OAKWOOD COUNSELING CENTER, LLC
2914 North Oak St.
Valdosta, GA. 31602
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(229) 333-0300
(229) 333-0306 [fax]
Staff
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Amy Wells, LCSW
Amy received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1996 and went on to obtain her Master of Social Work degree in 1998, both from Valdosta State University. She became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2001. Amy began her career helping people suffering from serious and persistent mental illness, working in day treatment, outpatient and inpatient psychiatric settings. She has also worked with the geriatric population in a variety of environments including nursing homes. She has extensive experience helping children and teenagers of divorced families and teaches co-parenting skills. She has been appointed by the Courts in both Georgia and Florida as a Parent Coordinator to assist families during high conflict divorces. Amy treats clients with perfectionism, grief, generalized anxiety, sports and academic performance anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, family and relationship issues, and stress management. Additionally, she has helped many cope with trauma suffered from automobile collisions. Amy recognizes the importance of integrating faith in relation to therapy during the healing process. She has been in private practice for over 23 years, is recognized as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and is a member of the International Association of Trauma Professionals. She is a trained Brainspotting Practitioner, a modality of treatment for anxiety, trauma and athletic performance blocks. Amy is a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) and is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). She enjoys providing supervision to other therapists seeking licensure. She offers individual, family, pre-marital and marital counseling. Amy is an owner of Oakwood Counseling Center, LLC.
Christa Crawford, LCSW
With 20+ years of experience providing clinical services and contributing to the development of community resources, Christa enjoys providing individual and family therapy for children, teenagers, and adults. In efforts to develop expertise in “service gap” areas, she discovered a love of working with two different populations- military issues and autism spectrum. Christa specializes in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Insomnia, and Autism Spectrum Disorders. She has a current clinical trauma professional (CCTP) certification. Christa is on the STAR provider registry after receiving 65+ hours of specialized training with the Center of Deployment Psychology for military stressors with particular focus on combat-related PTSD, Insomnia, Depression, and TBI. She is experienced in treating Oppositional Defiant Disorders, Anxiety (including Separation Anxiety Disorder,) and teaching parenting skills. Christa attended Valdosta State University and obtained Social Work licensure in 2001. She has studied the impact of culture shock and culture adjustment, in addition to participating in a social work program in Veracruz, Mexico. Christa was contracted at Moody AFB to start Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy services in 2008. She enjoys providing clinical supervision for licensure and consultation to other therapists. Christa is an owner of Oakwood Counseling Center, LLC. She seeks opportunities to use her education, experience, and idealism to promote health and happiness in the lives of others, while continuously learning from everyone she meets.
Blakely Harper, LCSW
Blakely is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 25 years of experience and has provided clinical services to children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of mental health and medical settings. She graduated with her Bachelor of Social Work from University of Georgia in 2001, earned her Master of Social Work in 2003 from Valdosta State University, and became licensed in 2004. Blakely has been a part-time instructor through Valdosta State University's Master of Social Work Program. She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, and has a special focus in treating trauma in teens and adults. Blakely is trained and experienced in BSP/Brainspotting, a trauma reprocessing modality designed to more effectively resolve symptoms in individuals impacted by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Blakely is also a Certified Advanced Bilateral Assessment and Stimulation Treatment (BLAST) Practitioner. She views this as a rapid, versatile, kind and intuitive treatment for both simple and complex traumas.
She also provides counseling related to the management of stress and relationship issues and works with clients to foster more mindfulness, coping skills, and increased insight. Her hope is to help her clients connect and correct the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that could be acting as barriers to the life they want to lead. Blakely has Connected Child training and can positively enhance parenting by helping parents identify and incentivize behaviors they want to see continue within themselves and their children. She also has extensive experience assisting those who are adapting to a physical illness as well as moving through grief/loss, along with other life transitions. Blakely is an owner of Oakwood Counseling Center, LLC.
Mark Webb, LMFT
Mark has been helping individuals and couples since 1986. He worked for 19 years in a psychiatric hospital where he specialized in treating adults who struggled with depression and anxiety, anger and conflict type issues. He has been in private practice since 1996 in which he works with adults, individually and with couples. His approach is solutions oriented and directive. Mark prides himself in teaching individuals and couples how to get the results they are looking for. He enjoys seeing his clients get their lives back on track and teaching them how to keep their lives on track.
Mark is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He is a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and has been since 1995. His Bachelor’s degree is in Psychology and his Master’s degree is in Family Sociology. He has a great understanding of the dynamics of both individual and couples therapy. He completed his Post-Graduate studies in Marriage and Family Therapy in 1995.
Mark has written two books, How To Be A Great Partner and How To Argueproof Your Relationship. He has another book, How To Get Through The Tough Times In Your Relationship which is soon to be published. He is a featured columnist in the Valdosta Scene magazine and regularly offers seminars on related topics.
Mark and his wife, Dorraine, have been happily married for over 25 years with three grown children. They enjoy spending time with their family, their three dogs and traveling together. Mark is a Sixth Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and a 17 time World Champion in Taekwondo.
Mark specializes in working with adults, individuals and with couples in therapy.
Jason Griner, LCSW
Jason is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who obtained his MSW from Valdosta State University. He has over 30 years of experience in the field of human services and has spent almost 20 years treating people suffering from complex trauma, anxiety, psychosis, personality disorders, severe dissociation, and addiction, at the inpatient, partial hospitalization and outpatient levels of care. Jason has a strong passion for helping men, women and children who have suffered from trauma. He has been trained extensively and has much experience in working with PTSD, having spent 5 years working exclusively with women in an intensive inpatient trauma program. “Anxiety, trauma and PTSD do not have to be a life sentence of suffering. “You can truly heal from past trauma and have a higher quality of life.” This is his belief.
Jason is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional II, Certified Advanced Bilateral Assessment and Stimulation Treatment (BLAST®) Practitioner, Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (CPNLP), Certified Hypnotherapy Practitioner, a Registered Hypnotherapist (GHR) and is Certified in Sports Performance Mind Coaching. He is skilled in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Narrative Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), as well as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy. In addition, Jason has a vast knowledge and understanding of addiction and recovery and the role the 12 Steps plays in this process. Jason is one of five BLAST® Technique Trainers in the World and,currently, the only Trainer in the United States.
He has been a Field Instructor and Adjunct Faculty Member of the Valdosta State University School of Social Work, having twice been recognized as Field Instructor of the Year. He also works closely with the State of Georgia Office of Public Safety Support, providing support to First Responders, including Law Enforcement, Corrections, Emergency Medical Technicians and Firefighters. He is an avid outdoorsman, hiker, and wrestling coach. For over 22 years, Jason has worked with student athletes at every age level, providing support and guidance to help them see their potential, capitalize on it, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals.
Ellen Joiner-Woodard, LCSW
Ellen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of professional social work experience in the local community. She graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor degree in Sociology in 1994 and later her Master of Social Work degree in 1998. She began her career with Department of Family and Children Services and later moving into clinical social work in health care settings. Ellen has worked in dialysis, home health, inpatient rehab, and most recently oncology and inpatient palliative care. She has initiated various support groups in our community to help address the needs of people with medical illness and in recent years coordinated community awareness events for breast cancer survivors. She has been an advocate for the needs of people with cancer and has been involved with The Pink Party at Pearlman Cancer Center as well as Partnership Cancer Fund. She has extensive experience with providing support to people grieving the loss of health and physical ability, helping them and their families move through the process adjusting to a limiting or life limiting illness. As a Clinical Social Worker in Palliative Care at South Georgia Medical Center, she provided grief counseling to patients and families as well as counseling regarding Advanced Directives and end of life decision making. Ellen treats clients with depression, anxiety, grief/loss, trauma, stress management, and has a passion for working with women who have been diagnosed with cancer. She believes it is important to find peace and joy in the midst of difficult life transitions. No issue is too small to seek support from a therapist. Ellen’s approach depends on the needs of the individual. She likes to incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as well as mindfulness-based interventions to help cope with depression and anxiety. Ellen also has completed the 200 hour yoga teacher training and has found this helpful to teach clients some of the benefits of yoga to support the therapeutic process.
Deanna Folsom, LCSW
Deanna is a dedicated therapist with over 30 years of experience helping individuals, families, and children in our local community. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, a Master of Science in Sociology, and a Master of Social Work (MSW), which she earned as part of the first graduating class from the Valdosta State University’s Social Work Program in 1997.
Deanna’s career has been shaped by a deep commitment to serving others, beginning with her work at the Department of Family and Children Services and later as a school social worker for the Valdosta City School District. During her time there, she worked with students from Pre-K through 12th grade, served as the department head starting in 2008, and provided critical support as the district’s Homeless Liaison for over 20 years.
Throughout her career, Deanna has gained experience in a variety of areas, including trauma and crisis intervention, grief counseling, anxiety, depression, family and relationship issues, and stress management. She has also worked extensively with adoptive families as a home study provider since 1995 and served as a Guardian Ad Litem for 20 years, advocating for the best interests of children in custody cases. Her training includes trauma-informed care, and areas around approaches for PTSD, eating disorders, self-image issues, domestic violence, parenting skills, and co-parenting strategies. She is also a Certified Bilateral Assessment and Stimulation Treatment (BLAST) Practitioner, a fast and efficient way to resolve trauma.
Deanna takes a compassionate and supportive approach to therapy, offering individual and family counseling. She has a special focus on helping teens manage anxiety, depression, and stress, and she is deeply committed to providing a safe space for clients to feel heard and understood. Her experience leading crisis teams after local traumatic events has further shaped her ability to support individuals and families during their most difficult times.
Deanna also enjoys mentoring and provides supervision to those pursuing licensure. She believes in using her education and experience to promote health and happiness in the lives of others. Her goal is to walk alongside her clients as they navigate life’s challenges and to offer guidance and support along the way.
Katherine Purvis, Office Coordinator
Katie is a native of South Georgia, being born and raised in Cook County. She is incredibly kind and patient, and is exceptional at making our clients feel welcome. She has also proven to be a great problem solver, which is an asset when dealing with all things that intersect within our office. Outside of her dedication at work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading mystery novels, volunteering in her community, and scrapbooking. She also loves a great nature scene and anytime she can break away, she enjoys traveling to the beach or the mountains.
Briley Hearne, Receptionist
Briley is originally from Tallahassee, Fl and has now relocated to Valdosta. Before moving here, Briley played softball for six years. She also loves supporting her community and frequently volunteered with groups like Big Bend Cares and Reading Pals through United Way.
Along with her avid organization skills, she brings with her a big smile, great energy and kindness. She is also a lover of the arts and outdoors. In her free time, she loves reading and hiking. She enjoys listening to all types of music, but if you ask her who her favorite artist is, it would be Taylor Swift no hesitation.
She is currently pursuing her Masters degree in Integrative Health and Wellness at the University of West Georgia.