Team

Mike Van Wie, Ph.D.

Mike Van Wie is an assistant professor in the health service psychology Psy.D and school psychology LSSP programs. He graduated from the University of Missouri School Psychology PhD program and completed his APA accredited internship and post-doctoral work at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine/Kennedy Krieger Institute Behavioral Psychology Program. In his free time he enjoys watching movies, kayaking, running, and exploring Texas with his family.

Research Interests: 

Dr. Van Wie's research broadly focuses on prevention and intervention of mood and anxiety disorders. He has specific interests in developmental models of intergenerational transmission of anxiety and depression,  

suicide and non-suicidal self injury (NSSI) prevention methods, leveraging informant discrepancies to boost treatment efficacy, bidirectional effects of digital media use and mental wellness, and adjunct treatment methods (e.g., mental health apps, virtual reality, exercise, etc.). 

Clinical Interests:

His clinical interests are in CBT and third wave therapies (ACT, DBT, MBCT) for anxiety and depressive disorders, Group Therapy, Functional Family Therapy (FFT), and Parent Management Training.

Dr. Van Wie is also a Nationally Accredited School Psychologist and is passionate about working with teachers and schools to reduce stress for both students and staff.

Maria Ahmed M.A.

Hi y'all! I'm a doctoral student in the Health Service Psychology program. I completed my B.S.A. in Human Development and Family Sciences at UT Austin and my M.A. in Clinical Psychology at UH-Clear Lake. My research interests focus on youth internalizing disorders, acculturation, mental health stigma, and the role of family in shaping developmental trajectories. Clinically, I enjoy working with adolescents, families, and women. In my free time, I like playing sports with friends, editing videos, and volunteering weekly. I'm also a huge movie/TV buff and foodie!

Tess Horan, B.A.

Hi and welcome to SAIL! Tess Horan is a third-year doctoral student in the Health Service Psychology program. She earned a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Music at the University of A&M- Corpus Christi. Her current research focuses on understanding the risks associated with anxiety and depression during pregnancy, with an interest in identifying potential intervention and prevention points in children and adults. She is also interested in understanding and reducing the attentional biases associated with mood and anxiety disorders. In her downtime, Tess enjoys playing guitar and exploring new restaurants and coffee shops in the area.

Alexander  Koshy, B.A.

Alexander Koshy is a third-year doctoral student in the Health Service Psychology program. He received his B.A. in Business from UC Santa Cruz and worked as an accountant for two years before returning to school for a psychology post-baccalaureate program at UC Berkeley. His current research focus is on technological addictions and social connectedness and his clinical interests are in mood, anxiety and psychotic disorders. In his free time, Alexander likes to exercise, watch and play sports, and read.

Galilea Nunez B.A.

Galilea Nunez is a graduate student in the M.A. Clinical Psychology program at the University of Houston–Clear Lake and an emerging clinician. She currently works as a Research Data Coordinator in the Pediatrics Department at MD Anderson Cancer Center, contributing to NIH-funded studies supporting Spanish- and English-speaking caregivers of children with cancer. 

As a member of the Stress Assessment and Intervention Lab (SAIL), Galilea is involved in projects examining parent–child relationship interventions and cultural mismatch among early-career clinicians. Her broader interests include working with children and adolescents and providing culturally responsive care, particularly as a bilingual Spanish-speaking clinician.

In her spare time, Galilea enjoys traveling, exercising, and spending time with friends and family. 

Yara Charif B.A.

 Yara is a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology M.A program at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Human Nutrition and Foods from University of Houston. Her research and clinical interests broadly include affective and anxiety disorders, women-specific psychological disorders, and early childhood trauma. In the lab, she is involved in projects investigating childbirth anxiety and the cognitive processes that shape mothers’ experiences during pregnancy, as well as studies focused on interventions to strengthen parent-child relationships. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Joe - Lab Manager

Joe is determined to make SAIL run as smoothly as possible. In his free time he likes playing with his dad, trying new foods, and smiling.