Providers
Lauren Barron, MD
Dr. Lauren Saleeby Barron is a psychiatrist with a passion for helping both children and adults navigate their mental health journeys. Dr. Barron graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2011, and then completed her General Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship through the USC/Prisma Residency Program. She is board certified in both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
In treating a wide range of mental health disorders, Dr. Barron’s philosophy is that medication management is only one part of a comprehensive treatment plan, and that the whole person must be carefully considered. As a parent, Dr. Barron understands the challenges and complexities of raising children. She believes in the importance of physical health, family, spirituality, and community in cultivating mental wellness.
In addition to Spero Psychiatry, Dr. Barron also works at Prisma Health’s Day Treatment Program. When not at work, Dr. Barron enjoys spending time with her family, hanging out with friends, being outdoors, reading, attempting to garden, and staying connected to her Catholic Christian faith.
Maria Bernard, PhD
Dr. Bernard specializes in psychological assessment of children, adolescents, and young adults, with vast experience in the evaluation of Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental disorders, learning disabilities, AD/HD, and emotional/behavioral disorders.
Originally from Athens, GA, Dr. Bernard is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, earning a degree in psychology. She was then awarded her Master’s and Ph.D. in School Psychology at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Bernard completed her pre-doctoral internship with the Lewisville Independent School District, an APA-Accredited training site in Texas, where she provided evaluation and therapeutic services to school-aged clients.
Upon completion of her training, Dr. Bernard returned to Columbia where she worked as a school psychologist within the SC Public School System and with the Autism Division of the SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. Before entering private practice, Dr. Bernard spent over a decade working in pediatrics at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital. Dr. Bernard continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member for the Prisma Health Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program.
Kelly Dion, MD
Dr. Kelly Dion is a native of Columbia, SC and a graduate of Wofford College (Go Terriers!) Dr. Dion obtained her medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. Following medical school, Dr. Dion completed a residency program in General Psychiatry and then a Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from USC/Prisma Health Residency Program. Dr. Dion has completed ABPN Board Certification for both General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Ashley Harbin, PhD, CBIS
After growing up in Atlanta and graduating from Davidson College, Dr. Ashley Harbin earned her masters and doctoral degrees in Medical Clinical Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed an internship and post-doctoral fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at the University of Louisville Health Sciences Center. Her training combined experience in the provision of traditional psychological services and as a member of a multidisciplinary, hospital-based medical team.
Since Dr. Harbin moved to South Carolina in 2000, she has practiced in children's hospitals, medical specialty clinics, private pediatric practices, an independent school, and in private practice with psychologists and psychiatrists. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families as they face challenges which include traumatic injuries, chronic illness, grief and loss, and a broad range of psychiatric diagnoses and attention problems. Dr. Harbin works extensively with schools and medical teams in order to ensure careful collaboration among all of the professionals helping a family. Dr. Harbin provides in-depth clinical evaluations, psychological/neuropsychological testing for diagnostic clarification and treatment planning, and both short-term and long-term therapy for individuals and families. She also consults with both public and private schools in the development of return-to-learn policies and procedures to support students with concussions.
While at Hammond School, Dr. Harbin worked alongside classroom teachers and administrators while she coordinated academic support services for students with medical diagnoses, physical disabilities, and learning differences. She became passionate about guiding students with concussions and their families through the process of coping with a complex, prolonged recovery and a gradual return to the classroom. She completed additional training to become a Certified Brain Injury Specialist in order to enhance her work with children with brain injuries and local physicians. Dr. Harbin is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of South Carolina (BIASC) and the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Psychological Associated (SCPA). She is currently a member of the South Carolina Brain Injury Leadership Council (SCBILC). Dr. Harbin has presented at local and national conferences on the psychological and neuropsychological sequelae of brain injury/concussion. She co-wrote and was awarded a multi-year grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation which created a task force for the BIASC to bring return-to-learn resources to the state of South Carolina (braininjurysafetynetsc.org).
Although her home base is in Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. Harbin is licensed in both South Carolina and North Carolina. Many of her services are available through a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform, allowing patients from greater distances to access these services.
Elizabeth Jeffords, MD
Dr. Elizabeth Jeffords is a highly experienced and compassionate board-certified psychiatrist with over 20 years of experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of psychiatric disorders.
Dr. Jeffords is dedicated to providing personalized, evidence-based care to patients of all ages, helping them achieve optimal mental health and well-being.
Dr. Jeffords received a Bachelor of Science from Wofford College, followed by a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the Medical University of South Carolina. After completing her medical education, Dr. Jeffords pursued a residency in General Psychiatry and further specialized through a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry both at MUSC.
As a board-certified psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in both general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry, Dr. Jeffords holds licensure to practice in South Carolina. She is also a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the SC Medical Association.
Dr. Jeffords is a native of Darlington, SC where she returns once a week to see patients at Genesis-a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center. She and her family are proud to have called Columbia home for almost 20 years.
Jessica McGarity, MD
Jordan Merrels, MD
Dr. Merrels provides outpatient psychiatric care to children, adolescents, and adults. Her philosophy is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care. She seeks to clarify diagnoses, clearly identify target symptoms, and minimize medications when at all possible. She treats a variety of psychiatric illnesses including but not limited to anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, ODD, autistic spectrum disorder, and bipolar disorders.
Dr. Merrels strives to serve her patients in a safe, nonjudgmental, and understanding way and to ensure access to/knowledge of resources which may benefit her patients.
Dr. Merrels attended undergrad at Auburn University where she graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science. She then attended medical school at University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. She completed her general psychiatry residency training through University of South Carolina/Prisma Health Psychiatry.
She is currently completing her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship through USC/Prisma Health. She is an active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association.
Daniel Lindsey, MD
Dr. Lindsey provides psychiatric care to children, adolescents, and adults in a supportive and healing environment. He seeks to provide diagnostic clarity and evidence-based medication management while fostering a therapeutic alliance with his patients and their families. Dr. Lindsey treats a broad range of mental health conditions including: depression, bipolar disorders, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, tic disorders, and ASD.
Dr. Lindsey received a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Southern University, followed by his Doctor of Medicine from Mercer University School of Medicine. He completed both his general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine/Prisma Health psychiatry program in Columbia. He is board certified in general psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Lindsey is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the American Medical Association.
Dr. Lindsey is a native of Statesboro, GA but he and his family are happy to call Columbia home. In addition to treating patients at Spero Psychiatry, he also provides care to patients at Aiken-Barnwell Mental Health Center and the G. Weber Bryan Psychiatric Hospital.