Meet Our Staff


	John Friend, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist Director Theoretical Orientation: Dr. Friend’s clinical work is driven by his interest in the application of behavioral principles in understanding topics such as purpose, meaning and values, the therapeutic relationship, and present moment focused work. Professional Interests: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, brief solution-focused therapy, integrated healthcare, sport and performance psychology, anxiety-related disorders, relationship issues, and coping with life transitions. Professional Memberships: Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
	Darleen P. Dempster, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC Associate Director Theoretical Orientation and Professional Interests: Integrated and client directed approach that incorporates evidence-based treatment (e.g., Prolonged Exposure Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for a wide variety of conditions with particular emphasis on posttraumatic stress, such as that resulting from sexual assault, domestic violence, childhood abuse, etc. Other areas of interest include LGBTQ wellness and advocacy, eating disorders, grief, couple’s counseling, and relationship issues. Professional Memberships: American Counseling Association, American College Counseling Association
	Shanta Jenkins, M.S., LPC, MAC Counselor, Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator Theoretical Orientation: Integrated Cognitive/Behavioral approach incorporating various evidence-based treatment modalities working towards developing a healthy mind, body, and spirit. Professional Interests: Substance abuse/dependence, group counseling, co-occurring disorders, life transitions and coping skills, emotional, mental and physical health, self-esteem issues, trauma, anger, stress, and time management, anxiety, depression, couple’s counseling and relationship issues. Professional Memberships: American Counseling Association, American College Counseling Association, Alabama Counseling Association, Alabama College Counseling Association, The Association for Addiction Professionals, Alabama Association of Addiction Counselors
	Vallarie Jones, M.S., LPC Counselor Theoretical Orientation: Integrated psychodynamic-interpersonal process approach that draws upon cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, reality, and encompasses other theoretical strategies that are best suited for each individual client to be their best self. Professional Interests: Stress management, family and relationship issues, anxiety, depression, health and wellness, coping skills, and correctional behavioral health. Professional Memberships: Alabama Counseling Association, Alabama College Counseling Association
	Marjorie Scaffa, M.S., ALC Formerly: Marjorie Scaffa, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA Health and Wellness Counselor - College of Medicine Theoretical Orientation: Primarily use a solution-focused, strengths-based approach to counseling with the ability to integrate other theoretical approaches to meet the needs of individual clients. Professional Interests: Wellbeing of health professions students and practitioners, health promotion and prevention, family and relationship issues, grief and trauma. Professional Memberships: American Counseling Association, Alabama Counseling Association, International Positive Psychology Association
	Nathan Booth, M.Ed. Doctoral Clinical & Counseling Psychology Graduate Intern Theoretical Orientation and Professional Interests: Integrated approach that draws heavily from cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and mindfulness-based practices. His research interests include issues related to men/masculinity, positive psychology variables such as hope and self-compassion, and help-seeking attitudes on college campuses. Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association-Division 51 (Study of Men and Masculinity)
	April T. Berry, M.S. Doctoral Clinical & Counseling Psychology Graduate Intern Theoretical Orientation: Integrated approach that not only embraces the cognitive, behavioral, affective, or physiological systems within a person, but also the social and transpersonal aspects of the systems surrounding the person. Professional Interests: Conformity regarding social dynamics and groups, interpersonal difficulties based on gender, sex, sexual orientation, etc., decision making, stress, and depression. Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association, Alabama Counseling Association Chapter II
	Nicholas Borgogna, M.A. Doctoral Clinical & Counseling Psychology Graduate Intern Theoretical Orientation and Professional Interests: Third-wave behavioral approaches, specifically those found in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP). His research interests include issues related to sexuality (sexual/pornography addiction), anxiety, experiential avoidance and avoidance-based behaviors, intimate partner violence, religious issues/scrupulosity, and LGBTQ mental health. Professional Memberships: American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association-Division 51 (Study of Men and Masculinity), Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Association of Contextual Behavior Science, and Southeastern Psychological Association
	Shameryl Dixon Master-level Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern Theoretical Orientation: An integrated and person-centered approach used to fit the needs of each individual and that incorporates evidence-based treatment (e.g.,Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) for a wide variety of conditions with particular emphasis on posttraumatic stress, substance abuse, domestic violence, childhood abuse, etc. Professional Interest: Substance abuse/dependence,advocacy, grief, relationship issues, anxiety, stress, boundaries, time-management, health and wellness. Professional Memberships: American Counseling Association, Alabama Counseling Association Chapter VIII.
	Matthew Whatley Master-level Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern Theoretical Orientation: Integrated solution-focused and strengths-based approach that embraces and works with the unique systemic, cognitive, and behavioral aspects relative to each client. Professional Interests: Depression, anxiety, adjustment difficulties, relationship/interpersonal difficulties, existential difficulties, stress, time management. Professional Memberships: American Counseling Association, Alabama Counseling Association Chapter VIII
	Terri C. Kadel, MS, LPC Testing Coordinator Professional Membership: National College Testing Association