About Our Staff

Katie D. Kriegshauser, PhD, ABPP

KCCAT Director
Board Certified in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology
KS LP #2351, MO LP #2020031488, APIT #6237

Dr. Kriegshauser (she/her) received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University, with a clinical and research emphasis in anxiety disorders. She completed an APA-accredited internship in Clinical and Health Psychology at Charleston Area Medical Center/West Virginia University School of Medicine and a two-year clinical research specialty fellowship at KCCAT. Dr. Kriegshauser’s clinical interests have focused on evidence-based treatments for anxiety, OCD, and associated health conditions across the lifespan—including the treatment of eating disorders, insomnia, and related health challenges. In addition to her clinical work and oversight of center operations, Dr. Kriegshauser holds an appointment as a Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and coordinates KCCAT’s research activities and training programs for psychology students and visiting trainees from other disciplines. Her research interests and publications have included examination of factors contributing to effective treatment delivery and outcomes, the impact of novel technologies in healthcare, and symptom presentations and trajectories of anxiety, OCD, and related conditions. She is a member of and regular presenter at national organizations including the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, for which she was honored as part of the 2015 class of its Career Development Leadership Program (and subsequently has served as a mentor for this program). Dr. Kriegshauser previously served on the board of the Kansas Psychological Association.

Kristin Gallaway, PhD

Staff Psychologist
KS LP #03171, APIT #13488

Dr. Gallaway (she/her) received her Doctorate in School Psychology from Illinois State University. She completed an APA-accredited internship in Clinical Psychology with the Nebraska Internship Consortium of Professional Psychology at Boys Town, and completed a two-year specialty postdoctoral fellowship in anxiety, OCD, and related disorders at KCCAT, before joining as a Staff Psychologist. Dr. Gallaway currently holds a PSYPACT E.Passport, allowing for the delivery of services via telehealth to those living in 35+ states. Dr. Gallaway’s clinical interests focus on evidence-based treatments for OCD, Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety, severe behavioral concerns, Autism Spectrum Disorder, picky eating behaviors, Tics, Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors, ADHD and the intersection of anxious symptoms, other anxiety spectrum disorders, and depressive symptoms. Dr. Gallaway has a special interest in working with children and adolescents, though also enjoys working with those across the lifespan. With a background in School Psychology, she also has particular interest collaborating and consulting with schools. Her research interests and publications have focused on parental experiences with the special education system and how Executive Functioning skills impact overall academic performance in school-aged children.

Ashton Phillips, PhD

Staff Psychologist
KS LP #03360, MO LP #2018030716

Dr. Phillips (she/her) received her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Mississippi, with a research focus on trauma and PTSD. She completed an APA accredited internship at the Atlanta VAMC and postdoctoral residency at the Michael E Debakey VAMC, with an emphasis on PTSD and anxiety disorders. She has worked in a VA setting doing outpatient evidence-based therapy for PTSD and in a college counseling center working with all concerns and specializing in anxiety. Her clinical interests include evidence-based treatments for PTSD, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, phobias, Generalized Anxiety, and OCD. Her research interests include utilizing ACT for anxiety disorders and PTSD. She also enjoys supervising therapists-in-training in evidence-based therapies for anxiety.

Sara Whelan, MEd, MA

Clinical Associate (Training Track)
KS LCPC #03659, MO LPC #2018039116

Sara Whelan (she/her) received a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin, and a M.A. in School Psychology from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Sara completed a 1200-hour internship in the Leander Independent School District, where she provided comprehensive psychological services for preschool and elementary-aged students. At Texas State, Sara aided in the opening of a new multidisciplinary autism assessment clinic (CARES Clinic), and she received the Graduate Student of the Year Award (Master’s Level) from the Texas Association of School Psychologists. Sara has spent the last 17 years as a school psychologist in public and private schools in Texas, Missouri and Kansas. Sara is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)-KS, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)-MO, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Sara often works with children, tweens and their caregivers, but she also enjoys working with clients across the lifespan. Sara has extensive experience collaborating with school based teams and parents to support the mental health needs of children, tweens and teens. Sara’s clinical interests center on how anxiety disorders and anxiety-related behaviors intersect with disorders such as ADHD, Autism, Tic Disorder, and depression.

Ryan Hale-Gleason, BBA

Director of Operations

Ryan Hale-Gleason (he/him) received his Bachelor of Business Administration summa cum laude from Baker University with a focus on Health Care Administration. Currently serving as KCCAT’s Director of Operations and corporate Treasurer, Ryan works alongside our Director as part of the leadership team. In addition, he manages the center’s technology infrastructure, such as the development of custom, in-house software and tools. Mr. Hale-Gleason’s professional interests include utilizing technology for more efficient business operations, as well as for the collection, management, and interpretation of data in clinical and research contexts. His experience includes customer service, accounting, programming, and technology management, and has contributed to several research projects and an NIH-funded grant.

Amanda Salamanca, BA

Intake Coordinator & Clinical Operations Assistant

Amanda Salmanca (she/her/hers) obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas with a minor in Anthropology, and is currently attending Fort Hays State University to complete her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Amanda is the primary contact for individuals interested in learning more about KCCAT or becoming a new patient. She also works closely with the KCCAT team to coordinate patient care with outside providers and educational partners. Amanda also collaborates with our Director of Operations for the day-to-day needs of KCCAT, including billing inquiries, health information management, and facility operations.

Lisa R. Hale, PhD

Founding Director

Dr. Hale (she/her) created KCCAT in 2005, a first of its kind team-setting in meeting regional needs and abilities for accessing higher level services for evidenced-based, cognitive-behavioral treatments of OCD, anxiety and related disorders for early childhood through older adults. She received her PhD in Clinical and Health Psychology from Finch University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School, as part of the Anxiety and OCD Treatment and Research Laboratory, and completed an internship at West Virginia University School of Medicine. Dr. Hale first began our anxiety program in 2004 through the University of Kansas Medical Center, completing a fellowship at Hoglund Brain Imaging Center before holding appointment there as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology, and later as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her career encompassed extensive research and clinical activities centered on CBT theory across all age groups, including intensive exposure-response prevention protocols for severe anxiety disorders and mentoring generations of clinicians in these techniques. She led KCCAT in obtaining external funding through the National Institutes of Health and a number of clinical research and training contracts, and served as a consultant and presenter for local and national media and organizations including the International OCD Foundation, the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, for which she held an appointment on its Board of Directors from 2011 to 2014. Under Dr. Hale’s leadership, KCCAT was chosen as an honoree of the 25 Under 25® Awards—celebrating creative vision, responsible fiscal and operations management, and meaningful contributions to the community among Kansas City small businesses. Dr. Hale continues to serve KCCAT part-time through a consultation role while expanding her volunteer efforts in community service.