Laura received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice with highest honors from the University of Southern Mississippi, followed by her Master's Degree in Education with an emphasis in Counseling and Personnel Services at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Laura has served as an Adjunct Professor with Tulane University, Biloxi campus. She provides psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families and adolescents. Laura also has significant experience in treating Substance and Alcohol disorders. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Humanistic and Existential Therapy models to meet individual, personalized needs.
She has worked in outpatient settings and inpatient clinical settings, as well as home-based community service settings. Her passions include serving the seriously mentally ill, and delivering psychoeducation to patients and family members to help them achieve their goals of living their lives to their fullest potential. Laura is also a Nationally Board Certified Counselor and has served her community's mental health needs over 23 years.
Amber Wilson, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Joannie Evans,
APRN, PMHNP-BC
Joannie Evans is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Joannie began her nursing career at Pearl River Community College, graduating with an Associates Degree in Nursing in 2011. While gaining experience as an inpatient psychiatric registered nurse at Merit Health Gulf Oaks Hospital, she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2014. Her love for caring for psychiatric and mental health patients bloomed, and she proceeded to complete her degree of Master of Science in Nursing in 2016, claiming the title of PMHNP and achieving her goal to provide a higher level of care for people within the community.
She has many years of psychiatric nursing experience of caring for a broad spectrum of individuals suffering from psychiatric and/or mental health disorders, and her experience, including inpatient and outpatient care, has provided her with the vast knowledge to care for each individual's various needs wholly.
Laura C. Puffer M.Ed , LPC, NCC
Mindful Matters
Outpatient Mental Health Clinic
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Elizabeth Zimmerman, LCSW
Elizabeth (Liz) Zimmerman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, followed by her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of New England. In order to become a clinical social work therapist, Liz has attended two additional years of clinical training. She provides psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups, utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and humanistic therapy models. Liz has also coordinated therapy groups for an inpatient treatment program, and serves on the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Work Board of Directors as Healthcare Liaison. In addition, she has worked as a field instructor for the USM School of Social Work.
Amber Wilson is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Family Psychiatric Mental Health. She began her nursing career at William Carey University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science of Nursing in 2011. She worked as a psychiatric nurse for Memorial Behavioral Health and Merit Health Gulf Oaks impatient psychiatric facilities for 5 years. Amber resumed her education and graduated with a Master of Science in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice in 2016 from University of South Alabama. She has practiced nursing at inpatient and outpatient settings, treating a variety of mental illnesses. She has experience working with all ages and populations including pediatrics, adolescents, young adults, and geriatrics. She has special interests in women's mental health, college transitions, and pharmacology.
Lauren Sullivan is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2010 from the University of South Alabama. She continued her education to earn a Master of Science in Nursing in 2016 from the University of South Alabama. Lauren is credentialed with the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Family Psychiatric Mental Health. Her professional career has seen a variety of patient populations. She has served as an inpatient psychiatric hospitalist, and has worked at Merit Health Gulf Oaks Hospital, Senior Harbor, and Garden Park Hospital. She is experienced in treating many ages and populations, including adolescents, adults, geriatrics, military, and first-responders.