About the PRIME Clinic

With 30 years of experience and over 300 publications on the treatment and research of serious mental illness, Dr. Woods is a leader in the field of early intervention and also serves as a full professor at Yale. Dr. Woods has been affiliated with the PRIME Clinic since its inception.

Dr. Walsh oversees the clinical evaluation and treatment performed on young people at the clinic and is responsible for providing psychoeducation on the early warning signs of serious mental illness in young people to a wide variety of communities.

She has over 25 years of experience and many publications including the book “The Psychosis-Risk Syndrome” published by Oxford University Press. Extensive experience in family, child and adolescent therapy mark Dr. Walsh’s clinical training.

Dr. Powers joined the faculty at the Yale Department of Psychiatry on July 1, 2018 as an Assistant Professor. His work as a neuroscientist is funded by a K23 Career Development Award and an R21 research grant from the NIMH, a Career Award for Medical Scientists from the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund. His research focuses on applying novel computational tools toward early detection and novel treatment development in psychosis. As a psychiatrist, his work is focused upon treatment of patients at Clinical High Risk for psychosis. He has been Medical Director of PRIME since 2017 and Associate Director since 2020.

Angela is a Research Project Manager for the Psychosis's Risk Outcomes Network (ProNET) consortium. Her work is to facilitate and support data collection of various biomarkers, such as psychological and cognitive assessments, genetic material, and imaging data throughout the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia. She aims to better understand and improve early-stage intervention and treatment for individuals who are clinically high risk for developing psychosis.

Samantha Sanborn, MA LPC currently working as a Clinical Therapist at the PRIME Clinic of Yale University School of Medicine. I currently run baseline assessments, individual therapy, family therapy and one of the groups at PRIME. I focus on the goals set by clients to improve their lives in a way they would like to see growth.

I work with people of all backgrounds including LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities. I, and we, at the PRIME Clinic seek to help our clients gain insight and support in their lives. I am trained in completing the SIPS and Mini SIPS as well as training in working with trauma experiences. We utilize CBT-P at PRIME but I also have experience with DBT, trauma specific modalities, and experience with personality disorders.

Barbara Fenig, LMSW is a clinical therapist at the Yale PRIME Clinic. Barbara conducts individual and family therapy sessions and is a certified SIPS/ SOPS assessor. She integrates CBTp treatment approaches into her clinical practice. Barbara believes that her clients are the experts of their life's narrative, and looks forward to supporting them as they find the tools to gain insight into their experiences through psychotherapy, psychoeducation, and early intervention. Barbara is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's School of Social Policy and Practice. Before becoming a therapist, Barbara worked in the arts and has an MFA in fiction writing from Columbia University. She loves to integrate a narrative approach into her clinical practice.

Kathleen Walsh, LPC is a Clinical Research Counselor at Yale's PRIME Clinic. Her credential to conduct the SIPS Assessment (Structured Interview of Psychosis-risk Syndromes instrument) serves as the foundation for the counseling she provides among the coordinated, specialty-care services delivered by the PRIME Team. "The key to our work at PRIME is to assist and enhance the patient's ability to reduce, and thereby more efficiently manage, the stress caused or exacerbated by CHR-related experiences. With deep respect and care for my patients' priorities and abilities, I see my role with them as one of usher to their Self-trust-- from which their senses of agency and connection can naturally arise." Kathleen completed her master's in psychology and has since earned credentials in MBSR, Trauma-informed yoga, and EMDR.

Dr. Farina is a Clinical Psychologist and Instructor in the Yale Department of Psychiatry. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Connecticut and completed her clinical internship through the Yale School of Medicine. Her research focuses on psychosocial determinants and outcomes related to serious mental illness. Clinically, she employs evidence-based treatments for people with serious mental illness and is currently working with young people at Clinical High Risk for psychosis through the PRIME clinic.

Katie Stimler is a Program Manager at the Yale PRIME Clinic responsible for overseeing the new ProCan Study. Katie initially served as a research assistant working on the CAPR study for the Yale PRIME Clinic. She completed her master’s in public health at the George Washington University. Her primary interest is promoting mental health within communities through evidence-based research on the effects of trauma in populations and access to mental health services. She is interested in translating research into innovative recovery initiatives and, in a broader perspective, mental health policies that will strengthen communities.

At the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in New York City, Katie participated in various research projects that involved community capacity building, helping communities to analyze and apply high-quality data and disseminate the results. During her time there, she also collaborated with the Department of Education on the HD4NYC project to support LGBTQ+ youth, while partnering with various stakeholders to develop a program to address stigma and improve mental health access and care for Latinx communities.

With a background in research and healthcare, Munaza joined the team as a Research Assistant, conducting study visits and managing IRB protocol submissions. After three years she was prompted to a managerial position where she has the responsibility for overseeing the PRIME Clinic’s participation in a multi-site study, making significant contributions to its success. She is the lead interviewer of the PSYCHS assessment used in the project, having conducted over 100 of these assessments to date. She continues to be dedicated to furthering her career, enhancing patient care, and addressing mental health challenges.

Karlos is a research assistant for the ProNET study at the PRIME Clinic. He graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. Before starting at the PRIME Clinic, Karlos was the Assistant Lab Manager at the Stress, Anxiety, and Wellbeing laboratory (S.A.W. Lab), and a research assistant at the Reading, Evaluation, And Development of Skills laboratory (R.E.A.D.S. Lab) and the Vagus Stim Plus laboratory (VPS Lab) where he collected relevant experience in data management and analysis. He has been involved in designing and writing research studies for publication, which have been presented at regional and national conferences. Karlos is passionate about investigating the effects of childhood/adolescent adversities on future health.

Ryan is a Research Assistant for the Yale PRIME Clinic. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Quinnipiac University. He is responsible for gathering data for a Long-Term Follow-Up for a study on risk factors and moderators for psychosis and assists on the CAPR study. Before starting at the PRIME Clinic, Ryan was a research assistant at Dr. Stover’s Fathers for Change Lab at the Yale Child Study Center which provided intervention for intimate partner violence. Ryan is passionate about studying the long-term impacts of mental health interventions and their effectiveness in preventing the onset of serious mental health disorders.

Scientific Advisor. Dr. McGlashan is a pioneer in the early intervention of serious mental illness and one of the founders of the PRIME Clinic. With over 400 publications and as a full professor at Yale, we are privileged that he advises our researchers and clinicians.

Voté Shamba is a Research Aide at the Yale PRIME Clinic. A New Haven resident since 2012, she is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Voté began her studies at Gateway Community College, and later transferred to Southern Connecticut State University, where she earned her BA in Public Health. Voté joined the Yale University community in 2021 through the New Haven Works program.

Voté previously served as the Vaccine Navigator for Building Services at Yale Health. She also worked as Clinical Receptionist in Specialty Services, Urology, Ophthalmology and Digestive Health departments at Yale Health Center. Prior to that, she worked as a Testing Site Coordinator for Yale’s Hospitality Department.

She is interested in furthering her education while working at Yale University.

Voté thanks Yale University and the city of New Haven for letting her be a part of a vibrant and supportive community.

Virginia Smith is a research assistant for the ProNET study at the PRIME Clinic. Prior to becoming a research assistant, Virginia served as an intern helping ProNET Team H with data quality control. Virginia graduated from Dickinson College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, where she conducted a supervised independent study which culminated in a literature review project comparing the efficacy of established deradicalization programs. Virginia plans to pursue a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, and she is passionate about studying early intervention and treatment for stigmatized mental health conditions.