Graduate Student Alumni
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Dr. Brenna Williams, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Dr. Brenna Williams (B.A. Southern Methodist University, Ph.D. University of Louisville) is interested in studying self-relations, such as self-criticism and self-compassion, as transdiagnostic factors that contribute to the high rates of psychiatric comorbidity among eating disorders. She is passionate about studying the impact of self-criticism and self-compassion on eating disorder symptoms and the integration of compassion-focused interventions for eating disorders. Through her research, she hopes to develop transdiagnostic treatments for eating disorders that target eating disorders and other co-occurring symptoms of psychopathology (e.g., anxiety, depression) simultaneously. Brenna has also received clinical training in sleep disorders, and she is currently a practicum student at the Behavioral Wellness Clinic in Louisville, KY where she works with individuals with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Outside of her research and clinical work, Brenna enjoys reading fiction books to escape from reality and taking her dogs, Hera and Ajax, to get pup cups every weekend.
Representative Publications:
Dr. Brenna Williams (B.A. Southern Methodist University, Ph.D. University of Louisville) is interested in studying self-relations, such as self-criticism and self-compassion, as transdiagnostic factors that contribute to the high rates of psychiatric comorbidity among eating disorders. She is passionate about studying the impact of self-criticism and self-compassion on eating disorder symptoms and the integration of compassion-focused interventions for eating disorders. Through her research, she hopes to develop transdiagnostic treatments for eating disorders that target eating disorders and other co-occurring symptoms of psychopathology (e.g., anxiety, depression) simultaneously. Brenna has also received clinical training in sleep disorders, and she is currently a practicum student at the Behavioral Wellness Clinic in Louisville, KY where she works with individuals with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Outside of her research and clinical work, Brenna enjoys reading fiction books to escape from reality and taking her dogs, Hera and Ajax, to get pup cups every weekend.
Representative Publications:
- Williams, B. M., & Levinson, C. A. (2022). A model of self-criticism as a transdiagnostic mechanism of eating disorder comorbidity: A review. New Ideas in Psychology, 66(1), 100949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2022.100949
- Williams, B. M., Brown, M. L., Sandoval-Araujo, L., Russell, S., & Levinson, C. A. (2022). Psychiatric comorbidity among eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder and underlying shared mechanisms and features: An updated review. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36(3). https://doi.org/10.1891/JCPSY-D-2021-0011
- Williams, B. M., & Levinson, C. A. (2021). Intolerance of uncertainty and perfectionism as maintenance factors for eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms. European Eating Disorders Review, 29(1), 101-111. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.2807
- Sahlan, R. N., Williams, B. M., Forrest, L. N., Saunders, J. F., Fitzsimmons-Craft, E. E., & Levinson, C. A. (2021). Disordered eating, self-esteem, and depression symptoms in Iranian adolescents and young adults: A network analysis. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 54(2), 132-147. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23365
- Williams, B. M., & Levinson, C. A. (2020). Negative beliefs about the self prospectively predict eating disorder severity among undergraduate women. Eating Behaviors. 37(1), 101384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2020.101384
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Dr. Caroline Christian, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Dr. Caroline Christian (Ph.D., University of Louisville) research focuses on integrating novel methods to better understand the role of transdiagnostic factors (e.g., fear and avoidance) in eating disorders and comorbid anxiety-based disorders. She is especially interested in testing these processes across critical periods (e.g., pregnancy/postpartum; stages of remission) to inform prevention, treatment, and relapse prevention interventions. Caroline has worked clinically with eating disorders and anxiety-based disorders through the Psychological Services Center, Lindner Center of Hope, the Louisville OCD Clinic, and the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders, through which she received training in CBT, DBT, radically open DBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, and exposure-based therapies. In her free time, Caroline enjoys taking her dog Lincoln to the park, playing tennis, and making pottery.
Representative Publications:
Dr. Caroline Christian (Ph.D., University of Louisville) research focuses on integrating novel methods to better understand the role of transdiagnostic factors (e.g., fear and avoidance) in eating disorders and comorbid anxiety-based disorders. She is especially interested in testing these processes across critical periods (e.g., pregnancy/postpartum; stages of remission) to inform prevention, treatment, and relapse prevention interventions. Caroline has worked clinically with eating disorders and anxiety-based disorders through the Psychological Services Center, Lindner Center of Hope, the Louisville OCD Clinic, and the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders, through which she received training in CBT, DBT, radically open DBT, acceptance and commitment therapy, and exposure-based therapies. In her free time, Caroline enjoys taking her dog Lincoln to the park, playing tennis, and making pottery.
Representative Publications:
- Christian, C., Cusack, C.E., Ralph-Nearman, C., Spoor, S.P., Hunt, R.A., Levinson, C.A. (in press). A pilot, time-series investigation of depression, anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms in adults experiencing major depressive symptoms: The need for eating disorder assessment and research in depression. Behavior Therapy.
- Christian, C., Levinson, C.A. (2022). An integrated review of fear and avoidance learning in anxiety disorders and application to eating disorders. New Ideas in Psychology. DOI: 10.1016/j.newideapsych.2022.100964
- Christian, C., Cash, E., Cohen, D.A., Trombley, C.M., Levinson, C.A. (2022). Electrodermal activity and heart rate variability during exposure fear scripts predict trait-level and momentary social anxiety and eating disorder symptoms in an analogue sample. Clinical Psychological Science.
- Christian, C., Bridges-Curry, Z., Hunt, R.A., Ortiz, A.M.L., Drake, J.E., Levinson, C.A. (2021). Latent profile analysis of impulsivity and perfectionism dimensions and associations with psychiatric symptoms. Journal of Affective Disorders. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.01.076
- Christian, C., Perko, V. L., Vanzhula, I.A., Tregarthen, J.P., Forbush, K.T., Levinson, C. A. (2019). Eating Disorder Core Symptoms and Symptom Pathways across Developmental Stages: A Network Analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology. DOI: 10.1037/abn0000477
- Christian, C., Brosof, L. C., Vanzhula I.A., Williams, B. M., Shankar Ram, S., Levinson, C. A. (2019). Implementation of a dissonance-based, eating disorder prevention program and investigation of eating disorder comorbidities and risk factors in southern, all-female high schools. Body Image. DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.05.003
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Dr. Leigh C. Brosof, Ph.D.
Dr. Leigh Brosof (Ph.D. University of Louisville) completed her post-doctoral fellowship at University of California, San Francisco. Her research interests include exploring the etiology of eating disorders and testing novel treatments of eating disorders based on etiological models. In particular, Leigh is interested in applying exposure-based treatments to eating disorders. She is also interested in longitudinal modeling and ecological momentary assessment methods and novel statistical techniques, including network analysis and machine learning. She is currently investigating shared and unique vulnerability factors (including neurobiological vulnerabilities) of comorbid eating disorders-anxiety in adolescents. In her free time, Leigh enjoys running, spending time outdoors, and exploring the local restaurant and food scene.
Dr. Leigh Brosof (Ph.D. University of Louisville) completed her post-doctoral fellowship at University of California, San Francisco. Her research interests include exploring the etiology of eating disorders and testing novel treatments of eating disorders based on etiological models. In particular, Leigh is interested in applying exposure-based treatments to eating disorders. She is also interested in longitudinal modeling and ecological momentary assessment methods and novel statistical techniques, including network analysis and machine learning. She is currently investigating shared and unique vulnerability factors (including neurobiological vulnerabilities) of comorbid eating disorders-anxiety in adolescents. In her free time, Leigh enjoys running, spending time outdoors, and exploring the local restaurant and food scene.
Postdoctoral Fellow Alumni
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Rachel Butler, Ph.D. (She/Her)
Rachel Butler is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Transylvania University. A former postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville, Rachel completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Temple University and completed her predoctoral internship at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research. Her research focuses on the development and improvement of treatments for anxiety and eating disorders. In particular, she is interested in testing novel, exposure-based interventions for eating disorders. Rachel received the APA Dissertation Research Award for her work investigating imaginal exposure as an intervention for disordered eating related fears. Additionally, Rachel hopes to expand the understanding and treatment of eating and anxiety disorders in sexual and gender minority populations. Rachel is passionate about working with individuals with eating and anxiety disorders clinically as well as teaching and mentoring students. In her free time, Rachel loves riding mountain bikes, racing cyclocross, baking, and stand up comedy.
Representative publications:
Rachel Butler is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Transylvania University. A former postdoctoral Fellow in the EAT Lab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Louisville, Rachel completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Temple University and completed her predoctoral internship at the UCSD Eating Disorder Center for Treatment and Research. Her research focuses on the development and improvement of treatments for anxiety and eating disorders. In particular, she is interested in testing novel, exposure-based interventions for eating disorders. Rachel received the APA Dissertation Research Award for her work investigating imaginal exposure as an intervention for disordered eating related fears. Additionally, Rachel hopes to expand the understanding and treatment of eating and anxiety disorders in sexual and gender minority populations. Rachel is passionate about working with individuals with eating and anxiety disorders clinically as well as teaching and mentoring students. In her free time, Rachel loves riding mountain bikes, racing cyclocross, baking, and stand up comedy.
Representative publications:
- Manasse, S.M., Lampe, E.W., Abber, S.R., Butler, R.M., Gillikin, L.M., & Trainor, C. (2021). Exposure-enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy for adolescents with binge eating: An initial case series, Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26, 1124-1136.
- Horenstein, A., Kaplan, S.C., Butler, R.M., Heimberg, R.G. (2020) Social anxiety moderates the relationship between body mass index and motivation to avoid exercise. Body Image, 36, 185-192.
- Butler, R.M., O’Day, E.B., Swee, M.B., Horenstein, A., Heimberg, R.G. (2020) Cognitive behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder: Predictors of treatment outcome in a quasi-naturalistic setting. Behavior Therapy, 52, 465-477.
- Butler, R.M., Heimberg, R.G. (2020) Exposure therapy for eating disorders: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 78, 1-10.
- Butler, R.M., O’Day, E.B., Kaplan, S.C., Swee, M.B., Horenstein, A., Morrison, A.S., Goldin, P.R., Gross, J.J., Heimberg, R.G. (2019). Do sudden gains predict treatment outcome in social anxiety disorder? Findings from two randomized controlled trials. Behavior Research and Therapy, 121, 103453.
- Butler, R.M., Horenstein, A., Gitlin, M., Testa, R.J., Kaplan, S.C., Swee, M.B., Heimberg, R.G. (2019). Social anxiety among transgender and gender nonconforming individuals: The role of gender affirming medical interventions. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 128, 25-31.
- Butler, R.M., Boden, M.T., Olino, T.M., Morrison, A.S., Goldin, P.R., Gross, J.J., & Heimberg, R.G. (2018). Emotional clarity and attention to emotions in cognitive behavioral group therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction for social anxiety disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 55, 31-38.
Staff Member Alumni
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Kimberly Osborn, B.A. (She/Her)
Kimberly is a Counseling Psychology PhD student at Oklahoma State University. She is interested in the relationship between interpersonal competitiveness and the development and maintenance of eating disorders. She is also passionate about identifying and addressing treatment barriers for low-income individuals experiencing eating disorder symptomology. She enjoys kayaking, running, and watching The Office with her husband and her dog, Juju.
Kimberly is a Counseling Psychology PhD student at Oklahoma State University. She is interested in the relationship between interpersonal competitiveness and the development and maintenance of eating disorders. She is also passionate about identifying and addressing treatment barriers for low-income individuals experiencing eating disorder symptomology. She enjoys kayaking, running, and watching The Office with her husband and her dog, Juju.
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Sarah Ernst, B.S. (She/Her)
Sarah is a former lab manager for the EAT Lab. She graduated from UofL, obtaining her B.S. in Psychology, with minors in Biology and Spanish. She is currently a master's student at UNC.
Sarah is a former lab manager for the EAT Lab. She graduated from UofL, obtaining her B.S. in Psychology, with minors in Biology and Spanish. She is currently a master's student at UNC.
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Shruti Shankar Ram, B.S.
Shruti Shankar Ram was the Lab Manager of the EAT Lab from 2017-2019. After two years of post-baccalaureate research with Dr. Levinson at the EAT Lab, Shruti is now a clinical psychology PhD student and works with Dr. April Smith at the Research on Eating Disorders and Suicidality (REDS) lab at Miami University. She is continuing to use her skills from the EAT lab to explore transdiagnostic risk factors in eating disorders and comorbid illnesses.
Shruti Shankar Ram was the Lab Manager of the EAT Lab from 2017-2019. After two years of post-baccalaureate research with Dr. Levinson at the EAT Lab, Shruti is now a clinical psychology PhD student and works with Dr. April Smith at the Research on Eating Disorders and Suicidality (REDS) lab at Miami University. She is continuing to use her skills from the EAT lab to explore transdiagnostic risk factors in eating disorders and comorbid illnesses.
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Lisa Michelson, M.A., M. Phys.
Lisa was a study coordinator in the EAT lab from August 2017- May 2019. She is currently enrolled at UNC School of Medicine.
Lisa was a study coordinator in the EAT lab from August 2017- May 2019. She is currently enrolled at UNC School of Medicine.
Laura Fewell, B.A. Laura was a study coordinator in the EAT lab from Aug 2016-Aug 2017. She also previously worked with Dr. Levinson at Washington University. Laura is now enrolled in the University of Missouri St. Louis Clinical Psychology PhD program.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Laura_Fewell
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Laura_Fewell
Research Assistant Alumni
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Coby Banet
Coby is a former research assistant in the EAT Lab, and is now in medical school at Indiana University. Coby noted his EAT Lab experience held major weight in his application and is excited to continue his studies at the IU in pursuit of his degree!
Coby is a former research assistant in the EAT Lab, and is now in medical school at Indiana University. Coby noted his EAT Lab experience held major weight in his application and is excited to continue his studies at the IU in pursuit of his degree!