About Us

Joined Staff: 2018

 

About Me: Kevin (he/him) grew up in the Augusta until leaving for Charleston, SC to play soccer and earn degrees at The College of Charleston.  After college Kevin lived, worked, and traveled in different parts of the country and world before returning to Augusta and eventually returning to education to earn his M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Augusta University.  Kevin worked briefly in private practice before joining SCAPS as a clinician.

 

Therapeutic Style: Kevin takes an eclectic, client-centered approach to psychotherapy. He believes that each student presents with a unique life history and therefore requires an individualized approach that may span the many different modalities psychotherapy has to offer. Most importantly, Kevin believes in the positive quality of the relationship between therapist and client, as this is one of the most consistent indicators of successful outcomes in psychotherapy. Kevin has a specialty in working with adolescents who present with symptoms of anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, grief and loss, anger, stress, and adjustment difficulties.

 

Fun Facts: Outside of being a therapist Kevin spends time with family, on a soccer field, working with wood, and growing food.  He very much enjoys escaping to the mountains to get lost in the woods and play in rivers.

About Me:

Susan (she/her) grew up in upstate New York. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and Organizational Leadership at George Fox University. After working and traveling across the country, Susan moved to Augusta. She is pursuing her master’s degree at Augusta University’s Counselor Education program. Susan spent the last few years as a volunteer crisis advocate with Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services of Augusta. Susan’s clinical interests include trauma, anxiety, and eating disorders. Growing up near a boundary (Canada-US border), Susan is interested in the different type of boundaries we set for ourselves.

 

 

Fun Facts:

Susan played soccer and hockey, and now enjoys the simple pleasure of long walks with her dog and family. She is a Stars Wars fan and loves to read mysteries, thrillers and learn about history. Supporting women, minority, and LGBTQ+ communities is important to Susan. Susan will take any restaurant suggestion you offer and try it at least once. If she could be anywhere, it would be near water.

Joined Staff: 2017

 

About Me: Charlette (she/her) moved to Augusta, GA in 1998. She graduated from Paine College in May of 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and from Troy University in December 2010 with a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management. She has worked previously in the field of Social Service as a Social Services Case Manager with the Department of Family and Children Services and as a Family Services Worker with CSRA EOA Head Start. She has a heart for helping others and has volunteered for local non- profit organizations. 

 

Fun Facts: Charlette enjoys spending time with her two children. She loves to shop, travel, read and volunteer. 

Joined Staff:  2015

 

About Me:  Originally from North Carolina, Bill (he/him) completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his doctoral internship at the University of Florida. He is licensed as a Psychologist in Georgia and North Carolina.  Bill’s professional areas of interest are anxiety, health behavior change and LGBTQ issues. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Equality Clinic of Augusta and is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior.

 

Therapeutic Style:  Bill believes that giving oneself permission to find and follow one’s authentic passions is an important first step in living a vital, engaged and fulfilling life. His approach to counseling and psychotherapy draws from cognitive behavioral, interpersonal and mindfulness theories

 

Fun Facts: Bill enjoys playing guitar, travel, and laughter with friends and family. His favorite word is ''imagine”.

Joined Staff: 2016

 

About Me: Lizy (she/her) grew up in California and Colorado, and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lee University in TN. She graduated with a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lincoln Christian University in Lincoln, IL before moving to Augusta, GA to work at AU.  Her clinical interests include depression, anxiety, family distress, trauma, and spirituality. Lizy is open to working with students from any concern, background, identity, or experience.

 

Therapeutic Style: Lizy believes that developing a safe, collaborative, and accepting relationship is essential to the counseling process.  Her counseling style is based on humanistic and interpersonal approaches while incorporating mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other techniques as appropriate.

 

Fun Facts: Lizy enjoys playing board games, arts & crafts, and camping.

About me: Hannah (she/hers) grew up in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at Oberlin College in Ohio and her Master’s degree in Psychology at Georgia State University in Atlanta. As part of her doctoral studies in Clinical and Community Psychology at Georgia State University, Hannah is currently working as a psychology intern at Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University/ Charlie Norwood Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Her clinical interests include identity development, relationship challenges, and family conflict.

Therapeutic style: Hannah works collaboratively with clients to work toward value-based goals. She uses a supportive approach to empower clients to capitalize on their many existing strengths, work to build emotion regulation and interpersonal skills, and gain new perspectives. Her counseling style is based on cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy.

Fun facts: Hannah loves to paint, spend time with her family, and hike.

 

Joined Staff: 2019

 

About Me: After working in social work for about 5 years, Bayo (he/him) returned for graduate studies at University of West Georgia, terminating in a specialist degree in Counseling and Supervision. In totality, Bayo has amassed over 15 years of experience serving students, families and their communities through clinical mental health work focused on improving functioning and fostering healthy development. He has worked with children, teenagers and adult populations and has integrated his multiple languages into his clinical work (Yoruba, West African Pidgin & English). Bayo’s treatment philosophy focuses on the principle that all people at their core, crave balance: Therapy and mental health treatment aims to broaden resilience and deepen self-understanding through insights and active learning.

 

Therapeutic Style: Bayo’s preferred treatment modalities are an integration of a humanistic orientation, creativity-based approaches and cognitive behavioral and solution-focused ACTIVE interventions. He has worked with clients on mood management (anxiety, depression, anger, etc.), existential concerns (spirituality, mortality, purpose/meaning exploration, etc.), cultural difficulties (discrimination, integration, exploration, etc.), trauma (neglect, abuse, injury, etc.) and relational transitions (grief, breakups, other conflict, etc.).

 

Fun Facts: When Bayo is not doing clinical work, he is finding ways to laugh deeply with friends and family, exploring geek/fan interests, walking or gardening.

Joined Staff: 2015

About Me: Elena (she/her) was born in North Macedonia (former Yugoslavia) and came to the US as an international student in 1999. She obtained a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University, MA in Clinical-Adult Psychology from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and BA in Psychology from Graceland University. Elena’s experiences as an international student and immigrant have had a significant impact on her personal and professional interest in human resilience and intercultural adaptation. She became the Director of Student Counseling and Psychological Services (SCAPS) in 2018. Elena’s areas of professional and clinical interest include: women’s health, feminist psychotherapy, multicultural organizational development, multicultural personal development, the relationship between mental and physical health, and the impact of oppression and discrimination on human development and health.

Therapeutic Style: As a clinician, Elena is a generalist, however, she is specifically interested in working with clients with mood and anxiety disorders. She focuses on creating a collaborative and supportive relationship with the client and on empowering the client to discover and create resources and personal strengths to solve problems, make new meanings out of life circumstances and events, as well as advocate for self in difficult situations. Elena is a bi-lingual therapist. She can fluently speak in English and Macedonian. While she is not as fluent in Serbian, Croatian and Bulgarian, she can clearly understand individuals who speak these languages and would more easily express themselves in these languages in the counseling session. As the Director of SCAPS, Elena is passionate about working for the SCAPS team and for the AU students. Her biggest passion is advocating for mental health resources for students, reducing mental health stigma, and advocating for a nurturing and supportive work environment for mental health clinicians.

Fun Facts: Elena’s personal interests and hobbies include travel, listening to electronic music, taking long walks, and learning about gemstones and jewelry making. She finds it very important to have good communication with and to support her immediate family members who live in North Macedonia.

Joined Staff: 2019 

 

About Me: Sabrina (she/her) was born here in the Central Savannah River Area and is a native of Lincolnton, Georgia.  Even though she graduated from Voorhees College with a Bachelors of Sociology degree, she has always had a passion for Customer service. This led her to her current position within S.C.A.P.S.   She has worked in Mental Health for well over 12 years and has experience on both sides of the counter, from being a paraprofessional and helping clients in the field to being behind the desk and assisting in other ways, she has done it all.   

 

Fun Facts: When not at the office, Sabrina enjoys spending time with her awesome husband and they just celebrated 14 successful years of marriage in June 2021. She and her husband have two amazing children, whom they affectionately call “miracles” because doctors said they would not have children, but God!  Her husband is her best friend and there is nothing they can’t achieve together. When not with her family, she enjoys thrifting, organizing, bowling, and singing.  

Joined Staff: 2019

 

About Me: Yamil (he/him) was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and moved to Augusta, GA in 2010. He earned his B.S. and M.S. in Psychology from Augusta University (GoJags!). Yamil is currently working on becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. His clinical interests include anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, existential concerns (purpose, spirituality, values, etc.), adjustment stress and grief. As a Latino staff counselor, Yamil is fluent in Spanish and enjoys working with Latino students at Augusta University. As the coordinator for virtual services, Yamil is interested in the use of technology to deliver comprehensive psychological care and community outreach presentations.

 

Therapeutic Style: Yamil’s approach to counseling is one that embraces acceptance and self-compassion. His approach is grounded in the belief that through intentionality, creativity, and collaboration one can find inner balance in moments of emotional pain. His preferred treatment modalities include a blend of acceptance and commitment therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, and creativity-based interventions.

 

Fun Facts: Before becoming a full-time counselor, Yamil enjoyed practicing photography. His favorite hobbies today include watching movies, reading manga, and spending time with his family. Yamil also enjoys teaching psychology. His favorite season of the year is fall.

Joined Staff: 2017

 

About Me: Lacy  (she/her) holds a B.A. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina, a M.S. in Psychology from Augusta State University, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia. She began her professional career as the inaugural Coordinator of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Response at the Georgia Institute of Technology Counseling Center and developed a passion for working with college students with a wide variety of concerns. Lacy’s professional interests include suicide prevention and postvention, grief and loss, couples and relationships, group therapy, spirituality, and substance use concerns. She is a QPR Master Trainer, a trained Survivors of Suicide Loss group facilitator, and a past junior board member for the Georgia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

 

Fun Facts: In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, adventuring outdoors, and planning fun surprises.

About Me: Nhi (she/they) graduated from Brandeis University in Massachusetts with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Currently, she is a graduate student in the MS Program in Psychological Sciences at AU and studying on the Clinical/Counseling track. Their clinical interests include working with underserved populations, such as with the LGBTQ+ community, and multicultural competency.

 

Fun Facts: In her free time, Nhi enjoys cooking, doing arts and crafts, and playing video games.

 

Joined Staff: 2015 

 

About Me: Traci (she/her) became a staff counselor on the Health Sciences Campus after completing Augusta University’s counselor education program in 2017. Before pursuing her master’s degree and joyously transitioning to collegiate mental health, Traci edited daily newspapers in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. As a journalist, Traci helped tell peoples’ stories to engage and educate readers. As a college counselor, Traci empowers students to write – and rewrite – their own stories through therapy. She is passionate about destigmatizing mental health care and helping students take better care of themselves. As SCAPS' coordinator of diversity initiatives, Traci has particular interest in racial and LGBTQ+ concerns. She engages in anti-racism work personally and professionally by seeking continued education, facilitating structured staff conversations about race, and championing Our Voices Matter, SCAPS’ peer support community for Black & Brown students. She also strives to be a strong LGBTQ+ ally.

 

Therapeutic Style: Traci is an encourager who believes relationships have the power to effect positive change. Her holistic, strengths-based approach to counseling honors students’ cultural experiences and values. She celebrates the diversity of AU’s student body, and strives to establish warm, trusting, and equal relationships with her clients. 

 

Fun Facts: As a former college softball player, Traci has experienced some of the unique challenges that student-athletes face, and she seeks ways to support Jaguars athletics. She loves playing tennis, going to live concerts, laughing with friends, and walking with her husband and their rescue dogs.