Kathryn Bottonari

Kathryn Bottonari, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine. She serves as Staff Psychologist with the Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Team at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System in Charleston, SC, and holds leadership roles in the Psychology Executive Committee for the Charleston Consortium.

Education:

• BA in Psychology (cum laude), Wellesley College
• MA in Psychology, University at Buffalo
• PhD in Clinical Psychology, University at Buffalo (SUNY)

Dr. Bottonari's research focuses on evidence-based psychotherapy integration for comorbid mental and physical health conditions. Her work addresses telehealth implementation for mental health delivery, substance use disorder interventions, and complex pain management in psychiatric populations. Key research themes include stress generation in depression, medication adherence patterns in HIV patients, and collaborative care models for integrated healthcare settings.

Key Research Trends:

• Telehealth applications in mental health
• Adherence barriers in HIV treatment
• Peer support mechanisms in VA healthcare
• Personality factors in antidepressant response
• Attachment theory in psychopathology
• Implementation science for evidence-based practices