Alexandra (Alex) M. Alfonso, Psy.D, PMH-C, IMH-E®. 
Dr. Alfonso is a bilingual/bicultural licensed Psychologist with over 10 years of experience working with infants, young children and their families. She currently serves as the Clinical Director for Citrus Health Networks Early Childhood Department and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical and Reflective Supervisor by the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health (FAIMH). She is also certified as a Perinatal Mental Health provider (PMH-C). As an expert trainer for FAIMH and a ZERO TO THREE Certified Trainer in the DC:0-5 and Growing Brain curriculum, Dr. Alfonso brings extensive training expertise to her work. She is a rostered Child-Parent Psychotherapy clinician and Circle of Security facilitator, providing evidence-based, relationship-focused interventions to families in need. Her areas of expertise include early childhood development, trauma and relationship based interventions, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, teacher/caregiver training, and reflective supervision.
Jessica Balos LMHC-QS, PMH-C 
As a former Chair, Jessica is honored to continue serving on the Florida Chapter Board of PSI, where she is dedicated to strengthening community support for Florida’s perinatal population. Drawing on her personal experiences with infertility and postpartum anxiety, Jessica built her private practice, Willow River Wellness, with a focus on reproductive and maternal mental health. She is a Qualified Supervisor and Certified Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner (PMH-C). Jessica is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Tampa Bay Birth Network, and the Florida Maternal Mental Health Collaboration (Clinical Workgroup). In her work within the non profit and government sectors, Jessica has developed public health programs and contributed to research and evaluation on critical issues, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and violence against LGBTQIA+ communities. Outside of her professional roles, she enjoys reading, hiking, kayaking and fostering kittens.
Shamella (Mel) Joy, LGSW 
Mel is honored to serve as Vice-Chair of the PSI Florida Chapter Board. As a trauma-informed therapist and founder of Embracing Joy Perinatal Wellness, she is dedicated to guiding individuals toward a calmer, more fulfilling parenthood journey. Having experienced fertility treatments and the transformative challenges of motherhood herself, Mel deeply understands how isolating this path can feel. Her passion lies in supporting new parents, those facing fertility struggles, and families coping with perinatal loss. With a background in trauma work with veterans and refugee families, she integrates Mindfulness, Holistic Psychotherapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients manage anxiety, depression, trauma, and identity challenges. Through her practice, Mel provides compassionate, holistic care and strives to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel validated, supported, and empowered to heal and rediscover joy.
Cara Kaul, MD, PMH-C 
Dr. Kaul is a psychiatrist who is passionate about women’s reproductive mental health, and is certified in perinatal mental health. She has a private practice, as well as serves as the medical director of a women’s addiction treatment center. She has been involved with mentorship,
teaching and leadership with PSI since 2022, and also supervises resident physicians as an affiliate faculty of Florida Atlantic University. She completed her B.S. in neuroscience at the University of Nevada, Reno, and her medical degree at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando, Florida. Choosing to stay where the weather is warm in sunny Florida, she attended residency training in general psychiatry at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Outside of work she enjoys spending her time with her family, baking, and being creative.
Tamara Mackroy, PhD, CFAA, C-DBT 
Dr. Tamara Mackroy is a clinical compliance executive with a dual background in behavioral health services and enterprise regulatory strategy. She holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in addiction counseling, bringing a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach to systems development and quality improvement. She holds advanced certifications in DBT (C-DBT), Addiction Awareness (CFAA), Peer Recovery, Case Management, ISO 9001, 22301, 31000, and is a Six Sigma Black Belt. As Senior Compliance Project Manager at Advocates for Human Potential, Dr. Mackroy leads audits, risk mitigation, and quality initiatives across large-scale behavioral health programs. She is the Founder of Maternal Matters Favored, a nonprofit supporting maternal mental health, and Principal Consultant of a firm serving human services organizations. Dr. Mackroy serves as Florida Regional Chair for PSI’s Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color and holds multiple statewide board and committee roles.
Natalie McBride 
Natalie McBride is an accomplished entrepreneur, mother of two and survivor of PPDA. Her postpartum experience reframed her understanding of modern motherhood and inspired her to launch Baby Boldly, a maternal well-being brand that disrupted the maternity industry. As Fundraising Chair for Postpartum Support International’s Florida Chapter, Natalie channels her passion and privilege into helping parents become informed and supported. Natalie lives in Jacksonville with her husband, James, and their daughters, Abigail and Mabel, who inspire her advocacy and intentionality.
Michelle Paisley. MSW, LCSW-QS, PMH-C
Michelle Paisley serves as Co-Liaison and Scholarship Committee Chair for the Florida Chapter of Postpartum Support International (PSI). In these roles, she represents the chapter at Chapter Liaison Council meetings, fosters collaboration across PSI’s network, and leads initiatives to expand access to perinatal mental health education through scholarships. Michelle is a licensed clinical social worker and qualified supervisor in Florida. She provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive care to families in a Level 4 NICU and also works as a perinatal mental health psychotherapist in private practice. She is certified in Perinatal Mental Health through PSI and mentors MSW graduates pursuing licensure. With over two decades of experience in social work, Michelle’s background spans child welfare, clinical supervision, and psychotherapy. Michelle is passionate about empowering families, reducing stigma, and fostering systemic change. Michelle will complete her second master’s degree in Forensic Medicine at the University of Florida in December 2025. Outside of work and graduate school, Michelle mentors a high school student through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay and enjoys spending time with her two adult children and her dog, Charlie.
Tara Pawlikowski, BSN, RN 
Tara Pawlikowski is an accomplished Registered Nurse with more than twenty-six years of experience specializing in maternal health and care management. Deeply committed to advancing maternal mental health, Tara serves as a Postpartum Support International (PSI) BlueDot Ambassador and holds a leadership role as Co-Engagement and Outreach member on the PSI Florida Chapter Board. In addition to her work in maternal health, she contributes her expertise as a Board Member for the Florida Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementia SHIP Priority Area Workgroup, advocating for caregivers and families impacted by Alzheimer’s Disease. Tara is also actively involved with Zonta of Miami Lakes, an organization dedicated to supporting issues affecting women and girls at both local and national levels. Outside of her professional and volunteer pursuits, Tara enjoys quality time with her family, baking and exploring new destinations through travel.
LaTasha Reece, M.S., PMH-C, CPD, CLE 
LaTasha Reece is a traumatic stress researcher, postpartum doula, and lactation specialist with a background in molecular biology and physiology. After giving birth to her two daughters and personally experiencing racism, discrimination, and the absence of adequate postpartum care, she recognized a critical gap in both community support and research. In response, she co-founded Postpartum Peace of Mind Inc. with Rachel Brown to deliver evidence-based, equitable, and community-centered postpartum care, education, and resources completely free for Women of Color and their families. Through this work, LaTasha is dedicated to dismantling systemic barriers that prevent Women of Color from not only surviving but thriving during the postpartum period.
Randiesa Spires, LCSW, LICSW, LISW-CP 
Randiesa Spires is a licensed clinical social worker, perinatal mental health specialist, and doctoral candidate in Social Work at Capella University. With over 15 years of experience in mental health, she employs an integrative, trauma-informed approach rooted in reproductive and transformative justice, advocating for the embodied liberation of marginalized groups in reproductive spaces. Her career includes roles in case management, hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) social work, and private practice psychotherapy. Randiesa specializes in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, pregnancy and infant loss, infertility, birth trauma, and other reproductive challenges. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University and a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Women’s Reproductive Mental Health and Sexual Well- Being from Barry University. Her dedication to advancing reproductive mental health and fostering community partnerships underscores her commitment to transformative care.
Michelle D. Suero, LMHCM, PMH-C 
Michelle D. Suero is a bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor, certified in Perinatal Mental Health located in the Tampa, FL area. She currently co-facilitates grief support groups for English and Spanish speaking birthing persons while they navigate perinatal and infant loss. In addition, Michelle provides individual therapy to the Perinatal Mental Health population. Michelle’s mission is to continue to provide excellent care to all birthing persons and their families. She is currently honored to be a member of the PSI Florida Boards Outreach and Engagement team to continue her dedication to raising awareness of PMHDs in the community.
Andrea Vásquez Ferreiro, PhD, MS, CHES 
Dr. Vásquez Ferreiro is excited to take on the role of Chair of the Florida Chapter Board of PSI while continuing as Social Media Coordinator. She is a bilingual health educator and research coordinator in the Department of OB/GYN at the University of Florida, where she conducts maternal health research and serves the perinatal community as a medical interpreter with the UF Health OB/GYN Mobile Outreach Clinic. She earned her PhD from UF, where her dissertation highlighted social support as a protective factor against PMADs. After experiencing perinatal loss, she became determined to ensure no woman felt alone in that journey. She volunteers with the PSI Spanish Helpline and is passionate about increasing access to resources for women and families in Florida. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and plans to obtain her PMH-C. In her free time, she enjoys time with her husband and cats, watching sunsets, and visiting her family in Spain!
Jennifer Winston, MPH, CPH 
Jennifer Winston currently serves as an instructor at the University of South Florida’s College of Public Health undergraduate program, where she aims to equip students with the knowledge
and skills needed to prevent disease and promote health. With her understanding that health includes both physical and mental well-being, she was drawn to the Postpartum Support International because of her own mental health challenges following the birth of her first daughter. Her goal is to serve in any capacity that supports the Florida chapter and to help ensure that women in the postpartum period have access to resources. She wants them to know they are not alone in what they are experiencing. We are in this together!
Emma A. Leibowitz Certified Postpartum Doula, BSW
Emma is a compassionate maternal support professional with a diverse background as a case manager, early childhood teacher, and her previous work as a birth doula, currently working as a postpartum doula. She received her undergraduate degree from Kutztown University, where she built a strong foundation in understanding individuals, families, and communities.
Her work centers on supporting families through meaningful life transitions, offering guidance, education, and hands-on care during some of their most vulnerable moments.
Her approach is deeply personal, shaped not only by her professional experience but also by her own journey through postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of her first child. This experience strengthened her commitment to providing empathetic, nonjudgmental support to new parents.
She is dedicated to creating a calm, nurturing environment where families can heal, adjust, and build confidence. Through every role she has held, her goal remains the same: to ensure no parent feels alone or unsupported during the postpartum journey.
