I completed my BA in psychology at the University of Guam before coming to Suffolk for my graduate studies. Prior to Guam, I was raised in Los Angeles and consider myself to be an Angelino at heart. I love learning about new cultures and enjoying good food with family and friends. I have recently discovered a hidden passion for cooking and enjoying new foods.
Current Position: Dr. John J.B. Morgan Postdoctoral Fellow, The Family Institute at Northwestern University
Internship: Veteran's Affairs Greater Los Angeles Health Care System, Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center
Clinical and Research Interests: My clinical and research interests are aimed at better understanding, and refining psychotherapy for anxiety disorders, with a particular interest in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). I am interested in the psychopathological processes that maintain and exacerbate distress and impairment, and how these processes can be targeted through treatment with increased precision and potency. My work in the AME lab has focused on understanding the processes and mechanisms that serve to maintain GAD, as well as the utility of Acceptance-based Behavior Therapies (ABBTs) in advancing our treatment efforts.
Dissertation Title: Mindfulness and Psychological Flexibility: Examining Mechanisms of Mindfulness using a Modified Emotional Stroop Switching Task in an Analogue Sample with Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Theory and research suggest that Generalized Disorder (GAD) is characterized by a rigid, psychologically inflexible style of responding in the manner through which individuals regulate behavioral, emotional, and cognitive resources. Most notably, evidence for this position comes from experimental research using the Emotional Stroop paradigm. A consistent finding is that individuals with GAD display performance deficits in naming the ink color for words of a threatening meaning. Converging evidence from the neurosciences further support this position, as imaging studies suggest that individuals with GAD are not efficiently utilizing necessary brain structures involved in psychological flexibility. The present study investigated psychological flexibility as a potential mechanism of mindfulness in a sample with GAD symptoms using a modified Emotional Stroop Switching task. The purpose of the proposed study was twofold: 1) to further explore psychological inflexibility as a potential characteristic of GAD, and 2) to examine whether increased flexibility is a potential mechanism of action in mindfulness practice. Data were collected from individuals from the community meeting diagnostic criteria for GAD using a modified Emotional Stroop paradigm that also measured ability for switching. Results suggest that GAD may be characterized by an inflexible style of responding, and exposure to mindfulness may result in partial improvements in inhibition, but not in switching.
ERP Title: The Role of Experiential Avoidance in Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Theory and research suggest that treatments targeting experiential avoidance may enhance outcomes for patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The present study examined the role of experiential avoidance and distress about emotions in a treatment-seeking sample with a principal diagnosis of GAD compared with demographically matched nonanxious controls and sought to explore their shared relationship with two putative psychopathological processes in GAD: intolerance of uncertainty and worry. Patients with GAD reported significantly higher levels of experiential avoidance and distress about emotions compared with nonclinical controls while controlling for depressive symptoms, and measures of these constructs significantly predicted GAD status. Additionally, experiential avoidance and distress about anxious, positive, and angry emotions shared unique variance with intolerance of uncertainty when negative affect was partialed out, whereas only experiential avoidance and distress about anxious emotions shared unique variance with worry.
Recent Publications and Presentations:
Publications
Hill, J. M., Vernig, P. M., Lee, J. K., & Orsillo, S. M. (2011). The efficacy of a brief mindfulness-based program in reducing rates of sexual revictimization among college women. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(9), 969-980.
Michelson, S.E., Lee, J.K., Orsillo, S.M., & Roemer, L. (2011). The role of values-consistent behavior in generalized anxiety disorder. Depression and Anxiety, 28(5), 358-366.
Lee, J. K., Orsillo, S. M., Roemer, L., & Allen, L. B. (2010). Distress and avoidance in generalized anxiety disorder: Exploring the relationships with intolerance of uncertainty and worry. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 39, 126-136.
Roemer, L., Lee, J. K., Salters-Pedneault, K., Erisman, S. M., Orsillo, S. M., & Mennin, D. S. (2009). Mindfulness and emotion regulation difficulties in generalized anxiety disorder: Preliminary evidence for independent and overlapping contributions. Behavior Therapy, 40, 142-154.
Lee, J. K., & Vernig, P. M. (2009). Conceptual, methodological, and ethical challenges in internet-based data collection: Examples from the behavioral sciences. In M. Pagani (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Multimedia Technology and Networking 2nd Edition (pp. 240-246). Hershey, PA: Idea Group.
Lee, J. K., Fuchs, C., Roemer, L., & Orsillo, S. M. (2009). Cultural considerations in acceptance-based behavior therapy. In L. Roemer & S. M. Orsillo, Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Behavioral Therapies in Practice (pp. 215-228). New York: Guilford.
Presentations
Michelson, S.E., Lee, J.K., Orsillo, S.M., & Roemer, L. (2010, June). The role of value consistent behavior in generalized anxiety disorder. Poster presented at the 6th World Congress of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jerram, M. W., Lee, J. K., Karpel, M. G., Fulwiler, C., Bhadelia, R. & Gansler, D. A. (2010, February). Examining the neural correlates of the color word interference test using voxel-based morphometry. Paper accepted for presentation at the 38th Annual Meeting of the International Neuropsychological Society, Acapulco, Mexico.
Berube, S. J., Vernig, P. M., Lee, J. K., & Orsillo, S. M. (2008, November). Values and positive outcome: The effects of values affirmation on psychological stress. Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Conference, Orlando, Florida.
Hill, J.M., Lee, J.K., Vernig, P.V., & Orsillo, S.M. (2008, November). An acceptance-based risk reduction program for women with a history of sexual assault. Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Conference, Orlando, Florida.
Borrego, J., Marlatt, G. A., Rucker, L., & Wilson, K. G. (2008, November). In J. K. Lee, & C. Fuchs (Chairs), Adapting acceptance and mindfulness-based treatments for racially and ethnically diverse underserved populations. Clinical roundtable discussion conducted at the 42nd Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Conference, Orlando, Florida.
Keough, M., Rogee, R. D., Vernig, P. M., & Witte, T. (2008, November). In J. K. Lee, & P. M. Vernig (Chairs), Supercharging research using internet-based data collection methods: Methodological and ethical challenges. Panel discussion conducted at the 42nd Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Conference, Orlando, Florida.
Michelson, S.E., Lee, J.K., Orsillo, S.M., & Roemer, L. (2008, November). The relationship between values in symptom severity, experiential avoidance and quality of life in generalized anxiety disorder. Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Conference, Orlando, Florida.
