2013 Cohort

Sarah Heidel Abercrombie [sheidel@email.radford.edu] is currently in her fourth year of the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology at RU.  Her research endeavors have largely focused on service provision to stigmatized and underrepresented populations.  She will be completing her predoctoral internship at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia where she will continue to pursue her passions of working with college students, engaging in advocacy, and promoting social justice.

Crystal Laudermilk Hank [claudermilk@email.radford.edu] will be completing her pre-doctoral internship at William and Mary's university counseling center. Her dissertation is examining the role self-compassion may play in the relationship between experiences of bullying and risk taking behaviors. Her clinical interests include substance use disorders, developmental concerns, identity development, and positive psychological approaches to treatment, including self-compassion and principles of ACT. For fun, Crystal enjoys singing, listening to music, spending time with her family and friends, and enjoying the outdoors.

Sarah Rimmer [serimmer@radford.edu] has attended Radford University for her Bachelor's and her Master's in Clinical Counseling Psychology, and is currently entering her fourth year of the Psy.D. program. Her internship year will be spent at Cook Counseling Center at Virginia Tech. Sarah's research interests revolve around LGBTQ concerns, with her dissertation specifically looking at a relationship between gender minority stress and social support. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys reading, coloring, and spending time with friends, family, and her animals.

Savannah Simpson LeBarre [ssimpson2@email.radford.edu] earned her B.A. from East Tennessee State University in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Sociology in 2011. She conducted research with Jodi Polaha entitled “Parents’ perceived stigma of seeking mental health services for children: A focus on rural Appalachia.” She went to primary care clinics twice weekly and surveyed parents on mental health treatment seeking. Then, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Clinical-Counseling Psychology. During this program, she worked with Dr. Lips for a 2 semester Applied Training in Research. The research she worked on was entitled, “Perceptions and Views of Self in Imagined Powerful Career Roles.” The following summer, she was a research assistant for Dr. Lips and Dr. Hastings researching women’s experiences with breast reconstruction after mastectomy. During her second year, she completed her 2 semester internship with the Bridge Program at New River Valley Community Services in Blacksburg, VA. At internship, she co-facilitated weekly therapy groups, provided individual counseling, conducted intakes, and developed treatment plans for clients ordered in through courts, probation, or parole. She also counseled and screened clients at the Montgomery County Jail weekly. Her research interests include women’s issues, chronic illness, health psychology, mindfulness, resilience, and post traumatic growth. She enjoys scary movies, traveling, hiking, being with family, going on random adventures, spending time with her husband, and playing with her Italian Greyhound.