Meet Our Team

Dr. Sandra King

Dr. King is an experienced and dedicated Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). With a diverse clinical background, Dr. King has extensive experience providing compassionate, evidence-based care in women’s health, primary care, and pediatric care, serving patients from infancy through adulthood.

Throughout her career, Dr. King has been committed to integrating lifestyle management strategies to address and improve chronic health conditions, empowering patients to take control of their well-being. Her holistic approach focuses on the connection between physical, mental, and emotional health, and she is particularly passionate about preventive care and sustainable lifestyle changes as tools for disease management.

With a deep commitment to continuous learning and patient-centered care, Dr. King is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families, fostering health and wellness through a comprehensive, personalized approach to care.

Miranda Marcano

Miranda Marcano is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a passion for helping clients navigate challenges and build resilience. She holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Montevallo. Miranda is trained in Synergetic Play Therapy and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).

Miranda specializes in working with children aged three and older, as well as parents and families navigating anxiety, parenting challenges, and relational dynamics. She is dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment where clients feel understood, valued, and empowered to make meaningful changes.

Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that every individual has the potential for growth and healing. Miranda views therapy as a collaborative partnership, helping clients and families strengthen their connections and develop the skills to navigate life’s ups and downs. She prioritizes building genuine, warm relationships to foster trust and dignity, ensuring clients feel comfortable exploring their experiences.

Clients often describe Miranda as approachable, supportive, and warm, with a gift for making even the most challenging topics feel safe to discuss. She is particularly skilled at helping parents understand their children’s emotional needs and fostering healthier communication within families.

Dr. James Jackson

• Trauma and PTSD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Child/Family Conflict
• Grief
• Spirituality
• Mood Disorders
• Family Relational Problems

Dr. Jackson has years of expertise in helping individuals, families, and children overcome emotional and mental health challenges. He holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Alabama, as well as an M.A. in Community Counseling and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Alabama.

Dr. Jackson is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S), and certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). His specialized training in trauma and play therapy allows him to work effectively with clients as young as three years old, addressing complex emotional and behavioral concerns.

Specialties:
Dr. Jackson uses a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities tailored to each client’s needs, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), play therapy, sand tray therapy, family systems, and person-centered approaches. His holistic and client-centered approach fosters a safe and supportive environment where clients feel empowered to work toward healing and personal growth.

Sara Bowman

Sara Bowman is an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) in Alabama and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She holds a BA in Spanish and French from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (2013), an MA in Spiritual Formation from Asbury Theological Seminary (2018), and an MEd in Couples and Family Counseling from the University of Montevallo (2023).

Sara is trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities, including Child-Centered Play Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention, and sand tray therapy. She tailors her approach to meet the unique needs of each client, integrating evidence-based practices with person-centered therapy.

Sara’s work is grounded in her belief that true and lasting healing occurs in the safety of authentic relationships. Her approach is client-centered, focusing on holding space for individuals to explore their inherent worth and empowering them to make meaningful changes. She is passionate about working with children, adults, and couples, and specializes in helping children ages 3–10 navigate social, emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges.

Sara also enjoys working with young adults exploring their faith and processing its impact on their mental health and relationships. With her background in theology and counseling, she is uniquely equipped to guide clients through the intersection of spirituality and mental health.

Lisa Carboni

From a young age, Lisa Carboni was driven to make a positive impact on people’s lives. After earning a BSN from Auburn University in 2005, she began a career in women’s health at St. Vincent’s Hospital, where a passion for lactation support emerged, leading to certification as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). For the past 20 years, Lisa has supported mothers and families through childbirth and breastfeeding, taught prenatal classes, and promoted overall wellness.

Following her child’s autism diagnosis, Lisa transitioned to corporate onsite nursing, further strengthening her commitment to accessible healthcare. In May 2023, she began pursuing a Master of Nursing to become a Family Nurse Practitioner, with plans to graduate in May 2025. With a combination of lactation expertise and nursing experience, Lisa remains dedicated to advocating for patient care and healthcare accessibility.

Anne Lathan

Anne Lathan, RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian and Licensed Dietitian with a passion for helping individuals achieve healthier lifestyles through realistic, sustainable changes. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Auburn University and began her career at St. Vincent’s Hospital, working closely with patients managing chronic conditions such as stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

After her hospital experience, Anne transitioned into corporate health coaching, providing nutrition guidance to employees at several mid-sized businesses in the Birmingham area. For the past ten years, she has specialized in weight management, preventive nutrition, hydration, exercise, and interpreting lab results to empower individuals in making informed health decisions.

Anne thrives on meeting people where they are in their wellness journey, whether through one-on-one coaching or small group sessions. She believes in making nutrition and fitness approachable, helping clients implement small, realistic changes that lead to lasting improvements in their overall health.

Cami Westervelt

Cami Westervelt is an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) in Alabama and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). She holds a BS in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Utah (2017) and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University (2025).

As an ALC working under the supervision of Elizabeth Gross, LPS-S, Cami operates from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client/Child-Centered approach, incorporating trauma-informed and somatic (mind-body) interventions, mindfulness and yoga, play therapy, and expressive therapies. Cami can also incorporate more practical tools such as DBT and CBT skills.

Cami strives to see her clients through a multicultural lens, taking into consideration any social, racial, or cultural identities they feel are important to who they are. Cami works with her clients on reaching their goals and navigating life transitions. For her child and teen clients, understanding their worldview is essential to addressing challenges they may experience.

Cami is passionate in knowing that authenticity and connection can foster a safe space to be exactly as her clients are with non-judgment and empowerment. Creating a collaborative and caring environment is her ultimate goal while supporting her clients through their life journey.

Jaime Dean

Jaime Dean is an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) with a heart for helping women and teen girls navigate life’s challenges with strength and self-compassion. With over eight years of experience as a high school counselor, she has spent much of her career supporting teenage girls through the ups and downs of adolescence. That passion continues today in her work as a counselor focused on the unique needs of both teens and women.

Jaime holds a Master of Education and Bachelor of Science from Auburn University. She offers individual counseling in person and through secure telehealth appointments—making therapy more accessible and convenient for your busy life. For Jaime, therapy is not about “fixing” people–it is about empowering them to understand themselves more deeply, develop healthier relationships, and step into their lives with greater authenticity and confidence.

Jaime’s counseling philosophy is grounded in the understanding that life’s challenges–whether rooted in trauma, identity, relationships, or transitions–do not define a person but rather serve as opportunities for transformation. She strives to create a safe, welcoming space where you can feel heard, understood, and empowered to grow. Whether you’re facing anxiety, self-esteem issues, life transitions, or relationship struggles, she is here to walk with you at your pace.

Outside of counseling, Jaime is a wife and mom of two, which gives her a deep understanding of the challenges many women face in balancing personal growth with the demands of everyday life.

Jessica D. Kuklo

Jessica D. Kuklo, LPC, is a compassionate Licensed Professional Counselor dedicated to helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and achieve emotional well-being. With years of experience in the field, Jessica specializes in working with clients experiencing depression, trauma, anxiety, relationship struggles, boundary-setting, recovery, and life and social skill development.

Jessica is deeply committed to creating a warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental therapeutic space where clients feel safe to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. She believes that a trusting therapeutic relationship is the foundation for healing and personal growth.

Drawing on her education, training, and clinical expertise, Jessica takes a holistic approach to counseling, recognizing that every individual’s journey is unique. She is skilled in applying evidence-based techniques, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), tailored to meet each client’s specific needs.

Jessica is passionate about walking alongside her clients as they rediscover their strengths, build resilience, and move toward a more empowered and fulfilling life.

Lauren Arnold

• Depression/ mood disorders
• Anxiety/ panic disorders
• Complex trauma/PTSD
• Personality disorders
• Sexual abuse
• Sexually reactive behaviors
• Attachment
• Behavioral challenges
• Couples' conflict and communication issues

Lauren Arnold is an Licensed Professional Counselor who provides psychotherapy to adolescents, adults, and couples. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision.

Lauren is Level II trained in *Lifespan Integration and incorporates evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into her counseling practice. Her therapeutic orientation is primarily existential, with an emphasis on helping clients explore the underlying meaning of their behaviors and experiences as a foundation for holistic healing. She places a strong emphasis on clinical attunement and meeting clients where they are in their process.

With a decade of experience in the medical field including five years in adult healthcare and five years in pediatrics at Children’s of Alabama, Lauren brings a trauma-informed, integrative perspective to care. Her background also includes clinical work in residential treatment settings, supporting individuals with complex emotional and behavioral needs. She is dedicated to providing a grounded, compassionate therapeutic environment where clients can work toward insight, resilience, and lasting change.

*Lifespan Integration is a powerful mind-body technique, which through a variety of protocols, brings health, healing and neural integration to a person.

How Does LI Work?
With therapist support, clients create a timeline of life events that helps the nervous system recognize that past difficult experiences are over, reducing the need for old coping strategies.

Megan Shory

Megan, ALC, is an Associate Licensed Counselor whose personal mental health journey has deeply shaped her passion for supporting others—offering a level of understanding and empathy that comes from lived experience. She specializes in working with new parents, women’s mental health, and individuals healing from religious trauma.

Megan uses Lifespan Integration Therapy (LI), a gentle and effective modality that works on a deep neural level to transform outdated patterns and defense strategies. LI helps clients connect present-day emotions and behaviors with past experiences, allowing for the healing of unresolved memories and the promotion of lasting emotional growth.

She believes that the right therapeutic relationship can be a powerful catalyst for change. Life brings many challenges, but with encouragement and support, healing and transformation are possible. Megan is committed to walking alongside her clients as they explore their paths toward empowerment and emotional well-being.

Melenie Thomason

Melanie Thomason is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a passion for equipping clients with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges. With over 20 years of experience working with adolescents in school settings, Melanie brings a compassionate, knowledgeable, and holistic approach to therapy that honors the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of each individual.

Melanie holds an Education Specialist degree (Ed.S) in Counselor Education from the University of Alabama, a Master of Education (M.Ed) from Middle Tennessee State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Family Relations from Lipscomb University. Her background and years of hands-on experience help her connect easily with kids, teens, and their families.

Throughout her career, Melanie has supported young people and their parents in managing anxiety, depression, peer and family relationship issues, and major life transitions. She understands the unique challenges families face and strives to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard and empowered.

Melanie believes that therapy should meet you where you are and grow with you. She takes a person-centered approach, which means she listens closely, values your perspective, and works alongside you to find what’s most helpful. She draws from a variety of techniques—like cognitive-behavioral strategies and solution-focused work—to fit each client’s personality, goals, and situation. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive space where clients of all ages can feel seen, heard, and empowered to make meaningful progress.

Sarah Mangham

Sarah Mangham, EdS, NCC, ALC, SB-RPT With over 20 years of experience working with children and their families, Sarah Mangham brings deep expertise and a heartfelt commitment to supporting young people through life’s challenges. She has served as an elementary school teacher and is currently a practicing Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC), Certified School Counselor, and School-Based Play Therapist (SB-RPT).

Sarah is a lifelong learner, currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health through Troy University. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education from Samford University, a School Counseling degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and an Education Specialist (EdS) degree in Play Therapy from the University of Mississippi.

Passionate about helping children thrive, Sarah is especially focused on supporting families during times of stress or transition. Whether your kindergartner is experiencing daily meltdowns about school drop off, your third grader is exhibiting signs of ADHD and struggling to adjust, or your family is navigating the emotional toll of divorce — Sarah is here to help. Her approach centers on collaboration with families to create practical, compassionate solutions tailored to each child’s unique needs. Sarah works with children ages 4 – 12 and their families.

Sarah Atkinson

Sarah is a dedicated and compassionate therapist who believes that healing happens within the safety of an authentic, trusting relationship where clients feel seen, heard, and supported without judgment. She meets each individual with empathy and care, gently guiding them toward growth, healing, and self-discovery.

Sarah is a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) who brings a grounded and steady presence to the therapy room. Whether a client is feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, weighed down by depression, or working through the lasting effects of trauma, she offers support that is both warm and practical.

Her integrative approach draws from evidence-based modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Narrative Therapy, and Somatic Processing. She is also trained in Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping), a body-centered method that supports emotional regulation and trauma healing.

Sarah understands that clients don’t have to have everything figured out, and they don’t have to rush the process. What matters most is the courage to commit to the journey. Through compassionate guidance and practical tools, she helps individuals make sense of their story and break free from patterns that no longer serve them.

Jennifer Shamy

Jennifer Shamy, RN, IBCLC, has been a nurse since 1984 and has worked in many areas of healthcare, with a focus on obstetrics and lactation since 2001. She became a Board-Certified Lactation Consultant in 2021 and is currently part of the lactation team at UAB St. Vincent’s.

Jennifer’s passion for breastfeeding comes from her own experience as a mother. She understands the importance of support in the early days and believes that breastfeeding is about more than just feeding—it’s about connection. She’s here to guide and support you as you begin or continue your breastfeeding journey.

Brandi O'Neal

Brandi is a Registered Nurse (RN, BSN) and dedicated lactation consultant (IBCLC) with a heartfelt passion for guiding mothers and babies through their breastfeeding journey. She has specialized in caring for moms and newborns in the hospital setting since 2012. In 2019, she earned her IBCLC certification, expanding her expertise and allowing her to provide families with compassionate, evidence-based lactation support.

With over a decade of hands-on experience, Brandi empowers parents to reach their feeding goals through practical guidance and encouragement.

Outside of her professional role, Brandi is a devoted wife and mother to three young daughters. She understands firsthand the joys and challenges of motherhood and is committed to helping families navigate those precious early days with confidence, care, and connection.

Brandy Easterwood

Brandy Easterwood is a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 15 years of experience caring for children and families. She recently moved from the Washington, D.C. area, where she provided hands-on lactation support in both hospital and outpatient settings.

Brandy’s nursing career began in the Emergency Department at Children’s of Alabama many years ago, but it was after relocating to Atlanta for her husband’s career that she discovered her true calling while working in a pediatric office. There, she saw firsthand how many families lacked the breastfeeding support and education they deserved—especially outside the hospital. This inspired her to continue her education and become a certified lactation consultant, and eventually an IBCLC.

Brandy loves walking alongside families during the early days and months with a new baby. She knows these moments are precious, and also full of questions. Her approach is warm, compassionate, and centered on each family’s unique needs. Brandy believes there are many ways to feed and nurture a baby, and she is dedicated to helping parents find the path that works best for them.