About Palmetto Psychological Associates
Helping You Flourish & Prosper
At Palmetto Psychological, we empower individuals and families by identifying strengths and providing expert guidance to unlock potential and overcome challenges.
We specialize in psychological and neuropsychological evaluations for concerns like learning differences, attention, memory, processing, and social skills. Our licensed psychologists deliver personalized assessments with a strengths-based approach.
Our areas of expertise include:
Learning Disorders (dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, NVLD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
ADHD
Intellectual Disability
Meet the team!
About Dr. Shands
Professional Experience
Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Shands is a Greenville native who was raised in Sumter, South Carolina. Dr. Shands is a Licensed Psychologist that specializes in testing and evaluation services with a focus on neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and specific learning disorders (such as, dyslexia).
Education and Training
Dr. Shands earned a bachelor of Art (BA: 2002) IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION FROM FURMAN UNIVERSITY. SHE EARNED A MASTER OF SCIENCE (MS: 2006) IN PSYCHOLOGY AND A DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHd: 2008) IN PSYCHOLOGY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS.
DURING GRADUATE SCHOOL, DR. SHANDS COMPLETED A LEADERSHIP EDUCATION IN NEURODEVELOPMENTAL AND RELATED DISABILITIES (LEND) PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER (UTHSC) CENTER ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. SHE THEN COMPLETED AN AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (APA) ACCREDITED PREDOCTORAL INTERNSHIP WITH LEWISVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT IN LEWISVILLE, TEXAS IN 2007-2008 AND A POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP AT CLARITY, INC IN GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA IN 2008-2009.
Professional Experience
Dr. Shands has been interested in neurodevelopmental disorders since high school and her career has been devoted to working with neurodiverse children and adults.
prior to graduate school, dr. shands worked as a public schook 5th grade teacher. following graduate school and her post doctoral fellowship, she served as a school psychologist in the greenville county school district for 6 years and served in administrative and clinical roles at CLARITY, INC, A NONPROFIT MULTIDISCIPLINARY CLINIC, FOR OVER 7 YEARS. WITH THE FOUNDING OF PALMETTO PSYCHOLOGICAL, DR. SHANDS IS EXCITED TO RETUNR TO FULL-TIME CLINICAL PRACTICE AS A PSYCHOLOGIST.
Dr. Shands is an active member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the South Carolina Psychological Association (SCPA), and the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).
Dr. Shands is a licensed psychologist through the SC LLR Board of Examiners in Psychology. She is also a certified school psychologist through the South Carolina Department of Education and a nationally registered Health Service Psychologist (HSP). In addition, Dr. Shands has also attained Authorization to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT) through the PSYPACT Commission, which authorizes Dr. Shands to practice telepsychology across state lines.
Dr. Shands is also passionate about teaching and has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychology at USC Upstate since January 2020. She has taught undergraduate courses in school psychology and developmental psychology.
Personal Life
Dr. Shands enjoys spending time with her husband and boys. Together, they enjoy being outdoors and are working towards becoming Ultimate Outsiders by visiting all of South Carolina’s State Parks. Dr. Shands is also a Level 2 Nationally Certified swimming official through SC Swimming and USA Swimming.
About Dr. Trask
Professional Experience
Dr. Megan Trask is licensed as a psychologist through the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. She is also credentialed as a health service psychologist. Dr. Trask serves on the board of the South Carolina Psychological Association. She is an active member of the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology within the American Psychological Association.
Throughout her training and career, Dr. Trask has accumulated experience performing psychological evaluations with youth and young adults presenting with a range of concerns. These include neurodevelopmental disorders (such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and specific learning disorders), behavioral and emotional challenges (such as oppositional behaviors, anxiety, and depression), and adjustment-related difficulties. She has worked in a variety of settings, including primary care clinics, community mental health centers, schools, hospitals, and outpatient clinics.
Education and Training
dR. MEGAN TRASK COMPLETED HER UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHOLOGY COURSEWORK AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY. SHE THEN EARNED HER MA AND PHD IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY (WITH A SPECIALIZATION IN CLINICAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY) FROM SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY. DR. TRASK COMPLETED A PREDOCTORAL INTERNSHIP AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH. HER GRADUATE SCHOOL PROGRAM AND PREDOCTORAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM ARE BOTH ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATION (APA). AFTER GRADUATION, SHE COMPLETED HER POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING AT AN INDEPENDENT PRACTICE SPECIALIZING IN NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS.
Personal Life
In her spare time, Dr. Trask enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.