Welcome!
We hope that this page gives you a sense of the kind of work that we are doing in our lab here, the PTSD Treatment and Research Program – and the opportunities for students that are available. Our work is focused on intervention studies, primarily in the area of PTSD, but also in mood disorders. We are a busy, productive group. Below are the names of everyone currently working in the lab, with introductions from some of the lab members.
Our Current Team
Norah Feeny, Ph.D., Professor, Director, PTSD Treatment & Research Program
Dr. Norah Feeny is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor at Case Western Reserve University in the Department of Psychological Sciences. She specializes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is the Director of the PTSD Treatment and Research Program. Norah has concentrated her research program on evaluating treatments for PTSD, optimizing treatments for PTSD, and understanding processes that underlie treatment efficacy.
Averi Gaines, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar
I graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. (2017) in Psychology. Before graduate school, I worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Center for Psychotherapy Research at the University of Pennsylvania under Paul Crits-Christoph and Mary Beth Connolly Gibbons. I began working with Michael Constantino while completing my M.S. (2022) and Ph.D. (2026) in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I completed a predoctoral clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium (Medical University of South Carolina + Ralph H. Johnson VAMC), where I conducted research with Rochelle Hanson. Broadly, my research focuses on psychotherapy process, outcome, and implementation, with the aims of optimizing mental health care effectiveness and equity. My work is comprised of two primary empirical threads: (1) investigating patient and dyadic characteristics (i.e., traits) and longitudinal processes (i.e., states) that influence treatment outcomes, and (2) uncovering varied therapist effectiveness differences to inform personalized, data-driven, and collaborative treatment decision-making. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to continue my work with a fantastic team in the PTSD Treatment & Research Program!
Daniella Levine, M.A., 6th year student
I graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Psychology with Honors. Before beginning at CWRU, I worked at Massachusetts General Hospital on projects spanning process and outcome in treatments for anxiety and traumatic stress disorders. I also examined the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions in community settings. My research interests include PTSD risk and resilience factors among refugees and other displaced persons, predictors of PTSD treatment response and dropout, and the dissemination/implementation of evidence-based treatments into low-resource settings across the globe. My goal is to increase access to empirically-supported care for diverse individuals across the lifespan who struggle with PTSD and related disorders. I am so excited to be a graduate student with the PTSD Treatment and Research Program! Daniella is currently on internship at Yale University’s School of Medicine.
Sarah Rutter, M.A., 5th year student
I graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Psychology and French, and from New York University with an M.A. in Psychology. Before coming to CWRU, I worked at the Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment at Mount Sinai, where I explored the relationship between trauma exposure and systemic inflammation, and worked on clinical trials of ketamine and Written Exposure Therapy (WET) for PTSD. In my own research, I am interested in the etiology and treatment of trauma- and stressor-related disorders, especially PTSD and MDD. Specifically, I’m interested in exploring patterns of symptom change over the course of treatment, and how PTSD and depressive symptoms may interact during and after treatment. I am thrilled to be a graduate student in the PTSD Treatment and Research Program!
Samantha Martin, M.A., 5th year student
I graduated from the University of Washington (UW) with a B.S. in Psychology in 2019. Before joining Case Western as a graduate student, I worked at the Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle as a program coordinator and a member in their practice based research program. In this role, I explored the application and efficacy of evidence based treatments (e.g., Family Based Therapy for anorexia) in their intended clinical settings. At this time, I simultaneously worked with Dr. Fainsilber Katz at UW investigating familial coping to a diagnosis of pediatric cancer and with Dr. Lengua at UW examining the efficacy of perinatal mindfulness-based programs in addressing parental mental health and improving infant neurobiological development. In my own research, I am interested in factors that contribute to stress and anxiety in marginalized populations, particularly in sexual and gender minority youth and parents, and leveraging coping and resilience factors in mental health interventions to mitigate mental health risks. I am honored to be a graduate student with the PTSD Research and Treatment program and am excited to work with incredibly bright and supportive team members!
Sinan Payat, M.A., 4th year student
I previously served as the research coordinator for the PTSD Treatment and Research Program. I graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Psychology. My research focuses on how displacement, discrimination, and other sociocultural factors shape risk and resilience for PTSD. I am also interested in understanding how evidence-based treatments can be adapted and implemented in low-resource or underserved settings worldwide. Ultimately, my goal is to expand access to effective, culturally responsive care for diverse individuals and communities impacted by trauma.
Cailan Splaine, M.A., 4th year student
I graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Sociology. Before beginning at CWRU, I was a clinical research assistant at the Road Home Program (RHP) and TREAT Lab at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. At RHP, I worked on multiple research studies that investigate the effectiveness of Cognitive Processing Therapy-based intensive treatments for PTSD in veterans with combat or military sexual trauma history and in civilians. My research interests include identifying avenues for PTSD prevention and early intervention, specifically in survivors of sexual trauma. I am also interested in researching methods of PTSD treatment personalization. I feel so lucky to be a graduate student in the PTSD Treatment and Research Program!
Isabelle Tully, B.S. 3rd year student
Since graduating from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Psychology, I have worked as a Research Coordinator with Dr. Melanie Harned at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and Dr. Rachel Mander at Stanford University. At the VA, I supported the development of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) fidelity and adherence measures in preparation for a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of implementing DBT with the Prolonged Exposure protocol in community practice settings as a treatment for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation and multi-diagnostic concerns. At Stanford, I coordinated multiple studies examining the effectiveness and implementation potential of different strategies for delivering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia to individuals with sleep difficulties and co-occurring disorders. It is a privilege to join the PTSD Treatment and Research Program team!
Chase Turner, B.A., 2nd year student
I graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville in 2021 with a B.A. in Psychology. Before beginning at Case Western Reserve University, I worked as both a Research Coordinator and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Technician at Skyland Trail, an Emory affiliated nonprofit residential treatment center in Atlanta, GA. At Skyland Trail, I collaborated closely with Emory Medical School on a joint research study investigating the impact of estrogen-suppressing contraceptives on behavioral and functional difficulties in people with borderline personality disorder. Additionally, I administered TMS to treat patients with treatment resistant major depressive disorder. My research interests include the implementation and dissemination of novel evidence-based interventions for PTSD and more narrowly in developing a predictive measure for risk of suicidal behavior in people with PTSD based on symptom clusters. I am immensely grateful and fortunate to be joining as a graduate student in the PTSD Research and Treatment Program!
Kristin (Kris) Cirulli, MS, 1st year student
I completed my B.A. in Psychology at Smith College in 2023 and M.S. in Applied Psychology at Northeastern University in 2024. Upon graduation, I worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders. At MGH, I engaged in treatment-based research for anxiety and traumatic stress disorders, which included co-teaching a Mindful Self-Compassion intervention tailored to veterans with PTSD and coordinating a study investigating mechanisms underlying the efficacy of prolonged grief treatment. My research interests include tailoring evidence-based treatments to optimize resilience and growth following trauma, loss, and other destabilizing life events. I am incredibly grateful to be joining the PTSD Research and Treatment Program!
Noni Pinales, B.A., Research Coordinator
I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2024 with a B.A. in Psychology and Communications, and a minor in Writing for the Screen and Stage. I am in my final year of the Master of Science in Clinical Research Program at Case Western Reserve University. Previously, I was a Research Assistant at the UNC Anxiety Lab under the supervision of Dr. Abramowitz. My research interests focus on understanding transdiagnostic cognitive, affective, interpersonal, personality, and religious/spiritual factors across anxiety, stress, and personality disorders. I am also interested in idiographic intervention development, processes of change, contextual behavior science, network modeling, and psychometrics.
Current Undergraduate Research Assistants:
A-In Choi
Will Danysh
Shanzey Durrani
Bhavani Gopalkrishna
Addison Hodge
Joy On
Sriya Potturu
Previous case graduate students and postdoctoral fellows that we have worked/published with:
Jenna Bagley, PhD
Elsa Mattson, PhD
Kathy Shekhtman (Benhamou), PhD
Allison Baier, PhD
Alexandra Klein, PhD
Alice Coyne, PhD
Alex Rothbaum, PhD, MPH
Alexander Kline, PhD
Mark Burton, PhD
Hannah Bergman, PhD
Andrew Cooper, PhD
Erin Clifton, PhD
Stephanie Keller, PhD
Loren Post, PhD
Shoshana Kahana, PhD
Carla Kmett Danielson, PhD
Teresa Linares, PhD
Victoria Miller, PhD
Lisa Schwartz, PhD
AnnaMaria Aguirre, PhD
Jeannie Duax, PhD
Are you interested in working with our group? We have positions available for interested, enthusiastic students who would like to work as research assistants in our lab for credit or as volunteers. Research assistants in the PTSD Treatment & Research Program are involved in many aspects of the day-to-day functioning of the ongoing treatment studies, assist with writing and editing manuscripts, conduct literature reviews, and participate in our bi-weekly PTSD Journal Club meetings during the academic year.
If you are interested, please contact Dr. Norah Feeny or Noni Pinales.
2025-2026 Research Team
L-R: Sinan Payat, Daniella Levine, Samantha Martin, Chase Turner, Cailan Splaine, Noni Pinales, Norah Feeny
2022-2023 Research Team
L-R: Sinan Payat, Elsa Mattson, Jenna Bagley, Daniella Levine, Sarah Rutter
Conferences
2018-2019 Research Team
L-R: Kathy Benhamou, Allison Baier, Norah Feeny, Alex Rothbaum, Alexandra Klein, Alexandra Bowling
2017-2018 Research Team
L-R: Alexandra Klein, Mark Burton, Norah Feeny, Alexander Klein, Alex Rothbaum, Allison Baier
Not Pictured: Vincent Pugliese