Counseling Center Staff | University of Miami

Professional Staff

Pamela L. Deroian, Ph.D., Director
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
California School of Professional Psychology

Dr. Deroian has been at the Counseling Center since 1990. After many years as a staff psychologist and Associate Director she became the Director in 2007. Dr. Deroian is responsible for creating several of the Counseling Center's major outreach programs, specifically, S.A.R.T. (Sexual Assault Response Team), BARE (Body Acceptance Resources and Education, and C.O.P.E. (Counseling Outreach Peer Education). She is an expert in the treatment of trauma, sexual assault, and eating disorders/body image issues. Dr. Deroian works with a positive psychology framework that helps students identify their individual strengths. She is dedicated to ensure that the Counseling Center provides quality counseling services to UM students that supports their academic pursuits.

Kirt McClellan, M.S.W., LCSW, Assistant Director
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
New York University

Since obtaining his professional license in 1998 Mr. McClellan has worked in a variety of clinical settings including an acute care psychiatric hospital, an adolescent residential treatment center, a substance abuse treatment center and private practice. Mr. McClellan oversees various clinical operations of the Counseling Center. His clinical interests include individual and group therapy, with extensive experience working with trauma, sexual abuse, sexual orientation and substance abuse. He is passionate about assisting students to achieve their full potential by helping them develop greater self-awareness.

Carolyn A. Eberhardt, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Southern Illinois University

Dr. Eberhardt has worked in several clinical settings including an adolescent residential treatment center and a forensic psychological testing facility. She has been a staff psychologist at the Counseling Center since 1994. Some of her clinical interests are relationship issues, multi-cultural counseling and counseling sexual assault survivors. Dr. Eberhardt is the coordinator of the Sexual Assault Response Team and S.A.R.T.'s prevention and education programs.

Edward Rappaport, Ph.D., ABPP
Training Director and Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Florida State University

Dr. Rappaport is the founding Training Director for our Predoctoral Internship Program in Professional Psychology. He is an Associate Professor and a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Psychology who has served as President of the Dade County Psychological Association. His professional interests include individual psychotherapy, treatment of anxiety and depression, anger management, relationship issues and sociocultural influences on mental health.

Patricia Rodriguez Gilmore, M.S.ed, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
University of Miami

Ms. Gilmore became licensed in the field of Mental Health Counseling in 2006. She has worked at various treatment settings in both Miami and New York City, including a substance abuse treatment center, a psychoanalytic institute and within the juvenile detention system. The goal of her work is to help individuals articulate thoughts and feelings more authentically, neutralize disturbing emotions, and clear up irrational perspectives that are self-defeating. Her clinical interests include substance abuse issues, GLBT concerns, relationship issues, and depression prevention. She also coordinates Lifeguards, UM's suicide prevention outreach programs.

Tammy Sifre, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
University of Miami

Dr. Sifre joined the Counseling Center in November 2008. Before then she worked in private practice and spent 14 years involved in public health and psychological research including stress management interventions for people diagnosed with HIV and breast cancer. Her clinical interests include stress management, integrative medicine, and mindfulness-based approaches to well-being. Dr. Sifre is responsible for the coordination of Body Acceptance Resources and Education (BARE) outreach programs.

Morgan Forer, M.S.W., LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
University of Pennsylvania
Prior to joining the Counseling Center, Ms. Forer worked in various clinical settings in Philadelphia, New York, and Connecticut, including a substance abuse treatment center, an outpatient clinic, an acute rehabilitation hospital, and a District Attorney's counseling center. Her clinical interests include individual and group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapies, transitional life issues, child and adolescent development, and mental health ethics. She strives to provide a supportive therapeutic environment where clients' feelings and thoughts can be discussed and examined to create increased self understanding and awareness while achieving their personal clinical goals. She also coordinates COPE, UM's counseling outreach peer education program.

Interns

Allison DeFinis, M.A.
Predoctoral Psychology Intern-
Texas Tech University
Ms. DeFinis will graduate in 2010 with her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Texas Tech University. Her clinical training is multifaceted and includes experience working at a community mental health clinic, university counseling center, cancer treatment and research center, and at a community supervision and corrections department (adult probation). Her clinical interests include individual, couple, and group therapy addressing a variety of psychological concerns including relational issues, anxiety, sexual assault and domestic violence, LGBT issues, and stress and anger management. Ms. DeFinis enjoys researching romantic relationships and is currently examining deception within romantic partnerships.

Joshua Hook, M.S.
Predoctoral Psychology Intern
Virginia Commonwealth University

Mr. Hook will graduate in 2010 with his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. His research interests include multicultural issues in counseling, and the study of virtues such as forgiveness and humility. His clinical interests include relationship issues, substance abuse, sexual addiction, and religious/spiritual issues. He also helps coordinate COPE, which is UM's counseling outreach peer education program. He is committed to helping students work through problems and reach their goals.

Donna LaBarge, M.A.
Predoctoral Psychology Intern
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Ms. LeBarge is scheduled to receive her PhD in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale in August of 2010. Her professional interests are working with university students in group or individual psychotherapy and conducting outreach to promote topics of wellness and diversity. She enjoys working from a multicultural, feminist perspective with students who present to counseling for concerns with issues of sexuality, gender, sexual health, identity, family of origin and unhealthy eating/body image.

Support Staff

Michael Eddleman, Administrative Assistant

Alice Bailey, Office Assistant

Kourtney Wilson, Secretary