Current Members
Annette M. La Greca
Laboratory Director,
Dr. La Greca’s webpage: https://people.miami.edu/profile/983b08c0d3eeb592d5242b3015cc89f1
Her ResearchGate page: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Annette-La-Greca
Amanda Jensen
Graduate Student
Amanda is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Program with an emphasis in Pediatric Health. She received her B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University with a certification in Clinical Sciences. Then, she assisted in clinical treatment of substance use disorders for one year before spending three years working in clinical research of neurodevelopmental disorders at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Her research interests include parental support and the parent child relationship after a traumatic event. She is also interested studying key aspects of resilience that could be implemented into clinical practice. Outside of research, she enjoys fitness and nutrition, as well as taking her rescue dog, Chloe, on many adventures.
Evan Burdette
Recent Graduate!!
Evan has been a graduate student in the clinical child area of the UM clinical psychology program and a member of the Youth Risk and Resilience Lab. Evan just completed his pre-doctoral internship at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine, and graduated this August! In September, he began a post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center in NY. Evan's dissertation focused on the mediating roles of sleep problems and repetitive negative thinking in the relationship between stress and symptoms of anxiety and depression among Hispanic immigrant youth relative to non-immigrant Hispanic adolescents. Evan's clinical interests include tailoring Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for families of children with complex presentations (including anxiety and chronic illness), along with improving adherence to medication and quality of life in children with chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, cystic fibrosis).
Allie Rodman
Undergraduate Student
Allie Rodman is a senior at the University of Miami. She is majoring in neuroscience and minoring in chemistry, art, and dance. She is on the pre-medical track and hopes to become a physician. Allie is especially interested in pediatrics – During the school year, she volunteers at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s emergency department, and over the summer, she worked as a camp counselor. In her free time, Allie enjoys baking, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Susan Laskowski
Undergraduate Student
Susan Laskowski is a recent graduate of the University of Miami where she was studying psychology and public health. She was a transfer student who completed her Associate of Science degree at Kishwaukee College. She has worked at the Sycamore Community School District serving students and families as an after-school care provider and as a kindergarten teacher assistant. Susan just began a graduate program at the University of South Florida in Tampa and hopes to become a DBT therapist.
Isabella Grace Ribeiro Da Cunha
Undergraduate Student
Isabella Grace Ribeiro da Cunha Pereira is a senior at the University of Miami majoring in Psychology with a minor in Exercise Physiology. Prior to joining Dr. La Greca’s lab, Isabella researched the effects of music therapy on attention and memory. Her passion for child psychology prospered following a class with Dr. La Greca, and she has since been focusing her studies on children and adolescents. After graduating, Isabella wants to complete a master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), where she aspires to work hands-on in the field.
Isabella Lina Reiser
Undergraduate Student
Isabella Reiser is a senior at the University of Miami majoring in Psychology with a double minor in German and Criminology. Throughout her college career, Isabella has had a passion for helping those struggling with PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Her prior research experience focused on students at UM and the role of affective flexibility, fear conditioning, and attention biases concerning the development and maintenance of anxiety. Furthermore, she completed a month-long clinical psychology rotation at the University of Heidelberg in Germany—specifically, working with patients in the eating disorder clinic, refugee camp, oncology hospital, and psychosomatic division. After graduating, Isabella wants to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree in clinical psychology. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her cats, read, paint, and explore Miami with her friends.
Claudia Gonzalez
Undergraduate Student
Claudia Gonzalez is a junior at the University of Miami majoring in Psychology and Criminology with a minor in Computer Science. Claudia developed a passion for helping children with ADHD, anxiety, and phobias following her Child Psychopathology class with Dr. La Greca. Prior to joining Dr. La Greca’s lab, Claudia interned at Behavioral Aid Solutions, a Community Mental Health Center that has been providing services to the Miami-Dade community for more than 25 years. After graduating, Claudia wants to pursue a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology (PsyD), where she wants to get experience working hands-on in the clinical field. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends.
Some Former Lab Members
Dr. Erin Girio-Herrera
Dr. Erin Girio-Herrera was a Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow in our Lab. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Ohio University and completed her clinical internship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Dr. Girio-Herrera is now an Associate Professor at Towson University in Maryland. See: https://www.towson.edu/cla/departments/psychology/facultystaff/egirioherrera.html
Her primary area of expertise involves offering evidence-based interventions for youth with ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders. Dr. Girio-Herrera has extensive experience providing individual and group-based parent training as well as training and consultation to school staff in the implementation of interventions for youth. She has authored and co-authored journal articles and book chapters related to this work. See: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Erin-Girio-Herrera
Dr. Elizabeth Penela
Dr. Elizabeth Penela was a Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow in our lab. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Miami (Child Clinical/Family Area) and completed her clinical internship at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, with a focus on early childhood in community-based settings.
In 2020, Dr. Penela founded Wellness in Broward, a specialized private practice in South Florida dedicated to providing evidence-based treatment to children and adults experiencing anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. Dr. Penela is passionate about empowering parents with evidence-based tools to help their children effectively cope with anxiety. She writes a weekly email newsletter filled with evidence-based tips and resources and has developed a live, online course for parents.
Dr. Sherilynn Chan
Sherilynn Chan was a graduate student in the pediatric health area of the clinical psychology program and a member of the Youth Risk and Resilience Lab. She completed her clinical Internship in Pediatric Psychology at Children's Mercy in Kansas City.
Sherilynn is currently a pediatric psychologist and an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where she specializes in working with patients with cancer, tumors of the central nervous system, hematological disorders, and immunological disorders, including patients undergoing a stem cell transplant. She provides psychosocial care to children, teens, and young adults seen in the Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Seattle Children’s Hospital. See her profile at: https://psychiatry.uw.edu/profile/sherilynn-chan/
Dr. Caroline Ehrlich
Caroline Ehrlich was a graduate student in the clinical child area of the UM clinical psychology program and a member of the Youth Risk and Resilience Lab. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami and her post-doctoral residency at Oliver-Pyatt Centers, where she gained extensive experience in treating eating disorders.
Dr. Ehrlich is currently a Licensed Psychologist Psychologist and has recently begun an independant practice (https://ehrlichpsychology.com/) https://www.southfloridatherapists.com/team/dr-caroline-ehrlich/) where she provides evidence-based treatment (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and other treatment modalities) of psychological disorders in adolescents and adults. Her clinical interests and expertise involve the treatment of eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, and personality disorders. Dr. Ehrlich also provides group psychotherapy and has specialized training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.
Dr. BreAnne Danzi
BreAnne Danzi was a graduate student in the clinical child area of the UM clinical psychology program and a member of the Youth Risk and Resilience Lab. She completed her clinical Internship at UCLA. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of South Dakota. Her primary research interests focus on the mental health of children and families, especially those impacted by stress and trauma. Dr. Danzi focuses on understanding children's responses to traumatic stress, improving the assessment of PTSD in children, and identifying biopsychosocial factors (e.g., genetics, social support) that contribute to risk and resilience trajectories following trauma exposure. Her recent research has focused on improving the diagnostic criteria for PTSD to be more developmentally sensitive to clinical presentations in trauma-exposed children. See: https://www.usd.edu/research-and-faculty/faculty-and-staff/breanne-danzi and https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Breanne-Danzi
Dr. Kaitlyn Brodar
Kaitlyn Brodar was a graduate student in the pediatric health area of the clinical psychology program and a member of the Youth Risk and Resilience Lab. She completed her clinical Internship in Pediatric Psychology at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC. Kaitlyn also completed her post-doctoral fellowship in integrated primary care at Children's National. She has published in the areas of adolescent health and psychosocial screening in pediatric populations. See: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kaitlyn-Brodar
Currently, Dr. Brodar is a licensed psychologist and owner of a private practice in Maryland. She offers psychological evaluation and treatment for children, adolescents, and young adults, as well as parenting therapy. Her practice focuses on anxiety/OCD and ADHD/executive functioning, in addition to providing support for youth with chronic medical conditions. Kaitlyn is a certified member of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists and holds a PSYPACT credential, which allows her to provide telehealth to individuals in any PSYPACT-participating state. You can learn more about Kaitlyn's practice at: https://brodarpsychology.com/.
Dr. Naomi Tarlow
Naomi was a graduate student in the clinical child area of the clinical psychology Ph.D. program and a member of the Youth Risk and Resilience Lab. She completed her clinical internship at the Faulk Center for Counseling in Boca Raton FL, where she conducted individual, couple, family, and group therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. She then completed a psychology residency at the Institute for Life Renovation in Ft. Lauderdale. Dr. Tarlow has co-authored 15 academic publications on posttraumatic stress, borderline personality disorder, and peer relationships. See: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Naomi-Tarlow-2
Dr. Tarlow is a licensed psychologist and is working at Pediatric Psychology Associates, https://www.southfloridatherapists.com/team/dr-naomi-tarlow/ where she provides evidence-based interventions to children, adolescents, and adults, as well as group therapy. She has received specialized training in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and provides other evidence-based interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE).
