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Julie C. Medlin, Ph.D. Director
Dr. Medlin is the Director of Medlin Treatment Center.
She is a licensed psychologist who has expertise in
treating sexual offenders and sexual abuse victims. Dr.
Medlin provides therapy to children, adolescents, and
adults with sexual issues or general psychological
issues. She also conducts forensic evaluations in cases
of alleged sexual abuse in children.
Dr. Medlin obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology
from Harvard University, and her master's and doctoral
degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of
Florida. She completed her internship in a joint program
at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North
Carolina and the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. Dr. Medlin also serves as the Director of Medlin
Training Institute (MTI), which specializes in training
other professionals in the area of sexual abuse and
sexual deviancy. Through MTI, Dr. Medlin published
Responsible Living, an 8-volume sex offender treatment
manual, along with a CD-ROM entitled Breaking Through
Denial.
Dr. Medlin has provided trainings for residential
treatment facilities, psychiatric hospitals, mental
health centers, different states’ Departments of
Correction, as well as at numerous academic conferences.
Dr. Medlin has also testified as an expert in court over
100 times. Dr. Medlin is Past President of the Georgia
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. She
also served on the Georgia Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Advisory Council and on the Georgia Sex Offender
Registration Review Board. In addition, Dr. Medlin has
appeared as an expert on national televisions programs
for CNN and Discovery Health, as well as several
nationally syndicated programs.
Randi Stephens, LMFT, Assistant Director
Ms. Randi Stephens, MA, LMFT is licensed by the state of
Georgia as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She obtained
her undergraduate degree in Family and Consumer Sciences
from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. She
later obtained her Master's degree from Appalachian
State University in Boone, North Carolina. She is the
Assistant Director of Medlin Treatment Center's Sexual
Deviancy Program and has been working for Medlin
Treatment Center since February 2000. Since 1997, Ms.
Stephens' primary focus has been in the field of
addictions and sexual deviancy. She provides supervision
and training to all therapists in the Sexual Deviancy
Program, administers psychosexual evaluations, and the
Penile Plythesmograph. Ms. Stephens also provides
outpatient individual and group psychotherapy to
adolescent and adult male and female sexual offenders.
Ms. Stephens serves on the Board of Directors, chairs
the Community Awareness Committee, and is a member of
the Public Policy Committee for the Georgia Association
for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers. She sits on the
Advisory Council for "Stop it Now!" Georgia. Ms.
Stephens is also a clinical member of the following
associations: Association for the Treatment of Sexual
Abusers, Georgia Association for the Treatment of Sexual
Abusers, American Association of Marriage and Family
Therapists, and American Professional Society on the
Abuse of Children. She has presented on a variety of
topics related to sexual deviancy at the following;
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Georgia Association for
the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Prevent Child Abuse
Georgia and to the Georgia Department of Corrections.
Tammy Coots, Psy.D.
Dr. Coots graduated from Georgia State University in
Psychology. She received a Psy.D. degree from the
Georgia School of Professional Psychology (now named
Argosy University) and is a licensed psychologist in the
state of Georgia. Dr. Coots currently serves as a
Psychologist at Medlin Treatment Center, specializing in
treating children who are sexual abuse victims and
children who have sexual behavior problems. Dr. Coots
also has a specialty in evaluating and treating infants.
In addition, Dr. Coots is an Adjunct Instructor for
Tulane University Medical Center. Dr. Coots completed
two postdoctoral fellowships: one for Tulane University
Medical Center as the Program Manager and Primary
Clinician for Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
Infant Team, and, secondly, for Louisiana State
University Medical Center providing psychotherapy with
children and families who were victims or witnesses of
violence. Dr. Coots completed her internship with
Louisiana State University Medical Center in the
following settings: Charity Hospital Psychiatric Unit's
adult inpatient, Ames Elementary School, New Orleans
Adolescent Hospital, Grace House New Orleans (an adult
womens' substance abuse residential treatment center),
Louisiana State University Infant, Child and Adolescent
Outpatient Clinic, and Louisiana State University Adult
Outpatient Clinic. Dr. Coots completed a therapy
practicum with Cobb Douglas Community Mental Health
Center and a diagnostic practicum with Northwest Georgia
Regional Hospital. Dr. Coots is a member of the American
Psychological Association and Louisiana Infant Mental
Health Association.
R. Scott Davis, Psy.D.
Dr. Davis graduated from Emory University with a
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. He received his M.S.,
as well as his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, from
Yeshiva University. Dr. Davis completed his
post-doctoral fellowship in Medlin Treatment Center's
Sexual Deviancy Program and interned with the VA Hudson
Valley Healthcare System, Montrose Campus. He has worked
as a test administrator at the Educational Records
Bureau in NY, NY. He has completed externships with
Fordham Counseling Center in Bronx, NY, and St. Barnabas
Hospital, Bronx, NY. He has also worked as a residential
counselor at Vitam Center, Norwalk, CT, and a mental
health technician at the Devereux Center of Georgia,
Atlanta, GA. Dr. Davis is a member of the American
Psychological Association and a clinical member of the
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.
Kathleen Grimes, Ph.D.
Dr. Grimes graduated from the University of Virginia Cum
Laude with a Bachelor's Degree. She received her MA, as
well as her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, from the Emory
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Grimes
interned at Cambridge Hospital through the Harvard
Medical School. She has worked as a therapist and
evaluator for the Emory University Psychological Center
in Atlanta, and at the Southern Crescent Psychiatry and
Counseling Center, Inc. in Newnan, Georgia. She has
worked as a neuropsychological examiner at the Emory
University School of Medicine, the Emory Clinic
Department of Neurology, the Wesley Woods Geriatric
Hospital in Atlanta, and the Emory University
Psychological Center. Dr. Grimes is a member of the
American Psychological Association and the Georgia
Psychological Association. She has published research
articles on schizophrenia in The Journal of Abnormal
Psychology, The Journal of Abnormal Psychiatry, and
Clinical Advances in the Treatment of Psychiatric
Disorders.
Steven Knauts, Ph.D.
Dr. Knauts graduated from the University of Utah Magna
Cum Laude with a BA in Psychology. He received his
Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from
the University of Florida. Dr. Knauts has done clinical
work at a number of forensic facilities, including North
Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center in Gainesville,
Florida; and Florida State Hospital, where he interned
for a year. At Medlin Treatment Center, Dr. Knauts has
worked as a program therapist and evaluator for several
years. He has provided group and individual therapy and
has conducted psychological, psychosexual, and parenting
evaluations. Dr. Knauts is an engaging public speaker
and has conducted several workshops and trainings for
other mental health professionals, foster parents, and
the community. He has given presentations for such
organizations as Prevent Child Abuse Georgia, Georgia
CASA, the Georgia Association for the Treatment of
Sexual Abusers, and the National Organization for Victim
Assistance. Dr. Knauts is currently licensed in the
state of Georgia as a Licensed Professional Counselor
and Clinical Psychologist.
Melvina Norwood, Ph.D.
Dr. Melvina Norwood is a licensed psychologist who
specializes in the assessment and treatment of children
and adolescents. At Medlin Treatment Center, Dr. Norwood
conducts psychological evaluations. Dr. Norwood earned
her bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Spelman College,
and master’s and doctoral degrees in
Clinical/Counseling/School Psychology from the
University of California, Santa Barbara.
She completed her internship training in child clinical
psychology at a joint program at Lucille Packard’s
Children’s Hospital at Stanford University and the
Children’s Health Council.
Dr. Norwood has experience providing individual, family
and group therapy as well as psychoeducational
assessments in inpatient, outpatient and school
settings. At Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at
the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dr. Norwood
specialized in individual therapy in the areas of
depression, anxiety and suicide prevention. Dr. Norwood
provided training for psychology interns and presented
continuing education workshops at professional
conferences for educators and psychologists.
Madinah I. Ralston, Ph.D.
Dr.
Ralston graduated from the State University of New York
(SUNY) College at Brockport with a Bachelor’s Degree in
Psychology. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
from Kent State University in Ohio. Dr. Ralston
interned at the Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center
in the Bronx, NY. She has worked in the Child and
Adolescent Department at the DeKalb Community Service
Board conducting assessments and providing therapy. She
has also conducted psychological assessments in private
practice for several years since that time. Dr. Ralston
has clinical experience in the assessment and treatment
of children, adolescents, and adults. At Medlin
Treatment Center, Dr. Ralston sees children and
adolescents with both sexual and general psychology
issues. In addition, she is an Adjunct Instructor at
Argosy University. Dr. Ralston is a member of the
Georgia Psychological Association.
Mary Hebblewhite, Ph.D.
Dr.
Hebblewhite earned her Bachelor's degree from Duke
University and her Ph.D. in psychology at Georgia State
University, concentrating in adult psychodynamic
psychotherapy. She completed her psychology internship
at the Atlanta VA Medical Center, and her postdoctoral
internship in Child and Family Psychology at the Georgia
Mental Health Institute. Dr. Hebblewhite then began an
independent private practice providing therapy to
children, teens, and families. She also conducted groups for adult survivors of childhood
sexual abuse. She often worked with adult abuse
survivors in a hospital setting as well, including in
Ridgeview's specialty unit for treatment of
dissociative
disorders. Dr. Hebblewhite and four other psychology and
psychiatry colleagues formed Dissociative Disorders
Consultants of Atlanta,
developing principles and procedures for careful
and conservative work with the problems of dissociation,
trauma, and abuse. Dr. Hebblewhite also worked at the Hamilton Clinic in Dalton
GA, focusing on foster children
with abuse histories as well as with attention and
behavior problems. As part of that work, she taught
parents behavior modification techniques that could help
their children. Dr.
Hebblewhite obtained an Advanced Certification in
Cognitive Therapy to enhance her coaching regarding
thought/feeling/behavior patterns.
She integrates work on thought patterns into her work
with couples, families and adults.
In 2006, Dr. Hebblewhite began providing services
at MTC in the Stockbridge and Marietta offices. At MTC,
she works with foster and intact families, with children
and teens and adults as individuals, and offers parent
coaching. She has a particular interest in adoption and
step-parenting.
Elizabeth C. Guenther, Ed. S., M. Ed., Evaluator
Mrs.
Guenther received her Ed. S.and M. Ed. in
the field of School Psychology from Georgia Southern
University, with undergraduate major work in psychology
completed at Wesleyan College, Macon, Georgia.
She served her yearlong field-based internship in
the Glynn County, Georgia school district.
She worked with Dr. David Patterson of St. Simons
Island, Georgia, in his private clinical practice,
providing comprehensive psychological evaluations and
emotional status assessments.
She has also held professional positions as a
school psychologist with the Thomasville City Schools,
Georgia, along with providing a wide range of school
psychology services to Hoover City Schools, Jefferson
County Schools, and Shelby County Schools in Alabama.
Through her association with Glenwood, Inc. and
the Alabama State Department of Education, Mrs. Guether
was instrumental in developing a site-based consultation
service for Autism Spectrum Disorders (PREP) and also
performed many diagnostic evaluations for children
suspected of having some form of autism.
Mrs. Guenther also served as Certification
Officer for the Birmingham-Southern College Division of
Education and as a judge for the Birmingham City Schools
Teacher Recognition Program in 2002. She is a member of
the Georgia Association of School Psychologists and for
many years has provided a wide range of services such as
comprehensive assessments for learning problems, mental
disability, and developmental delay, consultation and
training on classroom design, educational program
development and eligibility determination, and
implementing behavioral plans in the school setting. She
has frequently chaired and participated in
multidisciplinary teams. Prior experience was also
gained as a child protective services DFACS caseworker
in Muscogee County, Georgia, and on the Ft. Benning army
post, specializing in the area of sexual abuse and
incest. She also gained experience working with adult alcohol-drug
abuse recovery programs in Big Spring, Texas.
Her current work with Medlin Treatment Center
will include psychosexual evaluations of children and
teens. Mrs.
Guenther also has insight and interest in issues
surrounding healthy parenting, divorce recovery and
step-parenting, partly due to her own personal
experiences as a mother of five.
Sarai Padilla, Psy.D., Psychologist
Dr.
Padilla joined the Medlin Treatment Center to provide
individual and group treatment to children, adolescents,
and adults in general psychology and those experiencing
distress from trauma and depression.
She also has expertise in bereavement, life
transitions, academic issues, and parenting.
Dr. Padilla’s professional background includes
work as a therapist, evaluator, supervisor,
administrator, consultant, and adjunct professor within
schools, hospitals, psychiatry, universities, as well as
a therapeutic residence for the developmentally delayed.
A staunch advocate for children, she implemented
a prevention program for children of substance abusers,
established a community pediatric AIDS project, reviewed
psychological evaluations for special education
placement of students, was a member of two hospital
Child Protection committees, ran a newly opened
school-based mental health program, and trained foreign
providers on the treatment of children infected and
affected with HIV & AIDS.
She obtained a doctorate in psychology from Pace
University in New York where she graduated summa cum
laude. Her
doctoral internship in clinical psychology included a
rotation within New York University-Bellevue Hospital
Center’s inpatient psychiatry.
Dr. Padilla is a member of the American
Psychological Association, its Society of Clinical Child
and Adolescent Psychology, and the International AIDS
Society. She
is fluent in Spanish.
Amy Buesing, Psy.D.
, Psychologist
Dr.
Buesing is a licensed psychologist who specializes in
the assessment and treatment of children and
adolescents. At Medlin Treatment Center, Dr.
Buesing provides therapy to children,
adolescents, and adults. Dr. Buesing received a
bachelor’s degree in psychology from Montclair State
University in New Jersey, and a doctorate in psychology
from the California School of Professional Psychology in
Los Angeles. As a doctoral student, she completed an
internship with the Counseling Center of Santa Monica,
providing group and individual therapy with at-risk
adolescents. She also completed an internship with the
Wright Institute Los Angeles, an Association of
Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship training site.
Dr. Buesing finished her post-doctoral training with a
full-time residency at the Family Stress Center, specializing
in child abuse, trauma, and early intervention. She led
groups for foster caregivers, provided individual and
group supervision to psychology trainees, and
administered forensic sexual abuse evaluations (A.S.K.).
She is currently a member of the American
Psychological Association and the Child and Adolescent
Bipolar Foundation.
Asia Gifford,
Psy.D.,
Psychologist
Dr.
Gifford is a licensed child psychologist who specializes
in play therapy. Dr.
Gifford graduated from Kennesaw
State University with a
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. She earned her
Doctorate of Psychology degree
from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology at
Argosy University with
an emphasis in child and family studies. She completed
her pre-doctoral internship at Casa Pacifica where she
provided clinical services to
foster children and adolescents who were removed
from their homes. She conducted individual and family
therapy and also co-led psychoeducational Aggression
Replacement Therapy groups. Dr. Gifford completed her
postdoctoral fellowship
at Pathways Transition Programs
where she worked with children and adolescents with
psychological issues such as sexual and physical abuse,
grief, neglect, behavioral disorders and mood
disorders. Dr. Gifford has experience in Play Therapy
and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy. Additionally, Dr. Gifford is member
of the American Psychological
Association and the Association of Play Therapy.
At the Medlin Treatment Center, she provides individual
and family therapy for
children and adolescents between the ages of 3 and 18
years old with general psychological and sexual trauma
issues, as well as sexual acting out behaviors. She also
conducts psychosexual, sexual trauma, and general
psychological evaluations.
Ashley Loyd, Psy.D., Psychologist
Dr. Loyd
graduated from Georgia State University with a B.S. in
Psychology and Sociology. She received her M.A. and
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Georgia School of
Professional Psychology. She completed her pre-doctoral
internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the Clayton
County Community Mental Health Center. Her clinical
interests include working with children ages 4-11 with
attachment difficulties, trauma histories, selective
mutism, and in foster care placements. Within the
adolescent population, she is interested in working with
clients who are involved in the legal system displaying
severe behavioral and emotional struggles. Dr. Loyd has
provided individual, family and group therapy with a
play and art therapy component, as well as conducted
psychological and psychosexual evaluations. She has
experience working in both residential and community
mental health facilities with diverse, disadvantaged and
underserved populations. She also has experience
collaborating with juvenile courts, Department of
Juvenile Justice, and Department of Family and Children
Services (DFCS). She is a member of the American
Psychological Association and the Association of Play
Therapy.
Candace D. Allen-Staten, Psy.D.,
Psychologist
Dr.
Allen-Staten earned a Master of Arts degree in Clinical
Psychology from the University of Dayton (UD) in 2002.
At UD, she received training in providing individual and
group therapy to children and adolescents with Serious
Emotional Disturbances and in conducting empirical
research. Dr. Allen-Staten earned her doctorate degree
in Clinical Psychology from Wright State University,
School of Professional Psychology (WSU-SOPP) in 2007. At
WSU-SOPP, Dr. Allen-Staten was trained in providing
individual, group, and family therapy to adolescent and
adult clients with a wide range of diagnoses, including
trauma and grief. In 2007, Dr. Allen-Staten completed a
Pre-Doctoral Psychology Internship at the University of
California, Davis Children’s Hospital CAARE (Child
and Adolescent Abuse, Resource, Evaluation Diagnostic
and Treatment)
Center
in Sacramento, California. At the CAARE Center,
Dr. Allen-Staten received specialized training in
providing Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy,
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, and individual, group,
and family therapy with children and adolescents with
histories child physical abuse, child sexual abuse, and
neglect. Also at the CAARE Center, Dr. Allen-Staten was
trained in completing Child Welfare Evaluations and Full
Battery Psychological Evaluations. During her
Post-Doctoral training/employment, Dr. Allen-Staten
completed Disability Evaluations in California for
persons of all ages and Full Battery Psychological
Evaluations and Parent Fitness Evaluations for children,
adolescents, and adults in Georgia.
At
Medlin Treatment Center, Dr. Allen-Staten is conducting
both psychosexual evaluations and general psychological
evaluations and providing individual and family therapy
services to pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult
clients with histories of physical and sexual abuse as
well as general psychological issues. Dr. Allen-Staten’s
areas of expertise include: child physical abuse, child
sexual abuse, women with trauma histories (i.e., child
sexual abuse, child physical abuse, and domestic
violence), family therapy, grief, full battery
psychological evaluations, and psychosexual evaluations.
Dr. Allen-Staten also integrates spirituality in therapy
when requested by clients.
Elizabeth Gould, LCSW, Therapist
Elizabeth Gould obtained
her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Boston University
and her Master’s Degree in Social work at the University
of Southern California. She has experience providing
individual, group, family and multi-family therapy to
several populations including at risk youth, offenders
and victims of abuse. Elizabeth worked extensively with
gang members and juvenile offenders in Los Angeles prior
to returning to Atlanta several years ago. Since
returning to Atlanta, she has worked as a Clinical
Director of a Residential Treatment Center and has
worked with victims of physical and sexual abuse using
Animal Assisted Therapy.
Erica Walker, Ph.D., Licensed
Psychologist
Dr. Walker
graduated from Spelman College Magna Cum Laude with a
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She received her MA, as
well as her Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology, from
the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Dr.
Walker completed her internship at the University of
Tennessee Health Science Center in the following
settings: LaBonheur Children’s Hospital, Boling Center
for Developmental Disabilities, Memphis City Schools,
and the Center for Children and Parents. She completed
her postdoctoral fellowship at the Marcus Institute
through the Emory University School of Medicine,
specializing in the assessment and treatment of children
prenatally exposed to alcohol, drugs and other toxins.
At Medlin Treatment Center,
Dr. Walker provides therapy to children and
adolescents with general psychology issues and those
experiencing distress from sexual abuse. She also
conducts psychological evaluations with children and
adolescents. Dr. Walker is a member of the American
Psychological Association.
LaShanna Newton, Ed.D., CRC, NCC, Evaluator
Dr.
Newton earned her B.S.
in Biology and her M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling
from Fort Valley State University. Since 2000, she has
worked in a variety of fields including
Rehabilitation Counseling, Mental Health, and Substance
Abuse. In addition, she has been an adjunct psychology
professor for various colleges. In 2004, she went back
to school to attain her Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology
from Argosy University which she completed in 2007. Her
certifications include CRC (Certified Rehabilitation
Counselor) and NCC (National Certified Counselor).
Dr. Newton currently conducts psychological,
psychosexual, and sexual trauma evaluations at Medlin
Treatment Center.
Amanda Carter, MA, LPC, Program
Therapist
Amanda Carter provides individual and group therapy in
the Adult Sexual Deviancy Program at Medlin Treatment
Center. She is a licensed professional counselor.
Mrs. Carter obtained her bachelor's degree in biology
with a minor in psychology from Lambuth University, and
her master's degree in Professional Counseling with a
specialization in Christian Sex Therapy from Richmont
Graduate University. She completed her internship at
the Behavioral Medicine Institute of Atlanta, Peachford
Behavioral Health Systems, and the Hope Counseling
Center. Mrs. Carter also led a program in Atlanta
entitled, "Sex and Young America," for young adolescent
females. In 2009, she gave a 2
hour presentation to the Trauma and Abuse Class at
Richmont regarding her work with sex offenders.
Rebecca Krenz-Roe,
LAMFT, Program Therapist
Ms.
Rebecca Krenz-Roe, MA, LAMFT obtained her Bachelor’s
Degree in Psychology from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison. She later obtained her Master’s
Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Appalachian
State University in Boone, North Carolina. Ms. Krenz-Roe
has experience working with children, adolescents,
adults and families in residential treatment centers,
outdoor therapeutic programs, schools, and most
recently, a public health teen center. Ms. Krenz-Roe
currently provides outpatient psychotherapy to adult
male and female sexual offenders at Medlin Treatment
Center, as well as general clients of all ages. Ms.
Krenz-Roe is a clinical associate member of the
Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, and
serves as a student/associate liaison for the Metro
Atlanta chapter of the Georgia Association of Marriage
and Family Therapy. |