Dr. Carter is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive expertise in trauma therapy, psychological assessment, and military mental health. She earned her Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology, with her academic foundation completed at San Diego State University. As Executive Director of Wings Counseling Center, she brings both clinical depth and a commitment to high-quality, culturally competent care to the organization.
Dr. Carter’s clinical training spans inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient trauma centers, and military mental health programs. She completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship on a military unit, where she sharpened her skills in acute psychiatric stabilization and interdisciplinary collaboration. Throughout her career, she has provided therapy and assessment to active-duty service members, veterans, and civilians navigating complex trauma, mood disorders, and dual diagnoses, specializing in evidence-based PTSD treatments including EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure.
Prior to becoming Executive Director, Dr. Carter served as Wings Counseling Center’s Clinical Director of Assessment, overseeing neuropsychological and personality assessments for children, adolescents, and adults and supervising practicum and post-doctoral students. Her work emphasizes culturally competent, data-driven care, and she has led specialized groups in DBT, CBT, ACT, and Trauma-Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy, as well as PTSD support groups.
Dr. Carter is equally dedicated to education, research, and advocacy. Her doctoral dissertation examined prenatal marijuana exposure, and she has contributed to research on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). She has mentored doctoral students in psychopathology, psychotherapy, and assessment report writing, and her volunteer work includes aiding Ukrainian refugees in Poland and fundraising for individuals with disabilities. Dr. Carter is affiliated with the American Psychological Association, the San Diego Psychological Association, and the Navy SEAL Foundation, and she regularly pursues advanced training in EMDR, suicide risk management, and neuropsychology.