Our Clinical Team

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Rachel Davis, MD is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurosurgery and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs and Strategy, Medical Director of the OCD Program, and Service Director of Psychiatric Neuromodulation.  Dr. Davis specializes in treating individuals with severe and refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder, including via deep brain stimulation.  Dr. Davis is a Colorado Native and grew up in the rural (frontier), Southeastern Colorado town of Eads, CO.  She completed her undergraduate training at the University of Colorado Boulder, medical school at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and psychiatry residency at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. She enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds and is LGBTQ+ affirming.  Dr. Davis loves animals and shares her home with a sun conure, a Sunday conure, and 2 budgies. 

Emily Hemendinger, LCSW, MPH, CPH, ACS is currently an Assistant Professor, Clinical Director, and DBS Coordinator with the OCD Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus. Emily completed her dual degree program (Masters in Social Work and Masters in Public Health) from the University of Pittsburgh. She has over 10 years of clinical experience working with OCD, anxiety disorders, perfectionism, body image concerns, and eating disorders. Emily has a background in behavioral and community health sciences, health education, and health promotion. Her passion is combining her mental health and public health work, with specific focus on reworking our society’s relationship with food and self-image.

Emily utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy, focusing on meeting you where you are at in your mental health treatment journey and empowering you to live a fulfilling and values-based life. She is trained in and pulls therapeutic concepts from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Emily is LGBTQ+ affirming and works with people from diverse backgrounds. While not at work, Emily enjoys spending time with her aussie corgi mix, Harrison Ford Hemendinger, hiking, climbing 14ers, and finding the best ice cream places Colorado has to offer. 

OCD Program Ambassador

Kasey Benedict, LCSW currently works as an OCD and anxiety therapist with the Department of Psychiatry at the CU School of Medicine. Kasey graduated from DU with her masters of social work and has over 7 years of experience working with adults with a broad range of conditions including chronic pain, substance use disorders, anxiety and OCD. 

 

Orah Fireman, M.Ed., LCSW is a Behavioral Health Specialist and Senior Instructor in the OCD Intensive Outpatient Program at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus. She is also Adjunct Faculty at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. Orah has a Masters in Education in Risk and Resilience from Harvard University and a Masters in Social Work from Hunter College. She has conducted clinical work in a variety of settings in her 20+ years as a licensed clinical social worker. Orah has worked in community-based mental health, helped direct a therapeutic mentoring program for young people who have faced adversity, and counseled caregivers whose loved ones were going through cancer treatment. Orah is committed to honoring and augmenting the strengths within individuals while utilizing evidence-based treatments in her clinical work. She is originally (and always) a New Yorker but has lived in and loved Colorado for over 20 years.

 

Alie Bernard Garza, LCSW, is a clinician with the OCD Program at the University of Colorado and holds an MSW from the University of Washington in Seattle. Her clinical interests include neurodivergent-affirming care for comorbidities such as ADHD and ASD, working with youth/parents, and taking a ‘think outside the box’ approach. She has worked in various clinical roles including; mobile crisis response, and suicide prevention, and has worked in all levels of care (outpatient, IOP, PHP, and residential) with OCD and anxiety-related disorders. Alie has lived experience with severe OCD and is an advocate with the International OCD Foundation. She’s especially passionate about demystifying higher levels of care, destigmatizing ‘taboo’ themes, and providing education to prevent misdiagnosis and the use of non-evidence-based therapeutic practices. She is honored to continue to provide this care, now back in her home state of Colorado with her husband, Adrian, and two Chihuahuas, after spending the last near-decade primarily in the Pacific Northwest. 

 

Stephanie Lehto, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Colorado and currently is Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Dr. Lehto is Clinical Director of Student and Resident Mental Health, Clinical Director of Faculty and Staff Mental Health, and a BTTI trained psychologist with the OCD Program. Dr. Lehto received her PsyD from Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona in 2017. Dr. Lehto completed her Pre-Doctoral and Post-Doctoral training with the Eating Recovery Center where she received training in evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). 

Dr. Lehto prefers to take an eclectic and transdiagnostic approach, pulling from modalities of therapy that would be the best fit for you in the moment. She specializes in: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Eating Disorders, Body Dysmorphia, and Anxiety and Mood Disorders. Dr. Lehto takes an empowerment and values based approach to therapy.

 

Katie completed her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Denver. She is a Faculty and Social Work Fellow/IOP therapist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus. Katie currently holds a state permit and is working towards her licensure in clinical social work. She began research in the mental health field 7 years ago, focusing on factors related to depression, trauma, and suicidality. This was a foundational element in the development of a trauma-informed perspective when working with mental health concerns. Since beginning clinical work, she has expanded her focus to include obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and self-image to her research and clinical efforts. She also has several years of experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals, specializing in the exploration of self-identity and empowered individual expression.  

 

 

Katie is currently building her own clinical caseload and co-leading a group therapy session each week. She draws experience and theoretical perspective in clinical practice from Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI). Katie utilizes an eclectic style of practice, combining elements from different treatment modalities in order to individualize and tailor therapeutic services to each individual’s unique goals and needs. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor climbing, skiing, and hiking - all things related to the great outdoors! She also enjoys spending time reading, writing, and painting as creative and expressive outlets. 

 

 

Erin LeBeau, MSW is a social work fellow at the OCD Clinic at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Erin is currently receiving her master's in social work from the University of Denver and plans to work clinically in a hospital setting upon graduation. Erin received her bachelor's in both public health and psychology from American University. She worked as a Residential Counselor at McLean Hospital for a few years before pursuing social work. Erin is passionate about accessibility of care, mental health destigmatization, and meeting clients where they are at. Erin utilizes aspects from Exposure and Response Prevention therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work at the clinic. Erin is a trauma informed and LBGTQIA+ affirming provider. In her free time, Erin enjoys going on hikes, trying new coffee shops, and perusing Trader Joe's for seasonal items.

Cate Rush, MSW, is a social work fellow at the OCD Clinic at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Cate earned her masters degree from the University of Denver. Cate has worked with a diverse array of populations including children with autism, those experiencing homelessness, and people of all ages with challenges including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-image issues and more. Cate believes the most effective style of therapy is one that draws from multiple perspectives including a trauma informed approach, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). In her free time, Cate enjoys skiing, hiking, reading, and spending time in nature. Cate can almost always be found with her dog, Otis. 

 

Ambey (she/her) is a second-year social work intern pursuing a Master’s of Social Work from Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her goals while working with the OCD Program and team are to practice research, emphasize client strengths, and utilize evidence-based interventions. Her passions include gardening in her backyard and listening to other’s stories.

Kensie is an intern with the OCD Clinic and is completing her Master’s in Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Kensie is passionate about providing equitable mental health care to underserved groups. She has experience using strengths-based approaches and providing care from a trauma-informed lens. In her free time, she enjoys going on hikes, seeing live music, and playing with her cat, Margo.

Jake Gadbaw, MD is an adult psychiatrist in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Clinic on the Anschutz Medical Campus. He is the primary psychiatrist for the new OCD and Anxiety Intensive Outpatient Program. Dr. Gadbaw completed his medical school training and adult psychiatry residency at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine. He served as Chief Resident of the Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic and was a part of the Psychotherapy Scholars Tract in residency, learning psychodynamic, CBT, and humanistic therapies. In addition to his work in the OCD Clinic, he teaches in the resident clinic and works with adults at the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center. He takes an integrative, psychotherapeutic approach to the treatment of complex mood and anxiety disorders.  

Jennifer Quigley completed her physician assistant training at Duke and has a passion for serving underserved and culturally diverse populations. She has worked in both outpatient and residential settings in psychiatry prior to her time at Student and Resident Mental Health and the OCD Program. She enjoys breaking the stigma of mental health, especially for OCD, while meeting patients where they are in their journey and collaborating with her team to provide the best care.

 

Elizabeth Fenstermacher, MD

Medical Director, TMS Program  Psychiatrist, DBS Program