About Us

Advice to My Younger Self: “To take life a bit less seriously, have more compassion for myself, and learn that it is okay to be an introvert and not want to be as social as everyone else. But to remember to push myself if there is something important to try.” 

Years of Experience:  Dr. Quasem has over 15 years of mental health experience.  

• Medical Degree – University of Tennessee Health Science Center
• Residency – Duke University Medical Center
• Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship – Duke University Medical Center 

Why do you like working with adolescents?  

I have always enjoyed working adolescents along with their family systems. I enjoy the colorfulness and complexity of adolescents. They keep me on my toes, and I always learn new things. I feel so much hope working with adolescents–if you can help them feel better, they have so much life ahead in which to flourish and contribute.  

What is something you have learned from working with adolescents?  

There are many things, but the two main factors important for adolescents are safety and connection. They need to feel safe and have a secure home base from which to explore the world and their own identities. They also need to feel strong connections and community. These connections can be with peers, family, teachers, clubs, coaches, pastors, online friends, etc.—even one or two people can be enough to feel connected.  

Did you play any sports or participate in any activities when you were younger? 

I was really into school and loved learning! I was a perfectionist and ambitious from an early age, so I felt stressed. I was on my school’s gymnastics team, in many clubs, and on the student council. I could have used a group to support me in finding a better balance, learning how to set boundaries, and learning how to better communicate my needs to others, including asking for help.  

What is one thing you wish adolescents understood about mental health?  

Receiving treatment is okay, healthy, and a courageous thing to do. It is a great investment of time and energy and a lovely gift to themselves that will pay big dividends.  

Advice to My Younger Self: “Try new things and do not worry about failing. You will discover important things about yourself from the experience.”

Years of Experience: LeTizia has over 15 years of mental health experience. 

• Doctor of Nursing – Emory School of Nursing
• Master of Science, Psychiatry/Nursing – Vanderbilt School of Nursing
• Bachelor of Arts, Sociology – Vanderbilt University

Why do you like working with adolescents?  

Adolescents are in a unique stage of life. They are growing from children to young adulthood. I love being one of the resources to help adolescents reach their full potential. And as a bonus, adolescents are honest and hilarious! 

What is something you have learned from working with adolescents? 

Adolescents remind me of a time when I was not weighed down with responsibilities. Instead, I had the freedom to dream and the audacity to believe I could do anything. Our responsibility is to help young people recognize their strengths and foster their growth and development. 

Did you play any sports or participate in any activities when you were younger?  

I was highly active from 10-18 years old. I was a cheerleader, color guard captain for the band, and student council representative. It was a lot of pressure to be in so many activities, and I think having a group of peers to share with would have been helpful. We could have benefitted from learning how to navigate conflict, communicate, and make better decisions. 

What is one thing you wish adolescents understood about mental health?  

I wish they knew that their opinions and thoughts matter. They should be an active participant in their health and treatment.

Advice to My Younger Self: “Just like our name conveys, EMBRACE YOU! Embrace your uniqueness, your strengths, and your struggles. Embrace your recovery.”  

Years of Experience: Jessica has over 15 years of mental health experience. 

• Master of Science, Professional Counseling – Lipscomb University
• Bachelor of Science, Journalism, Spanish – Middle Tennessee State University

Why do you like working with adolescents?  

In my first role out of graduate school, I would say that adolescents chose me. No one else in the organization was passionate about adolescents, and as the new person, that is where I was needed. I quickly learned that I enjoyed finding creative ways to engage adolescents in learning skills. Opportunities continue to present themselves for me to continue growing my expertise in working with kids and families, and this is truly what I am meant to do. Now, as a parent, I connect with parents and enjoy guiding them when they are desperate to see their kids feel better.  

What is something you have learned from working with adolescents?  

Kids are resilient. The earlier we can help them learn to live more skillfully, the more likely they are to recover and live a healthy and happy life. 

Did you play any sports or participate in any activities when you were younger?  

I was a competitive equestrian rider and participated in theater at school. Yes, I felt tons of pressure, mostly self-imposed, as a true perfectionist. I have often wished I could have learned skills in group therapy as an adolescent to better cope with stressors and challenges.

What is one thing you wish adolescents understood about mental health?  

We want treatment to be enjoyable. We do our best to create an environment that you look forward to being in each day. Most of the time, adolescents are sad when they leave the program because of the connections and positive energy.  

Advice to My Younger Self: “Cultivate the relationship you have with yourself and remember that YOU are the author of your story. Your tough experiences do not define you!” 

Years of Experience: Whitney has over four years of mental health experience. 

• Master of Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling – Lipscomb University
• Bachelor of Science in Family Relations – Lipscomb University

Why do you like working with adolescents?  

So many monumental experiences happen when you are a teen. I was fortunate to have a great support system around me during such important years, so I know what an incredible difference it makes. I am so excited to be a part of a program that helps adolescents learn skills to successfully navigate what they are encountering while providing them with a safe place to process their emotions and thoughts to understand themselves on a deeper level.  

What is something you have learned from working with adolescents?  

Adolescents are highly resilient and creative with ways to take care of themselves through hard experiences!   

Did you play any sports or participate in any activities when you were younger?  

In middle and high school, I was highly active! I was a cheerleader, was on the tennis team, and participated in my school chorus. With so much going on, it kept my schedule incredibly full, and with all of that on top of school responsibilities, I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a high achiever. I know during that time, I would have benefitted from learning that while all those different activities were important, my worth was not defined by my achievements.  

What is one thing you wish adolescents understood about mental health?  

It is an act of self-love to equip yourself with resources and tools to navigate difficult things that life throws your way! There is true strength in recognizing that even when you can do it alone, you do not have to. 

Advice to My Younger Self: “When we feel hopeless or helpless, it is most valuable to speak up and talk to someone supportive- whether it be a friend, family member, therapist, or school counselor.”   

Years of Experience: Hailey has over four years of mental health experience.

• Master of Social Work – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 

Why do you like working with adolescents?  

Adolescents are extremely complex, especially in today’s times. I want to help them understand that their feelings are valid, meant to be heard, and not experienced alone. I want them to know that they matter and deserve to thrive. I have always enjoyed learning from my adolescents as much as I hope to help teach them.    

What is something you have learned from working with adolescents?  

Adolescents sometimes believe their feelings are not important enough to discuss and should be ignored, but that is not true. All feelings are meant to be experienced, and you must push through them instead of pushing them aside. I have learned that speaking up for yourself is one of the most valuable things you can do.  

Did you play any sports or participate in any activities when you were younger?  

I attended the Health Sciences Academy in high school, and it kick-started my passion to work in healthcare/mental health. I took both a sociology and psychology class, and it was a game changer. I experienced anxiety, school difficulties, and self-esteem issues during my adolescence. I had family and friends to rely on for support; however, I always felt pressure to perform and push through my feelings. Now, I see where mental health support would have helped me process my difficult emotions.  

What is one thing you wish adolescents understood about mental health?  

Mental health and treatment can set a person up for long-term success. Mental health is just as important as physical health. If we break a bone, we go to the doctor; if we are struggling, we ask for help from the right resources. Getting help takes great courage, vulnerability, and dedication.  

Advice to My Younger Self: “Stop being so hard on yourself. I am a perfectionist by nature, which as an adolescent made me feel like I could never quite measure up to the expectations I set for myself. I can never be perfect, and that is okay.”

Years of Experience: Rachel has over four years of experience in counseling and therapy.

• Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Lipscomb University
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology – Belmont University

Why do you like working with adolescents?  

Adolescence can feel so overwhelming. If you experience trauma, loss, or mental health issues on top of that, it makes a challenging time of life even more difficult to manage. I believe my experience in therapy as a teenager altered my life trajectory for the better, and I want to be able to help others going through difficult times during adolescence. I think if you can instill healthy coping skills and a sense of self-worth, the world is full of bright possibilities.

What is something you have learned from working with adolescents? 

Adolescents are very resilient but sometimes feel they have to fix everything in their lives by themselves. I think it is so important to fill their lives with people who care about them whether it is peers, teachers, parents, or a therapist. Having people who support us make our burdens lighter. 

Did you play any sports or participate in any activities when you were younger?  

I was a serious music kid. I was in choir, band, guitar, and piano. Creating music filled me with joy but came with a lot of pressure. I always wanted to have the solo in choir, write the best song, and be first-chair in band. I was happiest when I let go of the expectations of myself and just enjoyed playing music. Therapy was helpful in understanding music was about joy and self-expression and not about being perfect.

What is one thing you wish adolescents understood about mental health?  

Getting help is not as scary as it may seem. Prioritizing your mental health can not only be fun, it gives you a greater capacity to experience joy.

Education: Washington University in St Louis (Master of Social Work), Auburn University (Bachelor of Social Work), Auburn University  (Bachelor of Psychology), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (TN), Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (AL), MRT Facilitator

Career History: Hollis Academy Therapist- Working with youth in the juvenile justice system/DCS system, Sunnyhill- Program instructor, Private Caregiver- family 7 with  5 children who have special needs.

Why did you choose to work with adolescents? They are the future, I feel that working on the future is a great investment for everyone.

What is something you’ve learned from your work with adolescents that has been your takeaway? There is always hope, you can mold yourself into your ideal version of you no matter where you are in life.

If you could tell your younger self/give your younger some advice, what would it be? Its ok to speak up and voice your needs, as long as you also listen to understand. You and your voice matter too.

What is one thing you wish adolescents knew about l health/treatment? Its work, constant hard work that happens in and outside of session/treatment, but it is worth it for the end result.

Did you participate in any activities for bs, activities, or passions when you were aged 10-18? What were they? Did you ever feel pressure/stress? Would group therapy have benefitted you/your peers? Yes, I was involved in soccer, church, and choir while being a A-B honor roll advanced track student. I absolutely felt major stress in family dynamics, family social pressure, competition, and time management. If I had the ability to have attended group therapy as an adolescent I would have been able to gain a lot of perspective on what is important and why, as well as more positive ways to manage my stress especially in social settings. It would have helped me and my parents tremendously as I grew up and became an independent adult to have had more skills to assist me in navigating tricky social settings, as well as set myself up for more success in achieving my emotional state goals a lot faster than I did originally.

Education: University of Mississippi (bachelor’s degree in psychology) University of Mississippi Medical Center (bachelor’s degree in science of Nursing)

Work Experience: Inpatient Psychiatric Nurse at Rolling Hills Hospital, Preoperative Nurse at Saint Thomas Midtown

Why did you choose to work with adolescents? I chose to work with adolescents because the period of life from 10-17 is full of growth, development, and many challenging times. I want to be a safe person for these kids and that they know they are supported and loved when they walk into my office. 

What is something you’ve learned from your work with adolescents that has been your takeaway? I have learned about the immense pressure that social media puts on children from a young age. Limiting screentime and investing in hobbies like sports, instruments, acting, and reading are so important developmentally at this age and can help children find ways to express themselves when they cannot find the words to communicate.

What is one thing you wish adolescents knew about l health/treatment? If I could tell my younger self anything it would be that this too shall pass. Often as a teenager it is hard to see anything other than the here and now. I can remember feeling so powerless to change anything around me, but I had no idea the freedom that would come with time as I graduated high school and entered college.

Education: Middle Tennessee State University / Bachelor of Social Work

Career History: April 2007-June 2014 Department of Children Services, June 2011- June 2014 Kidlink Treatment Services, June 2014 – September 2021 Compass Intervention Center, September 2021-September 2022 TN Voices

Why did you choose to work with adolescents? As a social worker I always knew I wanted to work with children and families. I wanted to be able to provide families and children with the resources that would have benefited my family when I was a teenager. 

What is something you’ve learned from your work with adolescents that has been your takeaway? If you could tell your younger self/give your younger some advice, what would it be? I would tell myself to learn how to set healthy boundaries with people, to not worry so much about what other people think, and it’s okay to say no. I would also tell myself to stop eating double cheeseburgers from McDonalds, wear sunscreen, and wash my face before bed. 

What is one thing you wish adolescents knew about l health/treatment? That physical health and mental health are both very important. Learning how to care for your body (proper nutrition and exercise) and mind is something we should teach our children at a young age. 

Did you participate in any activities for bs, activities, or passions when you were aged 10-18? What were they? Did you ever feel pressure/stress? Would group therapy have benefitted you/your peers? I was a cheerleader in middle and high school. I did feel pressure and stress from school, activities, and home life. Group therapy would have been beneficial because I would have been with people who felt or experienced similar feelings and issues. I would not have felt so alone and could have learned healthier coping skills.