About Our Staff
Lisa R. Hale, Ph.D.
KCCAT Founder and Director
Dr. Hale received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a subspecialty in Health Psychology from Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, a leading program in the research and treatment of anxiety disorders, and completed an APA accredited internship in Clinical and Health Psychology at Charleston Area Medical Center/West Virginia University School of Medicine. She has extensive research and clinical training in cognitive-behavioral theories and treatments for anxiety across all age groups—early childhood to elderly populations—including intensive exposure/response prevention protocols for severe anxiety disorders and experience training other professionals in these techniques. Dr. Hale completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Hoglund Brain Imaging Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, funded in part by a T-32 Training Grant from the National Institute of Health. She remains on faculty at HBIC/KUMC as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology. Her scholarly interests and peer-reviewed publications have focused on the identification of cognitive risk factors for anxiety disorders. She serves as a consultant for local and national media and is an active member and presenter for leading organizations which include the International OCD Foundation, the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, to which she was appointed to the Board of Directors in March 2011.
Amy M. (Brown) Jacobsen, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist—CBT/ERP Specialist
Dr. Jacobsen received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Georgia, with a specialty emphasis in child psychology and in the study and treatment of anxiety disorders. She completed an APA accredited internship in Clinical Psychology at SUNY Upstate Medical University and an APA accredited postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Child Psychology at Mayo Clinic. She has served as an Assistant Professor in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and currently holds an appointment at HBIC/KUMC as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology. She has extensive clinical training in cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety across all age groups, including intensive exposure/response prevention protocols for severe anxiety disorders. Dr. Jacobsen has published several research articles on developmental anxiety and presents at state and national organizations. Her research interests include the role of the family environment in anxiety disorders and the development of intervention programs for children and families affected by anxiety. She is a member of several national organizations, including the Association for Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
Ashley J. Smith, Ph.D.
Staff Psychologist—CBT/ERP Specialist
Dr. Smith received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with an emphasis in child/family psychology. Her research has focused predominantly on social anxiety/phobia in adolescents, with a secondary interest in treating the overlap between anxiety and eating disorder symptoms. She completed an APA accredited internship in Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Prior to joining the KCCAT team in 2009, Dr. Smith completed a supervised postdoctoral experience and served as a staff psychologist at the Anxiety Disorders Specialty Clinic at Omaha Children’s Hospital. Dr. Smith has extensive training and experience in CBT for anxiety disorders across the life span, and provides clinical services for all ages. She is a member of and regularly presents at the national conferences of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Dr. Smith serves as KCCAT’s Coordinator of Community Presentations and Outreach.
Lindsey Owen, M.A.
Professional Staff Therapist
Ms. Owen received her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Child & Families at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She completed her B.A. in Journalism & Strategic Communications at the University of Kansas along with a focus in Psychology. Her prior research and focus was in evaluating the efficacy of a transitional living program for adolescents with emotional and behavior disorders, and she also worked in the partial hospitalization program at Chicago’s Children’s Memorial Hospital. Lindsey joined KCCAT in 2009 when completing her clinical internship at KCCAT, remaining on professional staff providing anxiety treatment services to all ages, but with a particular interest in treating children and adolescents. Ms. Owen serves as Co-coordinator of KCCAT’s School District Presentations and Outreach Services.
Michael Parrish, M.A.
Professional Staff Therapist
Mr. Parrish received his Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Washburn University in Topeka. Michael completed his B.S. in Psychology at Kansas State University, with a research focus in behavioral psychology, specifically examining the neurobiological basis of drug abuse. Michael’s research emphasis in graduate school shifted to child dental anxiety, anxiety sensitivity and the parental influence on these structures. He joined our program in 2008, serving assistantship, internship, and Clinic Coordinator roles prior to his graduation and appointment as a professional Staff Therapist providing anxiety treatment services to all ages, but in particular interest in treating young adults and hoarding. Michael is a member of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation. Mr. Parrish serves as Co-coordinator of KCCAT’s School District Presentations and Outreach Services.
Laura Hancock, M.A.
Clinic Coordinator
Laura Hancock is an advanced graduate student earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kansas State University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Washburn University in Topeka, KS. Laura’s current research involves investigating the emotional and neuropsychological effects of a cognitive training program for individuals with multiple sclerosis, as well as the association between brain functioning and weight loss surgery. Laura is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association and the National Academy of Neuropsychology.
Ryan Z. Hale
Office Administrator and Information Technology Manager
Mr. Hale is the Office Administrator and Information Technology Manager at KCCAT, and responsible for billing and patient inquiries as well as day-to-day center operations. He has a background in customer service, accounting, and technology, and is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration from Baker University.
Jared M. Bruce, Ph.D.
Please See Adult Neuropsychological Services Page
Dr. Bruce received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and completed an APA-approved clinical internship specializing in neuropsychological assessment and treatment at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. Dr. Bruce has extensive clinical experience with adults who suffer from neurologic illness, with special interests in multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative dementias. He completed a two year APA-approved post-doctoral fellowship specializing in adult clinical neuropsychology at Brown University’s Alpert Medical School. Dr. Bruce is currently an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has written more than 25 scientific papers investigating the cognitive and emotional consequences of psychiatric and neurologic disease. Among other outlets, his research has been published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, Neurology, Archives of Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuropsychology, and Neurosurgery. He is an active member of the National Academy of Neuropsychology, the International Neuropsychological Society, and the American Psychological Association. He also serves as a consultant to the National Hockey League’s Concussion Management Program.
Trainee Staff
Alisha D. Adams, M.A.
Alisha Adams is an advanced graduate student earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Washburn University, along with a certification in Victim/Survivor Services. She completed her Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. Her research involves working with minority groups in evaluating health disparities. Her clinical interests are primarily in working with adolescents and minorities.
Jessica L. Hamilton, M.A.
Jessica Hamilton is an advanced graduate student obtaining her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri—Kansas City. She received her Bachelor’s in psychology from Park University and her Master’s from the University of Missouri—Kansas City. Her current area of research is in the measurement of emotion regulation and the impact of trauma on development.
Amber M. Hinton-Dampf, M.A.
Amber Hinton—Dampf is a graduate student earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Health Psychology at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. She earned a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Central Missouri in Psychology and Criminal Justice and completed a Master’s degree in Psychology at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. Her research broadly examines close relationships, sexuality, and sexual risk behaviors.
David A. Martinez, M.A.
David is a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri—Kansas City. David completed his Bachelor’s degree at San Diego State University in Psychology. His research interests are on primary and secondary prevention of HIV in the Latino community. His dissertation is focused on HIV testing and HIV stigma reduction in the Latino church setting. David is an advanced practicum student at KCCAT.
Christy Olson, M.A.
Christy Olson is an advanced doctoral student earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Kansas. She serves as a Research Assistant for the Anxiety Program through Hoglund Brain Imaging Center in addition to her clinical training at KCCAT. Christy’s research interests include cognitive and neurophysiology factors in anxiety disorders, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder. She is completing her dissertation “An fMRI Investigation of Brain Activation During a Cognitive Test in OCD” funded by an F31 Fellowship Grant from the National Institute of Health in conjunction with the Center for Health Behavior Neuroscience and HBIC.
Brent W. Schneider, B.G.S.
Brent is a graduate student earning his Master’s degree in psychology from Washburn University. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kansas and has worked with individuals who have severe and persistent mental illness and individuals who have sustained traumatic brain injury. His research examines the relationship between sexual minority individuals and their parental figures. He is a member of the American Psychological Association.
Faculty Research Partner
Cary R. Savage, Ph.D.
Director of the Center for Health Behavior Neuroscience at the University of Kansas Medical Center
Dr. Savage serves as research faculty for the Anxiety Research Program of HBIC/KUMC/KCCAT. Dr. Savage received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Oklahoma State University. He completed an internship in clinical psychology and postdoctoral fellowships in neuropsychology and functional neuroimaging at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)/Harvard Medical School. He remained on the faculty of MGH and served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the Director of Cognitive Neuroscience in the Department of Psychiatry at MGH. Dr. Savage moved to Kansas City in 2003 and served as Director of Functional MRI in the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center and as a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). He was recently named Director of the new Center for Health Behavior Neuroscience at KUMC and recipient of the John H. Wineinger Endowed Professorship in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Savage has published over 90 original research and review articles. He serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Savage’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and private foundations. His research focuses on the roles of prefrontal cortex and limbic system in memory and motivational processes, and how activity in these brain regions are disrupted in anxiety disorders and conditions associated with poor impulse control.