Staff

DIRECTORS

Jane Clement,  Ph.D., jclement@memphis.edu
Director

Alma Mater:  University of Memphis.  (GO TIGERS!)

Hobbies:   When I am not being the Director of the Counseling Center or working in my private practice, I enjoy time with family – particularly with my granddaughters. I enjoy playing bridge with friends and going to the lake. I go to any and all theater shows I am able. I collect kaleidoscopes and love art museums and antiques. My passion is Tiger Basketball – you will find me at most every game. I travel a lot but have a few places still on my bucket list...China, Croatia, and Costa Rica.

Professional areas of interest:  Areas of professional interest for me are: Training, Diversity, Women's issues, Couples, Myers-Briggs, and family therapy.

Wellness Tip:  Wellness for me means staying busy and finding time to laugh.

Linh P. Luu, Ph.D., lluu1@memphis.edu
Associate Director, Training Director-Internship and Practicum

Alma Mater:  Lehigh University.

Hobbies:  I love traveling and exploring new places, meeting new people, cooking, practicing yoga, spending time with friends, decorating, and reading.

Favorite books and/or movies: A few of the books I like includes: The Namesake, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, and the Center Cannot Hold.

Professional areas of interest:  My scholarly interests include social justice advocacy and multicultural competency in training, clinical supervision, and racial and gender issues. My clinical interests include trauma and grief, multicultural issues, LGBTQ+, and identities development issues.

Wellness Tip:  Be where you are, enjoy the moment, find meaning and purpose in what you do.

PSYCHOLOGISTS & THERAPISTS

Will Adams, Ph.D., MBA,  rwadams@memphis.edu
Staff Psychologist

Alma Mater:  SMU and The University of Memphis for graduate school. Go Tigers!

Hobbies:  In no particular order, fishing, golf, going to movies and museums, riding bikes with my 3 kids, and Tiger athletics.

Favorite books and/or movies: I enjoy southern literature and history. I also like documentaries and, yes, romantic comedies. One of my favorite films is Good Will Hunting.

Professional areas of interest: Trauma Informed Care, Sports Psychology, Crisis Intervention, Diversity, Training & Supervision, Group Therapy, Spirituality, and Psychotherapy Research.

Wellness Tip:  Dry ribs over wet. And being vulnerable is being brave.

Britney Bryson, LPC-MHSP, bmsmmons@memphis.edu 
Staff Mental Health Counselor, Health and Wellness Outreach Educator

Alma Mater:  I attended Middle Tennessee State University for my undergraduate degree and University of Memphis for my graduate degree.

Hobbies:  Watching movies, creative writing, listening to music, and going to concerts.

Professional areas of interest: Wellness education and awareness, group therapy, trauma, self-esteem, dual diagnosis treatment for substance use and mental illness, suicide prevention, adjustment, relationships and risk prevention.

Wellness Tip:  "We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty" - Maya Angelou. Know that change and challenges will not be stopped by our beauty or our healing. The best parts of us were created with tears and tough decisions. Take care of yourself at each part of your process because self-care isn't about being pretty. Self-care is about knowing how to survive and thrive when things get ugly.

Artice Carter, LCSW, acarter@memphis.edu
Staff Social Worker

Alma Mater:  University of Memphis (GO Blue, GO Gray, GO Tigers!) 

Hobbies:  Being with family and attending shows at the Orpheum and Ballet Memphis.

Professional areas of interest: Problems and concerns related to transition-age youth, severe mental illness (SMI), complex trauma, spirituality, issues with guilt and shame, crisis intervention and crisis prevention planning.

Wellness Tip:  The first wealth is health. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

David Deason, Ph.D., ddeason1@memphis.edu
Staff Psychologist

Alma Mater:  I received my B.S. from the University of Alabama, and my M.S. and Ph.D. From the University of Southern Mississippi.

Hobbies:  I like watching sports, especially college football, smoking BBQ, cooking, watching movies, traveling and reading.

Favorite books and/or movies:  Too many to name here, but among my favorite movies would be Shawshank Redemption and Forrest Gump. I loved the book Lonesome Dove and most all of Stephen King's short stories.

Professional areas of interest: Personality disorders, anxiety, trauma, attachment theory, developmental theories and counselor development.

Wellness Tip:  Mark Twain once said, "I've known a lot of trouble in my life, most of which never happened." I find we do well to remember anxiety mostly lives in our imagination.

Victoria Jones, LMSW, vmaher@memphis.edu
Staff Social Worker, Outreach Coordinator

Alma Mater:  University of Memphis. (Go Tigers Go!)

Hobbies:  I enjoy reading, cooking, practicing yoga, working out, sports, and event planning.

Favorite books and/or movies:  My favorite book would have to be the Harry Potter series and my favorite movie is the Breakfast Club.

Professional areas of interest: Stress management, trauma, suicide prevention, safe zone, personal growth and cultivation, training and presenting, mindfulness, art therapy, play therapy, sports psychology, and group therapy.

Wellness Tip:  I think Albus Dumbledore says it best that "happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light". However, my own tip is to always strive for balance in life instead of perfection in life.

Tim White, Ph.D., CMPC, ATC, CSCS, tmwhite5@memphis.edu
Post Doctoral Fellow

Alma Mater:  I went to the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse for undergrad, completed my master's at the University of Utah, and eventually went back to school for my PhD at the University of Missouri.

Hobbies:  I enjoy anything that allows me to be outdoors, active, and/or work with my hands (i.e. sports, hiking, woodworking)

Favorite books and/or movies:  I like books based on real events such as "Imperfect" (Jim Abbott) or "Tuesdays with Morrie" (Mitch Albom). My favorite movies tend to mix drama with action (e.g. Gladiator) or those based on historical events (e.g. The 12th Man) and documentaries (e.g. Legion of Brothers; Free Solo)

Professional areas of interest: As a sports enthusiast I am interested in working with athletes and helping them maximize their mental health and athletic performance. Working in sports medicine before switching to psychology contributes to my interest in the psychology of injury. I am also interested in areas such as substance abuse, trauma, and assessing for ADHD and learning disorders.

Wellness Tip:  Mental health and physical health go hand-in-hand. One influences the other and visa versa. We must take care of both in order to maximize wellbeing

SUPPORT STAFF

Kelsey Hoover, kstwart5@memphis.edu
Administrative Assistant

Alma Mater: University of Memphis. (Go Tigers!)

Hobbies: Reading, attending sporting events, and playing with my dog.

Favorite books and/or movies: A few of my favorite books include the Harry Potter series, the Book Thief, and Jane Eyre.

Wellness Tip: Self-care is so necessary. When you make time to care for and replenish yourself, you will give the world a better version of you.

Donna Larison, dlarison@memphis.edu
Administrative Assistant

Alma Mater: Education received at Bulmershe school and college.

Hobbies: Calligraphy, Tea culture, reading and staying in touch with scattered family; stateside and abroad.

Favorite books and/or movies: I enjoy any book with a strong redemptive theme like A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist. An utter favorite is Pride and Prejudice. Favorite movie by far is Dead Poets Society.

Wellness Tip: Remember that your smile is your superpower. Mother Teresa once said; "Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." We can never know all the good that a simple smile can do.

2020 – 2021 Doctoral Interns in Health Service Psychology

Zachary Cohen, M.A., Zachary.Cohen@memphis.edu
Psychology Intern

Alma Mater: Marist College Undergrad, William James College Grad

Hobbies: Photography, Hiking, Exploring Local Barbecue Joints, and playing with my puppy Jackson.

Favorite books and/or movies: The Blind Side, Good Will Hunting, Lars and the Real Girl, Shrek, and the Harry Potter Series

Professional areas of interest: College-age counseling, anxiety, depression, substance use, and criminal justice psychology

Wellness Tip: Set your phone background to a picture that elicits a specific positive memory, such as a vacation you took, your pet, family members, etc. When you pick up your phone the picture will automatically trigger a positive feeling that reminds you of that moment.

Aldra Forrester, M.A., mfrrstr1@memphis.edu
Psychology Intern

Alma Mater: I attended Florida International University for my undergraduate education. I earned my master’s degree from The Florida School for Professional Psychology and will receive my doctorate degree from the same institution.

Hobbies: Listening to music; Recreational fitness and relaxation such as zumba, cardio kickboxing, pilates, spinning, yoga and mediation; Trying adrenaline related activities such as skydiving, parasailing, and ziplining.

Professional areas of interest: Social Justice Advocacy, Multiculturalism/diversity inclusion, Family/interpersonal challenges, Trauma and abuse, Spirituality/faith processing, Self-worth building, Adjustment concerns, Personal strengths training, and Mindfulness.

Wellness Tip: One of the few things you can control is how you treat yourself, and that one thing can change EVERYTHING! Always remember to be kind to yourself and recognize that you are doing the best you can in the given moment! 😊

Parker Rhomberg, M.A., prhmberg@memphis.edu
Psychology Intern

Alma Mater: I attended University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree, University of Denver for my Master’s degree, and will be receiving my doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from University of Memphis. Go Blue, GoTigers!

Hobbies: I am a huge foodie and love to make creative new recipes with my partner. I also enjoy sports of all kinds, traveling, puzzles, video games, and making music.

Favorite books and/or movies: I have enjoyed a plethora of John Grisham and Tom Clancy, as well as Harry Potter, The Catcher in the Rye, Tuesdays with Morrie, and Friday Night Lights. My favorite movies would have to include Sandlot, The Dark Knight, Remember the Titans, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Professional areas of interest:  My clinical interests would include emerging adulthood, identity development, relationship/interpersonal challenges, sports psychology, trauma, and career development.

Wellness Tip: Be vulnerable, ask for help, and remember to enjoy the ordinary. Without vulnerability there is no connection. We are built for struggle and not meant to endure it alone. And if you are too busy chasing the extraordinary, you risk missing out on your life.

Christopher Varghese, M.A., cvrghese@memphis.edu
Psychology Intern

Alma Mater: Nova Southeastern University

Hobbies: I really enjoy spending time with family and friends, listening to music, playing video games, traveling, and playing tennis.

Favorite books and/or movies: Harry Potter series for both, Looper, Matrix, Lord of the Rings series

Professional areas of interest: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Multiculturalism

Wellness Tip: Stay in the moment and don’t miss what’s in front of you.