Meet Our Staff

Dr. Tonia Hoskins is a licensed LCSW and founder of PEACE. She is a two time graduate from Georgia State University where she received a bachelor's and master's degree in social work. Dr. Hoskins is also a PhD graduate from Walden University where she completed her research in the exploration of the African American woman's clinical experience with European American clinicians. Dr. Hoskins maintains a vast variety of skills as a therapist and life coach with a specialization in aging and forensics. She has held positions ranging from the forensic liaison in Fulton County, where she assisted with interactions with severe child abuse and sex trafficking cases, the collaboration of governmental and community agencies. Dr. Hoskins continued her career as she managed the social work, volunteers, and veterans department in a hospice settings. As an Army veteran herself, Dr. Hoskins was able to provide mental health services to veterans throughout their final transition. She also served as the clinical director and quality assurance manager for a mental health agency. Dr. Hoskins comprehends the significance of maintaining relationships and acknowledges each individual’s truth, based on their perspective and experience.  Dr. Hoskins aims to increase cultural competency amongst minorities through her continued efforts within the community and through research. Dr. Hoskins believes it to be her duty and obligation to increase the accessibility of services to all populations to not only insure equality but also effective delivery of services.  

Jasmine Nixon is an Atlanta native. She graduated from Southwest Dekalb High School with honors. While Jasmine was in high school, she participated in the dual enrollment program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College, allowing her to graduate high school with college credits. After graduating high school, Jasmine continued her education at Alabama State University; majoring in pre-law, minoring in broadcast journalism. While maintaining the administrative position here at PEACE, Jasmine has also become an entrepreneur with the release of her homemade candle company "Scentsationally Scented." Jasmine also enjoys making music in her spare time. Throughout her life, Jasmine has been professionally trained to be fluent in 14 different instruments and 2 languages. Jasmine graduated from John Casablanca's Modeling School in 2019. She continues to direct the administration here at PEACE while she furthers her education, and simultaneously pursues all of her dreams.  

My name is Debra Burden, and I am a Licensed Associate Professional

Counselor (LAPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) living in Atlanta. I am a native Atlantan and a product of the Atlanta Public School system. I received my BS in Educational Psychology from Mercer University with the intent of becoming a Middle Grades teacher. I retired from Law Enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff and went into the school system as a School Resource Officer while completing my master’s in education. It was during this time that I felt compelled to change my major to Clinical Mental Health. I graduated from Mercer University with my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health. I have over 30 years of experience working with youth in the criminal justice system, religious organizations, boys’ and girls’ clubs, youth experiencing homelessness, youth in the juvenile court system, and working as a foster parent. I love the saying by Frederick Douglass (which by the way is also where I graduated high school), “that it is better to build strong children, than is to repair broken men”. Working with youth, adolescents, and young adults to navigate their life concerns is my passion. My goal/s as a therapist is to help my youth and families develop and practice healthy coping skills, develop and practice healthy life outlooks, and develop and practice positive behaviors. I am a trauma informed, client centered therapist who will work with students to address issues around anger, depression, anxiety, trauma, gender identity, and more. For two years I worked as a therapist for youth 18-24 experiencing homelessness. I recently became a School Based Therapist with Chris180. Wherever I am I look forward to being a part of the solution in the community and an asset to building strong children and help families.

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LaRita is a graduate of Saint Leo University and is working towards her LCSW licensure and recently began a Ph.D. program, focusing on Social Work with Walden University.  LaRita has worked in the healthcare field for over twenty years (Active Duty Army) and in the mental health field ( civilian sector) for six years.  She has experience working with adults, children, and families who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, addiction, relationship concerns, and other life experiences. She currently provides therapy (Cognitive Stimulation) to patients who have been diagnosed with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. LaRita believes that each person has their own story that has shaped what they are currently experiencing and wants to be the support to help them through it.

Through her work, she strives to foster a safe space where clients can tell their stories, gain insight into how that has impacted them, and create a new reality that is more fulfilling. She is client-centered, letting individuals, couples, or families be the driver in their own therapy. She utilizes various therapeutic approaches including cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, solution-focused, and narrative therapy.

She also believes that focusing on how people can use their support system, community resources, mindfulness, and newly learned skills to live the kind of life they envision for themselves. LaRita is also a life-long learner, seeking opportunities to learn and grow. In her free time, LaRita enjoys reading, writing, watching movies, and being with her service dog, Ace. 

Theon Johnson Graduate of Walden University. She’s a Chicago native who loves connecting and helping others reach their goals. Theon has a comical and animate personality, she very passionate about empowering/uplifting her clients to guide them to a path of happiness and joy she believes everyone deserves a chance sometimes more than just “A” chance, she feels everyone should be heard and listen to and have joy in their life. She has over 7yrs of experience with teens and adult, and elder populations. Theon utilizes many different modalities through her work, including Person Centered, Solution Focus, and Narrative Theory, she also uses CBT techniques. Theon’s first love is Christ, and She LOVES to keep her free time for Husband and Children it’s all about family, Theon loves all genre of music, erotic books, podcasts, and cooking, her favorite holiday is Thanksgiving and her birthday!! 

AD in Human Services 

BA in Criminal Justice

MS, in Criminal Justice with Concentration in Victimology

Pending PHD in Social Work with Concentration in Mental Health. 

I have been in the field of Human Services for 16 years working with adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Disorders.

I transition into the Mental health field in 2016, working with adults and children with mental health diagnosis. I have been passionate about positively impacting the lives of individuals served. I strive to create a calm, healing environment for all individuals who entrust their care with me as a student therapist working towards licensure. I am living my purpose driven path providing individuals one-on-one/ family counseling sessions to the community. My goal is to positively impact more lives throughout Georgia and Metro Atlanta.