Dr. Lakeitha Poole is an experienced clinician and administrator with a demonstrated history of leadership in working in the mental health care and higher education industries.

Dr. LaKeitha Poole serves as the Director of Student-Athlete Mental Health for the Louisiana State University (LSU) athletic department’s Sport Psychology & Counseling service area and as an adjunct instructor in the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education. In the SPC department, she works with student-athletes to overcome depression, anxiety, sport & career-related issues, dysfunctional eating, and relational conflicts. She also works with individuals and teams to curate wellness, team building, and mental skills training plans to increase cohesion and strengthen overall performance. 

A native of New Orleans, LA, and graduate of Florida State University, Louisiana State University, and Regent University, Dr. Poole is also the owner of Small Talk Counseling and Consulting, a mental health private practice and consulting firm that serves a diverse clientele in an effort to address cognitive and behavioral health, multicultural identity development, and positive interpersonal relationships. Her research emphases include mental health and wellness techniques, mental performance and sport counseling, and resilience in communities of color. 

Her roles and expertise have allowed her to present to a number of professional and community constituents including the National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE), NCAA Inclusion and Human Resources (NCAA IHR), the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC), the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A), and the American Counseling Association (ACA).

In her free time, she enjoys taking trips home to New Orleans to visit family and attend festivals, reading, and lounging around with her Shih Tzu-Maltese, Cody.