Students

Joey Yi Yun Jiang, MS

Pronouns: She/Her and They/Them

Joey is a 2nd-year PhD student in the Clinical Psychology program at Palo Alto University, with a focus on sexual and gender identity, sleep, trauma, parenting and intersectional studies. She obtained her Master’s degree in Development Disorders Clinical Practice from the University of York, UK, and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from East China Normal University. Joey is currently working at the Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC) where she supports clients exploring their identities and managing trauma-related issues. Her interests in LGBTQ+ populations are shaped by her previous work with adolescents in Shanghai. She has organized mental health workshops each summer for sexual minority communities, promoting psychological education and advocacy. Her research interests aim to integrate diverse approaches to create effective and equitable interventions for complex psychological issues.

Emily “Em” Vi, MS

Pronouns: She/Her and They/Them

Em is a second-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University and intends to pursue the Pediatric Behavioral Health Care and LGBTQ+ Psychology areas of emphasis. They received their BA in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside in 2021 and their MS in Psychology from Palo Alto University in 2024. She is currently completing her clinical practicum at the Gronowski Center’s Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC). Her research interests include the intersection of neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ identities and social media’s impact on identity development on queer youth.

Megan "Meg" Abels, BA, MS

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Meg is a third-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University and intends to pursue the Forensic and LGBTQ+ Psychology areas of emphasis. She received her BA in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz in 2018 and her MS in Psychology from Palo Alto University in 2020. She has previous experience working as a Domestic Violence Intervention Program Facilitator and as a Clinical Research Assistant at the Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research. She also worked as the Practicum and Internship Coordinator for the MA Counseling program at PAU from 2022-2024. During her second year, she completed a clinical practicum at the Gronowski Center. Currently, she is working at Medical Hill Healthcare Center (Neurobehavioral Unit) with conserved adults. Her research interests include the efficacy of compassionate rehabilitation on reducing recidivism rates, the intersectionality of one’s identities and their encounters with the legal system, and diverse queer experiences.

Daniel Dorsky, BA

Pronouns: He/him/his

Daniel is a 2nd-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University, and intends to pursue the LGBTQ+ Psychology Area of Emphasis. He received his BA from Loyola Marymount University in 2021 doubling majoring in Psychology and Theatre Arts. He worked as a program assistant to the director of LMU LGBT Student Services. He previously volunteered as a telephone crisis counselor for the Trevor Project and the Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Center Crisis Line. Daniel is currently completing a clinical practicum at the Gronowski Center’s Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC). His research interests include LGBTQ+ adults, sexual and gender identity media representation, intersectionality and community connectedness within LGBTQ+ populations.

Ange Fermin, BA

Pronouns: Any

Ange is a 3rd-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University and is currently pursuing the LGBTQ+ and Diversity and Community Mental Health Areas of Emphasis. They received their BA in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine in 2019. They have volunteered as a Crisis Counselor for the Trevor Project and have previously worked in the Gronowski Center as a Clinical Manager. Currently, they are serving as a behavioral practicum student at LifeMoves. They have previously completed a practicum at the Gronowski Center as part of their Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC). Ange's clinical interests include the experiences of LGBTQ+ BIPOC, minority stress, and anti-colonialism perspectives within clinical psychology.

Rachel L. Odenweller, B.S., M.S.

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Rachel Odenweller is a 3rd-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Palo Alto University in the Forensic Area of Emphasis. She received her M.S. in Psychology at Palo Alto University in 2023 and her B.A. in Psychology at San Francisco University in 2016. She previously completed her clinical practicum at the Gronowski Center, working with adult clients with SMI, trauma, and mood disorders. Currently, she is completing clinical practicum at Alta Mira Recovery, an inpatient addiction treatment center. Her main research interests include physical and sexual violence in adult populations, childhood maltreatment and trauma experiences, personality, and the construct of masculinity.

Cyrus J. Manian, MA

Pronouns: They/Them and He/Him

Cyrus is a 4th-year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University with emphasis in LGBTQ+ and Health Psychology. He received his BA in Psychology from UMKC and his MA in Clinical Psychology from SIUE. Currently, he teaches various psychology courses at City College of San Francisco. He is currently completing a clinical practicum at Kaiser San Rafael working with the Addiction Medicine and Recovery Services team. He is also continuing to practicum training at the San Francisco VA Medical Center in the LGBTQ+ and Substance Use Treatment tracks as a supplemental, having completed a full time training in this placement last year. Prior to this, he completed a clinical practicum at the Gronowski Center’s Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic. His research interests include unique relationship factors for LGBTQ+ consensually non-monogamous (CNM) relationships, psychological factors in LGBTQ+ health, substance use, and mental health outcomes among the LGBTQ+ population. His dissertation, Assessing Consensually Non-monogamous Relationship Satisfaction (ACReS), is a mixed-method research project aiming to develop a measure of relationship satisfaction for CNM relationships.

Molly Fagan, MS

Pronouns: She/her

Molly is a 5th-year student in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University, and is in the LGBTQ and DCMH Areas of Emphasis. She received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in 2015, and worked as an assistant teacher and resource specialist in New York, Spain, and California. Molly is currently completing an APA-accredited predoctoral internship with Marin County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services in the Serious Mental Illness track. She previously completed practicum placements at the Stanford Ronald McDonald House in the Spanish track, Woodside High school with Adolescent Counseling Services, and the Gronowski Center’s Sexual and Gender Minorities Clinic. Her research interests include experiences of LGBTQ children, adolescents, and families and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kaila M. R. Young, MS

Pronouns: They/them and she/her

Kaila is a 5th-year graduate student and doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University (PAU) with an Emphasis in LGBTQ+. Kaila earned their MS in Clinical Psychology from PAU in 2023 and their BA in Psychology from CSU East Bay in 2018. They have completed 3 years of practicum training at San Jose Job Corps, the Outlet Program for LGBTQ+ Youth at Adolescent Counseling Services, and the Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic at the Gronowski Center as well as supplemental practicum training at Freedom Camp. Kaila served 3 years as the Public Relations Officer for the Psychological Association of Gender Expression and Sexuality (PAGES) at PAU. Their research interests include the intersection of autism and transgender/nonbinary identities and consensual non-monogamy/polyamory.

Alexis Garcia, M.S.

Pronouns: She/her/hers

Alexis Garcia is a 4th-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Palo Alto University. She received her B.S. in Psychology at Florida State University in 2020. She is currently engaging in her 3rd-year practica at Kaiser Permanente in San Rafael focusing on eating disorders. Alexis previously completed practicum at Kaiser Walnut Creek and La Selva Group in both mental health IOP and eating disorder IOP programs. Her primary research interests include eating disorders within the LGBTQ+ community, with a specific focus on their presentation in transgender individuals. Alexis is additionally interested in reducing mental health disparities through psychoeducation and measure development.

Elster Mohr, B.S.

Pronouns: They/them/theirs

Elster Mohr is a 5th-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Palo Alto University. They received their B.S. in Cognitive Science from the University of California. San Diego in 2016 and their MS in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University in 2023. Their research interests are non-binary gender identities and unique minority stress experiences of non-binary individuals. They are pursuing the LGBTQ and Diversity & Community Mental Health Areas of Emphasis. They previously served as the Secretary for the Psychological Association of Gender Expression and Sexuality (PAGES) at Palo Alto University. Elster previously completed clinical practicum placements at the Gronowski Center Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic, the UCSF Health Alliance Project, and the LifeMoves shelter system.

Maxwell G. Hart, B.S.

Pronouns: He/him/his and ne/nim/nis

Max Hart is a 5th-year student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at Palo Alto University. Ne received his B.S. in Psychological Sciences from Rowan University in 2019 and nis M.S. in Clinical Psychology at PAU in 2022. Ne is in the LGBTQ Area of Emphasis. Ne formerly served as President of the Psychological Association of Gender Expression and Sexuality (PAGES) at PAU. Max's research interests include the intersection of the LGBTQ and disability communities, especially the experiences of queer-identified neurodivergent individuals. Ne is currently focusing on nis dissertation on differences in internalization of gender roles between cisgender/transgender people and neurotypical/autistic people.

Ava Nusblatt, M.S.

Pronouns: They/them/theirs

Ava Nusblatt is a 5th-year student in the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. They received their BS in Clinical Psychology from Tufts University in 2020. Ava is currently completing their primary practicum placement at the San Francisco VA Medical Center’s Comprehensive Gender Affirming Care Clinic and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Clinic. Ava is also training at De Anza College’s Mental Health and Wellness Center. Ava previously completed practica at the UCSF Alliance Health Project, the Gronowski Center Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic and at the Stanford Department of Psychiatry’s THRIVE clinic. Ava’s research interests include experiences of minority stress and resilience in transgender and nonbinary adults. Ava’s clinical interests include psychodynamic and relational therapy modalities, LGBTQ-affirming psychotherapy, and gender-affirming care. Additionally, Ava teaches in a Jewish youth education program in Los Altos.

Nat Bricker, M.S.

Pronouns: They/them/theirs

Nat Bricker is a 6th-year doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology PhD program at Palo Alto University. They received their BA in Psychology from Lake Forest College in 2016 and their MS in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University in 2021. Nat is focused on the LGBTQ Psychology Area of Emphasis. They have previously served two terms as the President for the Psychological Association of Gender Expression and Sexuality (PAGES) at PAU. Nat’s research interests pertain to intersectional LGBTQ+ identities, with a particular focus on transgender and nonbinary identities, experiences, and mental health outcomes. Their dissertation research is focused on the intersections of gender, autistic, and nonhuman (e.g., therian, otherkin) identities. Nat has completed clinical practicum placements at the Gronowski Center’s Sexual and Gender Identities Clinic (SGIC), Adolescent Counseling Service's OUTLET, and Mills College CAPS. They are currently completing their predoctoral internship at University of Puget Sound’s Counseling, Health, and Wellness Services.