Staff

Dr. Pam Deters

Owner, Advanced Practice Medical Psychologist

Pamela B. Deters, Ph.D., M.P. is licensed as an Advanced Practice Medical Psychologist in the state of Louisiana. She is able to prescribe psychotropic or psychiatric medications, in addition to providing other services described on this website. She is also licensed as a clinical psychologist in Mississippi and Alaska (license inactive). She serves as the chief Medical Psychologist at Crossroads Behavioral Health (CBHLA), and is the owner of the practice. She was formerly a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she served on the faculty in the Department of Psychology from 2002-2007. Dr. Deters has worked in the areas of ethnic, minority, underserved, and health disparity populations. She also has experience in the training of psychology students, at the doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate level, as well as supervision of pre-doctoral interns and post-doctoral psychologists seeking licensure. Dr. Deters has extensive experience as a professional speaker at local, state, & national venues regarding issues related to mental health and psychological well being. She testified before Congress to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior regarding mental and behavioral health priorities important to ethnic minorities and the American Psychological Association. Her membership and activities in professional societies include the Louisiana Association of Medical Psychologists, the Louisiana Psychological Association, the American Psychological Association, the Society of Indian Psychologists, the Mississippi Psychological Association, the Alaska Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, & the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. She works for Southeastern Louisiana University providing medication management services to university students. She is a proud board member of Child Advocacy Services in Hammond, Louisiana and is a member of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Joseph J. Sesta

Advanced Practice Medical Psychologist

Dr. Joseph J. Sesta graduated cum laude from Stetson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, then went on to earn Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in Neuropsychology from Drexel University and later, completed his postdoctoral fellowship within the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the country's oldest medical school. Dr. Sesta completed an internship and residency within the Forensic Service of Florida State Hospital specializing in criminal forensic psychological assessment, then did a second year of residency on the Brain Trauma Unit at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Alabama. Dr. Sesta is Fellowship Trained and double Board Certified in Adult & Pediatric Neuropsychology, with Added Qualifications in the subspecialty of Forensic Neuropsychology. In 2003, Dr. Sesta returned to school and earned a postdoctoral Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology from Nova Southeastern University, completing residencies in adult neurological populations. Dr. Sesta is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners as an Advanced Practice Medical Psychologist and has practiced in several cities in Louisiana and served as a civilian doctor for the Army at Ft. Sill, OK where he evaluated and treated active duty service members. Dr. Sesta has over 25 years experience in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric, adult and geriatric patient populations presenting with psychiatric, neurologic and medical conditions. He recently resigned as full Professor, Department of Forensic Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where he served as Lead Professor for the Neuropsychology specialization and helped developed the postdoctoral Psycholopharmacology program. Dr. Sesta has lived in Florida for 40 years and currently resides in Tampa Bay, where he has a statewide practice in Forensic Neuropsychology and has been accepted as an expert in Neuropsychology and/or Psychopharmacology in over 200 criminal & civil proceedings in State and Federal courts in Florida & Louisiana.

Dr. Brenna Sapotichne, Ph.D.

Brenna Sapotichne, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral fellow at Crossroads Behavioral Health (CBHLA) and works under the supervision of Dr. Deters. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and Master of Science and doctorate degrees in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of New Orleans. During graduate school, Dr. Sapotichne’s research examined the interactive effects of temperament and environmental stressors on children’s emotional and behavioral problems during early childhood. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and has presented her research at several national professional conferences. Dr. Sapotichne is currently a candidate for licensure as a psychologist in the state of Louisiana. As a postdoctoral fellow at CBHLA, Dr. Sapotichne provides psychological, psycho-educational, and pre-surgical evaluations. She specializes in psycho-educational assessments of children, adolescents, and young adults coping with a variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and educational difficulties, including ADHD, Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety, and depression.