Dr. Barkis received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1988. She is a licensed psychologist in both Missouri and Kansas, and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Kansas. Dr. Barkis has worked in both University settings and in private practice. Her areas of special interest include treatment for anxiety, cross-cultural counseling, organizational psychology, personality styles, and relationship counseling. She is also a trained mediator. She practices a blend of cognitive-behavioral and solutions-oriented therapy. She has traveled extensively in China and likes to explore new cultures. Tennis or an evening of cards are outlets for her competitive side. Watch out for puns.    

Dr. Abels received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri - Kansas City in 2001. He is licensed as a psychologist in Missouri and Kansas. He has worked extensively with traditional and non-traditional age college students, international students, students of color, students with disabilities and other under-represented populations. He is trained as a generalist and feels comfortable working with a wide range of psychological concerns. His experiences include working with issues of abuse and trauma, academic skills development, career development, depression and other mood disorders, issues related to physical disability, family of origin problems, grief and loss, identity development, relationship issues, spirituality, and stress management. He works from a holistic framework that incorporates person-centered, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral, and insight-oriented theories with the goal of identifying and developing individual strengths that will empower individuals to more effectively deal with their presenting concerns. In his spare time he enjoys exploring nature and the healing and calming splendor that it offers.

Dr. Fry received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas in 2009. She completed her internship at the UMKC Counseling Center in August, 2009 and is continuing part-time at the center for her postdoc work. Her areas of special interest include treatment of depression, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self-esteem and identity development. She describes her approach to counseling as eclectic, incorporating person-centered, positive psychology, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral theories. She also has experience in providing outreach and consultation on the StrengthsFinder assessment. As a separate part of her postdoc work, she is currently conducting research on leadership training and development.

Mike is a pre-doctoral intern at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from South Dakota State University and his Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Indianapolis. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Indianapolis. Mike has clinical experience in a variety of different settings including a university counseling center, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, and a community mental health center. He approaches therapy from a person-centered perspective, but often incorporates interpersonal, psychodynamic, and cognitive-behavioral techniques into his work. His clinical interests are very broad and include multiculturalism, relationship concerns, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and dealing with grief/loss. In his free time, Mike enjoys golfing, hiking, exercise, water sports, and spending time with his friends and family.   

Brian is a pre-doctoral intern at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He received his B.A. in Psychology from California State University-Fullerton, his clinical M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University, and his M.S. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. Brian is currently in his last year of doctoral training for his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. He employs an integrative approach for individual counseling incorporating cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, and interpersonal theories. His interests include multicultural issues, sleep and eating disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and individual, family, and couples therapy. Brian enjoys working out, playing sports, tuning in to most sports especially mixed martial arts and college football, consuming a diversity of ethnic foods, walking his two Corgi dogs, and spending free time with family and friends.

Christian is a pre-doctoral intern at the CHTC. She received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Kansas as well as a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology and is currently a doctoral candidate in Counseling Psychology at the University of Kansas.  Christian has individual, group, and family counseling experience with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings including university counseling centers, community mental health centers, and VA medical centers.  Her approach to individual counseling is integrative incorporating person-centered, cognitive behavioral, and solutions-focused theories. Areas of special interest include women’s issues, multicultural issues, relationship concerns, and couples.  In her spare time she enjoys cooking, reading, watching sports, and spending time with friends and family.

Shannon is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia class of 2006. She taught English in South Korea immediately following graduation. She is a first semester student in the Higher Education Administration program here at UMKC in the School of Education. Her personal hobbies include reading, knitting, cooking and playing Scrabble. Shannon is the smiling face that greets test takers on their day of testing.