Meet The Board

Dr. Brittany Gentry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Dr. Gentry obtained her Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. Dr. Gentry is currently the Co-Clinical Director at the Trauma-Informed Counseling Center (T.I.C.C). Over the last ten years, Dr. Gentry has provided therapeutic services for children, adolescents, and families in various therapeutic settings (in-home, outpatient, and school-based). Despite her experience with various populations, Dr. Gentry’s true passion is with working with adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system. Within the last two years, Dr. Gentry conducted varies workshops and presentations focus on the correlations between prolonged trauma exposure and juvenile delinquency as well as the importance of utilizing culturally competent trauma-informed approaches.

Cerenity Leavell-Barker is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Kentucky. Dr. Leavell-Barker earned her Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. Over the last six years, Dr. Leavell-Barker’s clinical experiences have included intensive in-home therapy, therapeutic foster care, private practice, and school-based services. Dr. Leavell-Barker serves on the board of directors for the KY Clinical Society of Social Workers, as well as VP for Trauma, Education and Advocacy Corporation. Dr. Leavell-Barker’s practice approach is strengths-based, social justice -informed, and trauma-informed. As a clinician and advocate, Dr. Leavell-Barker is passionate about the liberation of Black youth and recognizes the psychological impact of racial trauma during the adolescent stage of development. Dr. Leavell-Barker hopes to bring more awareness to this issue, and its influence on the school-to-prison pipeline.

Carol Taylor-Shim, MSW is a diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility practitioner and consultant currently serving as the Executive Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Office of the Vice-President for Student Success at the University of Kentucky. Carol’s career started in the Kentucky child welfare system where she served children, families, and communities for nearly 20 years. Carol received her bachelor’s degree in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville and her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in social work at the University of Kentucky. Carol is passionate about removing systemic and institutional barriers so historically excluded people and communities across identities have equitable access to services and resources necessary to live their best lives.

​Tara Mills is a licensed clinical social worker that spent the better part of 15 years in a variety of roles providing clinical services and support to at risk teens and their families. Tara has worked with kids from all parts of Lexington and has witnessed the challenges facing families and teens evolve through the years. As a board member, she will continue to support interventions and the professionals providing them to the next generation of teens. 

Dr. Lauren E Downey possesses a doctorate degree in counselor education and supervision. Dr. Downey is also a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Supervisor (LPCC-S) and a nationally Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Dr Downey has been providing counseling services to individuals in the Bluegrass region for over 10 years.  As a licensed professional clinical counselor, she has worked in various settings that have included intensive in-home, outpatient, and private practice counseling settings. Through these experiences, Dr. Downey's passion for counseling individuals who have experienced trauma as well as other mental health disorders grew into the establishment that is known as the Trauma-Informed Counseling Center. Dr. Downey's private practice has been serving the residents of Central Kentucky for nearly 4 years. In addition to Dr. Downey's approach to counseling individuals from a trauma-informed approach. Dr. Downey's passion for cultural inclusiveness and  responsiveness is also a passion that is infused in all the professional tasks she engages in. 

Lover. Thinker. Husband. Father. Connector. Builder. And, I aspire to be a bridge. I have dedicated my life to love, healing, and transformative justice for all; beginning with the love, healing, and transformation of self. Ancestral knowledge and guidance, along with practicing the reclamation of the ancient intelligences my body holds beyond the realm of cognition, continues inform my growth and change. I believe, “All we really want is love’s confusing joy,” shoutout Rumi. Love will be my guide. This is who I am. This is how I move.