Lauren is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist with 14 years of mental health experience.  She received both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Social Work from Western Carolina University.  After earning her Bachelor’s Degree, Lauren worked at Broughton State Hospital providing direct care to patients in group and individual settings.  Lauren has been part of the Appalachian Community Services team since 2011.  While working in multiple direct care capacities within ACS, Lauren discovered a passion for community and organizational management.  In 2015 she became the Assistant Director of Outpatient and Community-based Services, supervising services provided out of the eastern most counties served by ACS.  In 2019, Lauren accepted the position of Director of Outpatient Services and Client Relations.  In addition to being passionate about providing the best care in the region, Lauren also enjoys spending time with her two daughters, traveling, and recreational activities.

Dr. Aldecoa relocated from Puerto Rico to Cincinnati during late adolescence and attended Xavier University where she earned a B.S. in Psychology and an M.S. in Special Education. After moving to Florida, she earned an M.S. in Psychology and a Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Neuropsychology from Carlos Albizu University in Miami. She has been providing services to individuals of all ages diagnosed with mental illnesses, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and/or substance use disorders for more than 30 years.

Dr. Aldecoa has been part of the ACS team since 2005 and provides a range of services to the organization. She is dedicated and passionate about inclusion and recovery and believes everyone should be provided with the opportunity to reach their maximum potential.  She strives to assist others in reaching this potential by providing direct care and supervising staff members providing this care. She emphasizes humility, kindness, compassion, and equality while providing comprehensive quality care to the members of our community.

Abbey is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCAS-A). She completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, NC, and then completed her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. Abbey joined the ACS team as an intern in 2014 and quickly discovered her passion for community mental health. She enjoys seeing individuals overcome challenges and connecting people to various resources to assist in meeting their needs. She accepted the role of Haywood County Site Director in March 2020. In her current role, Abbey communicates with clients, staff members, and stakeholders to determine how to better serve them and overcome barriers. No matter how big or small, she enjoys identifying challenges and looking for solutions. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outside, exercising, and reading.