Our Staff

Therapists and Group Leaders


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Clerissa Cooper,

MS, LPC, NCC, CCH, CDBT

Pronouns: She/Her

Owner, Clinical Director, Therapist, Group Leader, Workshop Facilitator

Clerissa Cooper is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist who provides individual, group, and family-centered counseling for teens and adults. Clerissa received a B.A. in English Literature, Psychology, and Creative Writing and a M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University and has provided therapy in private practice, outpatient, residential, day treatment/partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient settings.

Clerissa specializes in helping individuals and their families overcome the difficulties associated with mood disorders (e.g., Major Depression and Bipolar), anxiety disorders including Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders, personality disorders (i.e., Borderline, Histrionic, Dependent, Avoidant, and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorders), and issues associated with adoption, trauma, anger, and relationships primarily utilizing mindfulness, cognitive, behavioral, exposure, hypnotherapy, interpersonal, and somatic approaches. Clerissa has received specialized and extensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy from Behavioral Tech. Clerissa has expanded her knowledge and skills to include specialized training from Behavior Therapy Training Institute (BTTI) in utilizing Exposure and Response Prevention to treat Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and related disorders. Clerissa is currently working toward certification in Somatic Experiencing, a holistic body-based approach to resolving trauma , from the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute (SETI).

Clerissa has past professional experience in the women's reproductive health field, which very much informs how she approaches her work with clients. Clerissa also utilizes Black feminist and healing justice frameworks to inform her work with clients. She has special interest in expanding accessibility of Dialectical Behavior Therapy treatment with clients who are Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color and also in supporting Black women, individuals who identify as part of the LGBTGEQ+ community, community organizers, and social justice activists. She continues to expand her training and practice to support individuals in addressing the impact of trauma while strengthening healing and wellness from a somatic approach that also incorporates intuitive, traditional, and ancestral healing practices.

Clerissa values honest and thoughtful communication, which means she communicates in an attentive, supportive, compassionate, empowering, and non-judgmental manner while being authentic, direct, and transparent. She utilizes both validation and humor in therapy to foster connection and to create space for healthy, long-lasting personal growth. She seeks to help her clients deeply accept and understand their own thoughts, emotions, actions, and experiences so they can more effectively navigate their relationships with Self and the world.

Clerissa also provides consultation and continuing education workshops to assist other mental health clinicians and members of the community better understand Borderline Personality Disorder, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and clinical hypnotherapy. Clerissa is available to provide specialized training and speaking engagements upon request.

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Winter Foddrell, MA, LPC, NCC

Pronouns: She/Her

DBT Skills Group Co-Leader

Winter Foddrell is board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has completed Foundational Training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and has been practicing DBT-informed therapy for over 4 years.

Her approach to psychotherapy is based on helping her clients experience growth and healing through a focus on mindfulness and the “here and now.” Clients work collaboratively with Winter to become empowered in finding their voice and to seek meaning, value and worth in their lives. Social justice is a top priority for Winter, and she is a proud advocate for the Black community, women, and LGBTQ persons. Winter provides support utilizing compassion, authenticity, and honest and direct communication.