Laura Avalos Sluder

Laura (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Oregon, the home and sacred land of many Native people, to include the Wasco, Paiute, and Stl’pulmsh (Cowlitz). She honors her own ancestral Indigenous and European lineages that have given her the opportunity to be alive and of service to human healing and potential. Laura came to the United States from Costa Rica at the age of six years old and has straddled various cultural worlds her entire life.

Laura has partnered with the BIPOC and underserved communities since 1997 as an Americorps member in Ohio. Thereafter, Laura earned her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at Boston College, a program focused on social justice and has worked with the Latinx, low income community in the mental health sphere since 2008 with care and dedication. Her clinical experience includes clinical roles at Boston Medical Center's Child Witness to Violence Project, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the Latin American Health Institute serving as both a clinician and a supervisor, and at Instituto Familiar de la Raza in San Francisco, California providing consultation to preschools in the Mission District. She has been serving in volunteer capacities at other Latine immigrant serving organizations since then and is trained and certified as a mindfulness meditation teacher. Laura is excited to integrate Brainspotting into her somatic, mindfulness and trauma-informed clinical practice.

Most of Laura’s experience working with the mental health needs of the Latine community has focused on the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief/loss as well as early childhood and maternal mental health. Laura has had the opportunity to learn from families and individuals who have shared their stories, expanding her understanding of both our diversity as a humanity as well as all that connects us. Further, she has had the opportunity to learn from Indigenous Central and South American elders (both from her own Huetar/Pacaca lineage as well as others) during the last eleven years, amplifying her ability to affirm, honor and attune to ways of seeing and living in the world unique to these communities.

Laura believes that through Brainspotting our consciousness, given permission to heal on its own terms, paves the way for the alleviation of symptoms and a profound and renewed connection to life. Laura believes that all people have the potential to free themselves from the patterns of the past, of legacies left by unhealthy ancestors and traumatic life experiences and bring to life their soul’s calling. She believes that no matter the circumstance, there is always a gift...and if we are brave enough to reach out for help when we feel alone and vulnerable, that strength and courage will also lead us to uncovering the jewels that are waiting out of our most profound pain. From there, we can walk forward into our lives with more connection, compassion and joy.

Laura relishes time with family and friends, traveling, reading, singing, taking care of her plants, looking up at the sky, and playing her beloved guitar.

Glenda Carter

Glenda Carter, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor and a native of Atlanta, Georgia. She is the founder of Mindset Development, a private practice built on her belief that when you transform your mind, you can change your life. Glenda empowers school-age children, adolescents, adults, and families to overcome challenges, build resilience, and create meaningful, fulfilling lives.

She provides individual therapy for school-age children using play therapy and expressive interventions to help them safely explore their emotions, build coping skills, and strengthen self-awareness. For adolescents and adults, Glenda supports clients managing life transitions, career development, relationship challenges, and the long-term impacts of trauma. She helps clients identify strengths, clarify goals, and take actionable steps toward personal and professional growth.

Glenda also has extensive experience supporting justice-involved individuals as they transition back into the community. She provides guidance on emotional regulation, employment readiness, relationship rebuilding, and community reintegration, helping clients regain confidence and stability after incarceration.

Her professional experience includes work in inpatient psychiatric hospital settings, providing crisis intervention and support for individuals experiencing acute mental health challenges, as well as outpatient therapy, offering ongoing counseling for stabilization and growth. Her approach is compassionate and client-centered, focusing on practical strategies that empower individuals to process emotions, shift unhelpful patterns, and navigate life with greater ease.

With a career spanning inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient therapy, private practice, and individualized therapy for school-age children, adolescents, and adults, Glenda brings a wealth of experience to every client interaction. She is excited to incorporate advanced trauma-processing techniques, which will allow her to help clients access and resolve deeply rooted emotional experiences more effectively, adding a powerful dimension to her practice. At Mindset Development, she continues her mission of helping individuals and families heal, grow, and transform their lives from the inside out.

Outside of her professional work, Glenda enjoys reading, often exploring stories that expand her perspective and inspire new ways to support her clients. She loves music and theatre, finding joy in storytelling and creativity, and sees travel as a way to experience the world and bring new insights into her life and practice. Her family is her anchor, motivating her to help others grow and heal, and reminding her of the importance of compassion and connection in every stage of life. She treasures the opportunity to assist children while they are growing, before trauma dictates their world.

Delissa Cooper

Delissa Cooper, LSCSW, is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker in Kansas, Missouri, and South Carolina with extensive experience supporting individuals, families, and communities through mental health care. She earned her graduate degree in Social Work in 2012 and has spent her career specializing in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and integrative approaches to healing.

Delissa is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), blending somatic-based therapies to address trauma held in both the body and mind. Her clinical style emphasizes compassion and the belief that every client carries the capacity for resilience and growth.

In addition to her work with clients, Delissa is an entrepreneur who develops therapeutic resources for both providers and clients. She is the author of IFS 101: A Gentle, Illustrated Guide to Parts Work and creator of The Moody Social Worker: A Laughing but Very Serious Coloring Book, which mixes humor and authenticity to encourage reflection and wellness for helping professionals. She is passionate about combining clinical expertise with creativity to make mental health tools more accessible, practical, and empowering.

When she’s not in session or creating resources, Delissa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, nurturing the connections that sustain her. As well as reading and shopping.

She is also excited about her Brainspotting Fellowship and the opportunity to expand her work with this powerful modality to better serve marginalized communities.

Sherrie Gilbert

Sherrie Gilbert-Ramsey is a highly accomplished law enforcement leader with 27 years of service and a Licensed Professional Counselor with 19 years of clinical experience, specializing in trauma-informed care for first responders. She is recognized for integrating evidence-based, brain-body approaches into her work with law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other public safety professionals.

Sherrie is the founder and CEO of her own Employee Assistance Program (EAP) company, through which she partners with police departments and public safety agencies to provide mental health services, crisis intervention, wellness programs, and tailored training initiatives. She is the author of Fit 2 Respond, a guide designed to help first responders build resilience, manage stress, and maintain optimal mental health in high-demand careers. As a corporate trainer and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Specialist, Sherrie delivers workshops and training that equip organizations to effectively respond to traumatic incidents and support their personnel through recovery.

Within her own department, Sherrie established the first-ever mental health co-responder program, bridging the gap between clinical services and frontline policing. This program exemplifies her commitment to creating innovative, sustainable systems that reduce stigma, increase access to care, and promote long-term well-being among public safety personnel. Internally, she supports her officers within her department through innovative wellness programs and initiatives.

Throughout her career, Sherrie has demonstrated a rare combination of operational expertise, clinical skill, and leadership, allowing her to understand and address the complex mental health challenges faced by those who serve on the frontlines. Her work is dedicated to fostering resilience, enhancing performance, and ensuring that first responders have the tools, support, and resources they need to thrive both professionally and personally.

Tamara Houston

Tamara Houston, LISW-CP, is a Clinical Social Worker with nearly 20 years of experience supporting individuals through life’s most challenging seasons. She resides in South Carolina and is the founder of Renewal Life Counseling, LLC, a hybrid group counseling practice that also serves North Carolina. Tamara specializes in relational trauma, anxiety, and grief, using evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. She is specifically trained in Somatic and Attachment-Focused EMDR as well as Resilience-Focused EMDR.

Tamara earned her Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies with an emphasis in Child Development from Berea College and her Master of Social Work from the University of Georgia in 2005, with a concentration in Community Empowerment, Program Development, and Gerontology. Over the past 13 years, she has cultivated Renewal Life Counseling into a thriving group practice offering both individual therapy and intensive therapy packages tailored to client needs.

She is also the creator of Healing Through Time™, a resource brand offering education, virtual services, and printed materials to support individuals in their grief journey. In addition to her current specialties, Tamara is excited to expand her clinical work around dissociation, deepening her understanding of complex trauma and integrative healing.

Her expertise extends to facilitating wellness events, leading clinical trainings, and providing critical incident debriefings for organizations across the Southeast. She also offers clinical supervision, EMDR consultation, and private practice consultation to help practitioners strengthen their skills and grow with confidence.

Tamara values all aspects of self-care and views this fellowship as an opportunity to honor her work while cultivating greater work-life harmony. Her ultimate goal is to expand community partnerships that increase access to care through intensive therapy, group work, and wellness retreats—creating spaces where more people can receive meaningful support in a shorter period of time.

Corrine Mertz

Corrine Mertz is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in Vermont. She holds a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from the Smith College School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wagner College. Corrine practices in Vermont which is the same community in which she was raised. Corrine identifies as a Neurodivergent, Queer, non-bio parent, white, able bodied, and cisgendered therapist. Corrine’s practice focuses on Somatic and body-based healing, working to strengthen the brain body connection. She focuses on working with children as young as three through adults of any age. Corrine also supports families, and often includes parents in her work with children. Corrine supports families of many different configurations (single-parent, co-parenting, poly, or two-parent household).

Corrine practices as a part of Refuge Acupuncture and Somatics, a multidisciplinary small queer owned Neuro-inclusive, Trauma Informed, LBGTQIA2+ Celebrating, and Body Positive practice. Corrine is trained in Attachment Resilience and Competency (ARC), Exposure and Response Therapy (ERP), PCIT, PC-Cares, Psychodynamic theories and other trauma informed methods. Corrine utilizes an inclusive model of practice integrating her learning and providing a multidisciplinary approach to her clients, always having a safe and supportive therapeutic rapport at the center of treatment. Corrine was trained in Brainspotting (Phase 1) in December of 2023 and has been using this modality with children and adults since January of this year. Corrine has seen Brainspotting have a profoundly healing impact on her clients and is excited for the opportunity to learn more.

Corrine is also passionate about supervising and teaching clinical work, specifically with clinicians who are interested in learning about working with children and families. Corrine supervises MSW’s towards licensure within her practice currently, and hopes to expand her ability to offer trainings, consultation and supervision of other professionals in the future!

Jessica Hirsch

An agent of change dedicated to empowering all people affected by substance use disorders, Jessica specializes in enhancing clients' authenticity, creativity, independence, and self-esteem. She believes in the value of every voice being heard, every experience being valued, and every person’s wisdom being a part of community conversations. 

Recognized as addiction Professional of the Year 2023 by TAADAC (Tennessee Association of Addiction Professionals) and MTAADAC (Middle Tennessee Association of Addiction Professionals), she guides people through introspection and into goal setting. Jessica’s practices are solution-based and somatic as an acknowledgement and understanding that healing individuals heals communities and community healing heals individuals.

Jessica believes her spirit is here to help repair our world. She is the most fulfilled when in service to others and thereby serving the greater humanity.  In serving marginalized people,  she gets to serve people affected by substance use disorders suffering with confusion, grief, historical trauma, isolation, and loneliness that come along with intergenerational trauma and mental health disorders. What  Jessica has found is the result of helping one person repair their wounds, means that our communities and families repair as natural byproduct. 

She earned her creative writing degree from Emerson College in 1997 and an education master's degree from Vanderbilt University in 2001. After years of teaching middle and high school, Jessica transitioned to working with clients & families in the inpatient treatment setting. In 2013, Jessica founded and established the first Nashville area Alumni program for clients and families leaving residential treatment. This program was so successful that all the Nashville area treatment centers opened alumni programs and modeled those programs after the one she launched. 

Jessica enjoys teaching and speaking, networking, coaching, counseling, empowering, and inspiring. Her philosophies include engaging in ongoing learning, nurturing connections and creativity and meeting clients where they are. 

As a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor and qualified clinical supervisor Jessica’s services include counseling, consulting, supervising, retreats and workshops.  Jessica enjoys cold plunges, writing, painting, cooking, eating, sound healing, singing, drumming, meditation, prayer, and learning. 

Jessica works side-by-side with her co-therapist/therapy dog, Leeper.  Together, they live and play in southeast Nashville with their cat, Gracie.  

Makeya Kinard

Makeya Kinard is a Licensed Social Worker in both South Carolina and North Carolina. She completed her Master of Social Work degree at the University of South Carolina. Initially, Makeya pursued a career in nursing, driven by her desire to assist and serve others. Her passion for advocacy blossomed during her undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina Upstate, where she minored in children's advocacy studies. It was then that she realized her true calling was in psychology, leading her to embrace social work and explore her interest in the helping profession.

Makeya's favorite quote comes from Leslie Gould, which states, “Sometimes God calms the storm, but sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms His child.” She believes that many events in life are beyond an individual’s control, often leaving us caught in cycles without a clear way out. As a therapist, she is dedicated to helping others shift their focus from the chaos surrounding them to discovering their inner peace amidst life's challenges. With years of experience working with children and families affected by trauma, Makeya holds certifications in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Problematic Sexual Behavior Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (PSB-CBT). She understands that Her mission is to assist others in discovering the interventions that resonate most effectively with their individual processing needs. 

In addition to her passion for creating a safe environment where individuals can explore their emotions and process their experiences, she recognizes the powerful impact that positive interactions can have on a person's resilience. Throughout her years of experience, she has found a deep connection between faith, spirituality, and religion in the healing process, and she aims to assist others in reconnecting with their faith. She sees it as a wonderful opportunity to guide individuals in examining and strengthening their beliefs as part of their healing journey.

In her free time, she enjoys embracing her introverted side, seeking quiet moments away from the noise. Whether surrounded by nature, nestled in the comfort of her home, or with her family, she values being present in each moment. She is the author of the Bulletproof Luv blog and the book “Good Morning Beautiful: Always Prioritized By The Man Who Is The Standard Of Love.” Engaged and soon to be married, she eagerly anticipates growing in her faith, discovering new places, and making cherished memories with her future husband.

Lasheka Allen

Dr. Lasheka D. Allen has worked for over 18 years as a qualified mental health professional serving adults, children, adolescents, and families.  She is driven by her passion for seeing an increase in others' psychological well-being, particularly those from marginalized groups.  She is a strong advocate and seeks opportunities to aid people in transforming their lives with positive change.  Dr. Allen completed her clinical psychology doctoral program at Prairie View A&M University, earning an M.S. and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology.  She completed her APA-accredited internship and postdoctoral training at Easterseals Rehabilitation Center in Evansville, Indiana.  Dr. Allen is currently a North Carolina Licensed Psychological Associate.  

Dr. Allen approaches each therapy session with an integrated person-centered focus.  Theoretically, she believes that early experiences shape personality development and give insight into our present.  She values research-informed care through cognitive-behavioral intervention paired with cultural humility.  As a proponent of the scientist-practitioner model, she implements evidence-based programs that target diverse groups, encourage proactive care for prevention, quality treatment, reduction of mental health crises, and promote wellness.  She seeks to explore the risk and protective factors in systems that impact treatment-seeking behaviors and engagement in wellness services.  Her research interests are psychological well-being, healthy families, and mental health stigma/utilization. 

Paige Sparkman

Paige Sparkman is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan with a diverse background in education and mental health. She began her career as an AmeriCorps College Adviser and later served as a Student Success Coordinator in higher education. Paige then transitioned to a role as a School Counselor with Detroit Public Schools. Her passion for helping others led her to work in a group practice, where she found a true passion for clinical work. Honing in on her interest and expertise in disordered eating and ADHD, Paige eventually moved into private practice to better meet the needs of individual clients, choosing to step away from the constraints of existing systems to provide more personalized care.

Paige works with clients who struggle with food/body, anxiety, self-criticism and people-pleasing, perfectionism, chronic illness, as well as those navigating life transitions while seeking self-acceptance. As a relational therapist, she is dedicated to creating a safe and affirming environment where clients feel seen, heard, and respected. Paige employs non-stigmatizing, compassion-focused modalities, including Relational Therapy, Social-Justice/Feminist Theory, Parts Work, Somatic Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, while addressing systemic factors that impact mental health.

Her approach is collaborative, validating, and conversational, with an emphasis on genuine connection. Paige believes that healing happens through safe, authentic relationships, and she is honored to support her clients on their journey toward healing and self-discovery. 

In her free time, Paige enjoys spending time with her husband and their animals --- a self-proclaimed homebody. She loves bike rides, reading on a hammock, and reality TV. Paige has a special love for Northern Michigan, where you might find her trying out a new winery or restaurant, hiking with her dogs, or taking a dip in Lake Michigan. Recently, she’s been geeking out on perfecting the perfect cup of coffee and exploring new recipes in the kitchen.

Sterling Grissom

Sterling Grissom (they/them) is an Licensed Clinical Social Work - Associate Level (LCSW-A) Mental Health Clinician within the Triad area of North Carolina. Sterling received their Bachelors of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Sterling then moved forward with receiving their Masters of Social Work from the Joint Masters of Social Work (JMSW) Program between North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Sterling primarily assists individuals who are Queer identifying, who have experienced varying amounts of trauma, have dissociative experiences, and are searching for how to create a life worth living.

Sterling utilizes many creative, somatic, developmental, and behavioral evidence based modalities and interventions so that clients can grow in their own understanding of themselves, their symptoms, and how systems at large can impact their own experiences. Sterling primarily focuses on providing care for people where they are from those struggling with intense desires to harm self to those who are finding themselves wondering who they are internally and externally.

Sterling’s passion in life is to help individuals and groups continue to explore their passions, values, and provide the healing they need; including the forward hope and research into how to help even larger groups of individuals of diverse needs and backgrounds find community healing from a strengths based and trauma informed perspective.

Sterling loves exploring in their own life how art, creative expression, and wellness strategies empower their own healing journey as well. Sterling has been a panelist speaking to graduate students within the JMSW program on how research methods can be applied to clinical practice as well as being featured with a podcast “Spark Sessions” on how Social Work field experience has allowed them to meet clients where they are and “sit on the same bench with them”.