Who We Are

"Dr. Ayanna Abrams is a licensed clinical psychologist, CEO/Founder of Ascension Behavioral Health and co-founder of Not So Strong, an initiative to improve the mental health and relationship functioning of Black women. Her specialties include racism based trauma, mood disorder treatment, burnout prevention and helping people create and recreate healthy romantic, friendship, career and familial relationships. She has extensive clinical and research experience working with Black people across the Diaspora and has been featured as a speaker or contributing writer in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Essence, Therapy for Black Girls and Silence the Shame. She is
also a contributing author to the books, Emotionally Focused Therapy for African American Couples: Love Heals and the Handbook on Counseling African American Women: Psychological Symptoms, Treatments, and Case Studies. She currently sits on the board of Black Girls Smile, Inc. and Silence the Shame non-profit organizations.

Roderick has over 25 years of marketing experience working for AT&T, Cox Communications, SunTrust/Truist, and NBMBAA. While working at NBMBAA, Roderick led a sales team that set revenue records in 2022 and 2023 and increased the number of corporate partners from 33 to 58. Prior to joining NBMBAA, Roderick worked for SunTrust/Truist in Sponsorship and Event Marketing. During his nine years there he successfully negotiated sponsorship agreements with NFL, NBA, MLB, and MLS teams, as well as properties like the Historic Ryman Auditorium and Georgia Aquarium. Originally from NC, Roderick received a bachelor's degree from North Carolina A&T
State University and an MBA from Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson School of Business. Roderick is active in the community and served on Advisory Board for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, Celebration Bowl, and the Lakeside Touchdown Club. He currently is an advisor for Silence the Shame Foundation and is the owner of Str8line Consulting, LLC.

Dr. Kensa Gunter is a licensed psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). Through her Atlanta based private practice she provides mental health, mental performance, and consultation services to individuals, teams, and organizations. She is
committed to humanizing conversations about mental health and highlighting the role of social, cultural, and environmental factors on health, performance, and well-being.. Dr. Gunter previously served as the President of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (2020-21)and she also currently serves on the International Board of Directors for Little League International and on the National Advisory Board for the Positive Coaching Alliance.

Deanna Hamilton, an accomplished serial entrepreneur, and accredited investor founded Circle One, Inc., a dynamic consumer product marketing and multiformat printing company. After the successful launch of her award-winning consumer product marketing and multi-format printing company, which saw a historic acquisition and exit in 2012. Deanna’s passion for the art of the deal led her to reorganize Circle One, Inc. as a holding company. Under this umbrella, she launched Circle One Development and Circle One Investments which houses her diversified portfolio which includes ventures in hotel development, health & beauty, sports equipment, and healthcare apparel. Deanna actively contributes to the business and civic community. She has received numerous business and community awards in recognition of her efforts.

Joya N. Hampton-Anderson, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory School of Medicine. Dr. Hampton-Anderson received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Vanderbilt University, her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Emory University, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University School of Medicine. Her program of research aims to understand the sociocultural determinants of health disparities and integrated health outcomes in youth and families, with a particular interest in childhood adversity and chronic stress. She is interested in risk and protective factors that influence mental and physical health diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, with a specific interest in culturally competent clinical practice and research. Clinically, Dr. Hampton-Anderson works with youth and families using an empirically supported, collaborative, culturally responsive approach to treatment. She enjoys connecting with communities about her work via writing and talks.

Dorian Lamis, PhD, ABPP, is a Board Certified Licensed Clinical Psychologist and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. His research focuses on mood disorders, substance use, and suicidal behaviors, and he has published over 160 peer reviewed articles and book chapters on these topics. In addition, Dr. Lamis is the senior editor of two books on suicide entitled Understanding and Preventing College Student Suicide (2011) and Advancing the Science of Suicidal Behavior: Understanding and Intervention (2015). He provides direct clinical and administrative services in the Grady
Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic with underserved patients diagnosed with serious mental illness and/or are at-risk for suicide.

Dr. Dan Reidenberg is the Managing Director of the National Council for Suicide Prevention, Project Director at The Mental Health Coalition, is a Certified Psychological Autopsy Investigator who serves on several national and international editorial boards. He has presented to over 350,000 people around the world, written more than 60 articles and 5 book chapters, developed an evidence-based program, works with the leading technology companies, wrote the US Best Practices for Media Reporting on Suicide, created the only online peer support program for suicide, and a program for the construction industry and a comprehensive model work place suicide prevention program.