Pasadena Villa Outpatient – Nashville

Executive Director

Amber Lucchino, LCSW, LADAC

Amber is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. She has been working in the behavioral health field for over 18 years, with a primary focus on trauma and co-occurring disorders. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Union University and her Master of Social Work degree from Columbia University in NYC. She has experience in outpatient, as well as residential treatment settings, where she has held positions ranging from providing direct care to clients to facilitating program management, staff development and organizational wellness in Director roles. She enjoys providing trainings in the community and has been an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Work for Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

Amber is married and has 4 kiddos. In her spare time, she can be found at the barn with horses or hiking on nearby trails. She loves cake decorating, spontaneous dance parties and anything outdoors. Amber brings a unique perspective to her role as Executive Director in holding 22 years of recovery herself from an eating disorder. Her motto is: “Pay attention to what brings you joy and do more of that”.

Program Therapist

AJ Shoemaker LCSW

AJ Shoemaker is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a background working as a clinical social worker in inpatient psychiatric care, inpatient physical rehabilitation, and intensive outpatient programming where he was able to work with a variety of populations. His most recent focus was on adolescent psychiatric needs, but also has an extensive history working with both the adult and young adult populations including military personnel. He specializes in the treatment of mental health disorders primarily through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy while also building upon Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills. He relocated to Tennessee in 2016 from South Carolina where he received his Bachelor’s in psychology from Coastal Carolina University, and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of South Carolina. In his free time, AJ thoroughly enjoys watching baseball and college football, particularly the University of South Carolina Gamecocks!

Supervising Psychiatrist

Dr. Tom Scales

As the attending psychiatrist/physician for Selah House, Selah House Outpatient, and Toledo Center for Eating Disorders, Dr. Scales provides psychiatric and medical care to our clients. He is a diplomat in the American Board of Internal Medicine, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and in Addiction Medicine through the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Dr. Scales completed his undergraduate training at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, followed by medical school at the University of Tennessee, Memphis. He completed his residency training in a combined Internal Medicine/Psychiatry program at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. He is passionate about helping those with eating disorders and has made numerous community presentations and local media appearances regarding the topic. Dr. Scales was the radio show host of a live web-based program entitled “Understanding Eating Disorders” which occurred weekly on www.health.voiceamerica.com and featured professionals and laypeople as guests in the eating disorder field. Most importantly, he is a husband and proud father of two children.

Attending Psychiatrist

Kelly Ownby, MD

Dr. Ownby is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University in Greenville, SC., and completed her residency in psychiatry at James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University. In addition to serving as a Chief Resident of Psychiatry, Dr. Ownby has served in a psychiatric role in a variety of clinical settings including inpatient, addiction treatment center, outpatient and residential mental health treatment. She has been a guest presenter for the healthcare field on numerous topics including Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders During Pregnancy, Psychopharmacology, and Psychiatric Medications. Dr. Ownby also serves as Remote Area Medical team member in East Tennessee. She has a passion for addiction treatment, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, and women’s health. With over 12 years of experience in the mental health field, she feels that people should be educated about their illnesses and treatment options so they can be empowered to make the best decisions with their providers.

Psychotherapist

Sophie de Jong M.Ed, NCC

Sophie is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) pursuing LPC-MHSP licensure. Sophie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Florida and a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Vanderbilt University. In addition, she has gained clinical experience with diverse client populations in various settings, including a domestic violence shelter, a reproductive healthcare clinic, a residential reentry program for those impacted by incarceration, and a college counseling center.

Sophie’s goal is to create a safe, supportive, and collaborative therapeutic space where clients can feel comfortable navigating difficulties, exploring their relationships with themselves and others, and committing to their values. Her counseling approach is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally sensitive. She often integrates skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness-based approaches into her work. In addition, Sophie enjoys working with clients with various experiences and concerns. She is passionate about working with individuals with histories of trauma and co-occurring disorders. In addition, she enjoys assisting people in exploring, developing, and accepting aspects of their intersecting identities and values.

In her free time, Sophie enjoys spending as much time as possible outside, reading a good book, going on neighborhood strolls with friends, and connecting with the people she loves.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Yvonne Creighton DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC

Yvonne Creighton is board certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) as well as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Austin Peay State University, and a post-master’s certificate in PHMHNP from Maryville University of St. Louis. Most recently, Yvonne completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) at Maryville University. Her DNP scholarly project was aimed at reducing the negative consequences of problematic alcohol and drug use. Yvonne has been an assistant professor at MTSU for eight years, teaching a wide range of clinical nursing courses. She currently teaches Mental Health Nursing to BSN nursing students and developed the PMHNP track in the MSN program at MTSU. With a background in critical care nursing, Yvonne understands the complex interaction between physical and mental health. She believes that developing a therapeutic alliance between the patient and provider is a key component in helping patients achieve their goals.

Dietitian

Diana Romanach MS, RD, LDN

Diana is a Registered Dietitian who received her undergraduate degree at Middle Tennessee State University and went on to complete her dietetic internship and Master’s degree at Samford University. Diana is passionate about helping her clients restore their relationship with food and is committed to meeting her clients where they are. She wants nothing more than for her clients to learn how treasured, loved, and valuable they are. Diana empowers and guides her clients using Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size principles and loves to incorporate hands-on activities and games into her group topics. Aside from her love of cooking and all things dietetics, Diana loves visiting bakeries, hiking with her husband, and watching movies.

Office Coordinator

Haley Richardson

Haley Richardson has been working in behavioral health since 2019. She attended Western Carolina University where she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology. Haley has experience working in direct patient care, treating individuals diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Along with this, she has worked in intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, residential and inpatient programs. In her free time, Haley enjoys reading, going to concerts and watching rom coms. On the weekends she can be found spending time with her dog and exploring the great outdoors.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Angela Alexander, MSN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Angela Alexander is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She obtained both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing degrees from Belmont University, and her post-master’s certificate as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from East Tennessee State University. Angela has been in healthcare for over 20 years, caring for patients in a variety of settings. Her experience as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner includes residential treatment of patients with substance use disorders, as well as outpatient treatment of individuals with eating disorders and other mental health disorders. Angela has a unique ability to connect with patients, building a meaningful rapport, and ensuring the patient feels valued and heard. In her spare time, Angela can be found spending time with her 3 children and her dog. She enjoys cooking, caring for her plants, and completing jigsaw puzzles