Spring 2026 Institute

August Boyd, LCSW-BACS

P. August Boyd, LCSW-BACS is the Executive Director of Imagine Recovery in New Orleans, Louisiana. Imagine Recovery is an esteemed treatment facility that specializes in treating adults with substance misuse and co-occurring disorders. August has developed programs that integrate a range of techniques and theoretical designs. She provides a variety of clinical services such as individual, group, and family treatment, as well as psychosocial and diagnostic assessments. August has extensive training and experience implementing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with populations impacted by mood disorders, suicidal and parasuicidal behaviors, trauma, and addiction. August is a certified Mind-Body Medicine Practitioner and facilitates weekly mind-body skills groups. Her love for community and intrinsic positive regard for all people are the foundation of her clinical practice. August’s published works reflect her additional interests in gerontology, public policy, and social welfare. She is a strong advocate for mental health reform to improve the quality of behavioral health services, strengthen treatment outcomes, and increase accessibility for all. 

Sonia Gupta, JD, LCSW

Sonia grew up in the heart of Acadiana and has called New Orleans home, on and off, since 2003. Along the way, she also lived in Denver and Los Angeles, but something about New Orleans has always felt like home.

Before becoming a therapist, she walked a winding path: she earned her B.A. in English and American Literature from New York University, followed by a law degree from Loyola University New Orleans. She spent years serving the people of Louisiana as a public defender, prosecutor, and assistant attorney general. Later, she took an unexpected detour into the tech world as a software developer and developer advocate. It was during that time she realized something essential: the pain and promise of the human experience can't be solved with code. It has to be met honestly and compassionately in the mess and complexity of real life.

That realization led her to social work, and she went on to earn her MSW from Tulane University. Today, she's a therapist because she believes in human resilience, redemption, and the power of connection. She knows that real change doesn't just happen in systems. It happens in relationships, one conversation at a time.

When she's not sitting with clients, you'll probably find her reading, attempting to finish folding 1000 paper cranes, cooking something comforting, or just sitting outside with her pup enjoying the sunshine.

Shannon is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Board Approved Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor in private practice in Baton Rouge. She has special interests in post-trauma intervention, identity development, LGBTQIAP+ concerns, depression and anxiety, grief and loss, mindfulness, men’s mental health, and treatment for problem sexual behavior. Her approach to counseling is client-centered, trauma-informed, and rooted in social justice, with an emphasis on affirming the individual’s personal identity, experiences, and sociocultural influences. 

She is certified in Brainspotting and trained in EMDR, IFS, and EFT, and she uses an integrated, somatic-focused approach to treating trauma. She employs empathy and compassion while still challenging clients to move through their healing even when it’s difficult and painful. Shannon practices individual, couples, and family counseling in her private practice, but she has a special passion for group therapy and believes that community is a vital component of healing from trauma. Shannon provides group therapy to women in an IOP setting and to formerly incarcerated and criminal justice-involved men in the community.

Capi is a social worker and Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) in private practice in Baton Rouge. She describes her group facilitation style as psychodynamic with a strong presence and utilization of modern analytic concepts and interventions. 

The last 15 years she has concentrated much of her focus on people of diverse sexual and affectional orientations and gender diverse clients, specifically, building awareness and competence in persons who interact with and provide support to the diverse community in which we all live. She actively pursues and incorporates anti-racist and anti-oppressive  practices, beliefs, and attitudes in her clinical practice and personal life. Capi is an adjunct faculty member for LSU School of Social Work and is an active member of her community.

Micha is a therapist who creates safe, experiential spaces for healing and growth. Her work integrates systemic and relational perspectives, with a focus on uncovering shame-based patterns and fostering authentic connection. She has training in experiential therapy and psychodrama, which shapes the way she guides clients and clinicians through the group experience. 

Karla Alexander, LAC, LCSW, CCS is a dedicated Clinical Director for O’Brien House, a non-profit residential substance abuse treatment facility in Baton Rouge, La. She is also a Therapist for Magnolia Springs Intensive Outpatient Program in Baton Rouge, La. Karla has 11 years of experience working with individuals who are struggling with addiction and 7 years working with individuals struggling with mental health issues. Passionate about guiding individuals on their journey to recovery, Karla specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and relapse prevention planning helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of recovery. As clinical Director she oversees program development, clinical supervision, and patient-centered care. She is honored to supervise interns entering the field of social work and addictions. Committed to breaking the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health, Karla continues to inspire change through leadership, education, and compassionate care.

Sarah Mecholsky Tipton is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters in Community Counseling from LSU. The passion she has for her work is fueled by her clients. Sarah sees counseling as a collaborative process where she and her clients work together to explore and define the present problem situations. She values the insight and perspective that each client brings to the therapy room and takes a person-centered approach, employing an eclectic counseling style that is dependent on what each client needs.

Sarah has worked with adults, couples, families and LGBTQ individuals with diverse backgrounds addressing mental illness, trauma, personality disorders, grief and loss, and counseling through HIV/AIDS. She has experience implementing individual, group, and couples/family therapy.