Embark at Atlanta North

Dr. Sharnell Myles, Psy. D. is a licensed psychotherapist and certified clinical trauma professional who specializes in the treatment of complex trauma. Her dedication to serving children, youth, and adults has spanned over 20-years with a focus on utilizing trauma-informed services to treat a continuum of trauma experiences, including domestic minor sex trafficking and community-based trauma. Dr. Myles is the Executive Director of JoyUs Beginnings Child & Family Wellness Center and The Urban Trauma Positive Impact Center, Inc., an exclusive trauma-informed treatment and advocacy center located in Atlanta, Georgia. Services include trauma informed therapies, trauma assessments, group treatments, gender specific social justice initiatives for girls of color and PeriCare a 2-Gen maternal fetal behavioral health treatment and advocacy initiative. Dr. Myles served as the first Clinical Director for youthSpark, Inc. and was to serve vulnerable youth who experienced exploitation, abuse, and other victimizations within the Fulton County Juvenile Court (FCJC), the largest juvenile court in the southeast region. Throughout her career, Dr. Myles has consulted with systems of care, such as East Cleveland’s MyCom, Inc. and Minnesota’s Robbinsdale Area Schools, to develop trauma-informed systems of care, policy, programming, and training on trauma and equity. In December 2018, Dr. Myles collaborated with Atlanta Public School Board Member Erika Mitchell – District 5 and co-authored the first Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) Protocol for schools in the state of Georgia and has trained hundreds of school social workers on this policy. In addition, she has trained over ten thousand individuals on the impact of trauma DMST which includes Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, corporations, law enforcement, mental health providers, educators, lawyers, governmental officials, community members, and youth. Dr. Myles has accepted many leadership positions throughout her career. She is the current Advisory Board Chair for the DeKalb County Juvenile Court Mental Health Court – Journey Program, a member of the Georgia Statewide Multi-Disciplinary Team for Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Board Chair for Breaking the Cycle, Inc (Philadelphia), and was the Vice Chair of the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Taskforce Survivors Supported and Protected workgroup. Dr. Myles is a subject matter expert and provides expert testimony in legal cases involving child and adolescent trauma. She has presented at various conferences and has experience in vast settings such as clinical, juvenile justice, Department of Defense, and community-based settings.

Shellina Jenkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia and a Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor. Shellina gained interest in helping individuals fight the battle against substance abuse and mental health as a young child. She was eager to find a way to help those in need very close to her. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Georgia State University, and her Master’s Degree from Fort Valley University. Shellina has a variety of work experience with adolescents and adults in corrections, drug court, foster care, mental health clinics, working with individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. Prior to joining Potomac Programs, Shellina has held leadership positions in mental health clinics and corrections. She has also worked in private practice settings to assist in the treatment of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, SPMI and substance abuse. Shellina has provided training on suicide prevention/intervention, substance abuse and mental health in community-based settings and in corrections. Shellina’s philosophy on behavioral change involves several treatment modalities such as role modeling / teaching to encourage positive thoughts & behaviors, focusing on positive outcomes utilizing CBT, DBT, solution focused approach etc.

RESPECTED PUBLIC SERVANT The multi-talented professional and local public servant is a native of Atlanta and is committed to bridging the support gap between non-profit organizations and for-profit companies in order to better serve the diverse communities. Since elected to the Atlanta Board of Education, Erika Mitchell has established herself as one of Atlanta’s most influential public servant. Mitchell is an active board member when it comes to serving her community and she is a strong believer in parent and community engagement. Mitchell currently serving on the Atlanta Board of Education’s Policy Review Committee, Equity Taskforce, Audit Committee and the Boards of Director for the Atlanta BeltLine. Mitchell is currently on the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Taskforce Workgroup and was appointed by the City of Atlanta’s Mayor Bottom to serve on the Atlanta 2020 Census Committee. Mitchell is also an elected member of the National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education’s Steering Committee and elected as Secretary on the National Black Council of School Board Members and Chair Policy and Resolutions Committee for Council of Urban Board of Education. ​ Mitchell has been awarded 2019 The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc (The Greater Atlanta Chapter) Public Servant Award, 2019 C.T Martin’s Public Servant Award, and was honored by The Alabama State University’s “50 under 50” Class of 2018, 2018 America Caribbean Captains of the Industries, 2016 Barack Obama’s “President Lifetime Volunteer Service” Award, the “Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major” Award and the 2011 National Black Latino Council Community Organization of the Year. PRIOR TO CURRENT ROLE Mitchell is currently the Managing Partner at Sports Unlimited Enterprise, LLC. Sports Unlimited Enterprise, LLC (SUE) specializes in Event planning, Public Relations, Marketing, Charities, Non-Profits and Branding for current and former professional athletes. SUE’s Mission is to bridge the gap between professional athletes and corporate companies that will engage athletes and or their charities involvement with the youth and their community. SUE provides a platform for athletes to leverage their brands to host or partner with fundraising and charitable initiatives. Mitchell is also the founder of Atlanta Women In Sports (AWIS), which salutes and honors Atlanta business women who are blazing trails and redefining the position of “sports executive and athletes” with their contributions in the sports industry. AWIS also provides a platform and networking opportunities for women to connect and engage professionals of various industries who carry a similar passion for the business of sports. EARLY DAYS A graduate of Alabama State University, Mitchell was able to take advantage of a full athletic scholarship. She won numerous awards for her stellar athletic performance including the Indoor and Outdoor track and field South Western Athletics Conference (SWAC) Championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Mitchell earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Information Systems yielding her the knowledge and opportunity to work for major global brands such as Coca Cola, Cbeyond, and Kodak as an Information Technology (IT) specialist.

Ayana is a National Board Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor, and a Certified Anger Management Specialist with a Masters Degree in Community Counseling accompanied by a certification in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University. She has over 15 years of experience in the behavioral health field.  Ayana specializes in individual therapy, family therapy, life coaching, and clinical supervision. Her areas of expertise include depression, mood disorders,  behavior disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorder, anger management, self-harming behaviors, relationship issues, and parenting skills. Ayana uses a solution-focused, person-centered approach in her practice and has extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,  Functional Family Therapy, Clinical Supervision, and Aggressive Replacement Training. She is passionate about being a change agent and working with individuals and families from all walks of life to drive positive change by liberating the best version of themselves. Ayana enjoys spending time with her children (son and dog), going to the beach, laughing, reading, thrifting, and traveling.

Harry Gordon is Mental Health Clinician with a Master of Science Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. Harry also holds a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Counseling Theory in Couple and Family Systems. Harry has a zest for helping young adolescents as evidenced by his work as a school teacher, coach and mentor. He has numerous years of experience with the children and adolescent population as he founded a youth summer camp for inner city at risk boys, coached basketball and baseball at Atlanta area recreation centers, started a Men of Distinction program at community schools. Harry believes that a systemic family approach will help troubled youth be engaging the entire family. Harry believes that young men need to understand who they are as men, what they can achieve, how to understand and control: their emotions, low self-esteem, drugs, gender identity issues and self-harm. He believes that young ladies need to understand their self-worth, the pitfalls of teen pregnancy, having positive relationships, gender identity and self-harm. In his spare time Harry spends time with family and friends, exercises and travels.

Jennifer Walker is a licensed clinical social worker with a master of social work degree from Savannah state university. She has a unique passion for empowering, inspiring, and motivating others to achieve their dreams. Life experience, education, and determination ultimately inspired her to become a “Change agent”. Over the past twenty years, Jennifer has served children, families, and communities as a certified school social worker, executive board member for the school social worker association of Georgia, national presenter for the national drop out prevention center, non-profit board chair for feed the city, field liaison for fort valley state university, success coach, mentor, CEO for jk marketing, and community clinician for mental health agencies. Jennifer uses a strengths-based, client-centered, and humanistic approach to assist teens and families to reach therapeutic goals while using CBT techniques. Jennifer enjoys working with children and families facing transitions and conflict. She strives to make a difference in the world with her “Out of the box” style. Ms. Walker’s goal is to be genuine yet a realistic catalyst that will empower youth to regain their confidence and move past the obstacles in their lives.

DeShawn Artis is an Associate Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Arts Degree in Community Counseling, along with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University, Atlanta Campus. DeShawn has a strong desire to work with families and help them become “unstuck” by observing interactions, or “transactions” within the family that seem to support or encourage problems within the family system. DeShawn has over 10 years of experience in working with individuals, couples, families and group work. His experience varies from community-based work to substance abuse and residential treatment centers, as well as inpatient psychiatric hospitals. In working with families, one of the treatment modalities that DeShawn finds useful is the Structural Family Therapy approach or SFT. In practice, concepts such as boundaries, alliances, and interactions among family members are highlighted and new ways of interacting within the family are encouraged, as the therapist, in a metaphoric sense “becomes a member of the family.” While working with individuals, DeShawn finds Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy helpful. In REBT, DeShawn understands that while problems seem to create tension in our lives, it is not the problem that maintains the dysfunction, but rather the way we think about the problem, that serves to continually perturb our daily lives. Uncovering such irrational thinking patterns is most liberating! DeShawn has many things he is passionate about when it comes to therapy. He finds joy in working with LGBTQ youth, looking at preventative, treatment and therapy for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, incorporating spirituality into the counseling process, working to address individual, family and community trauma and a host of other concerns, as they relate to mental health. In DeShawn’s spare time you can catch him at poetry spots, swanky bookstores in East Atlanta, trying out new restaurants, participating in community advocacy, or simply trying to browse for the next best show on Netflix.

Olin Pirkle is a licensed master social worker with an MSW from the University of Georgia. Olin also holds an ED. S degree in professional school counseling and has over 5 years of professional experience working with families and youth in a variety of settings. Olin uses an eclectic approach often combining the practical solution focus of brief therapy techniques with cognitive behavior therapy techniques allowing for tailored fit treatments for clients of varying individual needs. Olin is committed to helping clients create fundamental changes that are ever lasting while teaching clients to be self-sufficient by utilizing developed strengths, the environment and personal resources to solve major problems life inevitably brings. Olin has extensive training and professional experience with the application of brief therapy methods including Solution Focus Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Reality Therapy. Olin also has professional training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) as well as specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT). Olin is also inspired by the Existential Therapists, and he encourages clients to search for deeper meaning in their lives.

Nicole Wint is a Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW). Nicole Wint holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology from the University of the Caribbean and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Simmons University. For the past thirteen (13) years, Nicole has worked extensively with teenagers and young adults across Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and the United States which undoubtedly has attributed to vast improvement in cultural competence and diversification of knowledge in her area of expertise. Nicole has a passion for working with youth and while working in Turks and Caicos singlehandedly commenced and maintained campaigns on ending bullying and child sexual abuse. Projects are maintained to date by the Turks and Caicos government. Nicole is consistently developing competence in use of techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and Play Therapy as part of best therapeutic practices. Nicole is experienced in areas of communication, working with culturally diverse groups, public speaking and leadership skills. Nicole has strong ethical values, great compassion for people and believe that the family is the backbone of the society. Nicole is competent in her ability to work independently and with a team. In her spare time, Nicole likes to read, cook, travel and watch movies with her family.

Natasha is an alumnus of Georgia State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration degree with a concentration in Managerial Science.  She also Graduated from Georgia Military College Phi Theta Kappa Cum Laude with an Associate in Science, Business Administration degree.  Natasha has a passion for human service and has expended over twenty years of her career working for the State of California, Department of Health and Human Services.  She worked as a leader in her church, Friendship Community Church where she was a facilitated young adult and children and youth groups.  Natasha has a desire to make difference in all she does and have a positive impact on the lives of people she has interactions with.

Dr. Amanda N. Nicholson, Ph.D. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in Sex Therapy. Dr. Amanda specializes in individual, family therapy, coaching, and couple’s therapy. Her areas of specialty include sexuality, religion, relationship issues, anxiety, trauma, and depression. Dr. Amanda received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavior Analysis with a minor in Africana Studies from Savannah State University, Master of Family Therapy from Mercer University, Master of Education in Human Sexuality Studies with a concentration in Sex Therapy from Widener University, and Doctor of Philosophy in Human Sexuality Studies with a concentration in Sex Therapy from Widener University. Dr. Amanda is a trauma informed therapist who is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Having a family theory informed approached Dr. Amanda enjoys using Narrative, Emotional Focused, and Structural therapies in her therapeutic approach while collaborating with her students and families about their care. Dr. Amanda is also a college instructor with five years of teaching experience in the University System of Georgia. In her free time Dr. Amanda enjoys reading books that whisk her imagination off to new places, practicing yoga, eating food good for the soul, watching movies that make her laugh until she cries and enjoying life to the fullest.