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Graduate Student, PhD in Counseling Psychology at The University of Akron
Earned an M.S. in Psychology from Tiffin University (2025) and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Commonwealth University (2025), both with a 4.0 GPA. Previously completed a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Akron in 2020, also with a 4.0 GPA.
My research interests focus on traumatic stress and related disorders, with particular emphasis on how emotion regulation and stress processes influence recovery and treatment outcomes across diverse trauma-exposed populations.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology (APA-Accredited)
Anticipated May 2031
The University of Akron, Akron, OH
Advisor: Dr. Dawn Johnson
Master of Science, Psychology
December 2025
Tiffin University, Tiffin, OH
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Master of Science, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP-Accredited)
May 2025
Certificates: TeleMental Health, Foundations of Trauma-Informed Care
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Lock Haven), Lock Haven, PA
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology
August 2020
The University of Akron, Akron, OH
GPA: 4.0/4.0
Academic Appointments
Graduate Teaching Assistant
August 2026 – Present
Department of Psychology
The University of Akron, Akron, OH
• Awarded a funded graduate teaching assistantship within the Department of Psychology
• Teaching assistant for PSYC 402: Positive Psychology for Fall 2026 (Instructor: Dr. Ingrid Weigold)
Research Experience
Research Lab Member – Empowerment Lab
July 2025 – Present
Department of Psychology
The University of Akron, Akron, OH
• Collaborate with Dr. Dawn Johnson and a lab team on community-based research addressing intimate partner violence (IPV), PTSD, and empowerment-oriented interventions for trauma survivors
• Conduct thematic analysis of qualitative data for Project SOAR, an OVW-funded study supporting trauma recovery among women survivors of IPV, progressing from code development to dataset compilation and contributing to manuscript development
• Administer participant assessments and interviews and provide childcare to facilitate intervention participation in trauma recovery research initiatives
• Assist with participant recruitment and conduct comprehensive data entry and verification for the Shelter Study, a survey-based project at a domestic violence shelter
• Participate in regular qualitative coding meetings and full lab team meetings to support project coordination, data accuracy, and preparation of research manuscripts and presentations
• Support grant-funded projects examining PTSD treatment among women with opioid use and evaluating comparative trauma-focused therapies for peripartum women with IPV histories
Research Volunteer
August 2022 – Present
Department of Psychology, Counseling, and Educational Leadership
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA
• Collaborate with Dr. Stephen Kuniak on three ongoing research projects exploring the complex intersection of gaming, internet culture, and mental health treatment
• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to support ongoing research, synthesizing and communicating findings to refine research topics and develop hypotheses
• Draft and revise research proposals and presentations, ensuring clarity and accuracy of research insights and plans
• Mentor and lead fellow graduate students in the preparation and presentation of research findings, overseeing the development and revision of conference presentations
Psychology Research Intern
May 2019 – May 2020
Traumatic Stress Center, Mental and Behavioral Health Services
Summa Health System St. Thomas Campus, Akron, OH
• Assisted with several research projects investigating treatment-related trajectories of change in the psychological outcomes of recently traumatized individuals
• Performed statistical analyses on psychological assessment and intake data for clinic patients, ensuring meticulous data entry and interpretation to support clinical research objectives
• Conducted comprehensive literature reviews on trauma, PTSD, and treatment outcomes, thoroughly analyzing existing research to inform future studies
• Actively participated in weekly research lab meetings to discuss research progress and develop comprehensive strategies for addressing trauma
Research In Progress
Riffle, B. M. (in preparation). Emotion regulation difficulties and insomnia severity: The mediating role of perceived stress. Department of Psychology, Tiffin University.
Kuniak, S. F., Drozda, N., DePalmer, S., Delmonico, D. L., & Riffle, B. M. (in preparation). Wake me when you need me: Exploring a sense of belonging in the gamer community. Department of Counseling and Educational Leadership, Lock Haven University.
Professional Presentations
Kuniak, S. F., & Riffle, B. M. (2023, April 21-23). No mic needed: Mental health implications surrounding comfort in virtual spaces [Conference presentation]. The Therapeutic Applied Geek and Gaming Summit (TAGGS), Virtual Format. https://taggs.geektherapy.org/talks/no-mic-needed-mental-health-implications-surrounding-comfort-in-virtual-spaces/
Kuniak, S. F., Sims, T., Riffle, B. M., & Dattlo, R. (2023, April 21-23). I have lived a thousand lives: Teaching mental health professionals about the geek and gaming community [Conference presentation]. The Therapeutic Applied Geek and Gaming Summit (TAGGS), Virtual Format. https://taggs.geektherapy.org/talks/i-have-lived-a-thousand-lives-teaching-mental-health-professionals-about-the-geek-and-gaming-community/
Kuniak, S. F., Lesney, C., Phillips, P., & Riffle, B. M. (2023, April 21-23). Going from casual to leet: Gamifying the counseling process [Conference presentation]. The Therapeutic Applied Geek and Gaming Summit (TAGGS), Virtual Format. https://taggs.geektherapy.org/talks/going-from-casual-to-leet-gamifying-the-counseling-process/
Clinical Experience
Psychotherapy Practicum and Internship Student
May 2024 – May 2025
LifeStance Health, Beachwood, OH
• Provided individual therapy to approximately 10 clients per week addressing a wide range of mental health concerns including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, ADHD, and relationship issues, serving a culturally diverse clientele of adults and adolescents
• Facilitated an intensive outpatient (IOP) psychotherapy group for 3-hour sessions five times a week, implementing CBT and DBT interventions to address severe mental health concerns including suicidal ideation, self-harm, and emotion dysregulation
• Conducted comprehensive intake assessments and administered clinical measures to develop and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans integrating CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed approaches
• Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of professionals to coordinate integrated care for clients with complex mental health needs
• Participated in weekly individual and group supervision meetings to review client cases and enhance clinical skills through professional consultation
Honors and Awards
Summa Cum Laude, B.A. in Psychology, The University of Akron
August 2020
Akron Guarantee Scholarship, The University of Akron
August 2018 – August 2020
Underrepresented Student Scholarship, The University of Akron
August 2018 – August 2020
Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology
November 2019
Professional Affiliations
Society of Counseling Psychology, APA Division 17
November 2025 – Present
Society of Clinical Psychology, APA Division 12
November 2025 – Present
Society for the Psychology of Women, APA Division 35
November 2025 – Present
Trauma Psychology, APA Division 56
November 2025 – Present
Quantitative and Qualitative Methods, APA Division 5
November 2025 – Present
American Psychological Association
March 2019 – Present
American Counseling Association
August 2023 – July 2025
Cerifications and Training
Psychological First Aid (PFA) Certificate, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
February 2024
Social & Behavioral Research Basic Course, Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)
January 2024
The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) Certificate of Learning, The Columbia Lighthouse Project
May 2020
Leadership and Service
Website Co-editor, Empowerment Lab
July 2025 – Present
Member, Experience Points Non-Profit Mental Health Organization
August 2022 – Present
Member, Geek and Gamer Counseling Alliance
August 2022 – Present
Member, Culture Collective, Lock Haven University
January 2023 – May 2025
Member, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Club, Lock Haven University
May 2022 – May 2025
Volunteer, Akron Children’s Hospital
May 2018 – August 2020
Volunteer, Autism Services for Kids, LLC
May 2018 – August 2020
Volunteer, The University of Akron Counseling Center
August 2018 – August 2020
Volunteer, Haven of Rest Ministries
August 2016 – May 2020
Skills
Technical: SPSS, R, JASP, Qualtrics, Prolific, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, VSee, AdvancedMD
Assessment: Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), PTSD Checklist (PCL-5), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), Clinical Diagnostic Interviewing
Clinical Expertise: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), TeleMental Health Counseling, Multicultural Competence, Group Therapy, Integrated Care, Psychological Assessment, Treatment Planning, Clinical Interviewing
Relevant Coursework
Graduate: Statistical Procedures I and II, Research Design and Analysis I and II, Capstone Research I and II, Psychopathology, Trauma and Crisis Counseling, Assessment and Testing, Multicultural Counseling, Ethical and Legal Issues, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, History and Systems of Psychology
Undergraduate: Abnormal Psychology, Dynamics of Personality, Psychological Tests and Measures, Quantitative Methods in Psychology, History of Psychology, Intro to Experimental Psychology, Independent Research in Psychology
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