AHB CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS - Key Persons
Adrian Miller received both his BA in English and Master's in Education degrees from the University of Florida and spent some years working in public schools. During his tenure as a high school English instructor, he realized he wanted to be able to help adolescents outside the walls of a classroom. He then completed his Master's in Psychology with a Clinical Concentration, from North Carolina Central University. Currently, he is an applicant with the North Carolina Psychology Board to obtain his License as a Psychological Associate. Adrian also has experience working with children with Autism through The Carolina Center for ABA and Autism and conducts psycho-educational testing, clinical assessments, and psychological evaluations. He enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures and his professional interests include individual counseling with adolescents and adults, helping clients navigate and reflect on issues to help them make positive changes that will improve their overall functioning and well-being.
Akua Jackson, PhD is a licensed psychologist. She received her BA degree in Psychology from UNC Chapel Hill and her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University. Her education and training focused on forensic psychology and parent-child relationships. She has experience providing child, adolescent, adult, and family therapy. Dr. Jackson has worked with individuals with a variety of diagnoses including individuals with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and cultural issues. She also conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations and forensic evaluations. She is passionate about helping others and utilizes an evidence-based approach that is customized to fit each client's particular needs.
April Harris-Britt, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Durham since 2003. She received her doctorate from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to providing child, adolescent, adult, and family therapy, Dr. Harris-Britt conducts comprehensive psychological evaluations, forensic evaluations, comprehensive child custody evaluations, civil guardian ad litem evaluations, and parental competency evaluations. Specific areas of expertise include trauma and violence, adoption and attachment, medically fragile children, divorce transitions, ADHD and learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and multicultural issues.
Dr. Harris-Britt utilizes a systems approach to wellness that incorporates developmental, psychological, and social strengths in assessment and treatment. She is trained in many evidence-based models, including Trauma-focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and EMDR. Dr. Harris-Britt is often contacted by families, attorneys, and the courts to provide intensive intervention services for families engaged in high-conflict custody disputes, including coparenting and reunification therapy. She provides services as a Parent Coordinator.
Dr. Harris-Britt is licensed in the states of NC and VA. She maintains a faculty appointment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Fielding Graduate University, where she is actively engaged in teaching and research. Some of her work has been featured on CNN, in Newsweek, on local television and radio news programs, and in the New York Times Bestseller, NurtureShock. She is currently a member of the Board for the Center for Cooperative Parenting, APA Advocacy Coordinating Committee, APA Working Group to Review Scientific Literature for High Conflict Family Relationships and AFCC Task Force on Model Standards of Practice for Child Custody Evaluations.
Cynthia D. Jones, MS, LPCS received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California Irvine and her Master's degree in Counseling from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Licensed since 1998, she has been active in the field of mental health for over 20 years. In her clinical practice, she provides counseling to a wide range of clients (from teens to older adults, individuals, couples, and families) who are experiencing difficulties in the areas of behavioral health issues (anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorders, attention deficit disorder, sleep disorders) and life adjustment complications (grief, loss, divorce, work transitions). She also offers virtual reality technology methods to treat specific phobias, including fear of flying, public speaking, heights, and storms. Cynthia works from a holistic model of helping and incorporates the teachings of Carl Rogers (PCT -Person Centered Therapy), Aaron Beck (CBT- Cognitive Behavior Therapy), Jon Kabat-Zinn (MBSR - Mind Based Stress Reduction), Marsha Linehan (DBT- Dialectic Behavioral Therapy), and Victor Frankl (Logotherapy - Guidance in exploring and establishing meaning in one's life). Cynthia recently retired from Duke University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences after 24 years in order to focus on her private practice. She also offers clinical supervision to those seeking licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina.
Geoffrey Zeger, ACSW, LCSW, provides counseling and psychotherapy to children, adults, couples and families. He received his Masters of Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work. Licensed since 1992, Geoff has worked with a wide range of clients with a variety of presenting needs. His focus is working with children (attention difficulties, self-harm, acting out, teenage and childhood depression and anxiety, and incorporating step-parents into families). Geoff's prior experience includes work with juvenile sex offenders, Willie M. children, Director of a Crisis Team, work with a mental health team at Ground Zero (9-11), and out-of-state work with soldiers returning from Iraq.
Kira Royal, MA obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She then completed her Master's in Psychology with a Clinical Concentration, from North Carolina Central University. Currently, she is an applicant with the North Carolina Psychology Board to obtain her License as a Psychological Associate. Mrs. Royal conducts individual therapy, psycho-educational testing, clinical assessments, and psychological evaluations. Her professional interests include individual and group counseling relating to trauma and family systems. Her research interests include parental involvement, social support, parental stress, and how these factors impact child behavioral outcomes for minority children. She is an active member of the American Psychological Association and the North Carolina Psychological Association.
Michelle Byars, BA, CYT has a great passion for transforming barriers into bridges towards success. She helps clients, who include children, adolescents and adults, improve their health, social relationships and life skills through two services: Developmental Therapy and Life Coaching.
As a Developmental Therapist, Michelle works with children with issues including anxiety, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder to build skills and increase physical, behavioral, and cognitive success. As a Life Coach, she provides adolescents and adults with guidance and skill building founded in human needs psychology, neurolinguistics, diplomacy, and organizational psychology.
Michelle has trained in a variety of modalities including developmental movement, Theraplay, yoga, mindfulness, functional neurology, psychology, and coaching. Her educational background includes a BA degree in Psychology, certification in the Functional Neurology of Childhood Developmental Disorders, and certification as a yoga teacher for children, children with special needs, and adults. She is also the creator of Move to Grow, a movement based therapeutic program that has been successfully improving the lives of children for over seven years.
Norita Harris holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Olive College and is a Certified Life Coach. She provides a safe and positive environment for supervised visitation and exchange services to families struggling with mental health concerns, substance abuse, high-conflict custody issues, and a history domestic violence. Norita provides discreet facility based visitations, community visitations, and virtual or electronically-facilitated visitations (e.g., Skype; Facetime). Norita has been an active member of the Supervised Visitation Network since 2015.
Robin H. Exum-Calhoun, Ph.D. received her BA degree from Dartmouth College and she earned both her Master's and Doctoral degrees from New York University. She has always had an interest in working with families. Her clinical training included work with children, adolescents, adults and family therapy along with psychological assessment.
Dr. Exum-Calhoun's mission is to improve the lives of the families with whom she works. Truly embracing the notion that "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child" she seeks to work with all members of the "Village" who might be involved in supporting members of a family. She utilizes a variety of techniques to improve individual functioning and strengthen family relations. Treatment modalities such as cognitive behavior therapy, psychodynamic therapy, solution focused therapy and EMDR are used to help clients cope with a variety of clinical syndromes including mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, disorders often experienced by children, and family problems. She also works with couples seeking to strengthen their relationships recognizing that the couple is the foundation of the family unit. Dr. Exum-Calhoun's clinical interests include: child and adolescent development, parenting, the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, women's issues and the intersection of spiritually and clinical practice. Dr. Exum-Calhoun is a Christian and also incorporates spirituality into her psychological practice for individuals interested in treatment of this nature.
Dr. Exum-Calhoun uses her experience working in the School Psychology field to advise and advocate for parents seeking to improve their children's educational experience. She provides psychoeducational assessment to help parents gain a better understanding of their child's educational and emotional needs.
Dr. Exum-Calhoun's professional work has also included teaching psychology at the undergraduate, Master's and Doctoral levels at several universities including New York University, The College of Saint Elizabeth, and Saint Augustine's College. She is currently a faculty member in the School of Undergraduate Studies at Capella University.
Sarah Rabiner Eisensmith is a forensic social worker, academic consultant, educator, and researcher. As a forensic social worker, Sarah provides a therapeutic environment for supervised visitation and exchanges to families with the goal of repairing or restoring parent-child relationships. Sarah has experience with families navigating high-conflict dynamics, mental health concerns, identity development, substance abuse issues, and violence. She is an ally to the LGBTQA+ community and has worked with individuals from all different backgrounds. Sarah also conducts supervised visitation, including for families involved in the Court and Child Welfare systems, to observe and evaluate parent-child attachment and interaction, parenting skills, and other areas of concern specific to each family. In addition, Sarah conducts forensic psychological and parenting assessments.