She is the owner of Self-SOULstice, LLC, where she provides psychotherapy, supervision, and consultation. Dr. Bates served five years as a staff therapist at Georgia Southern University, where she treated students presenting with various mental health issues. She served on the university’s Sexual Assault Response Team and coordinated educating faculty and staff in the importance and ways of creating an inclusive, accepting, and supportive university community for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) students, faculty, and staff.