Post-doctoral Fellows
Jay Cohen, Ph.D., 2006-2007
Current position: Chief of Staff, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Central Office
Lynn Neely, Ph.D., 2005-2006
Current position: Staff Psychologist, John Dingell Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan
Mazy Gillis, Ph.D., 2002-2005 (in collaboration with Henry Ford Sleep Disorders and Research Center)
Current position: Director, Talent Management, Guardian Industries
Doctoral Dissertations (N = 47)
Liyah Marshall, Ph.D., 2024
Understanding relationship satisfaction when your partner has chronic pain: Attachment and potential moderators.
First and current position: Post-doc/staff psychologist, Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry
Zeina Ghoul, Ph.D., 2022 (co-chair; Wayne State University Counselor Education)
The impact of behavioral sleep education on undergraduate university students’ perceived stress and sleep quality: A randomized, controlled trial.
Current position: Private practice, Southeast Michigan
Christopher P. Urbanik, Ph.D., 2022
Childhood adversity and alexithymia: Implications for health outcomes in an urban police sample.
First and current position: Staff psychologist, Substance Dependence Clinic, Detroit VA
Jolin B. Yamin, Ph.D. 2022
Experiential training in disclosure facilitation and emotional awareness and activation: A randomized test.
First and current position: Post-doctoral fellow, Harvard University Medical School
Shoshana Krohner, Ph.D. 2022
Emotion- and relationship-focused therapeutic interview for chronic musculoskeletal pain: A randomized controlled trial.
First position: Post-doctoral fellow, Department of Psychology, New School for Social Research, NY, NY
Current position: Post-doctoral fellow, Montefiore Medical Center Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY, NY
Hallie T. Tankha, Ph.D. 2022
Engagement in a Facebook peer support intervention and its impact on the psychosocial aspects of pain: A mixed methods investigation.
First position: Post-doctoral fellow, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Current position: Research faculty, Department of Wellness and Preventive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Heather K. Doherty, Ph.D. 2021
Emotional Awareness and Expression therapy and mindfulness meditation training for college students with anxiety and somatic symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.
First and current position: Staff psychologist, West Virginia University Student Counseling Center, Morgantown
Bethany D. Pester, Ph.D. 2021
A randomized clinical trial on the impact of Facebook support groups for adults with chronic pain.
First position: Post-doctoral fellow, Harvard Medicine School
Current position: Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
Hannah J. Holmes, Ph.D., 2019
Arab American women’s health study: Correlational and experimental examination of a sexual health interview.
First and current position: Clinical Assistant Professor, Appalachia State University, Boone, NC
Matthew Jasinski, Ph.D., 2017
A brief family intervention to decrease nonadherence and readmission for kidney failure: A randomized trial.
First position: Post-doctoral fellow, Washington DC VA Health Center
Current position: Staff psychologist, Washington DC VA Health Center
Jennifer Carty, Ph.D., 2016
The effects of a life-stress interview for women with chronic urogenital pain: A randomized trial.
First position: Post-doctoral Fellowship, Primary Care, University of Massachusetts Medical Center
Current position: Director, Behavioral Health Academic Program, Family Medicine & Internal Medicine Residency, McLaren Macomb Hospital, and Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
Maisa Ziadni, Ph.D., 2016
Stress and health interview for primary care patients with medically unexplained symptoms: A randomized trial.
First position: Post-doctoral Fellowship, Pain Medicine, Stanford University
Current position: Clinical Assistant Professor, Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Elyse R. (Sklar) Thakur, Ph.D., 2015
The effects of emotional awareness and expression training and relaxation training for people with irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized trial.
First position position: MIRECC VA Advanced Post-doctoral Fellowship in Mental Health Research and Treatment, Houston VA / Baylor University
Current position: Faculty, Gastroenterology, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist University, Charlotte, NC
Maren Hyde-Nolan, Ph.D., 2014
A daily study of the sleep pain relationship in fibromyalgia.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Henry Ford Health System
Current: Staff Psychologist, Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System
Dana Nevedal, Ph.D., 2012
Perceived and functional disability in adults with chronic pain. What accounts for the discrepancies?
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, West Haven / Yale Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
Current position: Staff, NE Psychological Associates, Albany, NY
Alaa Hijazi, Ph.D., 2012
Narrative Exposure Therapy to treat traumatic stress in Arab refugees. A clinical trial.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Bay Pines Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, St. Petersburg, Florida
Subsequent position: Assistant Professor: Department of Psychology, American University, Beirut, Lebanon
Current position: Private practice, Beirut, Lebanon
Olga Slavin-Spenny, Ph.D., 2011
Testing the impact of anger awareness and expression training and relaxation training on chronic headaches.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Ann Arbor Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
Subsequent position: Clinic Director & Pain Psychologist, Team Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery Program, Oak Park, Michigan
Current position: Staff psychologist, Henry Ford Health Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI
Lindsay Oberleitner, Ph.D. (co-chair), 2011
Emotional risk factors for substance abuse in chronic pain population: Developing a predictive model and testing methods for assessing stigmatized behaviors.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Psychiatry, Yale University
Subsequent position: Research Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, Yale University
Current position: Education Director, Simple Practice Learning
Tamara McKay, Ph.D., 2010
The effects of meta-communication training on therapeutic process and outcome at a university counseling center.
First position: Staff, Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Michigan-Flint
Current position: Staff psychologist, Joint Base Andrews (U.S. Air Force), Prince George’s County, Maryland
Amanda Burger, Ph.D., 2010
Evaluating outcomes and response profiles of a psychological treatment for people with chronic pain.
First position: Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Cedarville University, Ohio
Current position: Training Director, Residency and Fellowship programs, MetroHealth, and Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Ohio
Jonathan Beyer, Ph.D., 2010
The effects of web-based interactive emotional disclosure on stress and health: A randomized, controlled study.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Ann Arbor Veteran’s Affair Medical Center
Current: Staff psychologist, Jesse Brown Veteran’s Affair Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
Alison Radcliffe, Ph.D., 2009
Predicting change: Does content matter in the outcomes of disclosure writing participants?
First position: Staff psychologist, Counseling and Psychological Services, Boise State University, Idaho
Current position: Staff psychologist, Pain Clinic, Boise Idaho VA Medical Center
Rebecca Stout, Ph.D., 2008
An analysis of writing content and headache outcomes in a web-based guided writing intervention for migraine headaches.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Psychiatry, University of Illinois-Chicago
Current: Assistant Director, Psychology Training, St. Louis Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
Shedeh Tavakoli-Moayed, Ph.D., 2008 (co-chair: Counselor Education)
Effects of expressive writing and assertiveness training on international student’s acculturative stress, health, and affect.
First position: Assistant Professor, Counseling, Argosy University, Chicago
Current position: Associate Professor and Department Chair, Counselor Education, Northeastern Illinois University
Kristine Rebucal Ma, Ph.D., 2008
The effects of age and attachment on daily experiences and social interactions.
First / current position: (Unknown; Developmental Psychology Ph.D. student)
Debra Macklem, Ph.D., 2007
Exploration of emotion regulation styles as potential moderators of emotional disclosure in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Testing a model of emotional expression.
First postion: Post-doctoral fellow, MSU-Flint Consortium
Current position: Director, Department of Graduate Medical Education, Alliance/Henry Ford Hospital, Jackson, Michigan
Christina Kraft, Ph.D., 2006
Effects of written emotional disclosure on psychotherapy mediation: Therapeutic alliance, experiencing, mood, and attendance.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, University of Akron, Ohio
Current position: Private practice, Hudson, Ohio
Lori (Johnson) Warner, Ph.D., 2003 (co-chair)
Expressive writing and health in pediatric asthma.
First position: Staff, Beaumont Hospital, HOPE Center
Subsequent position: Director, Beaumont HOPE Center, Associate Professor, Oakland University School of Medicine
Current position: Private practice, Royal Oak, Michigan
Tina (Tojek) Meyer, Ph.D., 2003
Life stress and emotional regulation strategies during a personal disclosure task: Health implications for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
First position: Private practice, adjunct faculty, Oakland University
Current position: Senior Lecturer, Psychology, Oakland University
Pamela D’Souza, Ph.D., 2002
The effects of relaxation training and written emotional disclosure on people with migraine or tension headaches.
Current position: Private teaching of children, Maryland
Dana Cohen, Ph.D., 2002
Child behavior problems and family functioning, adherence, and metabolic control in children with Type I diabetes: Prospective studies using two designs.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Beaumont Hospital Center for Human Development
Current position: Director, Beaumont Hospital Autism Evaluation Center, Faculty, Oakland University School of Medicine
Mazy Gillis, Ph.D., 2002
The effects of written emotional disclosure on adjustment in fibromyalgia syndrome.
First position: Research post-doctoral fellow, Sleep Disorders and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System
Current position: Senior Director, Principle-based Management, Georgia-Pacific LLC
Jennifer Huffman, Ph.D., 2000
Predictors of treatment adherence and the relationship between adherence and treatment outcome among migraine headache patients.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, Ann Arbor Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center
Current position: Private neuropsychology practice, Jackson, Michigan
Sally Norman, Ph.D., 2000
The effects of written expression in women with chronic pelvic pain.
Fist position: Post-doctoral fellowship, SUNY Buffalo
Current: Private practice, Buffalo, NY
Brian Stogner, Ph.D., 1999
Prediction of the development of postconcussion syndrome from personality and health psychology variables.
First position: Assistant Professor, Psychology, Rochester College, Michigan
Current: President, Rochester University, Rochester, Michigan
Julie Smith, Ph.D., 1998
The relationship of cognitive and emotional coping to adjustment in chronic myofascial pain.
First position: Staff psychologist, University of Maryland Medical Center
Current position: retired
Theresa (Ovies) Regan, Ph.D., 1997
An evaluation of two neuropsychological models of alexithymia.
Current: Staff psychologist, Illinois Neurological Institute at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Illinois
Jill Meade, Ph.D., 1996
Stress, emotional functioning, and parent behavior in childhood illness.
Current: Staff psychologist & Internship Director, Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Jocelyn McCrae, Ph.D., 1996
Negative affectivity, alexithymia, and coping: Relationships with sickle cell disease pain, disability, and health care use.
Current: Staff psychologist, Sickle Cell Clinic, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit
Jane Kelley, Ph.D., 1996
The relationship between emotional inhibition and health status and the effects of disclosure in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Current: Private practice, metro Detroit
Steven Ondersma, Ph.D., 1996
Beyond negative affect: The role of psychosocial factors in childhood illness.
First position: Post-doctoral fellowship, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Subsequent position: Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit
Current position: Professor, Michigan State University Public Health (Flint) / OBGYN
Larry Friedlander, Ph.D., 1995
Alexithymia and stress response: Exploring the issue of reactivity and decoupling.
Current: Private practice, Westland, Michigan
Janice Tomakowsky, Ph.D., 1994
Optimism and coping in relation to health status in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus.
Current position: Private practice, Royal Oak, Michgan; Retired staff psychologist, Women’s Urology Center, Beaumont Hospital
Susan MacNeill, Ph.D., 1994
Psychological factors associated with treatment seeking behavior for myocardial infarction.
First position: Beaumont Hospital Neuropsychology
Current: Deceased (2014)
Tracey Torosian, Ph.D., 1994
Psychological and physiological correlates of ischemic pain reporting during treadmill stress testing.
First position: Assistant Professor, Psychology, University of Detroit-Mercy
Subsequent position: Private practice, Gross Point, Michigan
Current position: Staff psychologist, Gastroenterology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit
Kevin Roby, Ph.D., 1993
Alexithymia, attribution, and physiological arousal in pathological gambling.
First position: Staff Psychologist, Third Judicial Court, Detroit
Current: Owner, Golf Psychology Consultants, Las Vegas, NV
Margaret Jordan, Ph.D., 1993
The relationship of pain control beliefs, pain coping strategies, and pain severity to the psychological adjustment and functional status of individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
First position: Private practice, metro Detroit
Current: Deceased (2020)
Master’s Theses (N = 31)
Liyah Marshall, M.A. (2021). The relationship of object relations as assessed by the Thematic Apperception Test to psychopathology among patients entering a dialectical behavior therapy skills program.
Christopher Urbanik, M.A. (2020). The effects of a pain psychology and neuroscience self-evaluation intervention: A randomized clinical trial.
Shoshana Krohner, M.A. (2019). Examining the relationships of individual characteristics and health outcomes with narrative emotional processes and disclosure among women with chronic urogenital pain.
Jolin Yamin, M.A. (2019). Diagnostic stress and health interview performance in patients with medically unexplained symptoms.
Heather Doherty, M.A. (2018). Alexithymia, trauma, and interpersonal distress as moderators of emotional awareness and expression therapy for patients with fibromyalgia.
Hannah Holmes, M.A. (2016). Ambivalence over emotional expression, social constraints, and trauma as moderators of emotional awareness and expression training for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.
Matthew Jasinski, M.A. (2013). Anger expression: Evaluating the construct validity of several emotion regulation measures.
Jennifer Carty, M.A. (2012). Alexithymia, social constraints, and self-efficacy as moderators of coping skills training and written emotional disclosure: For which patients with rheumatoid arthritis do these interventions improve pain and physical functioning?
Elyse Sklar Thakure, M.A. (2012). Moderators of the effects of emotional awareness and expression training and relaxation training to improve chronic headache symptoms.
Maren Hyde-Nolan, M.A. (2010). Pre-surgical sleep as a predictor of post-surgical pain.
Dana Nevedal, M.A. (2009). Do implicit motives predict HIV disease progression?
Alaa Hijazi, M.A. (2008). Moderators of the effects of written emotional disclosure and assertiveness training to improve adjustment of international students.
Olga Slavin, M.A. (2008). The influence of the method of disclosure on physical and emotional health outcomes.
Lindsay Sander, M.A. (2008). Methods of emotional disclosure: Process and immediate reactions in spoken disclosure.
Jonathon Beyer, M.A. (2008). Verbal emotional expression and alexithymia: Evaluating the criterion validity of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale – 20 in a community sample of adults.
Amanda Burger, M.A. (2007). The effects of guided, internet-based written emotional disclosure on migraine headaches.
Britta Gustavson, M.A. (2007). Multiple measures of alexithymia and related emotional ability measures: Relationships with health measures.
Alison Radcliffe, M.A. (2005). Written emotional disclosure: Testing the implications of an audience and the neutrality of the control.
Debra Macklem, M.A. (2004). Emotional disclosure and changes in coping among rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Christina Kraft, M.A. (2003). Alexithymia, self-efficacy, and catastrophizing as potential moderators of relaxation treatment and emotional disclosure for people with chronic headache conditions.
Kara Brooklier, M.A. (2001, co-chair). Negative affect, life stress, and asthma symptom report.
Tina Tojek Meyer, M.A. (1998). Psychological correlates of psychogenic, nonepileptic seizures.
Mazy Gillis, M.A. (1998). Correlates of treatment nonadherence in women with systemic lupus erythematosus: Depression, disease severity, social support, and memory.
Laurie Hipley, M.A. (1997). Job and personality characteristics as related to coronary risk factors.
Jennifer Huffman, M.A. (1997). Psychological predictors of cardiac events.
Jennifer Gramzow, M.A. (1996). Maternal modeling and reinforcement of pain in their children.
Camey Mader, M.A. (1996). Alexithymia, family functioning, and chronic pain.
Michelle Corlis, M.A. (1996). The role of maternal illness, behavior, and alexithymia in inflammatory bowel disease.
Sally Norman, M.A. (1995). Alexithymia and treatment-seeking for health problems.
Mary Theisen, M.A. (1994). Alexithymia and health beliefs in symptomatic and asymptomatic heart attack patients.
Theresa Ovies, M.A. (1994). An evaluation of two models of the relationship between alexithymia and physical symptom reporting.