Mental health experts

Our own licensed mental health professionals, including counselors, therapists, psychologists, and board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, work to ensure that our articles are clinically or medically accurate and truly helpful to our readers.

The majority of our content is written and reviewed by experts who have specific expertise in the area of concern such as depression, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, medication management, relationships, self-improvement, and more. 

Our experts provide the most factual and up-to-date information. In addition, they offer truly helpful tips that are uniquely valuable.

Our editorial team works with our experts to present this content in the most helpful way possible for our readers. The end product is a factual, trustworthy, and valuable resource that will help our readers live better.

Meet the team

Get to know some of our experts here at Thriveworks
  • Emily Simonian, M.A., LMFT

    Head of Clinical Learning

    Emily Simonian is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who has direct training and experience working with family and relationship issues, as well as working with individuals. She also specializes in treating stress/anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, as well as self-esteem issues and general self-improvement goals.
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  • Kate Hanselman, PMHNP-BC

    Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    Kate Hanselman is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). She specializes in family conflict, transgender issues, grief, sexual orientation issues, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, behavioral issues, and women's issues.
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  • Theresa Lupcho, LPC

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Theresa Lupcho is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a passion for providing the utmost quality of services to individuals and couples struggling with relationship issues, depression, anxiety, abuse, ADHD, stress, family conflict, life transitions, grief, and more.
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  • Alexandra Cromer, LPC

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Alexandra “Alex” Cromer is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has 4 years of experience partnering with adults, families, adolescents, and couples seeking help with depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and trauma-related disorders.
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  • Christine Ridley, LCSW

    Licensed Clinical Social Worker

    Christine Ridley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in adolescent and adult anxiety, depression, mood and thought disorders, addictive behaviors, and co-dependency issues.
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  • Laura Harris, LCMHC

    Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

    Laura Harris is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC). She specializes in anger, anxiety, depression, stress management, coping strategies development, and problem-solving skills.
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  • Heidi Faust, LCSW

    Chief Clinical Officer

    Heidi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania and Virginia and a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in New York. She specializes in depression, mood disorders, anxiety, grief, impulse control disorders, complex trauma, sexual abuse, and more. Heidi currently serves as Thriveworks' Chief Clinical Officer.
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  • Tamiqua Jackson, PMHNP

    Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    Tamiqua Jackson is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. Tamiqua has over 8 years of experience in advanced practice. She enjoys working with patients who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), stress, sleep disorders, and other mental health issues that may affect everyday life. Tamiqua is compassionate and serves as a patient advocate.
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  • Evan Csir, LPC

    Evan Csir is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 9 years of experience. He is passionate about working with people, especially autistic individuals and is experienced in helping clients with depression, anxiety, and ADHD issues.
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  • George Ramos, PMHNP-BC

    Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    George Ramos is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC). He specializes in coping skills, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder.
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  • Zubair Haq

    Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    Zubair Haq ("Z”) is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PHMNP) who has been in the field of nursing for over 10 years with teens, adults, and seniors. He specializes in depression, anxiety, life counseling, stress management, and ADHD.
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  • Elizabeth Fiser, PMHNP

    Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    Elizabeth Fiser is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) who specializes in a range of areas including alcohol use, addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, women's issues, and more.
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  • Courtney Saunders, LCSW

    Licensed Mental Health Counselor

    Courtney Saunders is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who specializes in relationships, marriage, ADHD, depression, mood disorders, LGBTQIA+ issues, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).
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  • Scott Gordon, M.D., Chief Medical Officer

    Chief Medical Officer

    Dr. Scott Gordon is Thriveworks' Chief Medical Officer. He ensures that the mental health services provided are both safe and effective. In addition, Dr. Gordon provides strong, inspiring medical leadership to the health care professionals at Thriveworks and oversees daily operations.
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  • Dr. Khadija Tuitt, PMHNP-BC

    Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    Khadija Tuitt is a Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) with over 15 years of nursing experience in both acute inpatient and community outpatient psychiatric nursing. Khadija specializes in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating individuals across the lifespan who suffer from a host of mental health issues including depression, anxiety and panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar and mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and co-occurring substance use disorders.
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  • Whitney McSparran, LPCC

    Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

    Whitney McSparran is an experienced Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in working with young adults, adults, women, and LGBTQIA+ folks coping with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, relationship issues, educational challenges, occupational problems, gender and sexuality-related issues, and the stress of everyday life.
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  • Caitlin Opland, LCSW

    Licensed Clinical Social Worker

    Caitlin Opland is a compassionate and empathetic Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 8 years of experience dedicated to helping individuals overcome mental health challenges. Specializing in anxiety, depression, substance use, grief, stress, and work/life balance, Caitlin believes in creating a safe and supportive environment where clients feel respected, valued, and understood.
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  • Armeshia Lawrence, FPMHNP-BC

    Armeshia Lawrence is a Board-Certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She provides a wide range of services to adults, children, adolescents, and their families including diagnosing mental health conditions, conducting therapy, and prescribing medications for patients with mental health conditions or substance abuse problems.
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  • Tiffany Stewart, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

    Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

    Dr. Tiffany Stewart is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in the state of South Carolina. She specializes in anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
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  • J.R. Johnson, LCPC

    Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor

    J.R. Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with over 10 years of experience. He specializes in assisting youth and young adults, but can also assist adults of all ages that have suffered from behavioral issues, trouble with the law, depression, PTSD, family conflict, and more.
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  • Maddy Brener, PsyD

    Licensed Clinical Psychologist

    Dr. Maddy Brener is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist based in San Diego, California with 10+ years of experience in the mental health field. She has worked with a diverse range of children, teens, adults, and seniors with a wide variety of diagnoses ranging from generalized anxiety and major depression to chronic paranoid schizophrenia and personality disorders.
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  • Nicole Volpa

    Licensed Associate Counselor

    Nicole Volpa is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) in the state of New Jersey. She specializes in anxiety, depression, coping skills, grief, and relationships.
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