Employee Assistance Program: Professional Staff

Services are provided by licensed, professional staff with a minimum of a master's degree that has given them specialized training to work with individuals and families. Members of the staff have additional training to enhance their expertise in working with particular problems.

Dr. Emily S. Smith, Director,
Certified Employee Assistance Professional
EAP Specialist, Dr. Emily S. Smith, Certified Employee Assistance Professional, completed her Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of Alabama. Dr. Smith’s professional credentials include National Certified School Psychologist, Alabama AA Certified School Psychologist and Licensed Professional Counselor. Her areas of expertise include psychoeducational assessment, parent training, stress and time management, social/study skills training, critical incident debriefing and individual cognitive behavioral counseling.

Sandra Hopkins, LGSW
Sandra Hopkins, LGSW, completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Alabama. As an EAP Specialist, her professional credentials include Licensed Graduate Social Worker in the State of Alabama and Qualified Substance Abuse Professional. Mrs. Hopkins areas of expertise include family therapy, adolescent and child therapy, stress management, cultural awareness and sensitivity training, addictive behaviors, critical incident debriefing, parenting and anger management.

Chip Garrett, LPC
Chip Garrett, LPC, completed his Master of Arts in Counselor Education at the University of Alabama. As an EAP specialist, his professional credentials include Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Alabama, Master Level Addictions Counselor, and Qualified Substance Abuse Professional. His areas of expertise include family therapy, divorce recovery, addictive behavior, adolescent behavior problems, adventure based training, conflict resolution, critical incident debriefing and trauma counseling.

Vanessa German Graves, LCSW
Vanessa German Graves, LCSW, completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Alabama. This EAP Specialist is a Licensed Certified Social Worker in the State of Alabama. Her areas of expertise include individual and family therapy, crisis intervention, adolescent therapy, child play therapy, grief counseling, adventure based training and parent training.

Dr. Jill Jenine Martin
Dr. Jill Jenine Martin, EAP Specialist, completed her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at Mississippi State University. She earned a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Martin's professional credentials include Licensed Psychologist, Nationally Certified School Psychologist, Nationally Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor (Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida) and Qualified Substance Abuse Professional. Her areas of expertise include addictive behavior, anger management, assertiveness training, communication, conflict resolution, critical incident debriefing, divorce recovery, individual and marital therapy, parent training, psychoeducational testing and stress management.

Donna M. Avant, LCSW
Donna M. Avant, LCSW, completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Alabama. She currently serves as the Client Services Coordinator of the Employee Assistance Program. Her professional credentials include Licensed Certified Social Worker in the State of Alabama, Certified Instructor (Skills for Empowered Workforce), and Certified Smoking Cessation Facilitator. Mrs. Avant’s areas of expertise include: family therapy, child therapy, stress management, communication, grief and bereavement, conflict resolution, assertiveness training, parenting and sensitivity training.

Pete Couch, LCSW
Pete Couch, LCSW, PIP, EAP Specialist, completed his Master of Social Work at the University of Alabama. Areas of expertise include: addiction behavior, marital, family and individual therapy, stress and anger management, divorce adjustment and recovery, and relaxation techniques.

Sonya W. Guy, LPC
Sonya W. Guy, LPC, EAP Specialist, completed her Master of Arts in Counselor Education at the University of Alabama. She is an Alabama Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. Her areas of expertise include family and adolescent counseling, divorce recovery, individual therapy and addictive behavior.