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Hello! We are the Laboratory for Psychotherapy Science! |
Lab Director
Zac Imel, PhD
Zac is an Assistant Professor with the Counseling Psychology Program in the Department of Educational Psychology and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. His primary interests involve research, teaching, and service related to the promotion and understanding of quality mental health treatment. Specific programs of research include methods for identifying and understanding the behaviors of effective (and less effective) therapists, the utilization of mental health services, emerging linguistic techniques for modeling psychotherapy process, and meta-analysis of treatment outcome studies.
Email: zac.imel@utah.edu
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Zac is an Assistant Professor with the Counseling Psychology Program in the Department of Educational Psychology and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. His primary interests involve research, teaching, and service related to the promotion and understanding of quality mental health treatment. Specific programs of research include methods for identifying and understanding the behaviors of effective (and less effective) therapists, the utilization of mental health services, emerging linguistic techniques for modeling psychotherapy process, and meta-analysis of treatment outcome studies.
Email: zac.imel@utah.edu
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Affiliate Graduate Students
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Christina Soma
Christina is a graduate student in the Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program. She is originally from Denver, Colorado and attended Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania to complete her undergrad. She majored in psychology and math, and conducted research in both psychology and mathematics. She hopes to continue to combine the two disciplines by studying dynamic systems modeling and their applications to psychotherapy. For fun she likes to hike, play ultimate frisbee, telemark ski, and be social with her friends. |
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Derek Caperton
Derek is a Counseling Psychology PhD student from Bonners Ferry, Idaho. He earned his AA at North Idaho College and BA in psychology at Gonzaga University. Derek most recently finished his MS in experimental psychology from Western Washington University, where he studied adaptive processes in romantic relationships through the lens of attachment theory. His current research interests center on the therapeutic relationship and quantitative methods. Derek enjoys the outdoors, craft beer, travel, Bundesliga soccer, and leatherwork. |
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Kritzia Merced Morales
Kritzia is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program. She grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and an MS in public health from the University of Puerto Rico. She worked as a research assistant on several projects focusing on anxiety disorders, depression, and cultural-adapted treatment. She has an interest in research related to cultural awareness and diversity, as also in projects related to mental health services and psychotherapy. In her spare time she loves to watch movies and baseball games, dance salsa, try new restaurants, and play with her dogs, Tikán and Lilly. |
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Patty Kuo
Patty Kuo is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Utah. Patty received her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Maryland, College Park, and her M.Ed from the University of Louisville. Patty's is interested in researching psychotherapy processes and outcomes, particularly cultural processes and awareness. In her free time, Patty enjoys reading, hiking, playing with animals, cooking, and being with friends. |
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Keith Gunnerson
Keith is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Utah. Keith is originally from Salt Lake City, UT and received his B.S. in Psychology and M.Ed in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Utah. Keith is interested in studying how religiosity impacts psychotherapy processes. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing video games, reading, and playing with his dog. |
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Katie Axford
Katie is a graduate student in the Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program. She moved to Utah from Duluth, MN, where she attended the University of Minnesota Duluth and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her MS in clinical-counseling psychology. Her current research interests are on the therapeutic relationship and training of therapists. Katie enjoys running and hiking, crafts, and cooking. |
Internship and Graduated Students
Brian Pace
Brian is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program. His research interest include psychotherapy treatment processes and outcomes and quantitative methods. He received his MS in counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his free time he enjoys hiking, climbing, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
Brian is a doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program. His research interest include psychotherapy treatment processes and outcomes and quantitative methods. He received his MS in counseling psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In his free time he enjoys hiking, climbing, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
Aaron Dembe
Aaron is a second-year PhD student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Utah, working as a graduate research assistant with advisor Zac Imel on various psychotherapy outcomes and processes: in particular, studying emotional expression in Motivational Interviewing. Clinically, Aaron is interested in providing psychotherapeutic services from an Existential/Integrative orientation, with technical interests in mindfulness, hypnotherapy, and constructivism.
Aaron's former life was as a professional musician and guitar teacher, and in his spare time, he likes to take things apart - mostly vacuum cleaners and cars - and put them back together, use a bicycle, run, do yoga, meditate, do crosswords, go outside, sing, cook, swim, read, write, text people, and travel. Aaron speaks decent French and dreadful Spanish, and has a black cat named Bogart.
Aaron is a second-year PhD student in the Counseling Psychology program at the University of Utah, working as a graduate research assistant with advisor Zac Imel on various psychotherapy outcomes and processes: in particular, studying emotional expression in Motivational Interviewing. Clinically, Aaron is interested in providing psychotherapeutic services from an Existential/Integrative orientation, with technical interests in mindfulness, hypnotherapy, and constructivism.
Aaron's former life was as a professional musician and guitar teacher, and in his spare time, he likes to take things apart - mostly vacuum cleaners and cars - and put them back together, use a bicycle, run, do yoga, meditate, do crosswords, go outside, sing, cook, swim, read, write, text people, and travel. Aaron speaks decent French and dreadful Spanish, and has a black cat named Bogart.
Mike Tanana
Mike is a Learning and Cognitive Science PhD student. In addition, he works as a Statistician at the Social Research Institute and has a Masters In Statistics from the University of Utah. Mike is interested in deep learning techniques for modeling psychotherapy processes as well as machine learning models for predicting mental health service utilization. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and spending time with his family.
Mike is a Learning and Cognitive Science PhD student. In addition, he works as a Statistician at the Social Research Institute and has a Masters In Statistics from the University of Utah. Mike is interested in deep learning techniques for modeling psychotherapy processes as well as machine learning models for predicting mental health service utilization. He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and spending time with his family.
Halley Brown
Halley is a matriculating graduate student at the University of Utah, pursuing her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She came to Salt Lake City from Tucson, AZ, where she received her Bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Arizona. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant with the Anxiety Research Group on projects examining the effects of psychological stress, anxiety, and fear on episodic memory performance. As a graduate student, Halley is a member of the research team at the University of Utah's Counseling Center (UCC), examining topics related to individual and group psychotherapy outcomes, service utilization, and client satisfaction at the UCC. Additionally, Halley works with this lab on research related to treatment outcomes, identifying features of effective therapists, and modeling therapeutic processes. In her free time, you can find Halley hiking, climbing, skiing, attending arts exhibits and festivals, taking part in social justice activism in the community, or watching sports with friends.
Halley is a matriculating graduate student at the University of Utah, pursuing her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She came to Salt Lake City from Tucson, AZ, where she received her Bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Arizona. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant with the Anxiety Research Group on projects examining the effects of psychological stress, anxiety, and fear on episodic memory performance. As a graduate student, Halley is a member of the research team at the University of Utah's Counseling Center (UCC), examining topics related to individual and group psychotherapy outcomes, service utilization, and client satisfaction at the UCC. Additionally, Halley works with this lab on research related to treatment outcomes, identifying features of effective therapists, and modeling therapeutic processes. In her free time, you can find Halley hiking, climbing, skiing, attending arts exhibits and festivals, taking part in social justice activism in the community, or watching sports with friends.
