Director of Research
Director of Policy and Advocacy
Dr. Willis is a psychologist by profession with 20 years of experience in academic, government and non-government organizations engaging in teaching, mentoring, research, social policy and social development activities leading to leadership roles that emphasize turnaround social development strategies. Dr. Willis received her doctorate in Psychology with a specialization in intellectual & developmental disabilities and has worked in academia as an Assistant Professor and Head of the Psychology Program. For the past 12 years Dr Willis was responsible for providing strategic advice on integrated social, health, and economic development in Dubai via policy, legislative and programmatic recommendations, including a Dubai-wide master plan for service delivery, human resources, partnership development and capital investment. The approach included applied research tools, rigorous analysis, monitoring and evaluation, to ensure that all strategies and policies are contextually appropriate, fiscally responsible, are evidence-based. She developed macro-level social development strategies to drive policy development and impact assessment that include the Dubai Disability, Mental Health, Early Childhood Development and Parenting Strategies.
Currently, Sandra is freelancing while holding 2 active positions as a Visiting Scholar in the Global Mental Health Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University, and as Director of Learning & Development in World Enabled, at the University of California - Berkley.
Dr. Willis is a psychologist by profession with 20 years of experience in academic, government and non-government organizations engaging in teaching, mentoring, research, social policy and social development activities leading to leadership roles that emphasize turnaround social development strategies. Dr. Willis received her doctorate in Psychology with a specialization in intellectual & developmental disabilities and has worked in academia as an Assistant Professor and Head of the Psychology Program. For the past 12 years Dr Willis was responsible for providing strategic advice on integrated social, health, and economic development in Dubai via policy, legislative and programmatic recommendations, including a Dubai-wide master plan for service delivery, human resources, partnership development and capital investment. The approach included applied research tools, rigorous analysis, monitoring and evaluation, to ensure that all strategies and policies are contextually appropriate, fiscally responsible, are evidence-based. She developed macro-level social development strategies to drive policy development and impact assessment that include the Dubai Disability, Mental Health, Early Childhood Development and Parenting Strategies.
Currently, Sandra is freelancing while holding 2 active positions as a Visiting Scholar in the Global Mental Health Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University, and as Director of Learning & Development in World Enabled, at the University of California - Berkley.
Director of Training
Kathleen F. Clougherty, MSW, LCSW
Director of Training, Global Mental Health Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University
Kathleen F. Clougherty is a senior Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) trainer and supervisor at the Global Mental Health Lab at Teachers College, and a consultant for the Mental Wellness Equity Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute. She was formerly an Instructor in Clinical Psychiatric Social Work (In Psychiatry) at Columbia University and an instructor at the Columbia University School of Social Work.
Ms. Clougherty co-authored, with Gregory Hinrichsen, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults. She is the co-developer, trainer, and supervisor for the national IPT training program for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest IPT training program in the United States. She also helped to develop, train, and supervise in multiple IPT trials at the Global Mental Health Lab with Syrians and Lebanese host communities in Lebanon, young mothers and pregnant women in Kenya, Congolese and Burundian refugees in Tanzania, and Venezuelan refugees and displaced adults in Peru. These trials have been funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Grand Challenges Canada, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the UK among others
Ms. Clougherty has helped develop, train, and supervise a cadre of clinicians and non-specialists in IPT in several major international studies including an adaptation of group IPT for depressed men and women in southwest Uganda, an adaptation of group IPT for depressed adolescents in internally displaced persons’ camps in northern Uganda, an adaptation of individual IPT for adults in rural India. Additionally, she developed and co-authored adaptations of IPT for the World Health Organization.
Ms. Clougherty has co-authored several IPT training manuals, including for the IPT- Group for the World Health Organization, and IPT for Veterans for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is currently developing and co-authoring IPT and IPC manuals for delivery in group and individual formats. She has also developed multiple therapists and supervisor adherence scales. In addition to her research work, Ms. Clougherty is a private practitioner specializing in the treatment of depression in adolescents and adults.
Ms. Clougherty was trained in IPT by Dr. Gerald Klerman, the co-developer of IPT. Ms. Clougherty received her MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work.
Kathleen F. Clougherty, MSW, LCSW
Director of Training, Global Mental Health Lab, Teachers College, Columbia University
Kathleen F. Clougherty is a senior Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) trainer and supervisor at the Global Mental Health Lab at Teachers College, and a consultant for the Mental Wellness Equity Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute. She was formerly an Instructor in Clinical Psychiatric Social Work (In Psychiatry) at Columbia University and an instructor at the Columbia University School of Social Work.
Ms. Clougherty co-authored, with Gregory Hinrichsen, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults. She is the co-developer, trainer, and supervisor for the national IPT training program for the Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest IPT training program in the United States. She also helped to develop, train, and supervise in multiple IPT trials at the Global Mental Health Lab with Syrians and Lebanese host communities in Lebanon, young mothers and pregnant women in Kenya, Congolese and Burundian refugees in Tanzania, and Venezuelan refugees and displaced adults in Peru. These trials have been funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Grand Challenges Canada, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the UK among others
Ms. Clougherty has helped develop, train, and supervise a cadre of clinicians and non-specialists in IPT in several major international studies including an adaptation of group IPT for depressed men and women in southwest Uganda, an adaptation of group IPT for depressed adolescents in internally displaced persons’ camps in northern Uganda, an adaptation of individual IPT for adults in rural India. Additionally, she developed and co-authored adaptations of IPT for the World Health Organization.
Ms. Clougherty has co-authored several IPT training manuals, including for the IPT- Group for the World Health Organization, and IPT for Veterans for the Department of Veterans Affairs. She is currently developing and co-authoring IPT and IPC manuals for delivery in group and individual formats. She has also developed multiple therapists and supervisor adherence scales. In addition to her research work, Ms. Clougherty is a private practitioner specializing in the treatment of depression in adolescents and adults.
Ms. Clougherty was trained in IPT by Dr. Gerald Klerman, the co-developer of IPT. Ms. Clougherty received her MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work.
Director of Strategy & Senior Advisor
Catherine completed an undergraduate degree in economics at Dartmouth College followed by a ten-year career in international finance at JP Morgan. She then earned a Master's degree in clinical psychology, with a concentration in global mental health and trauma, at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her work within the US and abroad is focused on humanitarian efforts within low resource communities, education, and the environment.
Catherine serves as strategic advisor to the Global Mental Health Lab. She is collaborating with the Lab on training and capacity-building projects for Interpersonal Psychotherapy and has co-authored IPT manuals for adaptation. Catherine also serves on the international advisory board for the Columbia-WHO Center for Global Mental Health.
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