Dr. Beth Hammons, Ph.D., ABPP

 

Dr. Beth Hammons is a seasoned licensed psychologist who helps people experiencing anxiety, stress, insomnia, depression, and difficulties coping with illness and health problems. She is a specialist in helping people make meaningful changes in their lives, especially around substance use and other behaviors that can feel difficult to talk about. She understands how much stigma and shame can get in the way of reaching out for support, and she works hard to create a space where you can show up exactly as you are—without judgment, pressure, or expectations. Her approach is grounded in the belief that every step toward reducing harm or improving your quality of life matters, no matter how small it may seem.

Beth has spent her career working with individuals navigating complex health and emotional challenges, particularly within the Veterans Healthcare System. She brings over 15 years of experience in substance use treatment and integrated care, and she values the trust that comes from walking alongside people during vulnerable moments. Her style is collaborative, steady, and deeply person‑centered. She listens closely, honors your lived experience, and helps you move toward the life you want with clarity and compassion.

MY AVAILABILITY

I offer discreet telehealth and in‑person sessions with flexible scheduling, including late afternoon, evening, and limited weekend appointments to make care accessible and comfortable.

I am fully licensed as a psychologist in GA. 

Below are details of my affiliations, education, certifications, and publications that you might find relevant.

CURRENT TITLES & AFFILIATIONS

Psychologist, Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Atlanta Veterans Health System, 2019 – present 

PREVIOUS APPOINTMENTS

Health Behavior Coordinator, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, 2011 – 2013 

Psychologist, Integrated Psychological Services, 2012 – 2014 

Psychologist, Primary Care Mental Health Integration, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Healthcare System, 2011- 2014 

Psychologist, Empower Veterans Program, Atlanta Veterans Health System, 2014 – 2019

Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2016 – January 2026 

SPECIALTY BOARD

Certified Specialist in Addiction Psychology, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), certification diploma #10516

ACADEMIC TRAINING

Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Emphasis in Substance Use, VA North Florida/South Georgia Healthcare System

Gainesville, Florida

 Pre-Doctoral Internship

VA Houston Healthcare System

Houston, Texas 

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida 

M.S. Clinical Psychology

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

B.S. Psychology

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia

SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS, BOOK CHAPTERS, AND PRESENTATIONS

Presentations

Hammons, M.E., & DelVentura, J. (2016, December). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Empower Veterans Program. Presented for CEUs for medical and clinical providers as a part of SCAN-ECHO program, hosted by the Richmond VAMC and Virginia Commonwealth University. 

Delventura, J., Vazquez, V., Huang, G., Mendez, A., & Hammons, M.E. (2017, October). An evaluation of 3-6 month follow up data for veterans in an interdisciplinary pain treatment program. Poster presented at the VISN 7 Research Symposium at the Atlanta VAMC, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E., Tang, Y., & Schmidt, K. (2024, April). Navigating the Evolving Landscape of Cannabis Use and Medical Cannabis Use. Training presented at the Georgia Psychological Association annual conference, Gainesville, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2008, August). Commonly Used Substances, Their Effects, and How They Can Be Used to Violate Others. Training workshop presented to the Victim Services employees at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E. & Springer, J. (2009, November). Goal Attainment Scaling. Training workshop presented to the nursing employees at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas. 

Landes, A., & Hammons, M.E. (2010, November). Encouraging Environments of Safety and Acceptance. Training workshop presented through the Employee Assistance Program for employees at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E. (2011, June). Applying the Stages of Change Model to Diet and Exercise. Guest presenter for MOVE!, a national weight management program, Lake City, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E. (2012, December). Living in Balance: Moderating Alcohol Consumption. Training workshop presented through the Living in Balance series for patients and staff at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E., & Landes, A. (2013, February). Managing the Weight in Primary Care. Training workshop presented through the Primary Care Lecture series for primary care providers at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E., & Smith, M. (2013, November). Communication Styles. Training workshop presented through the Employee Assistance Program for employees at the Jacksonville VA Outpatient Center, Jacksonville, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E. (2014, January). Transgender Veterans. Diversity journal discussion presented through the NFSGVHS Psychology Service Continuing Education Case Conference for Licensed Psychologists, Gainesville, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E., & Cortez-Garland, M. (2014, May). Suicide Risk Screening and Triage. Training workshop presented to the primary care providers at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E. (2015, November). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Empower Veterans Program. Training workshop section presented to PACT Pain Community of Practice national VHA group, Decatur, Georgia. 

Kassem, A., DelVentura, J., Hammons, M.E., & Saenger, M. (2016, March). Program Evaluation of the Empower Veterans Program (EVP): Preliminary Findings. Poster presented at the Quality Improvement Learning Fair at the Atlanta VAMC, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2018, December). Opioid Use Disorder: Assessment, Treatment, and Clinical Considerations. Seminar presented to psychology interns at Emory University, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2019, December). Substance Use and Misuse. Seminar presented to psychology interns at Emory University, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2020, September). Substance Use and Misuse. Seminar presented to psychology interns at Emory University, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2021, August). Substance Use and Misuse. Seminar presented to psychology interns at Emory University, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2022, October). Substance Use and Misuse. Seminar presented to psychology interns at Emory University, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2023, November). Substance Use and Misuse. Seminar presented to psychology interns at Emory University, Decatur, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E., Ballengee, L., DelVentura, J., & Gansen, J. (2018, February). MI-Informed PT? Mastering the Guiding Style of Motivational Interviewing. Seminar presented at the Combined Sections Meeting of American Physical Therapy Association, New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Lau, H.C., Dunn, M.E., Brown, P., & Hammons, M.E. (2006, November). Evaluation of a single session expectancy challenge program. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, Illinois. 

Marino, T.L., Negy, C., Hammons, M.E., & McKinney, C.B. (2006, November, poster). Perceptions of ambiguously unpleasant interracial interactions: A structural equation modeling approach. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Chicago, Illinois. 

Hammons, M.E., Negy, C., Marino, T.L., Blackwell, A.L. (2007, August, poster). The Relation between Acculturative Stress and Marital Distress among Hispanic American Women. American Psychological Association, San Francisco, California. 

Wack, E., Hammons, M.E., Orem, D. (2008, November, poster). The Impact of Schema Activation Method and Schema Type on Decision-Making Related to Driving After Consuming Alcohol. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E., Negy, C., Marino, T.L. (2008, November, poster). The Importance of Addressing Acculturative Stress in Marital Therapy with Hispanic American Women. Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Orlando, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E. (2010, June, oral). Using Goal Attainment Scaling to Fuel Recovery. U.S. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Boise, Idaho. 

Hammons, M.E., Negy, C., Romero-Aldana, D., & Estevez, R. (2011, June, poster). Examining the Hypocrisy Paradigm as an Intervention for Modifying High-Risk Alcohol Use Behaviors Among College Students. Research Society of Alcoholism, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E., & Shoal, G. (2012, August, poster). Evaluating Program Outcomes among Veterans Diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders. American Psychological Association, Orlando, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E., Hoffmann, E., & Shoal, G. (2013, May, poster). Brief Addiction Monitor: Examining the Factor Scores as a Program Evaluation Tool. Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction Conference, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E. (2016, March, oral). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Empower Veterans Program. National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Hammons, M.E., Gansen, J., & Saenger, M. (2016, September, oral). Functional Restoration for Whole Health and Well-Being Within the Patient Centered Medical Home. PAINWeek, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Hammons, M.E., DelVentura, J., & Rauch, S. (2019, November). Examining the Relationship Between Activity Engagement, Pain Willingness, and Depressive Symptoms Among Veterans Experiencing Chronic Pain. Poster accepted for presentation at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, Atlanta, Georgia.

Hammons, M.E., Back, S. E., & Jackson, J. L. (2003, March, poster). Psychological correlates of sexual, physical, and combined child abuse. Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Orem, D., Wack, E., & Hammons, M.E. (2008, July, poster). Deciding Under the Influence: Schema Activation and Decision-Making Related to Driving After Alcohol Consumption. Florida Psychological Association, Bonita Springs, Florida. 

Hammons, M.E., Negy, C., Marino, T.L. (2009, February, poster). Addressing Acculturative Stress in Marital Therapy with Puerto Rican women. Southeastern Psychological Association, New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Miceli, A., DelVentura, J., & Hammons, M.E. (2017, March, poster). An examination of baseline scores and treatment outcomes for women Veterans enrolled in women-only versus mixed-gender pain management groups. Georgia Psychological Association, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Landes, A., Hammons, M.E., & Shah, K. (2011, May, poster). Persons at Risk for Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Partners – Motivating Healthy Change, Promoting Stronger Relationships. Association of VA Psychology Leaders, San Antonio, Texas. 

Grant Support: 

Active Support: Federally Funded: Site Primary Investigator, VA Health Services Research and Development, Implementation of Innovative Treatment for Moral Injury Syndrome: A Hybrid Type 2 Study, $1.2 million, 20% effort, 4 years. 

Publications

Marino, T.L., Negy, C., Hammons, M.E., McKinney, C.B., Asberg, K. (2007). Perceptions of ambiguously unpleasant interracial interactions: A structural equation modeling approach. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied. 141(6), 637-663.

Negy, C., Hammons, M E., Reig-Ferrer, A., & Carper, T.M. (2010). The importance of addressing acculturative stress in marital therapy with Hispanic immigrant women. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 10(1), 5-21.

Long, M.E., Hammons, M E., Davis, J.L., Frueh, B.C., Khan, M.M., Elhai, J.D., & Teng, E.J. (2011). Imagery Rescripting and Exposure Group Treatment of Posttraumatic Nightmares in Veterans with PTSD. Journal of Anxiety Disorders; 25(4), 531-535.

 

Dr. Beth Hammons, Ph.D., provides services to Atlanta CBT on a contract basis.