Shannon Curry, LMHC

Dawn Parks, LMHC, has worked in hospitals, forensics, community clinics, private practice, and research with Harvard Medical School, where she served as project director for a two-year addictions study for couples. She holds an undergraduate degree in exercise physiology, a master’s in clinical psychology, and a PhD in psychology. Dawn is a HeartMath practitioner with certifications in clinical stress, anxiety, and self-regulation treatment, as well as trauma-sensitive interventions. She also holds advanced certifications in addictions and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and has extensive training in trauma work, couples therapy, nutrition for mental health, and healthy lifestyle development.

Dawn values open communication and works with patients to set clear treatment goals. She creates a warm, supportive environment where patients feel heard and respected. She emphasizes the mind-body connection, encouraging movement toward health from both perspectives, and meets patients where they are, providing a non-judgmental, trusting space conducive to growth.

She begins by thoroughly understanding each patient’s history, concerns, and goals during the initial session. Dawn develops individualized treatment plans aligned with patient objectives. Using a collaborative approach, she matches interventions to each client’s needs, fostering teamwork and supporting patients in achieving sustainable progress.

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Tikita Ficklin, LPC, has over 10 years of experience practicing in outpatient and inpatient settings, utilizing modalities such as CBT and Solution-Focused Therapy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences/Human Services and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, both from Mercer University, and is completing a Doctorate in Marriage & Family Therapy from North Central University, expected in 2026.

Tikita values open and honest communication and partners with clients to set clear treatment goals that support their personal growth. She creates a warm, supportive environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Tikita begins by thoroughly understanding each client’s history, concerns, and goals during the initial session to foster a trusting relationship. She then develops individualized treatment plans that align with clients’ objectives, guiding them toward their best possible self.

Derek Miller is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has extensive experience working in the fields of substance abuse and mental health. Derek has worked with clients with a large variety of concerns and backgrounds, with more experience with male and minority populations. Derek attended undergraduate school in Alfred, NY, graduate school in Rochester, NY, including a school-based visit to Estonia to learn about social work systems abroad. Derek's greatest passion is helping people make lasting change in their lives. His approach draws both on professional and personal experiences with addiction, trauma, first responders, relationships and more. By creating a space and relationship where you feel safe, valued, and respected, Derek works together with you to overcome the challenges of today and build resiliency for the challenges yet to come. Therapy can be a truly transformative experience, when it is built on human connection and dedication to change. Derek takes an active approach, which includes asking tough questions while staying respectful, as well as humor and friendly conversations when appropriate. Therapy begins with building trust and a good relationship. Derek utilizes experiences from various practice models, including Cognitive Processing Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

Lauren Mingle is an outpatient therapist at Talkiatry. She is dually licensed in Colorado as a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist). Lauren earned her master's degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling/Therapy from the University of Northern Colorado. Before joining Talkiatry, Lauren held roles in a diverse array of settings including community mental health, crisis services, and outpatient therapy. Her previous specialty focuses included youth, adolescents, adults, and couples. Lauren uses a variety of evidence-based approaches including, but not limited to, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to meet people where they are at and work with them to best reach their personalized therapy goals.

Veronica McKnight received her Master's degree from the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York. She holds clinical social work licenses in Florida, Maine, Vermont and Wisconsin. Ms.McKnight's key areas of practice include depression, anxiety, trauma, communication in relationships, parenting challenges, compassion fatigue and grief and bereavement. Ms. McKnight specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with a strength based, solution focused approach. Ms. McKnight integrates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques.  Ms. McKnight has been certified as a Compassion Fatigue Educator and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Ms. McKnight has held leadership and clinical roles in community mental health centers, housing programs, hospitals and non-profit organizations.

I am proficient in assisting clients to navigate transitions in all aspects of the life span. Over the past 30 years, my experience has taught me that the most important aspect of therapy is the connection and comfort you feel with the person with whom you choose to share your personal struggles.

I like to listen to what patients are telling me about what is important to them and what they would like to address in therapy.  We can then start to set goals together and work towards the outcomes they want.  We always go at a pace that is comfortable to the client.

Melinda Morris is a dedicated and compassionate LCSW with over 6 years of experience in the field of mental health. She holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee and has been a practicing counselor since 2018. Melinda specializes in helping individuals navigate life's challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, transitional periods, and relationship issues. Her approach isclient-centered and integrative, combining techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and solution-focused therapy to tailor treatment plans to each client's unique needs and identifying their personal strengths to enhance theirprogress in becoming and feeling the best version of themselves in any new chapter they maybe experiencing. Throughout her career, Melinda has worked primarily in nonprofit and private practice settings. She is known for her empathetic listening, non-judgmental attitude, and ability to build rapport and trust to create a safe and supportive environment for her clients so they can find their voice and be truly heard and understood. Melinda is committed to ongoing professional development and regularly attends workshops and conferences to stay current with the latest advancements in mental health treatment. She is also an active member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). When she's not working, Melinda enjoys traveling, hiking, painting/drawing, and spending time with her awesome kiddo and fur babies.