Communications, Media, & Public Relations Committee

Matt Walsh, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, Chair

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Matt Walsh obtained his PhD from Duquesne University in Counselor Education and Supervision. In addition, he has an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry, and a B.A. in Studio Art. He is a licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. He has been a professional counselor for over 10 years and was in higher education for almost 20 years. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings including crisis intervention, addiction, and dual diagnosis. In addition, Dr. Walsh is a consultant, trauma-informed workshop facilitator, and adjunct faculty. Dr. Walsh’s community engaged research focuses on community trauma from a Bioecological perspective and transgenerational/historical trauma theory. His dissertation, Designing Accessible Mental Health Care in an Urban Community: Lived experiences of key stake holders planning emergent community-based services was developed into a dynamic collaborative model for community development and wellbeing called Trauma Informed Community Development (TICD) in collaboration with The Neighborhood Resilience Project based in Pittsburgh, PA. The objective of TICD is to help revitalize trauma-affected communities by establishing and promoting healthy, healing micro-communities. Cohorts from around the country have been trained in the TICD framework. Dr. Walsh is currently the Chief Clinical Officer for Oasis Mental Health Applications.

Mandy Doria, MA, LPC, NCC

Mandy Doria is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and Registered Yoga Teacher who has 14 years of experience providing mental health care in a variety of home, school, college, and community settings. As an Assistant Professor with the University of Colorado's Department of Psychiatry, she offers crisis and short-term counseling to students and resident learners at the Anschutz Medical Campus. She also offers groups, outreach, and psychoeducation presentations across campus. Mandy was recruited to lead efforts in the response to support health care workers in the COVID-19 crisis since March 2020, including developing and implementing the Past the Pandemic program, which has served over 1,000 health care workers in Colorado and 26 other states. She has extensive experience in offering training and workshops in the areas of mental health education, suicide prevention, crisis intervention, relationships, grief, burnout, mindfulness, resiliency, trauma-informed yoga, and stress management. Her passions are hiking, backpacking, dancing, coffee, and taking care of her two rescued sibling cats, Mr. Whiskers & Stevie.

Pierre Nicole Patriarca, BS

Nicole Patriarca, BS, is a current graduate student taking her MEd in Counseling & Development at George Mason University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Assumption College, Philippines, her hometown. She is currently a graduate research assistant for GMU College of Education and Human Development’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion where she assists in the department’s efforts relating to diversity, equity, inclusion, empathy, social justice, and many others. She is also an honorary facilitator for GMU’s Honoring Our Community, an anti-racist discussion group that aims to have honest conversation about racial and social justice with the goal of cultivating an anti-racist culture and tighter sense of community. Her interests in the field of counseling include trauma, grief and loss, impact of oppression, depression, and anxiety among young adults.

Darlene B. Vaughn, PhD, CSAC, FACASAC, NCC, LPCC, ADS
is a Cherokee Appalachian American by heritage and bloodline. She grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia with many impoverished-Appalachia experiences, traumas, and traditions. Although her expansive career in human services began in the
late 1970s, her passion emerged in the 1990s with substance abuse treatment which she provided for over 25 years across multiple populations, settings, and several states.
Recognizing trauma as a precursor to dysfunctional living, when she returned home in 2007, she focused on treatment for substance-using adolescents, adult caregivers, and adults affected by the methamphetamine and opioid pandemics in Appalachia. For over a decade Dr. Vaughn worked in rural community mental health as the sole provider of
substance abuse/co-occurring counseling services for youth and their families in five-counties. In 2014, Dr. Vaughn began transitioning to academics as a first-cohort member at Lindsey Wilson College in the School of Professional Counseling’s Counselor Education
& Supervision (CES) program. Dr. Vaughn received her PhD in May 2019.
Currently, Dr. Vaughn resides in southwest Virginia. She serves as an Assistant Professor for the School of Professional Counseling, teaching at the extended campus sites in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky, and online. Her research interests include trauma, adolescence, neuroscience, human development, substance use, spirituality, marginalized groups, diversity, Native American spirituality, and Appalachian culture.

Lisa E. Heddon, MS, LPC, NCC

Lisa is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision PhD program at the University of Georgia and a psychotherapist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Her specialties are helping individuals heal from eating disorders, complex trauma and adverse experiences, and grief and loss. In addition to working in private practice, she is experienced evaluating and treating teens and adults of all genders in eating disorder treatment, across multiple levels of care. Lisa has completed advanced training in EMDR and is currently pursuing certification in Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) alongside her doctoral studies. She works from a person-centered, attachment-based feminist perspective and is passionate about helping individuals find power and their voice through the process of therapy.

Tara Robison

My name is Tara Robison. I am a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Walden University. I am passionate about helping others, so I created a graduate support social media platform for students who need assistance within the program at Walden. I am also the moderator/admin for the ACA interest community SWIC. I seem to favor committees that are diverse and promote ethical practices, so I am a part of the ACSSW Social Justice and Membership committees. My motto is to dream, plan, and achieve. Trauma-informed care for clients is a principal focus as I continue down the learning path toward becoming a licensed counselor. I am an advocate for the inclusion and acceptance of all clients.
I look forward to working and sharing ideas with all members!