Interns
Shaylin Excell
Psychology Intern
Location: AF Williams
Email: shaylin.excell@cuanschutz.edu
I am an aspiring clinical health psychologist with interest in primary care psychology and improving access to mental health services. My research interests are centered around homelessness and extreme poverty. I am passionate about helping people access resources and skills to improve their lives and their health.
Krishna Patel
Psychology Intern
Location: AF Williams
Email: Krishna.2.patel@cuanschutz.edu
Krishna Patel is honored to join the University of Colorado School of Medicine's doctoral psychology internship team this year. Her extensive clinical background spans various settings including inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, and primary care, where she has worked with children, adolescents, and adults. These experiences inspired her pursuit of advanced training in trauma-informed care, biopsychosocial chronic and acute pain management, and health promotion during her doctoral internship. Beyond her clinical practice, Krishna is passionately dedicated to advocacy and research aimed at improving mental health services and systems in Denver, with a particular focus on the impacts of adverse childhood events on parents. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading stacks of books, hiking and running if the elevation allows it, and organizing themed gatherings for friends. Krishna also cherishes time spent with her partner and friends engaging in board games and competitive cooking.
Ellie Steffens
Psychology Intern
Location: AF Williams
Email: eleanor.steffens@cuanschutz.edu
Ellie Steffens received her MPH from Boston University and is a current PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Her clinical and research interests include integrated primary care, health promotion and policy, preventative interventions for nicotine cessation, and evidence-based, comprehensive assessments. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and watching reality tv with her partner and their cats Westley, Odette, Socks, and Bandy.
Psychology Intern
Location: AF Williams
Email: eleanor.steffens@cuanschutz.edu
Ellie Steffens received her MPH from Boston University and is a current PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. Her clinical and research interests include integrated primary care, health promotion and policy, preventative interventions for nicotine cessation, and evidence-based, comprehensive assessments. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, and watching reality tv with her partner and their cats Westley, Odette, Socks, and Bandy.
Bel Lockwood
Psychology Intern
Location: JFK Partners
Email: mariaizabel.lockwood@cuanschutz.edu
Bel Lockwood, M.S. is a clinical psychology doctoral intern at JFK Partners in 2024-25. Bel is a PhD candidate at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where she completed her master’s degree in psychology. Bel has worked with individuals with autism across various clinical settings, including hospitals, specialty clinics, schools, and at home. Bel’s passion for working with children with neurodevelopmental concerns and their families led her to pursue her PhD. During graduate school, Bel received specialized training in autism assessment across the lifespan, with an emphasis on early childhood. Her research focuses on improving the quality of life for families with children with autism. She is passionate about providing neurodiverse-affirming family-centered care. Outside of work, Bel enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and traveling to new places.
Kaylin Russell
Psychology Intern
Location: JFK Partners
Email: kaylin.russell@cuanschutz.edu
Kaylin Russell, MA, is a Pre-Doctoral Psychology Intern at JFK Partners. Kaylin joined JFK Partners in July of 2024 and is a fifth year PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara. She completed her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara. Kaylin has received specialized training providing diagnoses and evidence-based interventions for children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities. In addition to course work and formalized training experiences, Kaylin has been involved in research, trainings, teaching courses relevant to autism spectrum disorder. Her research projects focus on the adaptation of social skill interventions to promote dissemination and service access for autistic individuals and their families. During her graduate training, Kaylin has also received specialized training in working on trauma treatment and prevention with children and families in a community mental health setting. She is excited to be part of the JFK Partners team and to work in an interdisciplinary setting with the clinicians, families, and other professionals to continue to broaden and deepen her knowledge and skills.
Psychology Intern
Location: JFK Partners
Email: kaylin.russell@cuanschutz.edu
Kaylin Russell, MA, is a Pre-Doctoral Psychology Intern at JFK Partners. Kaylin joined JFK Partners in July of 2024 and is a fifth year PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara. She completed her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of California Santa Barbara. Kaylin has received specialized training providing diagnoses and evidence-based interventions for children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities. In addition to course work and formalized training experiences, Kaylin has been involved in research, trainings, teaching courses relevant to autism spectrum disorder. Her research projects focus on the adaptation of social skill interventions to promote dissemination and service access for autistic individuals and their families. During her graduate training, Kaylin has also received specialized training in working on trauma treatment and prevention with children and families in a community mental health setting. She is excited to be part of the JFK Partners team and to work in an interdisciplinary setting with the clinicians, families, and other professionals to continue to broaden and deepen her knowledge and skills.
Shelby Bandel
Psychology Intern
Location: Louisville
Email: shelby.bandel@cuanschutz.edu
Shelby Bandel is a clinical psychology PhD candidate from Rutgers University. Clinically she is primarily interested in suicide prevention interventions with an emphasis on secure firearm storage interventions. She is also particularly interested in second- and third- wave CBT interventions such as DBT and ACT. When she is not working, Shelby enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband (Jordan) and son (Finneas). She also enjoys cuddling with her pets and watching true crime or reality TV.
Jean Otero Medina
Psychology Intern
Location: Louisville
Email: jean.otero-medina@cuanschutz.edu
I am Jean Otero; I am from Puerto Rico. My professional interests include Health Psychology, Primary Care, SUD, Chronic Health Conditions, and working with diverse populations. As for my personal interests, I love paddle boarding, snowboarding, skating, and hiking. Additionally, I enjoy the theater and traveling.
Ashley Stapley
Psychology Intern
Location: Louisville
Email: ashley.stapley@cuanschutz.edu
Ashley Stapley is a doctoral candidate of clinical psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She currently has Masters in both clinical and experimental psychology. Ashley’s clinical and research interests include health psychology, complex trauma, and working with patients who experience chronic and/or acute health conditions. She applies CBT, ACT, and a person-centered approach to her clinical work. Outside of clinical settings, Ashley enjoys getting outdoors, kayaking, baking bread, antiquing, painting, and going for walks with her Labrador rescue.
Psychology Intern
Location: Louisville
Email: ashley.stapley@cuanschutz.edu
Ashley Stapley is a doctoral candidate of clinical psychology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She currently has Masters in both clinical and experimental psychology. Ashley’s clinical and research interests include health psychology, complex trauma, and working with patients who experience chronic and/or acute health conditions. She applies CBT, ACT, and a person-centered approach to her clinical work. Outside of clinical settings, Ashley enjoys getting outdoors, kayaking, baking bread, antiquing, painting, and going for walks with her Labrador rescue.
Corey Pettit
Psychology Intern
Location: Reaching Hope
Email: corey.pettit@cuanschutz.edu
Corey Pettit is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Southern California and is completing her Pre-Doctoral Internship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Corey has conducted clinical work with individuals across the lifespan in a variety of care settings. Her research interests center around identifying harmful behaviors used during couple and family conflict that can be intervened upon to reduce the intergenerational transmission of aggression. While she aims to conduct evidence based clinical work, she first and foremost values creating a space where clients feel safe and heard.
Alissa Wolsky
Psychology Intern
Location: Reaching Hope
Email: alissa.wolsky@cuanschutz.edu
Alissa Wolsky (she/her/hers) is a doctoral candidate in the Clinical Psychology PsyD program at the California School of Professional Psychology. After obtaining her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, she is now back in the CU community completing her Pre-Doctoral Internship at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Throughout her training and education, she has worked extensively with children and families across the lifespan to provide therapy to individuals with emotional and behavioral health challenges. Alissa specializes in providing culturally informed multi-method assessment practices to children and adolescents, particularly within historically marginalized populations. She is passionate about making kids feel safe, valued, and cared for while fostering a sustainable environment for growth and change using approaches grounded in Psychodynamic Play therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), and comprehensive assessment.