"Empowering Teen girls from the inside out"

Dr. Uma Suryadevara is a Clinical Physician Executive for Psychiatry Institute at Novant Health, overseeing operations in the Greater Charlotte Region. She oversees clinical operations for six outpatient psychiatric clinics, an adult intensive outpatient program, an adolescent partial hospitalization program, inpatient psychiatric units in two hospitals, and the telepsychiatry program which supports emergency departments throughout Novant Health. After completing her training, Dr. Suryadevara served as an Associate Program Director for the general psychiatry residency and Program Director for the geriatric psychiatry fellowship program at University of Florida. 

Nationally, Dr. Suryadevara attained Distinguished Fellow status with the American Psychiatric Association, underscoring her significant impact in the field. Her dedication to psychiatry is further evidenced by her involvement with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certification committee. Additionally, she serves as the senior editor for the Asian Journal of Psychiatry, shaping innovation within the global psychiatric community.

Alexxis Cook-Graham is a licensed clinical counselor and organizational development consultant with over a decade of experience in public health, health equity, and community-centered care. Holding a master’s of arts in Organizational Development & Leadership and a master's of science Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she integrates strategic expertise with therapeutic insight to promote healing and meaningful change. Her career began in conflict resolution and vocational rehabilitation, where she worked with both adults and youth to navigate career transitions and overcome barriers to employment. She has since supported individuals and families through trauma, life transitions, and emotional challenges. Her clinical approach is trauma-informed and incorporates TF-CBT, somatic processing, narrative and person-centered therapy, Gestalt, and Solution-Focused methods. She also applies integrated systems models to help clients understand how environmental and relational factors shape their well-being. Alexxis centers her practice on creating safe, personalized spaces for healing, resilience, and growth. 

With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, licensed trauma therapist Crystal R. Currie has worked in diverse settings, including detention centers, residential treatment programs, and community organizations focused on family reunification. She has collaborated with prominent organizations such as the American Counseling Association, the National Association of Public Defense, Lincoln Financial Group, and the International Congress on Interpersonal Rejection & Acceptance. Her compassionate, client-centered approach has earned her a reputation as a beacon of hope for "Cycle Breakers"—individuals committed to breaking trauma patterns in their families. Crystal is dedicated to advancing the field of trauma therapy through research and education. When not teaching or conducting research, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Donald, and their children, Alaina and Andrew, who inspire her passion for creating lasting change in the lives of others.

Dr. Jenais Y. Means is the owner and lead counselor of the group counseling private practice, Collaborative Means. Dr. Means combines her personal, educational, and professional experiences to integrate mind, body, and spirit wellness into her counseling and community work. She provides counseling for individuals across the lifespan, groups, and families, and she offers supervision and mentorship to developing counselors. She is as energetic with her community as she is with her family and friends. She also enjoys activities that fuel her creative spirit, including dancing and creating mixed media art. Dr. Means earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA), a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University (Columbia, SC), and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.