CAPS Staff Bios (Atlanta)
 Bates Canon, M.Ed., LPC, CPCS, BC-TMH he/him Director Bates Canon received his Master's Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Georgia in 1990. Over thirty-four years of working in colleges and universities, he has served as director of counseling for three institutions (24+years), also working in academic advising, access and accommodations, career services, first year seminars, health services, and retention initiatives along the way. While with the University System of Georgia (USG), Bates served a term as chair of the USG Counseling Directors Association. He prefers an integrative model of psychotherapy grounded in a mindful presence and has worked most with students on issues related to adjustment, change and transition, stress and anxiety, career development/workplace concerns, personal growth and wellness, depression, and counselor identity development. |
 Erica D. Geralds, M.Div., MS, LPC, CPCS, NCC she/her Associate Director Erica D. Geralds is the Associate Director of CAPS at Mercer University, providing clinical leadership, supervision, and culturally responsive care. A proud "Double Bear" alumna, she earned degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Divinity from Mercer University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor. Erica supervises and mentors graduate interns and early-career clinicians, emphasizing multicultural competence, ethical practice, and reflective growth. Her work is grounded in holistic approaches and explicitly informed by a womanist framework that centers the healing, resilience, and lived experiences of women, LGBTQIAPD+ individuals, and marginalized communities. She integrates care that honors the interconnectedness of mind, body, spirit, soul, culture, identity, and sexuality. Her clinical interests include identity development, sexual concerns, anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, faith-based/spirituality, and racial and cultural healing. Erica is deeply committed to mental health equity, liberation-centered care, and creating inclusive, affirming spaces where all students can thrive. Erica is a native of Chicago, IL, an avid sports and Chicago Bears fan. Erica is honored to “Be the Bear” to support student wellbeing, growth, and success at Mercer University. Erica enjoys traveling especially on cruises, exploring events and new adventures, going to concerts, and spending time with family and friends. |
Cameron M. Foulks, M.A., LPC
he/they
Staff Counselor
Cameron Foulks is a Licensed Professional Counselor with experience across community behavioral health, crisis stabilization, and outpatient mental health services. He has provided ongoing therapy to individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, identity-related stress, suicidal ideation, and major life transitions. His background also includes mobile crisis response and crisis stabilization, where he supported individuals experiencing acute emotional and mental health concerns.
Beyond direct clinical care, Cameron has experience in quality assurance, program development and evaluation, and the design and coordination of clinical internship programs. These roles have given him a broad perspective on both individualized client care and the organizational systems needed to provide effective, accessible, and high-quality mental health services.
Cameron’s clinical interests include LGBTQ+ mental health, suicide prevention, anxiety, identity development, and life transitions. He is particularly passionate about suicide prevention and helping people better understand themselves, navigate periods of uncertainty or change, and develop a stronger sense of connection and hope.
His clinical approach is collaborative, affirming, trauma-informed, and person-centered. Cameron strives to create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where people feel comfortable showing up authentically, processing difficult experiences, and defining what meaningful change looks like for them. Guided by the belief that clients are the experts on their own lives, he works alongside them to strengthen coping skills, deepen self-understanding, recognize personal strengths, build supportive connections, and move toward their goals.
Outside of work, Cameron enjoys exploring Atlanta with friends, trying new restaurants, attending live music performances and local events, watching horror movies and anime, reading manga, gaming, taking spontaneous day trips, and enjoying all things Pokémon.
Veronica Mahathre, MPH, MS, LPC, NCC
she/her
Staff Counselor
Veronica earned he Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Public Health Degree from Georgia State University. Veronica is a native of Georgia and received her undergraduate degree from University of Georgia. Veronica is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor who incorporates her technical training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Narrative Exposure Therapy to empower clients with tools to build and maintain a life worth living. Veronica has worked in the field of behavioral health for over 10 years in hospital, residential, day treatment/partial hospitalization program, college centers, and private practice settings. She uses her Public Health background to bring a systems perspective to provide an individualized and holistic approach to each client. Veronica provides a warm and validating space for clients to be authentic and collaborates with clients to reach their goals. She values the power of connection and community to help clients increase their confidence and get support to thrive in their lives. Her specializations include working with issues related to depression, anxiety, ADHD, stress management, life adjustments, multicultural challenges, and self-esteem. Veronica enjoys spending time with her friends, family, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops, traveling, arts and crafts, and spending time with her cat.
Nicholas Graham
he/his
2026-2027 Counseling Intern
Nicholas Graham is a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling with a background in Criminal Justice. His education and experiences have provided him with a unique understanding of the ways that social, environmental, and systemic factors influence mental health and overall well-being. Nicholas primarily practices from a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) framework, helping clients recognize the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to promote meaningful and lasting change. He strives to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel empowered to navigate life’s challenges and develop healthier coping strategies. Drawing from both his mental health and criminal justice backgrounds, Nicholas has a particular interest in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, and major life transitions. He is committed to helping clients build resilience, foster self-awareness, and achieve personal growth. Outside of the therapy room, Nicholas enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle through fitness and exercise, spending quality time with family and loved ones, and investing in meaningful relationships. He is also deeply rooted in his Christian faith, which serves as an important foundation in his life and shapes his values of compassion, authenticity, and service to others.
Marina Rakitova
she/her
2026-2027 Counseling Intern
Marina Rakitova is pursuing her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Georgia State University. As a counseling intern, she believes that people are beautifully complex and capable of lifelong transformation. She honors both the joys and the chaos of navigating life's inevitable highs and lows. Marina works from a psychodynamically-informed integrative perspective, prioritizing the therapeutic relationship and treating all the different parts and feelings inside us with kindness and curiosity. She holds space for clients in a warm, non-judgmental environment where they can safely explore every layer of their experience. Her approach is rooted in the commitment to embracing diverse perspectives and identities, a mindset shaped by her childhood in Ukraine and her transition to the United States. She views therapy as a collaborative, co-created space where complex emotions can be held and the unspeakable can be put into words. She works alongside clients as they move beyond enduring and coping to actively authoring their own future. Her previous career as a Product Manager in the technology sector informs her perspective on digital burnout and modern workplace stress, helping clients find balance in a demanding, hyper-connected world. Outside of Mercer CAPS, Marina enjoys exploring different countries and cultures, spending time with loved ones, connecting with nature, and slowly chipping away at her ever-growing stack of unread books.
