I am the owner of Alternative Choice Counseling Center. I have spent over 30 years in the field of Counseling and Criminal Justice work. I wanted to fill in the gaps that I saw over these years  and provide a place that offers evening and weekend treatment in a  family like atmosphere. Our philosophy and mission is to meet our clients where they are and provide guidance for them as they choose their path to wellness. We strive to make each client feel their importance and show compassion and support for them on their journey. We look forward to  being a part of your journey.

Dr. Welch has graduate degrees in Counseling and Religion. He is licensed by the State of Tennessee as a Professional Counselor (Mental Health Service Provider) and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor 2. Nationally, Dr. Welch is a Board-Certified Counselor, Certified Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Master Addiction Counselor, and a Clinical Fellow in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Dr. Welch has more than 30 years’ experience in the Counseling Profession. He has worked for the State of Tennessee Department of Correction, served as the Primary Therapist for the 27th Judicial District Drug Court, founded a Graduate Certificate Program in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling for Memphis Theological Seminary, and maintained a private practice.

Dr. Welch practices from the Cognitive Behavioral perspective. He strongly believes that each individual client can learn how to overcome barriers that interfere with their lives resulting in better relationships and a more satisfying life. Further, he believes that each client deserves the opportunity to explore their unique, individual lives, and develop their own goals for treatment.

My name is Clarissa Saigeon and I am currently working towards licensure as a Professional Counselor (Mental Health Service Provider).  I graduated with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in 2022.  I also have a B.S. in Psychology with a cognate in Military Resilience.  I have always been interested in how the mind works and what makes people do the things they do.  My fiancé is a veteran and after seeing first-hand how trauma and stress impact our service members and their families, I concluded that I wanted to get into the mental health field to help people.  I mainly work from a Cognitive perspective, but I believe everyone's story is different and tailor treatment to the individual.  I have experience ranging from working with teenagers up to adults as well as working with those in addiction to traumas.

I am Debbie Porter and I am a Therapist here at ACCC. I have an Undergraduate  Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Counseling. It was clear to me at a young age I would go into a helping profession but I had no idea what field. I feel going into the Mental Health field was more a calling than a choice.  I am a compassionate advocate for the rights of women, children, minorities, and anyone who has been victimized in any way. I have a passion for service and a desire to assist clients in overcoming both short and long-term mental and emotional issues. I am very grateful to Mrs. Lori for giving me the opportunity to work in a field that feels more like my second skin than an occupation. While working here I am receiving supervision hours in order to apply for my LPC licensure and my Master’s in Addiction Counseling licensure. I love my job here and am thankful every day I get to work with other people in recovery like myself.           

My name is Amanda Hayes and I hold a license as a Professional Counselor - Mental Health Service Provider in TN. I obtained a MA in Counseling at Trevecca Nazarene University and have more than 15 years of experience providing services in various inpatient and outpatient settings as well as an additional 9 years working with families in the child welfare field. I have a passion for working with individuals to understand where they are and help them navigate where they would like to go in life. I believe the client is the expert on themselves and the therapist's role is to walk with individuals as they go through the transformations and reach the goals they desire.

My name is David Rinks and I am an ARP Counselor and work in admissions here at ACC. As a Gibson County Recovery Court graduate and ARP participant, I am excited and honored to be a part of the ACC family. After spending twenty-five years in active addiction, I realized that there is more to life and wanted to help people like me find their way out of the darkness of addiction. I find joy and peace in being a light for others and ACC has given me a place to shine. To better serve this community I am currently enrolled at Liberty University and working toward an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology/Addiction Counseling. If you have any doubts in the capability of this program changing lives, I am living proof that with a little bit of desire and some hard work, anything is possible. I will be a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist by the end of 2023. 

I started working at Alternative Choice Counseling Center on March 26, 2019.  I was a stay-at-home wife and mother for about 18 years.  I was ready to get back to work, be productive and make a difference in my life and the lives of others.  I love clerical work, so when I saw this job become available, I jumped out of my comfort zone and applied.  And I am so glad that Mrs. Lori gave me a chance and hired me.  I love my job and all the wonderful people I meet.  To see clients come in on drugs or alcohol or even just having mental health issues, and then to watch how their lives change over the course of their treatment, is truly awe-inspiring and amazing.  If all I can do is give them a smile or a kind word of encouragement, it makes me feel like I had a hand in helping them turn their lives around.

My name is Amanda Bechtel and I have just recently joined the team here at ACC as the Fiscal Director. I have 12 years of experience in the healthcare field and am currently in the social work program at UT Martin working towards my BSW. I plan on obtaining my Master's and licensure to become an LCSW immediately after graduation. I am very excited to work and grow in a field that I am passionate about surrounded by staff who take pride in what they do. I love the work environment and positive atmosphere that ACC provides and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it. 

My name is Amber Rinks and I am the Front Desk Receptionist at ACC. As a stay at home mom, wife and mother for eighteen years, I decided to join the workforce. There were not a lot of opportunities for someone like me, so when Lori offered me the chance I could not turn it away. With my own life being rocked by addiction, I make it my life's mission to help those in need. Being the first person our clients see is a great responsibility and I take great pride in setting the tone for each of their visits. "Some of our people hear nothing positive all week long so I want to be the first person to say 'you got this' and 'I'm pulling for you!' I am truly learning to lead by serving those that have often felt they were the least of these, because they are not..they are amazing.