Dr. Adkins is a licensed psychologist in Missouri and part of the Program for Psychology and Religion. She earned her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Illinois. Dr. Adkins completed her postgraduate training at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute in two programs, the Program for Psychology and Religion and the Pain Management Program. She works with adult clients, including those with acute and chronic physical health conditions, and with older adults. In addition, Dr. Adkins works with those who grieve because of a loss, such as the loss of a loved one, the lose of a dream, etc. Prior to becoming a psychologist, Dr. Adkins had a career in nursing. This experience gives her great appreciation of the interplay between physical and mental health.

Dr. Kaylie Allen is a licensed clinical psychologist working in the Gender Affirming Program and the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders. Dr. Allen has received specialized training in treating trauma, OCD, and anxiety disorders during her two-year postdoctoral fellowship at SLBMI, during her internship at the Gulf Coast V.A., and while completing her doctoral degree at Central Michigan University. Dr. Allen has a research background in sexual assault, LGBTQ+ issues, exposure therapy, and mindfulness, and she has completed a variety of trainings in trans and gender-expansive mental healthcare.

If you are considering Dr. Allen for a therapist, you can expect active, change-oriented therapy that incorporates techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and mindful self-compassion. She works with outpatient clients facing difficulties that include anxiety, perfectionism, mood disorders, substance use, relationship conflicts, and other problems. Ethical nonmonogamy, nontraditional family structures, and kink lifestyles are all welcomed and affirmed in her practice. Dr. Allen is especially passionate about working with LGBTQ+ clients and exploring the way these identities intersect with other issues. Dr. Allen works with adults and adolescents on an individual basis. She also co-leads a trauma processing group and a queer resilience group at the Macklind office.

As a queer woman, Dr. Allen is committed to providing education and training to the general community as well as healthcare professionals that will improve access to, and quality of, mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals. She also works with PrideCenter STL to provide a free queer community class about topics related to emotional well-being.

Dr. Allen is available for consultation and trainings.
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Office Location: Macklind

Alice Andres, Psy.D. is a Licensed Psychologist the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders (COARD). She graduated in 2013 with a Psy.D in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Additionally, she received post-graduate training in psychological assessment at Brain and Body Integration, LLC in Denver, CO, and she has continued to specialize in the area of conducting psychological evaluations at various mental health agencies since 2015, most recently at UMSL-Center for Behavioral Health in St. Louis, MO.

Dr. Andres specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders, traumatic stress, mood disorders, behavioral issues, severe mental illness, personality disorders, neurodevelopmental conditions, and neurocognitive disorders with all age groups. Also, her research background has primarily focused on working with older adults and addressing end-of-life issues such as existential despair, cognitive impairments, and health-related issues. Indeed, she completed an undergraduate research scholar with the Memory and Cognitive Aging Laboratory at the University of Missouri-Columbia and obtained her BA with Honors in Psychology in 2006. She also has extensive experience with developing and implementing mindfulness-based interventions, and her doctoral dissertation focused on creating a mindfulness and narrative therapy group for older adults. Furthermore, Dr. Andres is bilingual, she obtained her BA in Spanish from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006, and she is passionate about providing culturally-sensitive therapeutic services in both Spanish and English.

Office Location: Macklind

Office Location: West County

Dr. Bazile-Sawyer works as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders (COARD) at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. She graduated in 2000 with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University, completed her clinical internship at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Consortium, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and post-doctoral fellowship training in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Center for Trauma Recovery. She completed her post- doctoral training in behavioral health and trauma assessment and treatment.

In addition, she has experience in inpatient & Ambulatory Mental Health, Forensic Psychology, as well as Research, Teaching, Supervision, and Consultation in Clinical Practice. Dr. Bazile-Sawyer is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in behavioral health pre-surgical evaluations and treatment. More specifically, she conducts pre-surgical bariatric evaluations and treatment for clients suffering from mood, anxiety, eating disorders, and/or trauma reactions. She is a member of the American Psychological Association.

Office Location: Macklind

Kelly Birmingham-Watts, Psy.D. is a Postdoctoral Resident with the Center for OCD and Anxiety-Related Disorders (COARD). She completed her Psy.D. requirements from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and her Predoctoral internship with the St. Louis Psychology Internship Consortium. Kelly’s clinical interests include co-occurring disorders centered around anxiety and over-controlled behaviors. She has experience treating a wide variety of psychological disorders integrating cognitive-behavioral and somatic interventions.

Office Location: Macklind

Office Location: Macklind

Tiffany Burke is a staff clinician at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. She earned her master’s degree in counseling from Lindenwood University and her bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice from SIUE. Tiffany is a licensed professional counselor in Missouri. She works with adults and is specifically interested in substance use and co-occurring disorders. She also has experience working with depression, anxiety and trauma. Tiffany comes from a client centered perspective and believes in meeting the client where they are. She uses CBT, Motivational Interviewing and solution focused therapy to assist her clients reach their goals.

Office Location: Macklind

Dr. Kelly Bushur is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist working in the West County office. She received her doctorate from Southern Illinois University- Carbondale and is licensed in Illinois and Missouri. She has over 20 years experience addressing a wide range of challenges and concerns and works with children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. Dr. Bushur treats a variety of concerns including anxiety and mood disorders, ADHD/LD, behavioral problems, autism spectrum disorders, grief, and related problems. She has particular interests in working with gifted children, adolescent development, and managing life transitions successfully. She has specialized training in CBTI for insomnia. She develops individualized treatment plans using an array of therapeutic approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Bushur offers daytime and evening appointments.

Office Location: West County

Claudia earned her B.A. in Psychology and French in 1986, her M.A. in Human Development Counseling in 1990 and her Ph.D. in Family Therapy in 2016 all from Saint Louis University. Her early experience as a therapist was in families and couples. She has extensive history working with undergraduate and graduate students’ mental health focusing on anxiety, depression, and relational issues and eating concerns. She also has experience working with individuals dealing with trauma. She has received extensive training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and has experience working in this modality. Dr. Charles has received training with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Health Behavior and Wellness Coaching. Areas of interest include: Anxiety, Depression, Relationship and Family Issues, Eating Disorders, Trauma, Culture and Diversity issues.

Office Location: Macklind

Dr. Cone is a licensed psychologist specializing in work with children, adolescents, and their families. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Cone’s experience over the past 30 years has included in-home family therapy with juvenile offenders, residential treatment, inpatient programs, and traditional outpatient services. She has training in Multisystemic Family Therapy but also draws from a variety of other evidence-based treatment approaches to help clients achieve their therapeutic goals. Her particular interests include the treatment of behavior problems, anxiety and mood disorders, and ADHD. Dr. Cone offers afternoon and early evening appointments.

Office Location: West County

Ms. Corn is a master’s level licensed psychologist. She works with children, adolescents and adults with anxiety disorders, mood/depressive disorders (including bi-polar disorder), autism/Asperger’s disorder, ADHD/ADD and other mental health problems. Her clinical approach is insight oriented and cognitive behavioral techniques. She received her masters of arts in clinical psychology from Eastern Illinois University in 1984. She has completed specialist training in anxiety disorders from St. Louis School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior in 1986. Ms. Corn practices primarily at the office in Belleville, Illinois. She is coauthor of the article entitled, “Panic Onset and Major Events in the Lives of Agoraphobics” in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

Office Location: Belleville, IL

Dr. Dale is a licensed psychologist at the West County office. She graduated in 2000 with a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Mississippi, Hattiesburg, and received post graduate training in Mental Health Treatment (Therapy and Testing/Evaluations) at Renaissance Center in Albany, Georgia. Dr. Dale specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD/LD and treats children as young as 3 years of age, adolescents, families and adults. She is also trained in EMDR, sand play/play therapy, motivational interviewing and CBT. Dr. Dale has an extensive practice in psychological testing.

Office Location: West County

Dr. Deb Elliott-DeSorbo is a licensed clinical psychologist. She completed her undergraduate education at Rutgers University before obtaining a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Washington University.

Deb specializes in the areas of gender, sexuality, health psychology, integrated care, military (she was once an active duty clinical psychologist), marital therapy and trauma. She also has a passion for working with geriatric patients. She primarily utilizes a mix of cognitive-behavioral therapy and person-centered therapy but brings in techniques from many other schools of thought when they are of assistance to a client. She is passionate about what she does and wants nothing more than to help her clients succeed in their goals (both therapy goals and life goals). She is the Director of both the Health Psychology Program and the Gender Affirming Program for Transgender and Individuals with Non-Binary Identities, and serves as the Institute’s Training Director.

Randall C. Flanery, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Program for Psychology and Religions and in the Eating Disorders Program. He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1983.

He has long been interested in incorporating psychological and spiritual perspectives in achieving recovery in mental health. He is committed to providing cutting edge, empirically supported treatments, and is trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Specific treatment interests of his are: evidence-based treatments of depression, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other variants of eating disorders.  He also has a broad background in the treatment of a variety of childhood and adolescent conditions and helping individuals achieve lifetime healthy weight management.   A particular  interest is tailoring treatment for eating disorders and weight control concerns to accommodate the unique perspectives of males with those conditions.

He is an adjunct associate professor of Family Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, and the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals, for which he is also an approved supervisor. He is a past associate editor and current reviewer of PsyCritiques, an online journal of reviews.  He is a frequent speaker to professional and public groups.

Dr. Rebekah A. Freese is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Masters in Social Work and PhD in Philosophy from the University of Missouri. She completed her undergraduate social work degree at University of Texas-Arlington.

Rebekah specializes in the areas of eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, gender and trauma.  She has treated individuals with an array of eating disorders, trauma and BPD since 1997. She has extensive experience with commonly co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety and substance use.  She has a passion addressing population specific issues especially within the LGBTQQA+ community.   She has proficiency in clinical program development, management and growth as well as quality assurance and program evaluation.  She has a strong commitment to work with those who experience high severity of life-threatening behaviors especially youth and young adults.  She has extensive training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Family Based Treatment (FBT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (TF-CBT and CBT). While she primarily utilizes dialectical behavioral therapy including radically open DBT, family-based treatment and trauma focused approaches, she brings in techniques from other evidence based theoretical modalities when they are of assistance to the client. She is passionate about her work and strives to assist her clients in developing balance and compassion in their lives.  Currently, Dr. Freese serves on the board of the Flourish Initiative, an organization enhancing the lives of under-resourced youth in the Boone County community.

Dr. Jessica Gerfen is Chief Executive Officer, St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute (SLBMI). She was appointed in May 2019.

Dr. Gerfen joined SLBMI in 2015 and has held a number of administrative positions, including Director of Risk Management and Technology, Assistant Administrative Director, and Administrative Director of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program.  She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and completed her post-doctoral fellowship at the Houston OCD Program.

Current initiatives of interest for Dr. Gerfen include advancement of technology integration into clinical practice and operational quality initiatives and expansion. Her clinical professional areas of interest include OCD and related anxiety disorders and the relationship between anxiety and eating disorders.

Sofia Grewal, M.D. completed her psychiatry residency and geriatric fellowship at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Prior to joining St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, she has been treating patients across St. Louis in her private practice and provided inpatient and outpatient care in local hospitals. Dr. Grewal has experience in treating depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorders. She is trained in psychopharmacology and various modalities in treating a range of mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, and psychotic disorders. Her specialty interest is in geriatric psychiatry, where she has provided care to residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in the St. Louis area. She is board-certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Dr. Christopher Grimes is the Director of the Program for Psychology and Religion at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute, and he is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Family and Community Medicine at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Dr. Grimes also maintains a general outpatient caseload providing individual therapy, couple/family therapy, and psychological testing services at the Behavioral Medicine Institute. He has particular interest and training in the assessment and treatment of clergy, religious, and people of faith. Dr. Grimes is licensed to practice psychology in the State of Missouri. His professional memberships include the American Psychological Association, the Missouri Psychological Association, and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies. He is active in research and writing in the area of religion / spirituality and psychological wellness.

Dr. Mishell Hashmi is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Eating Disorders Program. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Midwestern University in 2007. She has extensive experience working with eating disorders in Residential, PHP, IOP and outpatient settings. Dr. Hashmi uses an integrated approach and is experienced in utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Dr. Hashmi has also completed training in Family Based Therapy (FBT) for eating disorders, as well as advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR). Dr. Hashmi enjoys working with teenagers and adults. She also has extensive experience working with individuals with self-injury, trauma, mood disorders and transgender issues. She likes to use a collaborative approach with clients to assist them in accomplishing their goals.

Dr. Linda Housman is a licensed clinical psychologist working in the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders (COARD) at Saint Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. She earned her doctorate at the University of MO – St. Louis in 1997 and received extensive forensic training in her internship at the U.S. Federal Medical Center in Springfield, MO, and in her post-doctoral training at the St. Louis Psychiatric and Rehabilitation Center in St. Louis, MO.   For the past many years, Dr. Housman worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs treating PTSD in combat Veterans and military sexual trauma.  She served as the Clinical Coordinator at the St. Louis Vet Center for over 13 years.  In her last 5 years at the VA, she served as Associate District Director for Counseling, ensuring ethical and quality clinical care in the Veteran population. Most recently, here at the Institute, Dr. Housman specializes in the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other trauma-related disorders.  She also works with various other anxiety-related disorders, such as Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.  Her primary theoretical orientation is Cognitive – Behavioral Therapy (CBT); she is specifically trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and is a certified trainer for CPT.

She is passionate about raising awareness about eating disorders and advocacy work. She frequently presents lectures to the professional and educational community on such related topics as Eating Disorders Across the Life-Span, Eating Disorders at Mid-Life and Beyond, and Co-occurring Anxiety and Eating Disorders. She also has extensive experience with commonly co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. An associated specialty is working with caregivers of individuals with disabling psychiatric, developmental and medical conditions, including autism spectrum disorders.

Dr. Huff serves on the Board of Directors of Missouri Eating Disorders Association (MOEDA). She also is a member of the St. Louis Adolescent Eating Disorders Coalition. Dr. Huff is a member of the Missouri-Psychological Association, the St. Louis Psychological Association, and the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp).

Dr. Kassing is a Licensed Psychologist working in the Health Psychology Program. She received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and earned her master’s degree in Clinical Adult Psychology from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Dr. Kassing has worked in multiple treatment settings including the VA, a hospital clinic, and a residential substance abuse/dependence treatment facility. She has experience addressing a wide range of concerns with adults including psychosis, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and dependence, trauma, grief, and life transition. Dr. Kassing utilizes many modalities of treatment as appropriate including cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and psychodynamic.

Dr. Carolyn Lee is a Postdoctoral Resident with the Intermediate Care Program (ICP) at the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders (COARD), under the supervision of Drs. Pollard and Allen. She completed her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, MN, where she underwent training in chemical dependency treatment center, university counseling center, and community mental health clinic settings. Dr. Lee completed her predoctoral internship at The George Washington University’s (GWU) Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) in Washington, DC. Her clinical interests include depression, anxiety, adjustment, relationship and interpersonal concerns, identity development, grief and loss, body image concerns, women’s issues, and racial and ethnic minority issues.

Dr. Margaret Lemp is a licensed clinical psychologist. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before obtaining her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Adler University (Chicago Campus).

Dr. Lemp specializes in the areas of integrated care, depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and insomnia. She primarily utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and mindfulness when collaborating with patients. She is passionate in providing evidenced-based, high quality care to assist patients in achieving their therapy goals. She serves on the health psychology and integrated care teams.

Dr. Bill Mallot is a licensed clinical psychologist. He completed his undergraduate education at Oklahoma Christian University, and a master’s degree in experimental psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma before earning his Psy.D. in clinical psychology from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in 2003. He has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, serving in various roles in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Dr. Mallot also has experience in working with trauma and substance abuse clients, as well as in providing supervision and training to graduate and post-graduate students.

Assistant Clinical Director, Center for OCD & Anxiety Related Disorders

Mr. Mitchell is a senior staff clinician in the Center for OCD & Anxiety-Related Disorders. He is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in the treatment of children and adults with anxiety disorders and related problems. Mr. Mitchell is a frequent presenter at local and national meetings. His scholarly publications include the journal article entitled, “Clinical Management of Comorbidity in Anxiety Disorder Patients” in the journal Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention.