. In the future, Luisa hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. 

Kaitlyn Howe is a second-year M.A. student in the Psychology in Education program at Teachers College. Prior to studying at TC, she received her B.A. in Psychology from Salve Regina University. In addition to her research with the Clients’ Assessment of Tact, Concealment, and Honesty (CATCH) Lab, Kaitlyn is particularly interested in helping adolescent and young adult populations with anxiety and depressive disorders. Following graduation, she hopes to earn her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology and ultimately work in private practice. 

Sterling Nenninger is currently a second year student in the Clinical Psychology Masters program at Teachers College. He attained his B.A. from Stony Brook University in philosophy and economics. His interests are in how personality manifests beyond traits, specifically on the levels of functioning and narrative, and how that relates to psychodynamic therapeutic practice. Along with working in the Psychotherapy, Affirmation, and Disclosure’s CATCH lab, he is also a Team Leader at the Resilience Center for Veterans and Families, and a research coordinator for the Military Life-Course Evaluation Studies (MILES) Lab. His goal is to attain his doctorate in Clinical Psychology to do clinically informative research and practice psychodynamic psychotherapy.