Staff

Brian Lusk, LPC, CSAC
Director

Clinical interest/specialties: Substance Use Disorders/recovery, family dynamics, Social issues, mood disorders, men’s issues

Theoretical approaches: CBT, Person-Centered, Solution-Focused

Fun Fact/Hobbies: I also enjoy spending time with my family, exercising, outdoor activities, playing/watching sports, and doing home improvement projects.

Emily Fitzgerald, LPC
Assistant Director

Clinical interest/specialties: Depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships

Theoretical approaches: CBT, Person-Centered, Solution-Focused

Fun Fact/Hobbies: I enjoy reading, spending time with my family, watching sports (especially college football), singing, activities with my church, exercising, and playing with animals (my own or any others - I love animals).

John Betzel, LPC, LMFT
Counselor, Liaison to the Dean of Students Office

Clinical interests/specialties: Working with people who are anxious or depressed. 

Theoretical Approaches: Primarily use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), along with solution- focused therapy.

Fun Fact/Hobbies: I am originally from Atlanta, graduated from the University of Georgia., along with Georgia State for my Master's degree in Counseling. I enjoy walking my two hounds in the nearby Jefferson National Forest on a regular basis.

Brittany Hall, LPC
Counselor, Communications and Outreach Liaison

Clinical interests/specialties: Grief and loss, faith-based counseling, individuals with chronic/terminal conditions who want to learn more about changing their lives with their "new normal," and working with students to transition to college/adult life.

Theoretical Approaches: Solution-focused and person-centered

Fun Fact/Hobbies: I enjoy photography, reading, traveling, and spending time with my friends and family. I also love DIY projects!

Debra Byer, LCSW
Counselor

Clinical Interests/Specialties: Personality disorders, LGBTQ+, and grief and loss issues

Theoretical Approaches: CBT and Solution Focused Therapy

Fun Fact/Hobbies: Travel and more travel, swimming, and photography. I use to love to draw and would enjoy taking more art classes. Love to jet ski and like the speed and feeling of freedom. I did make a hole-in-one playing golf once (totally by accident, I am a terrible golfer)!

Sarah Bertolo, LPC
Counselor

Clinical Interests/Specialties: Depression and anxiety management, living with chronic mental illness, trauma therapy, and working with LGBTQ + individuals.

Theoretical Approaches: Solution focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Person-centered

Fun Fact/Hobbies: I love camping, art, yoga and kayaking.  I love to go thrift shopping and antiquing so that I can add to my collection of ceramic animals - my favorite is a giant white hippo.  

Shonna Turner
Office Manager

Specialties: Helping others has always been a gratifying experience for me. My position affords me the opportunity to continue to pay it forward per say and assist in a small way by connecting students to services and resources in helping them to achieve success in their endeavors and life goals.

Fun Fact/Hobbies: A few hobbies I enjoy are woodworking, crafting, hiking, biking, fishing, and reading. I also love taking old junk and creating something new and innovative out of them.

Jordan Myers
Administrative Assistant

Specialties: My goal is to deliver a high level of quality care to every person who interacts with our office.

Fun Fact/Hobbies: My hobbies are listening to music, playing guitar, and sports. My favorite television show is “The Flash."