PRESIDENT

Tracey Pace, ThD, MSA, MEd, LPC, CFMHE, CFI

Mrs. Pace has been in private practice since 1999, serving all populations. Before that, she worked as a certified school counselor. She previously served as the Director of Administration for the 117TCS Georgia Air National Guard. She is a Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator (CFMHE), a Certified Child Custody Evaluator (CCCE), a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS), and a Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI). Dr Pace served as chair of the Coastal Region of Georgia LPCA and enjoys mentoring new counselors, both APCs and LPCs.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

Keisha Pou-Buchanan, PhD, LPC, CPCS

Dr. Keisha Buchanan is a Georgia psychotherapist, speaker, trainer, and educator. She is the owner of Next Step Counseling, LLC, and founded Relif, Inc., a nonprofit organization providing mental health services to first responders. She has over 20 years of experience in counseling and is licensed in Georgia & South Carolina. In addition to her role as a counselor, she is a CPCS, Adjunct Professor, and a member of ACA, AMHCA, and LPCA. She enjoys traveling and spending quality time with herself and her family.

PRESIDENT ELECT

Dr. Tonja Simmons Lee, PhD, LPC, CPCS

Dr. Simmons Lee, a licensed professional with more than 20 years of counseling, coaching, and leadership experience, is trained to help with reflection, support, and solutions. Dr. Lee developed a counseling program for students and faculty. She directs the day-to-day operations of the college's critical office, the counseling center. Designed to support student, faculty, and staff well-being, Counseling Services and its Counseling Resource Center provide counseling, assistance, and guidance in resolving personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties. The Georgia College Counseling Association recently named Tonja Simmons Lee, CGTC’s Counseling Services executive director, its 2020 College Counseling Director of the Year.

TREASURER (THREE YEAR TERM)

Leslie "Les" Cole, DMin, LPC, CPCS, CCTP, NCC

Dr. Les Cole has over 45 years as a passionate practitioner in the field of mental health, spirituality and psychology. He has historically divided his time between organizational development, clinical practice, training, clinical supervision and consulting. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Licensed Professional Counselors Association in 2021. Les is the co-author, “The Ketamine Effect.” He earned his bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech; Masters from Phillips University and Doctorate from Columbia Theological Seminary in conjunction with Emory University in psychology and theology. Les is the owner of Ethos Behavioral and works as special projects director for Attento Counseling and Director of Behavioral Health for Ascend Medical. A disabled Veteran himself, he has especially valued the privilege of working with our returning men and women in uniform. Les and his wife Debi have 6 adult children, 4 granddaughters and live in Marietta, Georgia

ETHICS CHAIR

Dr. William "Will" Carroll, LPC, PhD, MA

Dr. Will Carroll is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Georgia. He has a Ph.D. from Liberty University in Counselor Education and Supervision. He earned his Masters in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in 2012 and has been in private practice in Marietta, GA since that time. He enjoys outdoor activities including running and kayaking around the lakes and rivers of north Georgia. Originally from South Georgia, Dr. Carroll's area of expertise is in the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder using varied techniques including innovative approaches such as Lego Therapy. His Ph.D. dissertation is on the unique qualities associated with women with Autism as seen from the perspective of their adult sisters.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAIR

Dr. Kelly Veal, PhD, LPC, CPCS

Dr. Kelly J. Veal is the Program Coordinator for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at LaGrange College. Dr. Veal received her PhD in Counselor Education from Auburn University in 2015. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CAADC), and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS). She is also the owner The Veal Group, LLC, a private practice that engages in counseling, coaching, and consulting. Dr. Veal has extensive experience working with addicted populations and trauma. As a part of her advanced professional training, she is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy which is the focus of her private practice. She is actively engaged in the LaGrange College community where she serves as the advisor to the Student Affiliate Organization (SAO) for the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Co-CHAIR

 Jessica Renard, MEd, LAPC (soon to be LPC)

Jessica earned her master’s in clinical Mental Health at the University of West Georgia. She utilizes exposure response prevention, feminist theory, solution-focused brief therapy, and somatic therapy, primarily in a sex therapy capacity.

Jessica likes to offer a different perspective.

SUPERVISION CHAIR

Tracy Kissinger, MEd, MS, LPC, CPCS

Tracy Kissinger, MEd, MS, LPC, CPCS is a former Special Education teacher and retired Adolescent and Family Therapist. She holds a Master of Education degree in Special Education and a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology. She is also board-certified in School Crisis Response with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and a board-certified Bereavement Facilitator with the American Academy of Bereavement. Before entering private practice, she worked as a family therapist, case manager, education therapist, and Substance Abuse Coordinator in the adolescent department at a private psychiatric hospital in Atlanta. After retiring from seeing patients in private practice, she has stayed active as a Clinical Professional Counselor Supervisor and an active volunteer with the LPCA-GA. She is passionate about the vital role of supervision in counseling.

SUPERVISION CO-CHAIR

Ya'Ron Brown, LPC, CPCS, ACS

Ya’Ron holds a License in Professional Counseling in Georgia and several other states within the Continental United States, he is a Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor in Georgia and an Approved Counseling Supervisor through NBCC. Ya’Ron focuses on men's mental health, marital relationships and overall relational connectedness. He is known for creating a safe and nonjudgmental space where men can explore their emotions, relationships, and personal growth. Through individual therapy, group sessions, and workshops, he empowers his clients to navigate life's complexities with resilience, authenticity and care. He is a knowledgeable and experienced supervisor in the state of Georgia. We look forward to the new energy and ideas he will bring to LPCA and the supervisors we support.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CHAIR

Vicki Blount, LPC, CPCS

Vicki is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor, and Master’s Addition Counselor. She is only licensed in Georgia at this time. Vicki currently works full-time at Traime Behavioral Health in Marietta, Georgia as the Team Lead for the Cobb Assertive Community Treatment (ACT ) Team. She provides individual, group, and family therapy to clients with serious mental health and life issues. In addition, Vicki provides clinical supervision to the clinicians on staff and counseling interns as scheduled. Vicki’s areas of expertise and focus continue to be Mental Health, Addiction, Trauma, and Family counseling.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CO-CHAIR

Dr. Suneetha Manyam, PhD, LPC, CPCS, NCC, CRC

Dr. Manyam is a professor with 13 years of teaching, and 11 years of clinical and 12 years of research experience in the counseling field. She is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor. Dr. Manyam coauthors and administers Rehabilitative Service Administration Long -Term Training grants from the department and also federal grants from India. Her research and pedagogical interests include Meditation and Self Care Techniques for Counselor Wellness, Microaggressions of minority individuals especially South Indian Americans, International Counseling, Acculturation and Immigration Issues, Trauma and Resilience, Marriage and Minority Family Counseling, and research methods in counseling.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Brittany Briscoe, LPC

Brittany received her Master's in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling from Mercer University. She has spent the past three years seeing clients at a community private practice in the heart of Atlanta, GA. Brittany is passionate about people, play, human experience, advocacy, and justice. Her therapeutic modalities of choice include Play Therapy and Internal Family Systems because of her deep appreciation of the power of play and its many benefits and the theoretical ability to look at our human essence in delicate & essential parts. She works with children and adults and recently opened her small private practice in Buckhead, Atlanta. Her research interests include adult play therapy, somatic movement, neuroscience, mindfulness and meditation, epigenetics & the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) study. For fun, she enjoys trying new foods, traveling, attending festivals and conventions, and spending time with her family, friends, and small pup, Max.

Lei P. Tun, LPC

Lei P. Tun, LPC in Atlanta, Georgia, and a dedicated member of LPCA of Georgia brings a wealth of experience to address the unique challenges, adaptations, and cultural conflicts faced by individuals with a diverse international background. As a native of Myanmar (Burma) and having lived in Myanmar, Singapore, and the United States, Lei offers an understanding of these complexities. She specializes in individual, couple, and group psychotherapy in private practice settings.

Dottie Chambers, LPC, CPCS

Dottie Chambers, LPC, CPCS, earned her BA degree in Psychology from Wesleyan College and her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University. She has worked as a therapist at the Methodist Home/Lighthouse for Families for the past 20 years. In 2017, Dottie became the Clinical Director for Lighthouse for Families, providing oversight, management, and supervision of the outpatient therapeutic services. She is a Certified TF-CBT Supervisor and Therapist and has specialized training in Reactive Attachment Disorder, Family Centered Practice, and the treatment of the CSEC population. Dottie is DBT informed, CPP trained, Triple P certified, EMDR trained, and SPARCS trained.

Co-Chair, Jeannie Powell, MS, LPC, CPCS

Jeannie Powell has been an LPCA of GA member since January 2022 and serves on the board as the newly elected Central District Co-Chair. Jeannie obtained her B.S. in Psychology and Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from GSU. She has worked with The Methodist Home/Lighthouse for 23 years. In 2018, Jeannie accepted the Director of Community Services for Lighthouse for Families position, where she provides oversight, management, and supervision for DFCS and Superior Court visitation services and other therapeutic services. She is a Certified TF-CBT Therapist with specialized training in Reactive Attachment Disorder, Play Therapy, and Family Centered Practice. Jeannie is TAC trained, DBT informed, CPP trained, Triple P certified, and EMDR trained.

Patricia Jackson Whalen, MA, LPC, NCC, CST

Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, and a certified Christian Sex Therapist. Patricia established her private practice in August of 2021. Prior to that, she worked for a counseling center in Cartersville, GA, and a Nonprofit Center in Atlanta, GA, for several years. She was the director of Acworth Women’s Center, a crisis pregnancy center, and the Director of the Women’s Restoration Department at a non-denominational church for five years. Her primary therapeutic experience is working with individuals with complex trauma, infidelity, and dissociation. Her desire is to help individuals abused as children find healing. She became a Certified Sex Therapist through the Institute of Sexual Wholeness at Richmont Graduate School. Her desire is to help clients attain wholesome sexuality. Patricia earned her MA in Professional Counseling and an undergraduate degree in Christian counseling at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. She is bi-lingual (English/Spanish), was born in Mexico city, Mexico, and raised in Cleveland, OH. She understands the struggles of cultural diversity firsthand.

Jessica Koalenz, NCC, LPC

Jessica Koalenz is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor with almost 20 years of experience working in mental health. She specializes in trauma therapy and is trained in EMDR. Originally from Minnesota, she moved to Georgia and graduated from Argosy University in 2014. She has worked in private practice since 2017 and is the owner and clinical director of Tranquil Life Counseling Center, LLC, offering individual, couples, and family therapy for ages 3 and up. She has partnered with the Paulding County School District to offer a new private practice therapy model in the school setting. 

Maura Kalafut, LPC, CPCS, CCTP

Many years before entering the counseling profession, I spent a year in volunteer service with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Following that, I taught middle and high school for several years in Florida. Fast forward to the early 2000’s when I entered this field.   As a skilled therapist with 14 years of experience in both public mental health and private practice settings, I specialize in treating trauma, anxiety, depression and issues related to life transitions. My community invites me to speak often and look forward to promoting LPCA.

Dr. Jihene Ayadi, Ph.D., LPC, CPCS, NCC, ACS

Dr. Ayadi is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the Clinical Coordinator at Troy University in Augusta, Georgia. She earned her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Arkansas and her master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from Valdosta State University. Dr. Ayadi is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Supervisor in the State of Georgia (CPCS). She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (NCS) with the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). She is also a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Trainer for Suicide Prevention and a Certified EMDR provider. Dr. Ayadi has nearly 14 years of experience providing mental health services in outpatient settings to adults, military personnel, veterans, and their families. She has presented regionally, nationally, and internationally. She is actively working and collaborating with peers on conducting research for peer-reviewed publications.

Olga Maxwell, MA, LPC, CPCS, NCC

Olga was born and grew up in Ukraine and lived there until I was 18. When Olga was in elementary school, Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union and it was a time of struggle when the majority of the population lived in poverty with very little food available to be purchased in the stores, so what that taught her is how to grow her own food and to love and care for her land. It was also a beautiful time because communism came to an end and Ukrainian people were able to start practicing religion which was previously prohibited. The way it influenced her is to be grateful for the power of choice. She is fluent in English and German. The last 21 years are in the United States and 13 of those in the Columbus area. Currently she works as the Area Director at AmericanWork, LLC in Columbus and the team lead for the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program.

Loriann Merritt, LAPC

Graduated from Valdosta State University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and in 2023 with a Master of Counselor Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and have my associate license in professional counseling. I have experience in the college counseling setting, as well as in community mental health. I am under the direct and clinical supervision of Dr. Ramirez. I am the Southern District Rep and want to make sure everyone in my district connects with LPCA.