Internship Staff Roster

UNI's professional staff includes seven licensed psychologists who are direct supervisors for the internship program, and seven licensed psychologists who fulfill other roles related to the internship. Psychology staff members participate and support the internship training program in a variety of ways. They may provide individual intern supervision and mentoring, participate in didactic training and seminars, provide consultation, contribute to psychology staff meetings and treatment team rounds, host case conferences, participate as members of the Psychology Training Committee and/or assist with ongoing program evaluation.

Carol Ballou, Ph.D.

Dr. Carol Ballou is a licensed psychologist who received her Ph.D. from the University of Utah's School Psychology Program. She has worked with the child and adolescent programs at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute for more than ten years, and currently balances her work at UNI with a private practice in psychology. Although her primary assignment was with the youth services programs, her training and experience also includes work with adults. Dr, Ballou has interests in family therapy, psychological assessment and diagnosis of serious psychopathology in children and adolescents. She has adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Utah in the Department of Educational Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Ballou provides PRN and weekend call coverage for the youth inpatient and day treatment programs, participates in didactic training, and serves as a consultant to the Psychology Training Program.

Lorna Benjamin, Ph.D.

For many years, Lorna Benjamin, Ph.D., FDHC, was Professor of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, in addition to teaching psychopathology and psychotherapy to Psychiatry residents and Psychology interns, she had a large clinical practice. Now Professor of Psychology and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Utah, she teaches Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT) to Psychology graduate students in the IRT clinic at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute. The approach systematically integrates cognitive behavioral, client centered and psychodynamic therapy approaches to be helpful to the CORDS (Comorbid, Often Rehospitalized, Dysfunctional and Suicidal) population. IRT also is effective with "standard outpatients," but this training concentrates on "the forgotten ones," those who are too complicated and too ill to be included in Randomized Control Trials. The clinic has a research protocol that assesses effectiveness, and it includes standard symptoms measures (e.g., BDI-II, BAI, SCID I and II) as well as assessments of social interactions and "internalized representations of important others" are via Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB). For her work with SASB, Dr. Benjamin received an honorary degree from the University of Umea, Sweden. Professor Benjamin is the author of Interpersonal Diagnosis and Treatment of Personality Disorders, 2nd Ed. (Guilford Press, hardcover 1996; paperback 2003) and Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy (IRT): an integrated personality based treatment for complex cases (Guilford Press, hardcover, 2003; paperback. 2006). Dr. Benjamin serves as a consultant to the Psychology Training Program and hosts a monthly case conference series that the interns are welcome to attend.

Laura B. Brockbank, Ph.D.

Dr. Laura Brockbank is a licensed psychologist who received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Utah, with specialized training in pediatric neuropsychology. Dr. Brockbank has extensive training and experience with early childhood psychological disorders and works with inpatient child and adolescent populations at UNI, and sees outpatients within her private practice. She holds faculty appointments in the Department of Educational Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. Dr. Brockbank's primary clinical interests include the assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology, individual and family therapy, and neuropsychological assessment. While her theoretical orientation based on psychodynamic theory, she utilizes an integrative approach tailored to the setting and needs of the patient. She provides PRN and weekend call coverage to the youth inpatient and day treatment programs, participates in the didactic training of interns, and serves as a consultant to the Psychology Training Program.

Christine Burns, Ph.D.

Dr. Christine Burns received her Ph.D. from Texas A & M University. At the Neuropsychiatric Institute, she is involved in providing services on the adult units including psychological assessment, individual, couples and family therapy. She also serves as a primary supervisor within the internship program, and is a member of the Psychology Training Committee. She is a licensed psychologist and holds faculty appointments in both the Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. She teaches seminars in psychiatric interviewing and introductory psychotherapy for the Department of Psychiatry in addition to providing individual supervision for the psychiatric residents. Her conceptual orientation is grounded in psychodynamic theory, though she utilizes an integrative approach tailored to the setting and needs of the patient.

Elaine Clark, Ph.D.

Dr. Elaine Clark is a licensed psychologist at UNI and professor and chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. She received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from Michigan State University in 1982 and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from BYU in 1988. She is actively involved with professional organizations at a state and national level. Dr. Clark's primary teaching and clinical interests are in the assessment and treatment of individuals with psychiatric disorders and neurological conditions. Her theoretical orientation is grounded in both cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic theory. Dr. Clark serves as a primary supervisor within the internship program, is a member of the Psychology Training Committee, and provides didactic trainings to the interns on psychological and neuropsychological assessment.

Julia Connelly, Ph.D.

Dr. Connelly is a licensed psychologist at UNI and a primary supervisor for the internship program. She received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Utah. She completed her predoctoral internship at UNI and her postdoctoral residency at UNI and within the UNI HOME program, which specializes in providing treatment for DDMR and PDD spectrum populations. She also completed an internship in the Salt Lake City schools and worked as a school psychologist within the Jordan School District of Salt Lake City for several years. Dr. Connelly’s primary clinical interests are in the assessment and treatment of individuals from the DDMR and PDD spectrum populations. Dr. Connelly hails from East Germany and is bilingual (German and English).

Sue Connor, Ph.D.

Dr. Connor is a licensed psychologist who received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Duquesne University, and completed her post doctoral training at Dominion Hospital Eating Disorder Treatment Center and The Center for Post Traumatic Disorders Recovery in Washington, DC. Since 2000, Dr. Connor has been an active member of the Salt Lake City community participating in local activities promoting education and awareness about eating disorder recovery, suicide prevention, chronic illness/ pain management, and overcoming post traumatic stress disorders. Dr. Connor is on the Medical Staff at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute where she assisted in the development of a specialized eating disorder treatment protocol and continues to support the training of medical students as an adjunct faculty member for the Department of Psychiatry. Experienced in the treatment of mental health issues across the lifespan, Dr. Connor is pleased to be a part of the multidisciplinary treatment team at UNI, and also provides staff training and mentorship of therapists as Clinical Director of New Life Center, a nationally recognized treatment center for eating disorders in Salt Lake City. She provides PRN and weekend call coverage to the youth inpatient and day treatment programs, participates in the didactic training of interns, and serves as a consultant to the Psychology Training Program.

Ken Critchfield, Ph.D.

Dr. Ken Critchfield is a licensed psychologist at UNI and completed his Ph.D. at the University of Utah in 2002. He is the co-director of the Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy clinic, as well as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychology and Psychiatry. Dr. Critchfield's research and clinical interests focus on the process and outcome of psychotherapy, personality disorder, and attachment-based interpersonal perspectives on development and psychopathology. Dr. Critchfield completed postdoctoral training at Cornell Medical with John Clarkin and Otto Kernberg focused on comparing psychosocial treatments for borderline personality disorder. Since returning to Utah he has worked closely with Lorna Smith Benjamin to operationalize and test the efficacy of Interpersonal Reconstructive Therapy, as well as to supervise its use clinically. In addition to work at UNI he maintains a small private practice and consults on issues of methodology, design, and analysis for projects involving the interface between interpersonal measurement (especially using the SASB model), personality, and psychopathology. Dr. Critchfield participates in the didactic training of the interns and hosts a case conference series that the interns are welcome to attend.

James S. Kahn, Ph.D.

Dr. James Kahn is the Director of Psychology at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute. Dr. Kahn received his Ph.D. in School Psychology from the University of Utah and has two faculty appointments there. He is a licensed psychologist who, in addition to training and experience as a school psychologist, has trained in psychiatric and pediatric settings both with adults as well as with children and adolescents. Primary clinical and research interests include assessment and treatment of adolescent psychopathology, affective and anxiety disorders in children/adolescents and adults, parent training and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Dr. Kahn serves as a primary supervisor within the internship program, and is a member of the Psychology Training Committee.

Amanda Miller, Psy.D.

Dr. Amanda Miller is the manager of the Teenscope Intensive Day Treatment / Partial Hospitalization Program. She received her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Baylor University and completed her postdoctoral residency at The University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute. She has provided psychological services to the adolescent and child units (i.e., individual and family therapy and psychological assessment). Dr. Miller also has extensive training and experience with adults in a variety of clinical settings. Her conceptual orientation is grounded in psychodynamic theory, though she utilizes an integrative approach tailored to the setting and needs of the patient. Dr. Miller provides guidance and training opportunities to the psychology interns in her role as Teenscope manager, and also serves on the Psychology Training Committee.

Deanna L. Reilly, Ph.D.

Dr. Deanna Reilly is a licensed psychologist who received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and completed extensive postdoctoral training in neuropsychological assessment. She holds adjunct faculty appointments in the Department of Educational Psychology and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. At the Neuropsychiatric Institute, she is primarily involved in providing psychological services to the adult units (i.e., individual, couples, and family therapy, and cognitive and psychological assessment). Conceptually, she subscribes to psychodynamic and interpersonal theoretical orientations, but uses an integrative clinical approach based on the setting and needs of the patient. Dr. Reilly serves as a primary supervisor within the internship program, and is a member of the Psychology Training Committee.

Steve N. Ross, Ph.D., ABPP

Dr. Steve N. Ross is the Associate Training Director of the Residency Training Program at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Utah Health Sciences Center. He is also the Psychology Division Director in the Psychiatry Department and the Director of the Residents Psychotherapy Clinic. Dr. Ross received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Utah and is a Diplomate in Counseling Psychology. His areas of interest include addictions, group process and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Dr Ross is an affiliated psychology staff member whose office is located within the hospital, and he participates in the didactic training of the interns. He subscribes to a cognitive-behavioral model of therapy.

Suzanne Tyndall, Ph.D.

Dr. Suzanne Tyndall is a licensed psychologist who received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Utah and also completed the School Psychology respecialization program there. Her undergraduate training was completed at Connecticut College and the University of New Haven. Dr. Tyndall completed her predoctoral internship at the Astor Home for Children in Rhinebeck, New York, and afterward served as the Clinical Coordinator there. She also has experience as a school psychologist in Utah. Dr. Tyndall has extensive experience in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of children ranging from two to eighteen years of age, in settings including inpatient, long-term residential, preschool day treatment, and the public schools. She serves as a primary supervisor within the internship program, and is a member of the Psychology Training Committee.

Sandra Whitehouse, Ph.D.

Dr. Sandra Whitehouse is a licensed psychologist who is the Director of Psychology Training at The University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute and holds an adjunct faculty appointment in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah. She also serves as a primary supervisor within the internship program, leads the Psychology Training Committee, and is a member of the Youth Leadership Group which makes management decisions for the youth inpatient unit. She was educated at UCLA, Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia), and the University of Utah, where she received a Ph.D. in counseling psychology with advanced specialization in psychological assessment. She completed her predoctoral internship at the UCSD-San Diego VAMC Consortium with rotations in acute child / adolescent inpatient, PTSD, and Dual Diagnosis Substance Abuse / Mental Illness populations. Research interests include healing aspects of hospital environments. Dr. Whitehouse works with children, adolescents and adults, with an eclectic orientation (cognitive behavioral and object relations emphasis).

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