CREATE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Business Manager
• Alex Amanda Peña Business Manager

Alex Amanda Peña joined the CReATE team in 2009, bringing extensive medical practice management experience to her position as office manager. In 2019, Alex transitioned to business manager for CReATE, with primary responsibilities including financial operations, employee oversight, and data management for the practice. She also functions as the project coordinator for the research division of CReATE, having coordinated all aspects of several longitudinal, multi-site treatment outcome studies. Alex was born in Western North Carolina and spent most of her childhood traveling between the mountains of WNC and the Pacific coast of Mexico. She moved back to the Asheville area in 2003 to attend the University of North Carolina at Asheville, graduating with honors with a degree in psychology. She is a member of Psi-Chi, the national honors society of psychology.

Job Titles:

• LPA Staff Psychologist Brittany Shearer Joined the CReATE Team As a Licensed Psychological Associate ( LPA ) in.
• STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST

Brittany Shearer joined the CReATE team as a licensed psychological associate (LPA) in 2018. Brittany was born in Asheville and returned to the mountains after she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she majored in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Sciences. She then completed her master's degree in Clinical Psychology through Western Carolina University, during which she completed her practicum training in psychological assessment with CReATE. Prior to returning to work with CReATE, Brittany worked as the lead therapist with adolescents and young adults in residential and day program treatment specializing in eating disorders. Brittany now assists with psychological and neuropsychological evaluations. In addition to working with CReATE's clinical division, Brittany also functions as a project coordinator for the research division of CReATE, coordinating aspects of a longitudinal, multi-site treatment outcome study of substance use disorders in adults.

Job Titles:

• Staff Member

Job Titles:

• Staff Psychologist

Anna Edwards, Ph.D. Staff Psychologist Dr. Anna Edwards received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Georgia... Dr. Anna Edwards received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Georgia and completed her pre-doctoral internship at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Following , she worked as a Research Scientist through Battelle and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and as an adjunct faculty member for Emory University's Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Edwards also completed a two-year post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology through Clinical Neuroscience Services of Western North Carolina. This specialized training included coursework in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, didactics in foundations of clinical neuropsychology, and two (fulltime) years of supervision by a clinical neuropsychologist. Dr. Edwards's clinical and research interests include dissemination and implementation of evidence-based programs for children and families. Clinically, Dr. Edwards has been working in private practice since 2008 and she joined the CReATE team in 2014. As part of her practice, she has conducted numerous psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations for a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. ADHD, LD, ASD - Autism spectrum), and other social-emotional, behavioral disorders. Dr. Edwards has conducted assessments through the Regents Center at the University of Georgia, supervised graduate students in evidence-based assessment approaches, provided consultation to a number of public and private schools as well as medical professionals, and conducted child and family psychotherapy using evidence-based approaches. Her training and experience are an excellent fit for her position with CReATE where she provides comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations as well as training to graduate students and other psychologists.

Job Titles:

• Clinical Psychologist
• Staff Psychologist

Dr. Lisa Ware is a clinical psychologist, who has provided psychological services to children, adolescents, and families over the past 15 years. She earned her doctorate (Ph.D.) from West Virginia University, with an emphasis in Child Clinical Psychology and completed her APA-approved doctoral internship at the Child and Adolescent Abuse Resource and Evaluation (CAARE) Center of UC Davis Children's Hospital. Following, Dr. Ware completed postdoctoral training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences' Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, working with some of the nation's leading researchers and clinicians in the field of childhood trauma. These training experiences focused on the provision of evidence-based assessment and treatment for children and families experiencing significant and pervasive stress or trauma, including training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Since completion of training, Dr. Ware has worked in a variety of pediatric settings and held many academic appointments including most recently serving as a professor and Director of Clinical Training within an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology doctoral program. Her responsibilities included teaching graduate courses and training and supervising doctoral students in psychological assessment and diagnoses, psychopathology, and neurodiversity. Dr. Ware also focused on school-based mental health, conducting psychological evaluations of K- through 8th grade students, as well as providing evidence-based clinical interventions for neurodiverse children and adolescents (e.g., Learning Disorders, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD). Dr. Ware is passionate about providing evidence-based services to children, adolescents, and their families in order to help them achieve their goals. She is excited to join the CReATE team! Lisa Ware, Ph.D. Staff Psychologist Dr. Lisa Ware is a clinical psychologist, who has provided psychological services to children,...

Job Titles:

• Staff Psychologist
• Staff Psychologist Dr. Mary Crowson Has Been a Licensed Psychologist in NC since 2003. She Has

Dr. Mary Crowson has been a licensed psychologist in NC since 2003. She has conducted numerous psychological and neuropsychological evaluations of children and adolescents, with a focus on neuropdevelopmental disorders (e.g. ADHD, LD, ASD - Autism spectrum), trauma, and socioemotional challenges. Dr. Crowson received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Child and Family from the University of Miami. She completed her internship at LaRabida Children's Hospital in Chicago and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for Developmental Science at UNC-Chapel Hill. She also completed a two-year post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology through Clinical Neuroscience Services of Western North Carolina. This specialized training included coursework in Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, didactics in foundations of clinical neuropsychology, and two (fulltime) years of supervision by a clinical neuropsychologist. Previously, Dr. Crowson was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UNC-Chapel Hill, in the Program on Childhood Trauma and Maltreatment. She frequently provided therapy, evaluation and expert testimony regarding childhood trauma and maltreatment and its negative impact. In her role at UNC, Dr. Crowson also provided numerous evidence-based interventions and especially enjoyed providing parenting interventions such as Parent Management Training and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. Dr. Crowson joined the CReATE team in 2014 and brings a wealth of experiences and very strong training credentials to her position at CReATE. Mary Crowson, Ph.D. Staff Psychologist Dr. Mary Crowson has been a licensed psychologist in NC since 2003. She has...

Job Titles:

• Consulting Neuropsychologist

Dr. Shawn Acheson is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with nearly two decades of experience providing clinical services in both inpatient and outpatient settings serving adolescents through older adults. He provides objective assessment of neurocognitive and neurobehavioral function in individuals with dementia, acquired/traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumor, epilepsy, fetal alcohol exposure, chronic substance abuse, PTSD and ADHD, among others. Dr. Acheson completed his Master's degree in clinical psychology at Western Carolina University (1992) and his doctoral degree in clinical psychology at Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in 1997. His pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship were performed in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center. He has been a member of the clinical faculty at Western Carolina University (1998-2008), Duke University Medical Center (2007-2022), and the UNC School of Medicine (2018 - 2021). He served as a Staff Neuropsychologist at the Durham VA Medical Center where he provided clinical and C&P evaluations in the Compensation & Pension Clinic and the Neuropsychology Clinic; and, was the Lead Psychologist at the Duke Center for Psychiatry and Law in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Acheson joined the CReATE team in 2016 and provides comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations for adolescents and adults. Shawn Acheson, Ph.D. Consulting Neuropsychologist Dr. Shawn Acheson is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with nearly two decades of experience providing...

Job Titles:

• Staff Psychologist
• Staff Psychologist Dr. Katherine "Leigh" Josie Is a Clinical Psychologist With an Extensive Background in.

Job Titles:

• Psychometrist

Job Titles:

• Office Manager

Job Titles:

• Psychometrist

Job Titles:

• Psychometrist

Job Titles:

• DIRECTOR of RESEARCH DIVISION, Owner
• Director of Research Division, Owner Dr. Sarah ( "Salli" ) Lewis Is the Director of the Research
• Director of the Research Division

Dr. Sarah ("Salli") Lewis is the Director of the Research Division for CReATE, serving as the principal investigator on a number of grant funded clinical research studies, managing a team of graduate-level research staff, and offering a research immersion experience for graduate students. She also provides consultation, training, and supervision for CReATE's clinical activities. Dr. Lewis is a licensed clinical psychologist, with expertise in the development, transport, and dissemination of evidence-based treatments, particularly related to traumatic stress and its associated disorders. Further, Dr. Lewis has a wealth of experience in the assessment, identification, and treatment of social-emotional, behavioral, developmental, and neurodevelopmental syndromes. She has provided comprehensive psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults for more than 15 years, while maintaining a small psychotherapy practice. Dr. Lewis earned her doctoral degree from West Virginia University (with a dual track in both child and adult clinical psychology) and completed her doctoral residency at the National Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center at the Medical University of South Carolina. Following, she was an academic psychologist, providing doctoral training in empirically-supported treatments and directing the federally funded Interpersonal Violence Research and Prevention laboratory. She also completed a two-year post-doctoral training in clinical neuropsychology through Clinical Neuroscience Services of WNC. This specialized training included didactics in foundations of clinical neuropsychology and supervision by a clinical neuropsychologist. In 2007, Drs. Lewis and Daniels founded CReATE-a unique company specializing in the provision of evidenced-based evaluations and the implementation of applied clinical research. Dr. Lewis has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, serves on the editorial board for a number of clinical and research-oriented publications, and has a research partnership with the University of Arkansas. Sarah "Salli" Lewis, Ph.D. Director of Research Division, Owner Dr. Sarah ("Salli") Lewis is the Director of the Research...