MEET DR. SPESH
TRAUMA & RELATIONSHIP EXPERT

Dr. Speshál Walker Gautier
a.k.a. “Dr. Spesh”
(she/her/hers)
Owner of D.I.V.E. Therapy & Consulting

Dr. Spesh is a Yale-trained, Licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in helping people break free from painful patterns that keep them stuck. Whether clients are struggling with anxiety, unresolved trauma, or relationship cycles that keep repeating, she helps them get to the root of the problem—not just manage symptoms—so they can finally move forward.

With over 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. Spesh has become known for creating real breakthroughs where other approaches have fallen short.

What Makes Dr. Spesh's Approach Different

Dr. Spesh's approach combines deep expertise in trauma treatment with a relational focus that helps people understand how their past experiences show up in their present life—in their anxiety, their relationship patterns, and their sense of self.

What sets Dr. Spesh apart is her ability to help people see the connections between their past pain and their current struggles, then actually do something about it. She's active and directive in sessions, teaching skills and helping clients understand their patterns in real-time.

Her Specialties Include:

For Individuals:

Trauma and PTSD (including sexual trauma, military combat trauma, and occupational trauma)
Psychiatric Disability Assessment (Impairment due to Psychological Injury)
Anxiety and panic that interfere with daily life
Depression and emotional distress
Understanding how past experiences impact current relationships
Building healthier relationship patterns
Identity-related stress (e.g., race, sexuality, gender)

For Couples:

Breaking destructive patterns that keep repeating
Navigating the impact of individual trauma on the partnership
Healing from attachment wounds and rebuilding trust
Moving from disconnection back to intimacy
Communication that actually works under stress
Monogomy and Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM)

Evidence-Based Training

Dr. Spesh is trained in evidence-based treatments including:

CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy)
STAIR (Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation)
WET (Written Exposure Therapy)
CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia)
ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
EFCT (Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy)
Gottman Couples Therapy (Level 1)

This specialized training allows her to work effectively with complex trauma—whether from childhood, relationships, sexual trauma, or work-related stress—as well as sleep difficulties and a wide range of other concerns.

Culturally Responsive Care

Dr. Spesh has deep expertise in working with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals and couples who face unique pressures navigating relationships while dealing with discrimination, family dynamics, and cultural expectations. As a Black, cisgender, straight woman and LGBTQ+ ally, she brings both professional training and personal understanding to her work.

She has published peer-reviewed articles, delivered workshops and presentations, and been featured in television, film (VH1/BET, Antihero Productions), and media for her expertise in relationships, trauma, and culturally responsive care.

The D.I.V.E. Approach

At D.I.V.E. Therapy & Consulting, the focus is on going deep (Depth), looking inward (Introspection), clarifying what you want (Vision), and taking action (Exploration). Dr. Spesh is a relational therapist at heart, meaning she believes that healing happens in connection—whether that's the therapeutic relationship, your relationship with yourself, or your relationships with others.

A common theme in her work is helping people develop and sustain the types of relationships they desire—whether romantic, platonic, or professional. Even when working with individuals, she helps clients examine their relationship patterns and understand how past experiences impact their current connections.

Beyond the Office

When she's not working with clients, Dr. Spesh can be found bopping around the city, enjoying her favorite coffee shops or Atlanta's music scene (her not-so-hidden talent is karaoke). She loves to be outdoors walking, running, or dining on any available patio. She relocated to Atlanta for the warm weather, parks, and festivals—though she admits to missing the beach and wishing more people shared her enthusiasm for UConn basketball.

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PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Dr. Spesh graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Connecticut with a double major in Psychology and Women's Studies. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UMass Boston, where she was selected as an APA Minority Fellowship Program Fellow. She completed her doctoral internship at Yale University School of Medicine and her Postdoctoral Fellowship at West Haven VA-Yale School of Medicine as a Psychosocial Rehabilitation-LGBT Health Fellow.

Prior to opening her private practice, Dr. Spesh led the Trauma, Stress, and Anxiety Treatment Track at the Atlanta VA Hospital, where she supervised other therapists and provided training on evidence-based trauma treatments.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND SERVICE

Dr. Spesh holds active memberships in the Atlanta Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy and the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy reflect her ongoing commitment to mastering relationship-focused therapeutic approaches.

She has also served on the Georgia Psychological Association Board of Directors as Diversity Directorate, Chair of Ethnic Minority Affairs, and on the Initial Review Committee for APA's Minority Fellowship Program.

LICENSURE

Dr. Spesh is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York. She is also authorized to provide telehealth across the country via PSYPACT, offering accessibility to clients nationwide. See the Telehealth tab for more information.