Meet
Our Staff
Our team strives to make every patient feel welcomed and valued. We provide a warm and friendly atmosphere for our patients to ensure that you know we are a safe space.
Dr. Sarah Vidal McMurtry
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
OWNER
Dr. Sarah Vidal McMurtry specializes in clinical assessment for children ages 0-16 in Autism Spectrum, ADHD, and developmental challenges. She has studied, trained and provided clinical, research-based, and therapeutic services for families, parents, adults, and children with traumatic stress and developmental delays for over 15 years. With the upswing of Covid, many families are now prevented from receiving assessments to clarify diagnostic questions related to autism and adhd. Dr. Sarah is dedicated to provide families and children with solutions and recommendations that allow for supportive treatments.
Sarah Vidal McMurtry, Ph.D., received a Doctorate's Degree in Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi. She completed predoctoral internship at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center Consortium focusing on developmental disability and child, adult, family, and community trauma. She furthered her expertise during postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University, Children Healthcare of Atlanta Stephanie V Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children focusing on child trauma, specifically child sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect. Dr. McMurtry previously completed psychological, speech-language, and neuropsychological testing for children and adults with developmental challenges through the Emory University Department of Human Genetics for 6 years. Dr. McMurtry previously served as adjunct professor, teaching Multicultural Counseling at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Affectionately known as, “Dr. Sarah Mac”, Dr. Vidal McMurtry specializes in training and developing clinicians' use of evidence-based interventions and wellness methods for parents, adolescents, youth and communities with past experiences of trauma. She is most passionate about individual empowerment, diversity, and community-based programming through health and wellness programming that improves overall wellbeing for health and wellness leaders and reduces stigma related to mental health. See more about her wellness and coaching programs HERE
At Perspectives, Dr. Vidal McMurtry overseas all clinical, assessment, and wellness programming. She is dedicated to train her staff and offer community-based specialized trainings in treatments such as Parent-Child Interactive Therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and Trauma-Focused CBT for young children. Her team is currently undergoing training in CPP, a trauma informed treatment for children aged 0-5. Dr. Sarah Mac's goals are to empower change agents, by providing offering safe, balanced and value-based professional development and training in multiculturally competent and trauma informed strategies inside and outside of the therapeutic space.
Dr. Sarah Mac is frequently spotted smiling and encouraging others where ever she goes. She is a wife, mom of a young adult, tweenaged daughter, doggie, and cat. She loves the zeal and boldness of life and loves to laugh loudly, dance, and sing. Her newest fun fact is that she is learning Spanish and AfroLatino culture in Cartagena Colombia to scout for new ways to promote wellness through nature and international retreat design. Sign up to learn more about ways to follow her wellness programs HERE
Dr. NGonzi "Truth" Crushshon
STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST, pre-licensed
Dr. Ngonzi "Truth" Crushshon, PsyD specializes in traumatic grief, intergenerational family trauma, child and adult trauma. She has 15 years of clinical mental health experience and a background in education, as a substitute teacher and professor of NeuroPsychology. She is a proud alumna of Fisk University, and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in psychology and clinical psychology, respectively. Dr. Truth attained her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago Campus. She completed predoctoral training at Ada S. McKinley Behavioral Health, a community mental health clinic in Chicago, with specific focus on enhancing protective factors for childhood trauma, emotional and behavioral concerns for children and families. Dr. Truth also completed postdoctoral internship at a private practice, Hope Haven Psychological Resources, LLC. in Indianapolis, Indiana where she provided play therapy for children with trauma, grief and emotional/behavioral concerns, as well as individual and family therapy. Additionally, Dr. Truth administered psychological assessments for children and adults including psycho-educational, psycho-sexual, and bariatric testing batteries for the purposes of diagnostic clarity and treatment. At Northwestern Memorial Hospital located in downtown Chicago, Dr. Truth served as Emergency Room Counselor for adults with suicidal and homicidal ideations and behaviors. She also assessed youth and foster children 3-21years old with suicidal and homicidal ideations and behaviors.
Dr. Truth currently serves as Staff Psychologist, pre-licensed at Perspectives and specializes in culturally competent trauma informed care for children, families, and adults with experiences of bereavement, adhd, ptsd, and comorbid challenges. Dr. Truth hails from Chicago, Illinois and enjoys mentoring and empowering youth and families. She loves journaling, running 5k races, reading books “The Artist’s Way” and cooking meals from scratch.
Dr. Nancy Ajaa
STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST, ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST,
pre-licensed
Dr. Nancy Ajaa specializes in ADHD and psychoeducational assessments for children aged 6-16.
Complete bio coming soon.
Mrs. Shonteila Gregoire, LMSW
STAFF CLINICIAN
Shonteila West Gregoire specializes in trauma informed care for women, adults, youth and families. She acquired her Master of Social Work from Widener University where she focused her clinical studies and community work on trauma within multicultural populations. Mrs. Gregoire previously provided intensive case management, assessments, referrals, and intervention to adults and individuals with diagnoses of depression, anxiety, and psychosis. She developed and facilitated therapeutic empowerment groups with children with experiences of trauma as well for women and children at women’s shelters. Mrs. Gregoire’s clinical experiences strongly influences her work of how trauma can affect not only the identified patient but the family and support systems. She passionately strives to provide psychoeducation to such individuals and families experiencing trauma, giving them the tools necessary to form and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships and functional roles within the unit and out in the community.
Ms. Gregoire focuses on mindfulness and trauma-focused strategies and prides herself on her ability to build strong personable relationships and form genuine connections with her whom she is working. For Ms. Gregoire, a strong therapeutic process starts with individuals feeling safe to be who they are. She believes the therapeutic process is a collaborative one. She excited to assist and motivate individuals to reach the goals, providing them with the appropriate tools and interventions so that change is obtainable and manageable.
Mrs. Gregoire is affectionately known as “Ms. Teila” at Perspectives. She is currently undergoing a learning collaborative on Child-Parent Psychotherapy for children as a Staff Clinician and is excited to work with our families and communities across the metro Atlanta area. Outside of her passion of providing supportive services, Mrs. Gregoire is a wife and mother to a 1-year-old baby girl. She is an animal lover, with two fur babies, named Jack and Stella. Born in Okinawa, Japan, she loves the tropical weather where the sun is always shining so she settles for frequent travels to Florida Beaches.
Lauren Williams, LAPC
STAFF CLINICIAN
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller
Lauren Williams specializes in child behavioral therapy for families with children with ADHD, social emotional challenges and high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Lauren has a passion for working with children, adolescents, and their families. Her goal is to provide them with the skills necessary to overcome challenges as they navigate through life. She believes that this can be done starting with a minimum amount of hope with which they can grow and reach any goal they set out to achieve. Lauren believes that in providing youth with the tools they need they can develop autonomy, confidence, and contentment in themselves as they flourish throughout life. Lauren uses a variety of approaches from humanistic, behavioristic, and postmodern to conduct therapy.
Lauren obtained her Master of Science degree in in clinical mental health counseling from Mercer University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Memphis where she also minored in child development and communications. Prior to working at Perspectives, Lauren worked as a Registered Behavior Therapist implementing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy with children that have been diagnosed with autism. Lauren also completed her internship at the Children’s Center for Hope and Healing where she delivered Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) to children and adolescents that have dealt with depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health disorders as a result of experiencing sexual abuse.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys working out, dancing, and listening to music. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Ms. Angel Tureaud
BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER
Ms. Angel Tureaud is a motivated team leader with over 10 years of experience in customer service-related operations. Within that time-frame, she developed skills in interviewing, hiring, and on-boarding procedures, which included training new hires and mentoring team members. Ms. Angel says that she has always had the desire to be of service to others. Developing as a servant leader over the past few years has taught her the importance of being able to motivate and encourage those around her while still being able to achieve organizational goals. Having the opportunity to listen and empathize with a client and coming up with ways to better service patients at Perspectives is one of the many reasons she enjoys her work. Ms. Angel desires to bring her developed skills and gifts to Perspectives in efforts to grow with the company.
At Perspectives, Ms. Angel is the "heartbeat" of our operations. Her positive attitude and quick response helps us to efficiently meet the needs of our patients and families. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She loves to cook and recreate dishes/recipes. It brings her joy to prepare a meal for her loved ones and they enjoy it.
Our Interns
Hannah
ADMINISTRATIVE INTERN
Hannah is a responsible and determined high school intern who is dependable and provides assistance with administrative, and wellness programing. She has interests in the intersection of mental wellness and technology.
Deanna
WELLNESS INTERN
Deanna is a creative and impactful college student intern who is generates engaging content and promotes communications regarding mental wellness to reduce stigma. She has interests in the health, biology, and psycholgy.
Now Accepting Applications For:
Now accepting applications for a licensed psychologist or licensed professional counselor with expertise in leadership development, program development, and clinical operations.
Now accepting applications for a licensed psychologist or licensed psychometrist with expertise in assessing children age 0 and up, teens, and tween with ASD, ADHD, and PTSD.
COMING SOON
STAFF CLINICIANS
COMING SOON
Interested applicants, please contact Angel Tureaud at admin@perspectivesllc.org.