Brewton Team
Emma S Cosby has practiced in the mental health field since 1996 serving individuals of all ages, but specializing in work with adolescents and families. Dr. Cosby obtained a Doctor of Behavioral Health from Arizona State University in 2012, a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama in 1996 and a Bachelors in Psychology from Birmingham-Southern College in 1994. Dr. Cosby is licensed through the Board of Social Work Examiners as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Private Independent Practitioner. Dr. Cosby has practiced in a variety of settings including intensive residential care for adolescents, outpatient mental health and therapeutic foster care. Specialty areas include patients with comorbid medical illness and mental health disorders as well as trauma and trauma related illness. Dr. Cosby has been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as well as advanced training in couple’s therapy and blended family issues. Dr. Cosby serves individuals at Covington Pediatrics (for Covington Pediatric patients only) and at Cosby & Cosby at 109 Medical Park Drive. Dr. Cosby also sees patients once a month at the Brewton location. Dr. Cosby accepts most insurances.
Melinda Chaudron, MA, LPC-S. has worked in the mental health field since 2001. She received her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Samford University in 1997 and her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2001. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor through Alabama Board of Counselors since 2008. She has worked as Child/Adolescent therapist, Woman’s substance abuse therapist and school based therapist. She can provide counseling services for adults, children/adolescents, families and couples. Melinda works in our Brewton office and accepts most insurances.
Medical Park and Covington Pediatrics Team
Emma S Cosby has practiced in the mental health field since 1996 serving individuals of all ages, but specializing in work with adolescents and families. Dr. Cosby obtained a Doctor of Behavioral Health from Arizona State University in 2012, a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama in 1996 and a Bachelors in Psychology from Birmingham-Southern College in 1994. Dr. Cosby is licensed through the Board of Social Work Examiners as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Private Independent Practitioner. Dr. Cosby has practiced in a variety of settings including intensive residential care for adolescents, outpatient mental health and therapeutic foster care. Specialty areas include patients with comorbid medical illness and mental health disorders as well as trauma and trauma related illness. Dr. Cosby has been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as well as advanced training in couple’s therapy and blended family issues. Dr. Cosby serves individuals at Covington Pediatrics (for Covington Pediatric patients only) and at Cosby & Cosby at 109 Medical Park Drive. Dr. Cosby also sees patients once a month at the Brewton location. Dr. Cosby accepts most insurances.
Mavis Thomas has practiced in the mental health field since 2006 serving individuals of all ages. Ms. Thomas obtained a Master’s Degree in Psychology and Counseling in 2006, and a Bachelor’s Degree in 2003 from Troy University. She is licensed through the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling. Mavis Thomas’s history of counseling includes facilitating groups of individuals found guilty of domestic violence by the municipal court, facilitating a parenting group, and providing individual counseling to children who were victims of sexual or physical abuse. In addition, Mavis Thomas has been trained to and has conducted forensic interviews in cases of alleged sexual and physical abuse of children. Other mental health settings include outpatient mental health including “on call” duty at an emergency room. Specialty areas include teaching parents sound behavior management skills, working with individuals who manifest symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, anxiety, and depression disorders. Ms. Thomas serves individuals at Covington Pediatrics (for Covington Pediatric patients only), and at Southern Counseling Group at 109 Medical Park Drive. Mavis Thomas accepts most insurances.
Rachel Pridgen (she/her) began working in the mental health field in 2002 in the residential treatment setting. She obtained her Bachelors in Liberal Studies/Sociology from Arizona State University in 2012 and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama in 2015. She is licensed through the Board of Social Work Examiners as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. Her specialty areas include young adult mental health with a focus on college transitions and anxiety, military/law enforcement/first responder counseling, and working with the LGBTQ community. In the educational setting, she works closely with schools to develop behavioral plans and has extensive experience within the homeschool community and individualized education planning. Rachel serves individuals at Southern Counseling Group at 109 Medical Park Drive and serves students on-site at Opp City Schools. She accepts most insurances.
Dominique Spranger has been an employee of Southern Counseling Group since 2018. She is a graduate of Troy University (2018) with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and The University of Alabama (2020) with a Master’s in Social Work. Dominique is licensed through the Board of Social Work Examiners as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and is currently working on obtaining her PIP. Her specialty area is working with couples for marriage/relationship counseling and has completed training in Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy. Dominique has a passion for seeing families reunite and stay together. Dominique also has a passion for working with patients who struggle with weight and/or body image issues as well as bariatric surgery. She believes in a holistic approach to therapy and that the patient should have an input into their treatment. She also works closely with the school system and is involved with establishing IEPs and behavioral plans for children. Dominique serves individuals and families at Southern Counseling Group at 109 Medical Park Drive and Covington Pediatrics (for Covington Pediatric patients only). Dominique accepts all major insurances and private pay.
Riley has been a part of the Southern Counseling Group team since 2021. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Human Services with double minors in Leadership and Spanish in 2017, and then proceeded with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, graduating with a 4.0 in 2020. Prior to joining the SCG team, Riley worked with and coordinated a top ranked Peer Education and advocacy group as well as coordinated a day program for adults with severe mental health concerns/SMI. She has assisted previous clients with a broad range of concerns, including ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, anger management, obsessive compulsive disorder, mood concerns, hallucinations, delusions, and adjustment. She serves clients at our Andalusia office as well as at Covington Pediatrics. Riley also has the privilege of serving on-site at Straughn Schools (K-12) and LBW students through the SAINTS IN ACTION grant. Riley accepts most insurances.
Heather Thompson has been an employee of Southern Counseling Group since 2020. She is a graduate of Troy University (2020) with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and is currently working on her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her specialty areas include working with families for reunification, behavior management for children, teaching basic living skills, and working with autistic children. Heather serves families in home, at DHR, or at Southern Counseling Group at 109 Medical Park Drive.
Deborah Ford is a Troy University Graduate, she graduated first with her Bachelor’s in Psychology and a minor in Addictions Education, then went on to graduate with a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Deborah has worked as a Certified Peer Support (CPS) through the Department of Mental Health for the last 5 years helping people with substance use disorder (SUD) which is one of her specialties. As a result of giving her life to Christ, she has been in long-term recovery since 2012. Deborah has worked closely with people who suffer from SUD, anxiety, PTSD, depression, hallucinations, delusions, and adjustment disorder. She serves in Andalusia at our Medical Park Drive Office, and she will be working alongside our local school systems for those that are clients of Southern Counseling Group. Deborah is currently accepting Medicaid insurance for children and private pay patients of all ages.
Beverly Greer is the office manager and human resource director at Southern Counseling Group. She is located at the Covington Pediatric location.
Tracy Worley is the Office Administrative Assistant at Southern Counseling Group. Located at the Medical Park Office.
Jessica Cheshire is the Office Administrative Assistant at Southern Counseling Group. Located at the Medical Park Office.