Get To Know Our Mental Health Professionals
At Behavioral Sciences of Alabama, Inc., our multidisciplinary team brings over 100 years of combined experience to your care. Our child psychiatrist and mental health professionals work together to support you and your family in finding clarity and direction in today’s fast-paced world.
Our approach is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—a proven, evidence-based method that focuses on present challenges, thoughts, and behaviors. We help you identify what’s not working and build practical, effective strategies that lead to meaningful change.
We provide care for individuals of all ages, including children, teens, adults, couples, and families.
CBT is widely supported in treating a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, relationship challenges, and more.
David L. Barnhart, EdD
Licensed Counselor
Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
National Certified Counselor
Dr. Barnhart is a licensed counselor and board-certified clinical mental health counselor. He completed his doctorate at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and is a former chair of the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling. He has been in private counseling practice since 1978, providing compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and families.
Behavioral Sciences of Alabama provides a full range of clinical treatment for mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, family and couple counseling, stress management, ADHD, and LD psychoeducational assessment. Dr. Barnhart has extensive experience in clinical assessment. From 2002 to 2018, he served as a ministerial assessment specialist for the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, evaluating more than 480 candidates for pastoral ministry.
Dr. Barnhart founded the Trinity Counseling Center in 1991. In January 2012, he formed Behavioral Sciences of Alabama, Inc. to offer expanded, intensive outpatient services for obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders. Today, Dr. Barnhart and his colleagues continue to participate in the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute, focusing on effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.
He developed the protocol for Behavioral Sciences of Alabama’s Intensive Outpatient Program for OCD, which is recognized by the International OCD Foundation as an institutional member. Along with his colleagues, he co-authored the workbook Writing and Living Your Fears Away, created especially for clients dealing with stress, anxiety, and OCD.
Outside of counseling, Dr. Barnhart is an avid cyclist. He won the gold medal for his age group in the 2016, 2025, and 2026 Alabama Senior Olympics, qualifying to race in the 5K and 10K Time Trials nationally. He represented Alabama in his age group at the National Senior Olympics in Louisville in 2007, Palo Alto in 2009, Houston in 2011, and Birmingham in 2017.
Dr. Vuppala is a board-certified psychiatrist with subspecialty training and board certification in child and adolescent psychiatry. She has been in practice with these colleagues since 2001 (now Behavioral Sciences of Alabama). She is one of the few practicing child psychiatrists in North Alabama.
She received her child psychiatry training in Little Rock at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Vuppala is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
As the medical director of SPEAK, the suicide prevention program of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, she advocates and educates the community and professionals in assessing risk, treating, and preventing suicide. She serves as a clinical assistant professor for the UAB School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry (Huntsville Campus).
The National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) of Huntsville presented her with the “Exemplary Psychiatrist Award” in 2007, a rare honor in Alabama in recognition of her contribution to a greater public understanding of mental health disorders, especially in children. Although she is originally from India, Aparna feels very much at home in Huntsville, especially since she already had family here. Her husband is also a physician and together they have two children.
“I provide outpatient diagnostic evaluations, medication consultation and management, individual psychotherapy, behavior management techniques, parent education, play therapy, and family therapy services for children and adolescents ages 2 to 20 (and their parents or other custodians).
My training involved extensive outpatient work with children with attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, pervasive developmental disorders such as Autism and Asperger’s, learning disorders, anxiety disorders including obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, sleep disorders, tic disorders, enuresis, and mental retardation.
I work closely with other mental health professionals and physicians to coordinate the child’s treatment when necessary.”
Currently I am also Clinical Faculty at VCOM and ACOM Schools of Osteopathic Medicine and a preceptor for medical students.
Rachel strives to provide a supportive, client-centered environment where you can identify specific concerns and build a personalized recovery plan. While she especially enjoys working with adolescents, Rachel sees clients of all ages and helps with a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorders, OCD, and adjustment disorders.
Rachel uses an integrative approach to therapy, drawing from a variety of methods and choosing the techniques that best fit you and your specific needs.Her primary theoretical orientation is cognitive behavioral therapy, which employs evidence-based interventions to help you, the client, learn to implement self-therapy and prevent relapse. She is also a member of our Ketamine Assisted Therapy Team.
A Huntsville native, Rachel loves the outdoors and is an avid caver and scuba diver. She incorporates the mindfulness skills, resilience, and sense of empowerment she has developed through these activities into her work with clients, helping them build confidence and coping strategies. For more about our team’s backgrounds and specialties, visit the full Meet Our Team section.
Rachel Gulyas graduated from Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2008 and earned a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Alabama A&M University in 2013. To learn more about our clinicians’ training and credentials, you may also be interested in viewing the credentials of other providers on the Meet Our Team page.
Paul brings to clients over 20 years of experience helping adolescents and families heal and strengthen their relationships. With a strong background in addiction recovery, he has extensive experience working with adults, having led a United Way-affiliated rehabilitation and counseling program. In addition, Paul played and coached college baseball, providing his clients with a unique perspective on the development of the whole person’s health. His expertise in treatment is especially helpful in developing counseling interns and professional counselors working under his supervision to become licensed professional counselors. Furthermore, Paul has experience and training in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and regularly presents continuing education programs for professional counselors in Alabama.
Paul’s counseling philosophy is to create an honest and supportive environment where clients can openly explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to make desired changes that support healthy relationships and personal growth. In his work, Paul also draws on his extensive experience in coaching and athletics to help clients overcome obstacles and gain personal empowerment. Through this integrated approach, he supports individuals in accomplishing their goals and living healthy, balanced lives.
Paul holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Alabama A & M University and a Master of Science in Physical Education/Athletic Administration from The Ohio State University. In addition to these advanced degrees, his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology was obtained from the University of Memphis, further strengthening his foundation in mental health and human behavior.
Paul married Carolyn in 1993, and the couple has two teenage children. Outside of his counseling work, Paul enjoys baseball, exercise, theater, guitar, drums, and singing. He is also an active youth leader in his local church, reflecting his commitment to supporting and mentoring young people in his community.
Lizzbeth is excited to provide you and your loved ones with a safe, supportive space for therapy in both English and Spanish. She is passionate about helping individuals overcome life’s challenges and partnering with them to develop the skills they need to thrive.
Lizzbeth is experienced in using a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approach to help clients explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in a non-judgmental environment. Lizzbeth is an integral member of our Intensive Outpatient Program treating OCD. She works under the supervision of Paul Bakke, MS, LPC. Together, they focus on creating an empathic, compassionate, and effective style of care that supports each person in reaching their full potential.
Lizzbeth understands that change can feel scary, frustrating, and overwhelming. However, she believes that with the right support and dedication, meaningful change is possible. She enjoys incorporating creative outlets into the counseling process—such as drawing, painting, and other artistic activities—that clients can use both in and outside of sessions.
Although Lizzbeth was born and raised in Puerto Rico and Philadelphia, she now considers Huntsville her home. In her free time, she loves to draw and paint, spend time with her pets, and play video games.
Lizzbeth graduated from the University of the Sacred Heart in Santurce, Puerto Rico with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 2018. She completed her Master’s Degree in Counseling through Northwestern University in Chicago and graduated in 2024. She is currently an Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) and is actively working toward full licensure.
Christine has extensive experience doing transdiagnostic counseling informed by the latest cognitive behavioral interventions. She counsels children, adolescents, and adults. Her skills extend to working with obsessive-compulsive and anxiety disorders. In addition to counseling individuals, she works with families and couples and participates in our intensive outpatient treatment program for OCD and related disorders.
Working under the supervision of David Barnhart, EdD, Licensed Counselor, she is skilled in clinical treatment including depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and psychoeducational testing.
Christine supervised and assisted in the care and treatment of at-risk adolescents and their families. She has trained with Behavioral Sciences in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders.
She received a BA in psychology from Indiana University in Bloomington in 2010 and completed her MS in clinical mental health counseling from Walden University in May of 2019.
David L. Barnhart, Jr., Ph.D., M.A., LPC
David Barnhart is the founding pastor of Saint Junia United Methodist Church, a network of house churches in Birmingham, Alabama.
Rev. Dr. Barnhart works with our clinical providers and, as a member of our Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program, consults especially with moral, religious, and scrupulous patients in treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Dr. Barnhart is appointed to serve with Behavioral Sciences as a minister of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Dr. Barnhart is a member of our Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy treatment team. This innovative approach aims to achieve therapeutic breakthroughs that may be difficult to reach with either medicine or talk therapy alone. KAP has shown significant promise in reducing symptoms of depression, PTSD, and anxiety by providing rapid relief that can be built upon in subsequent therapy sessions.
He has helped couples prepare for engagement and marriage for 18 years, coaching individuals and organizations on ethics, spiritual direction, and decision-making, and has done organizational consulting with nonprofits. He has helped teams overcome conflict and understand their strengths and personality differences. He has offered workshops and panel discussions on topics ranging from managing stress to overcoming personal and systemic prejudice and racism.
Dr. Barnhart helps prepare couples considering engagement or marriage to develop a collaborative action plan working toward long-term marital satisfaction. He can provide consultation and continuing education for pastors and laypeople, developing a couples’ and family support program in their local congregation. His expertise in social ethics and building teams can help guide your organization in its external community involvement and meaningful participation.
Dr. Barnhart earned his B.A. from Oglethorpe University in 1994, his M.Div from Candler School of Theology in 1997, and his Ph.D. in homiletics and social ethics from Vanderbilt University in 2004. He has been an ordained elder in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church since 2003. Dr. Barnhart has been teaching Religions of the World as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He completed his Master of Arts in Counseling (MA) with a Clinical Mental Health (CMH) concentration that is CACREP-accredited.
He is the author of _ What’s in the Bible About Church_, _ God Shows No Partiality_, and Church Comes Home: Start a House Church Network Anywhere. His sermons and articles have appeared in the Abingdon Preaching Annual, FaithLink, and Ministry Matters. He is a founding member of Faith in Action Alabama.
He blogs at davebarnhart.net, and lives in Birmingham with his wife and son. He enjoys running, cycling, and making things.
Dr. Melanie Barnhart is an Emergency Medicine physician based in Huntsville, Alabama. She has been practicing for 13 years and has extensive experience treating a wide variety of physical and mental health conditions. She believes in a whole-person approach to care—one that encompasses a patient’s mental, physical, and spiritual health.
In addition, Dr. Barnhart has a special interest in and experience with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP). She serves as our KAP treatment team physician, providing care for individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, and PTSD. KAP is a carefully supported therapeutic process in which ketamine serves as a catalyst, opening a window of psychological flexibility that a trained clinician can use to help patients access difficult emotions, process longstanding patterns, and translate insight into meaningful, lasting change.
Dr. Barnhart graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Medicine in 2007. She then completed a transitional year residency at Evanston Northwestern Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and finished her Emergency Medicine training at UAB in 2011. Since that time, she has practiced Emergency Medicine in both academic and community hospitals across urban and rural settings. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dog, as well as camping, playing tennis, reading, and traveling.
Jenny is a counseling intern pursuing her degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. After overcoming her own journey with OCD, she became a grassroots advocate for the International OCD Foundation in 2021, volunteering and advocating for greater access to treatment and support.
Jenny enjoys working with clients of all ages and has a special passion for supporting children and young adults. Under the supervision of Dr. David L. Barnhart, she provides CBT-focused care in a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment. Her goal is to empower clients to navigate their struggles and discover the big, beautiful life waiting on the other side of recovery.
Originally from Colorado, Jenny relocated to Huntsville in late 2025 and is enjoying this new chapter of life. Outside of counseling, she loves spending time outdoors with her dogs, unicycling, and cooking.