Athena Counseling Services

www.athena-nashville.com --> Clinicians

Nashville Location
1720 West End Avenuex Suite 240
Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 320-1155

Murfreesboro Location
1725 Medical Center Pkwy
Suite 215
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 320-1155

Clinicians

Charles Ihrig, PhD
Dr. Ihrig is the co-owner and founder of our company. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Professional Counselor. He graduated with his doctorate in counseling psychology from Tennessee State University and completed his internship/residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry. He is more of a generalist treating most conditions, but does specialize in the treatment of personality disorders, relationship issues, eating disorders, and chronic overeating. He conducts individual psychotherapy as well as a broad range of psychological testing. He also acts as a consultant to healthcare organizations specializing in program design and implementation. Dr. Ihrig is serves on the board for the Nashville Area Psychological Association and is the immediate Past-President of the organization. He also is an active member of the Tennessee Psychological Association and American Psychological Association. He is currently the Chair Person for TPA on the Early Career Psychologist Committee representing the future interests of the psychology profession and those who are new to the field. Dr. Ihrig is also dedicated to teaching in the field and holds a full-time professor position at Tennessee State University teaching graduate classes.

Maria Walton, LCSW
Maria Walton has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1998. She earned her Master's of Science in Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin in 1996 after conducting undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University. She specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and trauma/abuse survivor issues. Maria utilizes a psychodynamic approach in her work with clients, helping clients to identify and correct maladaptive patterns of relating with the self and others. Adjunctive therapies Maria utilizes include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Currently, Maria is a Doctoral Candidate in the Counseling Psychology program at Tennessee State University, and she expects to earn her Ph.D. in 2013.

Jorge Boero, Ph.D.
Dr. Boero is a native of Argentina and is fully bilingual in Spanish and English. He is a licensed psychologist who received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of South Dakota, and completed his postdoctoral training at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry. He is a generalist treating a variety conditions across the life span; however, his practice tends to consist of individuals diagnosed with mood, anxiety and childhood disorders, as well as those experiencing family and marital difficulties. Dr. Boero also enjoys working with monolingual and bilingual families and individuals. He conducts a range of psychological evaluations with children, adolescents and adults.

Janice M. Livengood, Ph.D., HSP
Dr. Livengood is a licensed psychologist. She completed her doctorate in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University and completed her internship at Vanderbilt Pain Center and Vanderbilt University Psychological and Counseling Center. She has 15 years experience as a psychologist in pain management, having served as Director of Psychological Services at the Vanderbilt Pain Center until it closed in 2004, and then at Neurological Surgeons Pain Center until its closure in 2006. In addition to pain management, she specializes in treatment of depression, anxiety and trauma and is trained in EMDR therapy. Dr. Livengood remains on faculty at Vanderbilt University where she is completing a funded research project, “Brain Activation During Guided Eye Movement” which utilizes functional MRI scans to examine brain activity during eye movements such as those engaged in during EMDR therapy. In addition to numerous publications and presentations, Dr. Livengood is Educational Chairperson of the Southern Pain Society, co-editor of the Southern Pain Society Newsletter, an Editorial Board Member and manuscript reviewer for Pain Practice, Clinical Journal of Pain and Pain Digest, and in 2005, she was awarded the Endo Pharmaceuticals National Award for Outstanding Contributions in the field of Pain Management.

Patricia C. Potter, Ph.D.
Dr. Potter is a licensed clinical psychologist who relocated to Nashville from New Orleans in 2006 after Hurricane Katrina. She had practiced in New Orleans for 21 years, after obtaining her MA and PhD from the University of Alabama and her BA from Vanderbilt. She did her post-doctoral training at the University of Alabama in Birmingham Medical Center. She has specialized in both inpatient and outpatient diagnostic assessments of children, adolescents and adults. She also offers short-term therapy with a cognitive-behavioral focus. She has experience with depression, anxiety, trauma-based disorders and forensics.

David S. Shen Miller, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Dr. Miller received his masters’ degree in social work from the University of Texas and his doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Oregon. He is currently completing his postdoctoral requirements towards licensure. From 2003-2006, Dave served as the Director of the University of Oregon Men's Center, and has engaged in clinical, administrative, and research work related to men’s health. His clinical interests include anxiety, depression, existential issues, working with intersections of male identity and mental health, racial and ethnic identity development, and other aspects of multicultural counseling. Dave conceptualizes and conducts his clinical practice and research within an ecological framework.

Dawn Brandau, Ph.D., H.S.P.
Dr. Brandau is a licensed psychologist who completed her doctorate in counseling psychology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She completed her postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Adult Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic. She is a generalist who works with a variety of individuals from adolescence through adulthood, but specializes in treating those with anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma-related symptoms. Her approach to therapy typically includes a person-centered focus on building a relationship with the client, along with cognitive-behavioral techniques and teaching skills to improve coping. Dr. Brandau also conducts a variety of psychological assessments on people of all ages, including forensic evaluations, ADHD, and learning / developmental evaluations.

Theresa Wilson, PMHNP, BC
Theresa Wilson is a Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. She is board certified to treat children, adolescents and adults. She received her masters in nursing from Vanderbilt University and is licensed with prescriptive authority by the state of Tennessee. She has a broad range of clinical and supervisory experience in mental health and substance abuse treatment. She has extensive knowledge of medication utilization in the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, thought disorders and ADHD.

Kristi Burke, LPC-MHSP
Kristi Burke is a licensed professional counselor and mental health service provider. She received her M.S. in counseling psychology from Tennessee State University and her B.S. in psychology from Abilene Christian University. She has been trained in EMDR Levels I and II, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) for treating adolescent substance abuse. She specializes in treating adolescents with a variety of issues and has a specific interest in trauma/abuse issues.

Christopher Blazina, Ph.D.
Christopher Blazina, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist, author, researcher, and professor of psychology. While Dr. Blazina works with a wide range of adult client issues including relationship problems, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, he is best known for his specialty area of working with adult male clients. He has publishing four books, three of which concern the psychology of men. Dr. Blazina also has a unique ability to take complex issues and make them easily accessible. This is evident from his appearance on more than thirty-five talk shows across the United States and Canada, being frequently interviewed by newspapers, and popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Women's Health, and hosting a weekly radio program, The Secret Lives of Men on BlogTalkRadio. You can learn more about Dr. Blazina at his website: www.thesecretlivesofmen.com

Brian Glass, APN
Brian is a licensed Adult Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.Brian has worked in the Nashville area for the last 17 years in community mental health. He completed his bachelor's degree in Psychology from Austin Peay State University in 1993 after which he worked as a residential counselor for teens, and later at a community mental health center which served those diagnosed with Severe & Persistent Mental Illness. Brian has worked as a case manager, intake clinician, and on the Davidson county crisis team. Upon returning to school in 2005, he received his RN and his MSN/APN in 2007 at Vanderbilt University. Brian has worked in the psychiatric crisis stabilization unit for the management of psychiatric emergencies and detoxification from alcohol and drugs and also has extensive experience with medication management for all major mental illnesses.

Joan Popkin, Ph.D., HSP
Dr. Popkin is a Licensed Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and Professor. Joan earned her doctoral degree, in 2002, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her post-doctoral experiences included working with the autism assessment team, counseling children and families, and collaborating with school staff and students. Her clinical interests and experiences include anxiety and depressive disorders, women's health, relationship and family issues as well as implementation of behavior management/support plans, functional behavioral assessments, and consultation services for children and families. She conducts individual counseling as well as a variety of psychological testing. Dr. Popkin is an advocate for positive mental and physical health as well as overall well-being for all populations ranging from early childhood through older adulthood and incorporating these aspects in their daily lives. She believes in the integration of diverse services to enhance optimal interventions for children, youth, and adults.

Kimberly Tartt-Godbolt, Psy.D.
Dr. Tartt-Godbolt is a licensed clinical psychologist. She received her Master's and doctorate from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology in Atlanta. She earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed her postdoctoral training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center's Adult Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic. She is currently the chairperson for the Tennessee Psychological Association's Cultural Diversity Committee. She is a generalist and has experience treating a wide variety of psychological disorders through individual, group, family, and couple's therapy. Dr. Tartt-Godbolt specializes in providing a range of psychological, educational, diagnostic and neuropsychological assessments of children, adolescents, and adults.