Presenters

Sandra V. Phillips, MS, CADCII, ICADC, LPC, NCC, CPCS
Sandra V. Phillips is the CEO of Transformation behavioral Health, LLC in Augusta, Georgia, where counseling services are provided to diverse population. Ms. Phillips received a BA in psychology from West Georgia University, where she fell in love with Humanistic Psychology. She later earned both a M.Ed. and MS in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University. Ms. Phillips is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II, National Certified Counselor, and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor. She is also proud and honored to be a Star Behavioral Health Provider, who renders counseling services to active military members, veterans, and their families.

Ms. Phillips enjoys work with both youth and adults. The belief that everything begins with a thought has defined her therapy approach with emphasis being transformed by the renewing of the mind. Ms. Phillips offers Faith-Based counseling upon request. She has provided individual, couples, group and family counseling on a variety of issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHA, Substance Abuse, and PTSD. She has experience in workshop/training facilitation as well.
Dr. Yulunda Williams, LPC
Yulanda Williams has a Doctorate in Counseling Psychology and a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia, National Certified Counselor, Certified School Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Dr. Williams has been employed with Georgia MENTOR for 13 years and is currently an Area Director for programs in Savannah, Macon, Albany & Atlanta.

Dr. Williams has experience as an adjunct professor for online and classroom instruction. She has a passion for helping others and is an advocate for children in the foster care system. Dr. Williams has provided individual and group counseling, conducted trainings on various clinical topics to include substance abuse, body image, PTSD, ADHD, etc. She is passionate about the counseling profession and enjoys working with children and adults.


Tamara Brown Payne, PhD, CPCS

Dr. Payne has been a holistic therapist and a life coach/strategist providing individual, couple, and family counseling for over 14 years.  She counsels in areas of, but no limited to PTSD, depression, relationships, grief and loss, adjustment, career counseling, substance abuse, and LBGT issues. She has worked as a corporate and community trainer on topics of personal and professional development.  For more than 10 years she has been an educator in higher education and returned to her alma mater at Fort Valley State University as an Assistant Professor, where she teaches Rehabilitation Counseling and Psychology. She also works part-time in her private counseling practice in southwest Atlanta and contracts as a speaker, trainer, program and business developer, and health and nutrition with her company, BrownPayne Innovations.

She has received acknowledgements for her research contributions and national conference presentations on Welfare-to-Work, disabilities, youth, counseling, and cultural/diversity issues. She has served on panels dealing with work-life balance, relationships, and racial microaggression.

Dr. Payne earned her both her Bachelor degree in Infant and Child Development, Masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling, and her PhD in Psychology.. She is credentialed as a License Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC),  a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Approved Counselor Supervisor (ACS), and a Certified Holistic Life Coach (CHLC).


La’Keasha Smith-Ibhafidon, LMSW

La'Keasha Smith-Ibhafidon has served over 20 solid years as a social worker. She received her BA in Humanities from Paine College and a Master in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University. Mrs. Ibhafidon specializes in the areas of Mental Health, Long Term Care, Health, Behavioral Issues, Abuse & Neglect, Community Outreach, Truancy, In - Home Services, Child & Family Welfare and Parenting Skills. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker in Tennessee, Certified Parent Educator and a Certified School Social Worker. She has served as Georgia Northwest Regional Representative for Parents as Teacher’s Home Visiting Program and Vice President for the Northeast Council of Georgia Society of Nursing Home Social Work. Mrs. Ibhafidon contracts as a educational trainer, speaker, consultant, staff developer and resource coordinator with her company, Smith Out Reach Family Services.

Mrs. Ibhafidon experiences includes developing care programs for health facilities, increasing staff morale, staff development training and ensuring quality control. She has knowledge and experience working with large diverse populations. She develops and facilitates family support groups that target the infant to geriatric population. Mrs. Ibhafidon has a passion for assisting others in achieving a better quality of life.