Team Member Spotlight Series: Meet Kate Taylor, PhD

STAND’s Director of Clinical Services finds delight in the mindful balance of time.

Kate Taylor, PhD

Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA
Associate Faculty, UCLA Anxiety and Depression Research Center in the Department of Psychology
Principal Investigator in the Integrated Substance Abuse Program at the at the Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA 

DGC Role

Kate Taylor began leading the clinical efforts of the Depression Grand Challenge (DGC) as a result of her extensive work with Executive Committee Member Michelle Craske after acting as her postdoctoral fellow in 2009. She is the Director of Clinical Services for the DGC’s Innovative Treatment Network, which includes the Screening and Treatment for Anxiety and Depression (STAND) system of care. In this position, she oversees the activities of clinicians (both trainees and staff), provides input on operations, and helps shape the vision of the clinical services provided.  

STAND Inspires Kate

Kate is particularly inspired by the strength demonstrated by the students receiving treatment from STAND UCLA. She commends the way they navigate the rigorous and competitive environment of the university while at the same time overcoming immense obstacles. Kate believes that students battling depression and anxiety can turn to STAND to provide hope and rapid symptom improvement so that they can feel better and achieve their goals at UCLA.

Kate Practices Balance

In order to take care of her mental health, Kate believes in having a healthy balance of personal time. She likes to allocate her time between productive activities such as exercising, relaxing activities such as reading a novel, time with friends and family, as well as other activities that give her a sense of accomplishment. When it comes to downtime, Kate favors being mindful and making sure it is actually pleasurable.   

When she is not at work you will see her…

Spending time with her family, specifically being active with her two sons. They enjoy spending time at the beach, hiking, sports events, watching movies, and traveling together. Kate believes the world is so big and there is so much to see. She also enjoys a good yoga class, followed by curling up with a good book in the evening.

Kate’s Vision for a Stigma-Free Future

People openly talk about their struggles and support loved ones who are struggling in a way that normalizes depression and anxiety as a common human experience.

“I’m inspired by the determination of this multidisciplinary team. The overarching goal of the Depression Grand Challenge sounds so lofty, but nobody is deterred by that— just motivated.”  

Learn more about the UCLA Depression Grand Challenge Team Member Spotlight Series.