Presbyterian Psychological Services is a deeply welcoming place providing mental health services for people of all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, faiths or no faith, and sexual orientations. As important as the unique individuals we serve are the cherished professionals who practice here. Rigorous ongoing education and community service are at the core of our group identity, as is the belief that emotional wellbeing is central to a well-lived life.
For over thirty years, Dr. Frawley-O’Dea has specialized in treating adolescent and adult male and female survivors of sexual abuse and is internationally known for this work. Her co-authored book, Treating the Adult Survivor of Childhood Sexual Abuse, is considered a classic. In 1999, she co-authored a book, The Supervisory Relationship, which offered a new, relational model of psychodynamic supervision. In 2002, she was the only psychologist invited to address the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at their seminal meeting on sexual abuse. There, she presented a paper on the psychological and spiritual damage resulting from clergy sexual abuse. After that, she authored Perversion of Power, an analysis of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. She has provided expert witness services in legal cases addressing sexual abuse. Dr. Frawley-O’Dea is or has been on the editorial boards of several professional journals, has published over 30 book chapters, professional articles, and magazine or newspaper articles and has made numerous professional presentations and invited lectures throughout the United States as well as in Canada and Israel. She appeared in the Oscar-nominated documentary film, Deliver Us From Evil, which addressed the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.
Dr. Frawley-O’Dea earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Gordon Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies at Adelphi University and received a Certificate in Advanced Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis also from Adelphi. She taught in Adelphi’s doctoral and post-doctoral programs and was co-director, faculty and supervisor at the Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis where she also served as Executive Director of their Trauma Treatment Program. She was faculty and supervisor at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies Supervisory Training Program and in their National Training Program for Psychoanalysis. In Charlotte, she served as faculty, supervisor and curriculum consultant for the North Carolina Institute for Clinical Pastoral Counseling.
Dr. Frawley-O’Dea has been Executive Director of Presby Psych since 2010 and has her practice at our South Park/Sharon Road location where she accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance. She takes a relational psychodynamic approach to her clinical work informed by trauma theory and contemporary neuroscience. Her website is www.mgfod.com.
Dr. Carstarphen conducts psychotherapy with an integrated approach, holistically combining the mind, body, spirit and culture of her adult clients. A graduate of Queens College, Dr. Carstarphen received her Master of Divinity Degree at Emory University and her Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Psychotherapy at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. As part of her training and interest in health and spirituality, she participated in Duke University’s Spirituality, Theology and Health research course. She has a special interest in working with individuals with chronic pain or illness, seniors and people who have histories of sexual, physical or other developmental traumas. With a background in art, Dr. Carstarphen includes art therapy in her clinical work. In addition to traditional psychotherapy, she also offers spiritual counseling. Dr.Carstarphen is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She practices in our SouthPark/Sharon Road office where she accepts Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Carolina Behavioral Health Alliance, and Cigna insurance.
Ms. Lesesne is an award-winning counselor who now focuses on career counseling and personal coaching. She also has over 20 years of experience as an educator and communications skills trainer in both non-profit and corporate settings. Ms. Lesesne’s approach honors the unique individuality of each client in order to help them develop personalized career goals and life plans, while identifying and eliminating obstacles to reaching those goals. She has retired as a psychotherapist and therefore does not take insurance. She is located in our Sharon Road/South Park office.
Ms. Hassell works clinically with children, adolescents, adults and families. A member of our Child, Adolescent, Parent & Family Services team, she is a trained play therapist, which she employs with young children, and incorporates elements of expressive arts along with traditional talk therapy with adolescents and adults. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at James Madison University, Ms. Hassell obtained a Master of Arts in teaching at the College of Charleston and a Master of Clinical Mental Health from University of North Carolina Charlotte. Ms. Hassell believes the healing power of therapy lies within the relationship between therapist and client, and works from a strengths-based approach. Ms. Hassell is located at our Myers Park/Park Road office where she accepts Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance.
Dr. Jamison is experienced in treating individuals with recent and past histories of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Dr. Jamison uses an integrative, relational treatment approach and is experienced in the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety, relational issues, and loss. She has further specialized in the treatment of addiction and has worked with those concerned about their own use, as well as those affected by a loved one’s addiction. Dr. Jamison earned her master’s degree and doctorate in psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Temple University’s Tuttleman Counseling Services where she then became a post-doctoral fellow and eventually assumed coordination of Temple’s Campus Alcohol and Substance Awareness (CASA) unit. There Dr. Jamison provided individual and group therapy to a diverse student body. She was the senior consultant for staff and trainees in a walk-in clinic once a week and is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management. Dr. Jamison provided seminars for graduate trainees in the assessment and treatment of substance use disorders, the interpersonal process of psychotherapy, and multicultural supervision. She has supervised the clinical work of post-doctoral fellows, pre-doctoral interns, and graduate externs. She also helped develop a diversity committee focused on enhancing the staff’s multicultural awareness, sensitivity and competency. Dr. Jamison is located at our Myers Park/Park Road office where she accepts Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and CBHA insurance.
Dr. Reed specializes in psychoanalytic clinical supervision and clergy consultation. He earned his M.Div. and S.T.M. from Southern Methodist University and a D.Min. from Emory University. His clinical training took place at the Institute for Religion and Human Development at the Texas Medical Center, and at the Washington (DC) School of Psychiatry. A United Methodist minister, he is a Diplomate (Retired) of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, a past member of the American Academy of Psychotherapists and the North Carolina Psychoanalytic Society. For more than three decades prior to retirement, he directed pastoral counseling centers and training programs. In 2012, Reed published a book chapter, Trauma and Leadership and Succession in Trauma and Organizations, ed. E. Hopper (Karnac Press). Retired from clinical practice, Dr. Reed supervises weekly case conferences and teaches at Presby Psych.
Ms. Mader-Adkins works clinically with adolescents, adults, couples and families and welcomes to her practice members of the LGBTQ communities. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of North Carolina Charlotte where she was an Honor’s student and served as the Wellness Chair for UNCC’s chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society of counseling professionals and counselors-in-training dedicated to excellence in scholarship, research. and clinical practice. As a couples counselor, Ms. Mader-Adkins is certified in Level 1 Gottman approach, a nationally respected model of couples therapy. Located at our Myers Park/Park Road office, she accepts Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance.
Ms. Griffin is at our Park Road office where she works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families with special interests in engaging with trauma survivors, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals struggling with eating disorders or emotional eating. Perry earned her Master of Education degree in Community Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Winthrop University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Wingate University. Perry has extensive experience working with immigrant and refugee populations and is a certified trainer in QPR Suicide Prevention, adapted for refugees, as well as in Active Money and Active Personalities Curricula for Refugee Populations. In addition, she is a certified QPR Gatekeeper in Suicide Prevention for Adults & Youth and is also certified in Mental Health First Aid in Adult, Youth, and Public Safety Modules. She is working towards certification in EMDR and in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing. She accepts Aetna and BCBS and out-of-network benefits.
Ms. Fallon is located at our Sharon Road/South Park office where she works clinically with adolescents, adults, couples and families. She is experienced in working with individuals coping with eating disorders or emotional eating and also clinically engages with members of the LGBTQ community. As a couples therapist, Liz is certified at Level 1 of the Gottman Method couples therapy. Liz earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Penn State where she concentrated in biological and evolutionary sciences with a minor in human development and family studies. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UNC Charlotte where she was a member of Chi Sigma Iota, the National Honor Society in counseling. Liz accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance.
Ms. Boone works clinically with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She is experienced with the spectrum of mental health issues, as well as with challenging life transitions. Her previous career in corporate marketing and consulting provides her with real-life appreciation for the complexity of career issues and balancing them with family and other relationships. She is passionate about working clinically with individuals, couples and families from the LGBTQ community and with members of other marginalized communities. In all cases, she believes that the therapeutic relationship provides clients with space and support to access internal resources in order to heal and grow. Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology at the College of William and Mary and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UNC Charlotte where she was a member of Chi Sigma Iota, the National Honor Society in Counseling. She is located at our Sharon Road/SouthPark office where she accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance.
Mr. Collins works with adults experiencing a range of challenges, from anxiety and mood disorders to life transitions. He specializes in treating co-occurring mental health and substance use issues. Patrick believes in an integrative approach to treatment that appreciates the complex interactions between mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Prior to joining Presbyterian Psychological Services, Patrick supervised the behavioral health program for a community health clinic for the underserved population in Charlotte, where he worked with a range of comorbid mental health, substance use and chronic health conditions, and helped launch a Medication Assisted Treatment program for opioid addiction. He has also led individual and group treatment for individuals being released from federal prison with histories of addiction. A former journalist, Patrick uses an array of treatment modalities with his clients to assist them in telling the stories of where they have been, where they are, and where they want to be. He believes strongly that clients are the experts of their own lives, and as a social worker by training, values diversity. He welcomes members of the LGBTQ community and considers himself an ally. Patrick earned his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Elon University and a Master of Social Work degree from the Joint Master of Social Work Program at the University of North Carolina Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University. Patrick works at our Sharon Road/South Park office where he accepts Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Carolina Behavioral Health Alliance insurance.
Sarah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pfeiffer University where she was President of their chapter of the Delta Kappa International Honor Society. She also is a licensed clinical addiction counselor associate. At McLeod Center, Sarah was a lead substance abuse counselor and also had experience as an outpatient and school-based counselor. She is located at our Sharon Road/South Park office and accepts Aetna, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Carolina Behavioral Health Alliance insurance.
Ms. Post, located at our Park Road/Myers Park office, sees adults and young professionals. She works clinically with individuals in post-acute alcohol and substance abuse recovery and with their families and loved ones, as well as with the families and loved ones of people struggling with active addiction. Katy also enjoys engaging with individuals who are in transitions like divorce or separation, relocating, changing jobs or careers, leaving home for the first time. West Virginia University awarded her a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Development and Family Studies and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling. She accepts Aetna insurance.
