Meet the Team
Dr. Chelsea Ratcliff joined the faculty in the Department of Psychology & Philosophy at Sam Houston State University in 2017. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Religion from Trinity University and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, Texas and a postdoctoral fellowship focused on health services research at the Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) through the MEDVAMC and Baylor College of Medicine, where she remains Adjunct Faculty. Dr. Ratcliff’s clinical training focused on provision of psychological services as a part of a multidisciplinary team to individuals with medical illnesses including cancer, chronic pain, spinal cord injury, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes.
Dr. Ratcliff is interested in studying impact of mental and emotional health on physical health-related outcomes for individuals with and without medical illnesses. She is also interested in studying the integration of mental health care into the medical setting, particularly for patients undergoing treatment for cancer. Dr. Ratcliff's work also examines the effect of brief behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions on mental and physical health outcomes. She has received research funding from the NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the Veteran Health Administration's South Central MIRECC. In her free time, Dr. Ratcliff enjoys traveling, running, and eating popsicles with her two daughters.
Dr. Ratcliff is interested in studying impact of mental and emotional health on physical health-related outcomes for individuals with and without medical illnesses. She is also interested in studying the integration of mental health care into the medical setting, particularly for patients undergoing treatment for cancer. Dr. Ratcliff's work also examines the effect of brief behavioral and mindfulness-based interventions on mental and physical health outcomes. She has received research funding from the NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the Veteran Health Administration's South Central MIRECC. In her free time, Dr. Ratcliff enjoys traveling, running, and eating popsicles with her two daughters.
Alice Ahn, B.S. is a first-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. She graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Brain and Behavioral Sciences and completed a senior thesis exploring the association between types of disgust (biological vs. cultural) and empathy under the mentorship of Dr. James Nairne. After graduation, Alice volunteered at the Social Skills Training Clinic in Gangnam Yonsei Severance Hospital in Seoul, South Korea where she worked with psychiatric patients to improve their communication and social skills to facilitate their post-discharge adjustment. Most recently, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Juhee Cho’s lab at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea and was involved in projects that examined and addressed psychosocial problems that cancer survivors experience through psycho-oncologic interventions. Her research interests include health psychology, psycho-oncology, integrating evidence-based mental health treatment into routine medical care, and intervention studies on improving psychological well-being and health-related quality of life of chronically ill patients. In her free time, Alice enjoys traveling, watching Netflix, crocheting, and coffee hopping.
Kennedy Anderson, M.A. is a third-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. She graduated from George Fox University with a B.S. in Psychology and obtained an M.A. in Psychological Research from Texas State University. She was the lab manager in Dr. Amitai Abramovitch’s Neuropsychology and Psychopathology Lab and a graduate research assistant in Dr. Rebecca Deason’s Memory and Cognition Lab and Dr. Krista Howard’s health psychology lab at Texas State University. For her thesis (Chair: Dr. Joe Etherton), Kennedy examined mental health, patient satisfaction, and treatment adherence among organ transplant patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, she worked at a women’s prison as the program manager of an early release program for low-risk inmates. Her dissertation will examine risk and protective factors of burnout among undergraduate nursing students. Her research interests include health psychology, integrating mental health treatment into routine medical care, brain trauma, and neuropsychological assessment. In her free time, Kennedy enjoys baking, running, playing with her special needs dog, and spending time with her husband.
Robin Semelsberger, B.S. is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program. She graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a B.S. in psychology and completed a senior research project examining the efficacy of cognitive dissonance interventions on male sexist attitudes under the mentorship of Dr. Christopher Kilmartin. After graduation, Robin worked in a variety of clinical positions as a behavior interventionist for children and teens with autism, a mental health coordinator in a 24 hour call center and emergency room, and counselor at a local jail. She was licensed as a Qualified Mental Health Professional in Virginia in 2018. Robin most recently worked as a post baccalaureate research assistant in Dr. Tara Chaplin’s Youth Emotions Labs at George Mason University. Robin's thesis examines the differential impact of emotional expression on stress and quality of life for men and women undergoing treatment for renal cell carcinoma. Broadly, her research interests include clinical health psychology, behavioral medicine, the effect of stress on physiological and psychological health outcomes, and interventions to reduce stress and improve well-being.
Alice Lima, B.A. is a masters student in the Clinical Psychology program. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology (Global Studies minor) from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Clinically, Alice has worked as a mental health facilitator and counselor for a group of pregnant teens from an underserved community in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, her home state. In the U.S., Alice has worked as a research assistant at the Harvard Sidanius Lab working on research on topics such as Social Hierarchy and Implicit Bias. She has also worked as a research assistant with Dr. Rebecca Bigler at the Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab at UT Austin, and at Dr. Ana Baumann’s Parent Management Training Oregon (PMTO) project at Washington University in St. Louis, which aims to implement the PMTO intervention in underserved communities in Brazil. Alice's thesis examines cultural differences in the association of social support and depression in patients being treated for head and neck cancer in China and the US. Broadly, Alice is interested in studying stress-related health and mental health issues in minority and underserved populations. In her free time, Alice enjoys photography, spending time with her husband and daughter, traveling, and hiking.
Debbie Torres, M.A. is a fifth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program, currently completing her predoctoral internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center in the Comprehensive Track. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a B.S. in Biology (Chemistry Minor) and obtained an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL). While at UHCL, she was a graduate research assistant in the Child and Youth Behavior Research (CYBR) Lab, directed by Dr. Sara Elkins, as well as Dr. Ryan Marek’s Psychological Assessment in Medical Settings (PAMS) Lab. She also completed an external practicum at Shriners Hospitals for Children –Texas (formerly Galveston) Pediatric Burn Center. For her thesis (Chair: Dr. Ryan Marek), Debbie explored the predictability of psychosocial risk factors regarding opioid usage after spine surgery. Prior to attending graduate school, she was a researcher at The University of Texas Health Science Center – Children’s Learning Institute, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center – Behavioral Science Department, and at the former Shriners Hospitals for Children-Houston Orthopedic & Cleft Lip/Palate Care. Broadly, her research interests include behavioral medicine, health psychology, brief intervention in medical/inpatient settings, Spanish-speaking services, and health disparities among underrepresented populations. For her dissertation (Chair: Dr. Chelsea Ratcliff), Debbie is examining the interaction effects in a three-arm RCT of brief app-based interventions among child-caregivers and COVID-related stress, parenting stress, mood, and emotion regulation. Debbie is currently on internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center (2023-2024) and recently accepted a postdoc in Rehabilitation Psychology at Johns Hopkins to begin Fall 2024. In her spare time, Debbie enjoys spending time with her dog (Sadie), binge-watching shows, listening to podcasts, outdoor recreation, and exploring coffee shops & breweries.
Cayla Hari, M.A. is a fifth-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Spanish. During this time, she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Danielle Maack's Anxiety, Depression, Emotions, Personality, and Temperament (ADEPT) Lab, where she primarily assisted on a project that examined factors related to the presentation of psychiatric symptoms (disgust, depression, nausea and vomiting, anxiety, sleep etc.) across the pregnancy and initial postpartum period. She then obtained an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Sam Houston State University, where she worked in The Health and Resilience Initiative for Vulnerable and Excluded Groups (weTHRIVE) lab. Her master's thesis (Chair: Dr. Temilola Salami) examined biases that impede the accurate identification of victims of human trafficking by healthcare professionals. Her dissertation examines post traumatic stress and growth among victims of human trafficking. Broadly, her research interests include risk, resilience, and treatment efficacy for PTSD generally and for victims of human trafficking specifically. Cayla matched for internship at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas, where she will be headed for the 2024-2025 year. In her free time, Cayla enjoys traveling, listening to podcasts, and spending time with loved ones.
A big thank you to all the Sam Houston State University undergraduate students who serve as research assistants to the Integrative Health Lab!
We are so proud of our IHL Alumni!
If you are interested in joining the lab, check out the "Join the Lab" page for more information!
We are so proud of our IHL Alumni!
- Ema Kiser, Ph.D. completed the doctoral program at SHSU, including matching at the Charleston Area Medical Center/West Virginia University predoctoral internship program. Dr. Kiser is currently a postdoctoral fellow in Stonebridge Alliance in San Antonio, Texas.
- Amy Senger, M.A. completed the clinical psychology master's program at SHSU and is currently working toward a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Houston.
- Kelsey Sinclair, M.A. completed the clinical psychology master's program at SHSU and is currently working toward a PhD in Health Behaviors at Indiana University.
- Shaelyn Fowler, M.A. completed the clinical psychology master's program at SHSU and is now the Director of Operations at A&F Drum Co.
- Addie Goodson, M.A. completed the clinical psychology master's program at SHSU and is now a psychotherapist at River Crest Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
- Emily Tullos, M.A. completed the experimental psychology master's program at SHSU and began working as a clinical studies coordinator at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
- Melissa Sartain, M.A. completed the clinical psychology master's program at SHSU and was accepted into the University of Louisville before joining to the workforce.
If you are interested in joining the lab, check out the "Join the Lab" page for more information!