Our Team
Southern Live Oak Wellness is passionate and knowledgeable about improving the mental health of our patients. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, we pride ourselves in offering those who feel excluded a safe place to heal. As such, we provide hands-on mental health treatment for anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, depression, bipolar I and II disorders as well as personality disorders. Additionally, those needing relief from OCD, suicidal thoughts, and self-harming behaviors can visit us for the care they need.
Clinical

Katee Gmitro, LCSW
Executive Clinical Director
Katee received her bachelors in psychology at Oglethorpe University and received her Masters in Social Work at the University of Georgia. She has extensive experience working with individuals, families, and groups at the inpatient level of care as well as in-home services. Katees true passion is Thought and Mood Disorders. She finds it an honor to walk with clients as they engage life’s difficult moments while helping them move closer to the values that they have for themselves.

Halle Matula, M.S., LPC
Residential Clinical Director
Halle received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University and is currently working towards her PhD. in Counseling Education and Supervision at Mercer University. She currently holds her APC and NCC in the state of Georgia. She has experience working with individuals of varying age groups, families, and groups at the outpatient level of care as well as inpatient. She has also had the opportunity to work alongside government agencies, such as the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), in providing client care and treatment. She specializes in working with those living with depression and anxiety. Her therapeutic approach at its core is eclectic, however, she primarily utilizes techniques based in Reality Therapy, CBT, and Narrative Therapy. Her passion is working alongside clients and assisting them in having that “Aha” moment and taking control of their lives.

Tatayanna Foster, MS

Jonathan “JB” Brown, MS
Primary Therapist
Jonathan Brown, or JB as he is so lovingly known, received his Bachelors of Arts in psychology from Brewton-Parker College, received his Master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling from Mercer University, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Mercer University for his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, with a cognate in psychology-based health care services. He has varied experience working with individuals, families, and groups at various levels of care, experience working with individuals with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities at the state level and other levels of care. He also has many years of experience in higher education/student affairs at the collegiate and university level. While JB’s approach to therapy is eclectic in nature, he finds foundation in Gestalt, Reality, Narrative, DBT, and faith-based/spirituality modalities.
JB’s main goal in life is to help as many people as possible, without judgement, and meeting people where they are. He has always been inspired by the quote “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” by Dr. Martin Luther King. JB aims to be able to provide individuals with the hope of building a life worth living, that they are willingly participating in. He believes that one of the overall goals of treatment/therapy is a shift in perspective, and loves to walk alongside clients as they reach these moments of clarity. During his downtime, JB loves gaming, anime, arts & crafts, being outdoors, cooking, and spending time with his fiancé and their many pets.

Hannah Mills, MS, APC, NCC
Primary Therapist
Hi, I’m an APC with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. I primarily use Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I am very passionate about empowering clients to face their fears and to find compassion for themselves. I enjoy validating clients while working towards positive change.

Micheal Johnson
Recreational/Experiential Therapeutic Mentor
Micheal Johnson has worked in the field of holistic health and wellness for over 7 years. In that time, he has devoted himself to assisting others in their pursuit of holistic wellness as a Certified Nutrition Coach, Wellness Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Therapeutic Mentor, and Experiential & Recreational Therapist. Micheal’s passion in life is in empowering others with the tools and support they need to improve their lives through building powerful, authentic connections that encourage healing and growth. Michael feels rewarded in his work when he sees individuals taking ownership of their growth and path to healing.

Cody Moniz
Clinical Liaison
Cody has worked in the Mental Health and Addiction Treatment field for over 3 years in Inpatient, Outpatient, Residential and Crisis Stabilization. His roles have included Case manager, Alumni Coordinator, and Family Support. Cody’s approach with clients is to create a safe space that is conducive to Healing and growth. One of his other passions is to support families in setting boundaries and helping to empower their loved ones. While not his at work, Cody’s hobbies include Board Games and Escape rooms.

Megan Ehrlich
Medical

Dr. Panchajanya Paul, MD, ABPN, ABIHM, FAPA
Medical Director
Our Medical director, Dr. Paul received his Bachelor of Medicine as well as his Bachelor of Surgery at Kasturba Medical College, then went on to receive postgraduate training at the University of Toledo in General Psychiatry and Child Adolescent Psychiatry at Emory University. He’s a prominent author and has published several books as well as published research concerning stress relief and sleep coaching with the removal of medication, anorexia nervosa, and treatment outcomes of bipolar patients.

Deanna Harder, RN
Director of Nursing

Reed Williams, RN
Intake & Aftercare

Josh Vekselman

Tom Hetrick

Tywana Greenidge

Sara Schondel, CAC

Jaymen Ritsch
Director of Admissions
Jaymen has been with us since the day we opened in December of 2019. Jaymen is a Wisconsin native but probably the most southern person you will find in our facility. Jaymen is known for her big heart and caring soul. Jaymen loves helping people get into treatment and being a support to the families during the journey.

Nick Vieira
Intake Coordinator
Nick is a continued care coordinator here at Southern Live Oak Wellness. Nick has been with the team since the August 2021. In the time prior, Nick has worked in mental health and substance abuse treatment as a case manager and behavioral health technician. Nick is an ally to families and clients moving through the journey of growth and brings his authentic voice as an individual who has been through his own transformational journey over the past several years. In his free time, Nick enjoys backpacking, photography, and game nights with friends.

Rachel Sills
Alumni Coordinator
Administration

Andrew Merker
CEO

Monica Lewis, LPC, NCC, CPCS
Director of Business Development
Monica Lewis joined the SLOW team in Dec 2020 with a passion for helping struggling individuals find the right care for their needs. Specifically, working with clients struggling with severe mental health diagnosis, who the current treatment system has failed.
Monica holds a B.S of a psychology from Macon State College and a MS in Clinical Mental health counseling from Mercer University.
Monica began her career is a psychiatric hospital working as a clinician with clients in crisis, where she began to see the issues with our current MH treatment modalities. During her time in the psychiatric hospital she saw many individuals come into the facility over and over again, due to lack of individualized care and short stays that lacked clinical backing or lifeskills training.
Monica worked in a residential dual diagnosis facility as a clinician for 3 years, seeing the difference longer term care could have on those seeking help. She transitioned to Business Development to expand the scope of people she could help and focus on finding the right facility for every individual she works with.
Heal Mental Health Disorders With Our Caring Staff
We have employed medical professionals from a variety of backgrounds to best suit you. Moreover, we provide many services to help those facing challenging stemming from mental health. Our residential program gives patients 24-hour monitoring and access to psychotherapies. The complimentary therapies we offer are gentle yet effective for mental health conditions.
We understand the difficulty in getting started, but you don’t have to heal alone. Choose our facility of caring and passionate people who can best serve you. Contact us now to get started.
Ready To Get Started
Take the first step towards the future you deserve.
What Our Clients Say
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I have so much to say about this wonderful place, but I’m sure my words will never do my experience justice. Southern Live Oak Wellness and it’s people not only helped me find myself again, but they saved my life.
Alex M.
Johns Creek, GA -
Southern Live Oak Wellness saved my life. The therapists genuinely care about the clients and helping them get better. Working on yourself is not easy, but the therapists help guide you and make you be able to work through whatever may be going on.
Rachel S.
Lawrenceville, GA -
I can easily say that Southern Live Oak wellness saved my life. I had hit rock bottom when I first got admitted and they helped me build myself up from nothing. I have learned how to cope with things I never thought I would be able to handle.
Taylor R.
Dallas, GA
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Going to SLOW has impacted my life in ways I never thought possible. I came for help with my mental state and came out with so much more; life skills, medical advice, mental health counseling and addiction treatment. SLOW is a whole life transformation program and I highly recommend it to anyone I know!
Kaylan F.
Kennesaw, GA -
When I was a part of this program, I had the most personal growth I’ve had in my entire life. All of the tech staff were willing to talk to me whenever I felt like I needed someone to talk to and the group sessions gave me multiple perspectives I never would’ve thought of from people in similar situations to me.
Dylan C.
Belleville, IL -
This place has changed my life. For the first time in my life I felt heard and cared about. The clinical staff is amazing. The groups are well structured. You learn a lot of different skills to help you in life this is the best mental health facility to come to.
Ashley H.
Brunswick, GA