Westfield Kean University Student Presents At National Psychology Convention

WESTFIELD, NJ — Amanda Rhodes of Westfield was one of more than 20 Kean University students, faculty, and alumni from the Doctor of Psychology - Combined School and Clinical Psychology program (Psy.D.) who presented their original research at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) 50th Annual Convention, held in New York City in late October.

The ABCT annual convention brings the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) community together to explore research developments and current issues relevant to the practice of CBT and related interventions.

“We all feel strongly that participation in professional organizations and associated conference attendances are wonderful ways for students to deepen their awareness of important issues within the field,” said Jennifer Block-Lerner, Ph.D., the Psy.D. program coordinator. “It also helps expand their professional networks and develop and nurture friendships that are likely to be lifelong.”

Kean professors Donald R. Marks, Psy.D., Aaron Gubi, Ph.D., Adrienne Garro, Ph.D., and Block-Lerner attended the conference with 19 students and three alumni. Together, they gave multiple presentations, including a symposium on mindfulness-based interventions for college students, a panel discussion and numerous poster presentations.

“My faculty colleagues and I are all extremely proud to have such a strong Kean presence at ABCT's annual convention,” said Block-Lerner. “This has important implications with regard to initiating and deepening collaborative relationships, as well as fostering connections which increase the likelihood of securing prestigious internship and postdoctoral fellowship positions.”

Third-year Psy.D. student Arielle Bernstein, from Palm Harbor, Florida won a lottery and got the chance to have a cup of coffee with one of the invited speakers at the convention. She met with Mary Phillips, M.D., the director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical and Translational Affective Neuroscience program, who spoke on the Neuroscience and Psychological Treatment panel at the convention.

“It was a very informative and unique opportunity to speak with someone with such a different scientific philosophy,” Bernstein said.

Participating Kean University Psy.D. students include:

• Christina Barrasso-Catanzaro, East Hanover, N.J.
• Ezra Cowan, Clifton, N.J.
• Arielle Bernstein, Palm Harbor, Fla.
• Corrine McCarthy, Leonia, N.J.
• Gautam Bhasin, Saddle River, N.J.
• Neha Mistry, West Orange, N.J.
• Sejal Brahmbhatt, Jersey City, N.J.
• Marquita Carter, South Orange, N.J.
• Jackaira Espinal, North Brunswick, N.J.
• Ashlyne Mullen, Lafayette, La.
• Lindsay Moran-Harold, Point Pleasant, N.J.
• Brenda Osorio, North Bergen, N.J.
• Larissa Redziniak, Freehold, N.J.
• Amanda Rhodes, Westfield, N.J.
• Taylor Schnaper, Monroe Twp., N.J.
• Jed Seltzer, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Michele Serevetas, Manalapan, N.J.
• Meredith Story, Newark. N.J.
• Samantha Varon, Bogota, N.J.
• Ashley Wood, Lincoln Park, N.J.

— By Margaret McCorry

(Image via Kean University)

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