Board of Directors
July 2024 - June 2025
Keisha Pou-Buchanan, PhD, LPC, CPCS
President
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.
This is a THREE (3) Year Term (PE, P, IPP) Email: President@LPCAGA.org
Tracey Packe, Th.D, MSA, M.Ed, LPC, NCC, CFMHE, CFI, CPCS
President Elect
Dr. 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.
Dr. Pace has a passion for advocacy, she actively supports and promotes those entering the profession, those seeking the therapy and those that provide the services. She engages with community members to raise awareness, build support, and works to influence policymakers. Please join her in the LPCA Advocacy program starting this fall.
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).
She served as chair of the Coastal District/ Region of Georgia LPCA and enjoys mentoring new counselors, both APCs and LPCs.
This is a THREE (3) Year Term (PE, P, IPP) Email: President@LPCAGA.org
David Markwell, PhD, LPC, LCMHC, NCC, ACS, CPCS, BC-TMH, CART, EAS-C
Immediate Past President
David is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and National Board-Certified Counselor. He is licensed in Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina.
He is a Board Certified Telemental Health Provider and is certified to provide Telehealth services in Florida and South Carolina.
He is a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor and Approved Clinical Supervisor. He is the former Clinical Supervision Chair for the LPCA of Georgia. He was the recipient of the LPCA 2017 George C Podein Counselor of the Year.
Leslie "Les" Cole, D.Min, LPC, CCTP, CPCS
Treasurer
Dr. Cole, "Les" has had the privilege of witnessing dramatic transformations working with clients with depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, personality disorders, chronic illness and trauma. He is eager to apply his experience and compassion with clients, families, couples and teens, as they begin to address issues that will help them to improve their quality of life and attain a sense of fulfillment. A disabled Veteran himself, he has especially valued the privilege of working with our returning men and women in uniform.
Les has over 40 year as a passionate practitioner in the field of mental health, spirituality and psychology. He has divided his time between development, clinical practice, training, clinical supervision and consulting. He has worked with adolescents in a myriad of settings including residential, private practice, juvenile court and DFCS.
This is a Three (3) Year Term.
William "Will" Carroll, PhD, LPC
Ethics Chair
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.
Tonja Simmons Lee, Ed.D, LPC, CPCS
Professional Development Chair
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.
Louis Boynton, ll, PhD, LPC, NCC, CPCS
Supervision Chair
Over the last few years, Louis has been working in the profession of psychology as an educator, researcher, and practitioner. He has written grants and managed grant projects in disaster mental health, a new professional avenue. Currently, Louis is President of a nonprofit (managing a disaster mental health website gadisaster.info), with a private practice, and a mobile assessment counselor for Southern Crescent Pines Behavioral Health.
Tracy Kissinger, MEd, MS, LPC, CPCS
Supervision Co-Chair
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.
Vicki Blount, LPC, CPCS
Continuing Education Co-Chair
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.
Brittany Briscoe, LPC
Communications Director Chair
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.
COMMITTEES
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: District Representatives
LPCA of GA has seven Districts: Atlanta, Central Coastal, Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western.
ATLANTA:
Find your District Below:
Atlanta District: Clayton - Cobb- DeKalb - Douglas - Fayette - Fulton - Gwinnett - Henry - Newton – Rockdale
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.
CENTRAL:
Central District: Baldwin - Bibb - Bleckley - Butts - Crawford - Crisp - Dodge - Dooly - Hancock - Houston - Jasper - Johnson - Jones - Lamar - Lauren - Macon - Monroe - Montgomery - Peach - Pike - Pulaski - Putnam - Schley - Spalding - Sumter - Taylor - Telfair - Treutlen - Twiggs - Upson - Washington - Wheeler - Wilcox – Wilkinson
Dottie Chambers, LPC, CPCS, TF-CBT, CSEC
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.
COASTAL:
Coastal District: Appling - Bacon - Brantley - Bryan - Bulloch - Camden - Candler - Charlton - Chatham - Effingham - Evans - Glynn - Jeff Davis - Liberty - Long - McIntosh - Pierce - Tattnall - Toombs - Ware – Wayne
Co-Chair, 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, I 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.
EASTERN:
Eastern District: Barrow - Burke - Clarke - Columbia - Elbert - Emanuel - Glascock - Greene - Jackson - Jefferson - Jenkins - Lincoln - Madison - McDuffie - Morgan - Oconee - Oglethorpe - Richmond - Screven - Taliaferro - Walton - Warren – Wilkes
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.
NORTHERN:
Northern District: Banks - Bartow - Catoosa - Chattooga - Cherokee - Dade - Dawson - Fannin - Floyd - Forsyth - Franklin - Gilmer - Gordon - Habersham - Hall - Hart - Lumpkin - Murray - Paulding - Pickens - Polk - Rabun - Stephens - Towns - Union - Walker - White – Whitfield
Skye McIntyre, LPC, CPCS, NC
Skye McIntyre is proud to be the Northern District Co-Representative for LPCA. Skye also served on the LPCA Board of Directors as a University of North Georgia student representative. Skye is a trauma therapist who specializes in working with couples. She is also a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor and is cultivating a community of counseling professionals at SkyeHelps Counseling & Wellness in Dahlonega, Georgia.
SOUTHERN:
Southern District: Atkinson - Baker - Ben Hill - Berrien - Brooks - Calhoun - Clinch - Coffee - Colquitt - Cook - Decatur - Dougherty - Early - Echols - Grady - Irwin -Lanier - Lee - Lowndes - Miller - Mitchell - Seminole - Terrell - Thomas - Tift - Turner – Worth
A.J. Ramirez, ED.D, LPC, CPCS
A.J. is the owner of L.E.A.F. Therapy Services in Valdosta, Georgia. L.E.A.F. Therapy Services is geared toward providing affordable, high-quality counseling services to the South Georgia area. In addition to running a private practice, Dr. Ramirez teaches full-time in the Department of Sociology and Women and Gender Studies at Valdosta State University and as an adjunct professor in the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality program at Florida State University. Her academic interests include sexism, gender discrimination, LGBTQ issues, and education reform by incorporating systemic approaches. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of North Georgia, her Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Doctor of Education degree with a concentration in Sociology from Valdosta State University.
WESTERN:
Western District: Carroll - Chattahoochee - Clay - Coweta - Haralson - Harris - Heard - Marion - Meriwether - Muscogee - Quitman - Randolph - Stewart - Talbot - Troup - Webster
Eleanor Wassenberg, MA, LPC
Eleanor is the owner of First Things First Counseling, LLC, a private practice in Newnan, GA. Before opening First Things First, Eleanor worked for a community mental health agency in the school system. Eleanor currently works with adolescents and adults dealing with trauma and addiction.
PAC Political Action Committee
Johnnie L Jenkins, III Ph.D., LPC, CPCS, ACS, RPT-S
Chair of the LPCA PAC
My job is to help, when people are in conflict, they cannot hear what the other says. Dr. Jenkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified Professional Clinical Supervisor in Georgia with more than 20 years of experience. Dr. Jenkins’ private practice experience includes working with families. He holds memberships in the American Counseling Association, the Association for Play Therapy, the Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia, and the Georgia Association for Play Therapy. He holds the following degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mercer University in Macon, GA, and a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Jenkins was an adjunct at Argosy University Atlanta, teaching classes in Play therapy, Child and Adolescent Counseling, Family and Couples Counseling, and Practicum and Supervision. He was also Chair of the Human Services Department. Dr. Jenkins received a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Walden University.
THE GEORGIA JOURNAL OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING EDITOR
Gregory K. Moffatt, PhD, LPC, CPCS
2021 - Present EDITOR of the Georgia Journal
Dr. Moffatt has been a professor of Counseling Psychology for almost three decades and currently serves as Dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Point University. Previously, he was a part-time instructor at Georgia State University. Dr. Moffatt has extensive experience on the subject of violent behavior. He was a regular instructor at the FBI National Academy and consulted numerous Corporations, law enforcement agencies, and schools. He remains a regular consultant and profiler with the Atlanta Cold Case Squad.
LPCA Foundation
Angela Feeser, EdS, LPC, CPCS Past LPCA President
LPCA Foundation
Coming Soon!
Dontay Williams, LPC
LPCA Foundation
Dontay Williams is a native of Philadelphia, PA., and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of GA. He is also the Founder of Mental Health on Purpose Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to treating mental illness, professional development within the workplace, and advocacy. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA, and is pursuing his doctorate degree at Mercer University. His expertise includes certification as an anger management specialist recognized by the National Board of Certified Counselors and training in the topic of spiritual integration and organizational leadership.
Clinical Certification Association of Licensed Professionals(CCALP)
Janesta Nairn, PhD, LPC, CPCS
CCAL Certification Board CHAIR
Janesta Desria Shamalda Nairn with a Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision. Dr Nairn has over 20 years of experience in the juvenile justice sector and 10 years in counseling. She holds the Court Support Manager's position at Cobb County Juvenile Court in GA and is an adjunct professor at Rasmussen University. Her past experiences include residential and CORE agencies.
LPCA Staff
Gale Marshall Macke
Chief Executive Officer
For the last 20 years, Gale has served as the executive director and CEO for one of the nation’s leading advocates for counselors, LPCA! Gale manages the association’s affairs, directs legislative efforts, and oversees efforts to build public support for counselors and to expand learning opportunities and services for members. She also represents counselors before the state Licensing Board-GA Composite Board of PC, SW, MFT, the Georgia Legislature and Congress. Gale joined LPCA in 2002 and previously served as a subcontractor for the retiring VP of Goldman Sachs, CFO, and Director of public relations/communications for several other companies.
Eric Rodgers, MS, LPC, CMAC, NCC, BC-TMH, BCC
Director of Special Services
Eric joined the LPCA Board of Directors as a Student Rep and was the LPCA Student Counselor of the Year for 2018, then, volunteered to be the LPCA Newsletter Editor. Eric, as Student Rep, created the LPCA Graduation Cords and Sashes for our students who are Presidents of the LPCA SAO or serve on the LPCA SAO board.
Ivan Estrada, MS, APC
CE Reviewer
Ivan has earned an MS in Clinical/Counseling, a BS in Psychology from Georgia State University, and an AS in Psychology from Metropolitan State College. Ivan has over three years of experience working in mental health and has completed a 600-hour internship in mental health counseling. In addition, he has experience working in psychiatric hospital settings.
Andrew Blackmore
Director of Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS) Services
Andrew was a school counselor in Virginia Beach City Public Schools for eight years and was the Head Coach of varsity Soccer & Golf before moving to corp. world. Now in Georgia, Andrew looks forward to becoming an LPC. We know you will enjoy talking to him on the phone and meeting him at LPCA workshops and Events.
Caroline Halliday
Executive Administrator to the CEO