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.
Ms. Cashion works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families who are coping with anxiety, stress, depression, and relational issues. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in corporate finance and a Master of Science degree in educational psychology at the University of Alabama, Ms. Cashion obtained a Master of Divinity degree and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Wake Forest University. Her work as a counselor and chaplain, in hospital and out-patient medical settings, has exposed her to a wide range of individuals, couples and families who often are facing uncertainty, loss, or grief. She also brings experience from prior work in educational and corporate settings. Ms. Cashion is sensitive to spiritual issues clients present and open to having them included in the clinical conversation if the client wishes. Located at our South Park/Sharon Road Office, Ms. Cashion sees adolescents, adults, couples, and families and 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.
Ms. Kolb combines a strong background in substance abuse assessment and outpatient treatment with psychotherapy skills across diverse mental health issues and among a variety of age groups. In addition, Ms. Kolb values working clinically with members of the LGBTQ community. Ms. Kolb earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, a Master of Arts degree in Anthropology and a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Her practice is in our SouthPark/Sharon Road office where she sees adolescents and adults and accepts Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield 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. Hatzispiros works clinically with children, young professionals, adults, and families. She is skilled in Child-Centered Play Therapy and utilizes traditional talk therapy with adolescents and adults. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Georgia College & State University, Ms. Hatzispiros obtained her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Ms. Hatzispiros has spent time working with minority individuals and families in multiple settings. This, combined with her own background of being raised by parents who immigrated to the United States from Greece, helps her understand the sensitivity culture brings to therapy and an individual’s life. Her office is located at our South Park/Sharon Road location. She accepts Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance.
