LEX L'INSALATA (SHE/HER)
Lex L'Insalata graduated with her Bachelor of Arts degree from Oberlin College in 2017. Currently, she is a fourth-year PhD student in Clinical Psychology at the University of Kansas. Within her graduate program, Lex's research focuses on focus on the bridge between substance use and eating disorders. More specifically, examining and applying the mechanisms of addiction to better define and assess excessive exercising, overeating, and other reward-seeking behaviors that influence the development and maintenance of disordered eating. Additionally, she has been involved in implementing a behavioral activation intervention within a group setting as part of a prevention program at KU and serves as a student therapist delivering specialized eating disorder treatment and assessment.
Lex's interest in learning DBT is closely related to her clinical and research interests given its ability to be used transdiagnostically as well as its focus on providing therapeutic skills. Lex's favorite DBT skill is accumulating positive experiences, which helps with reducing emotional vulnerability by engaging in experiences that generate positive emotions and can act as a buffer for when you need to draw on your emotional reserves during difficult times. Outside of work, Lex enjoys attending KC Current games, playing tennis, watching comedies, and spending time with her friends and their pets.