Co-founder

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Julie Etzel is a licensed psychologist specializing in the treatment of older adolescents, young adults, and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, and trauma. Dr. Etzel graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Saint Louis University. Following a clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University School of Medicine, Dr. Etzel joined the staff at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, where she helped train psychiatry residents and provided outpatient psychotherapy. In 2012, Dr. Etzel relocated to Atlanta and served as a Consultant for Emory University’s School of Medicine on an NIMH-funded clinical trial, in which she served as a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist for depression. In 2013, she opened her own private practice and has been providing individual and group treatment to older adolescents and adults since that time. Dr. Etzel is passionate about working collaboratively with her clients to establish treatment goals and provide evidence based and effective treatment in a supportive, caring, and non-judging environment. In her free time, you’ll most likely find her on a tennis court, reading, or cheering on the University of Kansas Jayhawks.

Co-founder

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Cynthia Ramirez works with adolescents and young adults struggling with emotion dysregulation, depression, anxiety, and/or trauma. She completed her undergraduate degree at Duke University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Michigan. Following her internship, Dr. Ramirez served as a clinical psychologist and professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador, where she lived for five years before moving to Atlanta, GA. She then completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Emory University School of Medicine, where she was a therapist at the Child and Adolescent Mood Program (CAMP), a CBT research therapist for a NIMH funded study of predictors of treatment outcome for depressed Latinx adults, and a research therapist for studies with adolescents suffering from major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder. In 2011, she joined the faculty at Emory University as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University where she was the director of the DBT program. In 2016, Dr. Ramirez decided to leave Emory University and start her private practice in order to devote more time to her professional passion of providing evidence-based clinical care to individuals.

Partner/Co-Director

Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Craig Kerley is a licensed psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families in clinical, school, and residential settings. Since joining PMAP in 2024, Dr. Kerley has contributed his expertise in psychological assessment, neurodevelopmental disorders, and emotional health.

Before joining PMAP, Dr. Kerley maintained a private practice in the Atlanta area beginning in 2003, following a decade-long career as a School Psychologist in public schools across Georgia, Virginia, and New York. His clinical work has consistently focused on helping individuals and families navigate challenges related to autism spectrum disorders, ADHD, learning differences, behavioral and emotional concerns, and chronic health issues.

Dr. Kerley has conducted numerous comprehensive psychological and psychoeducational assessments over the past three decades, with particular specialization in neurodevelopmental profiles such as autism, attention difficulties, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and developmental delays. He is also passionate about supporting parents of neurodiverse children, offering practical guidance rooted in structure, empathy, and evidence-based strategies.

Dr. Kerley holds a Psy.D. in Psychology, as well as Specialist and Master’s Degrees in School Psychology, from Alfred University. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University.

Dr. Kerley began his career contributing to research on school-based mental health interventions, focused on preventative interventions for fostering childhood resilience to trauma, at the University of Rochester’s Primary Mental Health Project.  He later conducted independent research on the relationship between empathy and academic achievement in middle school students.  He has served as co-chair of the Legislative Action Committee for the Georgia Association of School Psychologists and has taught graduate-level courses in Special Education, focusing on psychological and educational assessment.

At PMAP, Dr. Kerley is involved in training the next generation of psychologists by supervising doctoral students from Georgia State University as well as post-doctoral fellows pursuing licensure in Georgia. He continues to lead professional development workshops for educators and clinicians focused on the assessment and treatment of neurodiverse populations.