Kirsten Gilbert is a licensed clinical psychologist who completed her undergraduate at Stanford University, Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Yale University, and postdoctoral fellowships at Northwestern University and Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Gilbert’s research examines how ‘overcontrol’ develops in young children. Overcontrol is a constellation of characteristics including perfectionism, inflexibility, and a desire for structure and control and she is interested in understanding when overcontrol may be adaptive or helpful versus when it may contribute to psychopathology, (e.g., anxiety, eating disorders) and social difficulties in young children and adolescents. Kirsten also studies a novel therapy that directly targets overcontrol called Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) and is using knowledge from her research on the development of overcontrol to inform adaptations of this treatment to adolescents and children. 

Maddie graduated from Missouri State University, earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree with a focus in Vocal Music. In addition, she earned an Instrumental Music Certification. She then spent 6 years as an elementary school music educator working with children in Kindergarten through 5th grade and served as the choral music director for 6th grade students. Maddie then began working for WashU in the Department of Oncology before transferring to the EEDP where she uses her experience in education to assist with clinical research involving children. She works on the NOA team under Kirsten Gilbert, where she also coordinates for other pilot studies and projects.

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Berklea grew up in St. Louis before graduating from Indiana University with a BA in Theatre, with minors in Dance and Psychology.  After moving to New York City and performing in many professional musical theatre productions over several years, Berklea completed her Master of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King’s College London, while simultaneously performing in the ensemble and as a "Princess Anna" understudy on the tour of “Frozen the Musical”.  She is excited to be returning home to St. Louis to work with the EEDP and explore her passion for psychology.  In the EEDP, she will assist with the Sleep Study as well as the ‘Neurodevelopment of Overcontrol and Anxiety’ (NOA) study. 

Katherine Pope is a Licensed Professional Counselor and earned her Master’s Degree from The University of Missouri – St. Louis. At the EEDP, she currently works on the continuation of the PCIT-ED Therapy study and the Early Development of Over-Control Study.  She also is a volunteer group therapist for grief programs in the St. Louis area and has worked with families in pediatric hospice in the past.

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Sarah received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Truman State University and is currently working towards her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UMSL. Sarah has a passion for helping children and adolescents process and express their emotions in a healthy way. In the EEDP, Sarah does EEGs and assessments with children who are involved in the ‘Neurodevelopment of Overcontrol and Anxiety (NOA)’ and ‘Mood, Emotion, and Stress in Youth’ studies. Sarah hopes to become a Licensed Professional Counselor and do parent-child interaction therapy, Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), or preventative/intervention work with children and adolescents who are at risk for substance abuse.

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Melinda graduated from Valparaiso University with a B.S. in biology and chemistry and from Washington University with a Masters in Social Work. Melinda has worked as a therapist with children and families in a variety of programs including a family preservation model, foster care, and at an adolescent group home. She has also worked as a parent educator for Parents as Teachers and as an early childhood educator. Melinda conducts parent assessments for the NOA and PED -SI studies.

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Uchechukwu is a recent graduate of Harris-Stowe State University, where they earned their B.S. in Biology. As an undergraduate, through BP ENDURE, they worked in Dr. Rogers’ WUNDER lab. They also work with children teaching after-school STEM enrichment programs. In the EEDP, Uchechukwu will be assisting with NOA and Big Doors conducting recruitment and EEGs.

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Katie joined the EEDP upon returning home to St. Louis after graduating from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. While there, she was a part of the Newman Lab for Anxiety and Depression Research working on various studies relating to different aspects of these disorders. She has worked extensively on both online and in person studies with college students and now looks forward to working with children here in the lab on the NOA study.  

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