Vela Mental Health PLLC

With more than a decade of full-time clinical practice, I offer experience and genuine compassion in every therapeutic relationship. I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Louisville in 2011 and have been a licensed clinical psychologist in Alabama since 2012. My clinical training included an internship at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System and postdoctoral fellowship at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where I received specialized training in geropsychology — the psychological care of older adults. Since then, I have provided psychotherapy to individuals from their twenties through their eighties who are experiencing a range of mental health concerns, relationship problems, and/or behaviors they would like to change. I am trained in several evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), and such trauma-focused therapies as Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD. I also weave mindfulness-based practices into my work, and I deeply value the whole person — including your personal values, spiritual beliefs, and faith — as an integral part of the healing process. I have had the privilege of helping individuals navigate a wide range of mental health challenges. My goal is to provide a safe, supportive space where you feel truly heard, respected, and empowered to thrive. I would love to help you take that next step.