STAFF

Aaron McGinley, LCMHC

Aaron is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and works with children, adolescents, and adults.  Comfortable working with folks from all walks of life, he is most seasoned working with parents and co-parenting concerns, adolescents, those who have ADHD, Autism, Giftedness, Video Gaming Addiction Young Adults,  Men’s issues, co-parenting issues, anxiety, and social skill concerns.

Aaron obtained a BS in Psychology/Integrative Studies from University of Scranton in 2004, with a focus on behavioral science. After a colorful in human services that included work at a therapeutic summer camp, residential treatment centers, parent workshops, school and community program development In home therapy teams, social skill instructor, and even work as a dating coach, Aaron returned to school to become a licensed clinician. Since then, he has worked in residential care, school-based outpatient care, community-based work, and in small private practices.

Aaron quickly connects with those that feel like outsiders in their worlds, as well as the family members and friends that support them. He welcomes gentle humor into therapy and believes in attending to wholistic wellness as an important component of setting up opportunities for good therapeutic work to occur. In much of his work, Aaron approaches work through the Cognitive Behavioral framework, and also includes use of motivational interviewing. parenting skills and psychological education.

Aaron lives in Western North Carolina with his wife and three children. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, wordplay and trivia games, and pretending he knows how to do home improvement.

Aaron will be taking clients out of the Fletcher location, please call (828) 398-0390 to schedule!

Regional Clinical Director - Charlotte Metro

Brandon Allison

I am a born native of Kannapolis, North Carolina. I completed my undergraduate studies at Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Studies (Psychology Minor) in 2009 and received my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Marriage & Family from North Carolina A&T State University in 2016.

​I provide individual counseling for adults and adolescents, and marriage & family counseling with diverse populations. I specialize in working with varying presenting issues such as the impact of adjustment concerns or life transitions. I also work with clients experiencing social, behavioral, and emotional concerns in the areas of grief/loss, anxiety, relationships, marriage (divorce, separation), family conflict, communication and conflict management. I ascribe to an integrative theoretical approach, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered, Solution Focused-Brief Therapy, as well as Family Systems.

​I believe in not only meeting my clients where they are but empowering them to identify where they want to go. It is my goal to integrate mind, body, and spirit to help my clients achieve optimal wellness for success in their everyday lives while realizing the healing process is a journey–one not resolved by the next day, but one that requires each day you commit to it.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, working out, watching football (Go Cowboys!!) and traveling.

LCMHC

Brianna Jacobs

Brianna Jacobs (She/Her/Hers) is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. (LCMHC) She received her Masters of Arts and Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in December of 2019 from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Prior to this, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Peace And Conflict Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in May 2016.

Brianna is an advocate for mental health wellness, and she has a passion for assisting people in their search for healing and growth. Like a beautiful flower, Brianna believes that every client has different needs to grow and flourish. Terefore, she utilizes an individualized approach to ensure that her clients needs are met.

Brianna primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, and Feminist Therapy to help foster growth in her clients. She specializes in working with teens and adults of all ages facing depression, anxiety, self-esteem concerns, childhood trauma, and sexual trauma. Brianna strives to create a safe space for everyone, and welcomes clients from all backgrounds, sexualities, races, religions, gender expressions, and more. She encourages clients to be their authentic selves in their sessions, and meets them where they are in their journeys. She believes that the client is the Captain of their ship, and that she’s the Sailor following their lead.

Brianna is a proud Indigenous therapist. She comes from a Mestiza and Lumbee Native American background. Her culture is particularly important to her, and informs how she practices as a therapist. Brianna is passionate about multicultural issues and advocates for justice and equal rights. During her spare time, Brianna enjoys making traditional Native American beaded jewelry, tending to her many houseplants, trying out new restaurants, spending time with her husband and two cats (Tux and Maxie), and playing video games.

Candy Tryggestad MSW, LCSW

Candy received her Master of Social Work (MSW) from Aurora University. She is a Clinical Social Worker licensed in North Carolina. Candy has worked in outpatient mental health and addiction treatment facilities and is experienced working with at-risk youth providing both individual and group therapy in a school setting.

Candy works with clients age 6 years and up battling a variety of mental health issues. These areas include, but are not limited to anxiety, mood disorders, and trauma. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy among other evidence based therapy when working with individuals and families.

Caroline Phillips, MDiv., MSW, LCSW

Caroline Phillips grew up the deep south, but most recently moved to North Carolina from Chicago Illinois where she lived for 13 years and received a Masters degrees in Divinity (McCormick Theological Seminary ’12) and Social Work (Loyola University Chicago ’13) . Caroline worked as a hospital chaplain and chaplain educator for six years and prior to that worked in Community Mental Health on the Southside of Chicago. She enjoys working with people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and faiths. She believes cultural humility and cultural competency are key to understanding the whole person and building a strong foundation with her clients.

She enjoys working with adults and older teenagers and has a lot of experience working with the older adult population. Helping clients with issues such as anxiety, trauma, depression, and life transitions are of particular interest to her. She uses evidenced based therapies such as CBT and motivational interviewing. With her years of experience in chaplaincy, she is very comfortable incorporating spirituality (if important to the client) and helping those heal from past religious trauma.

Carolyn Smith, LCSW

Carolyn Smith was born and raised in North Carolina. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1993 with a BA in psychology, she had careers in social services, public libraries, and the legal field, before going back to school in mid-life to pursue her true calling. She graduated from Western Carolina University in 2014 with a Masters of Social Work. Carolyn has worked with clients in inpatient mental health settings, emergency rooms, as well as hospice, and has extensive experience working with addiction. Carolyn worked for several years counseling Veterans and their families, and understands the unique challenges they face.

Carolyn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and uses evidence-based practices like CBT and motivational interviewing in her work with clients. She treats adults and has particular interest in helping her clients work through issues of stress, depression, anxiety, and life transitions. Carolyn also enjoys helping clients, when appropriate, incorporate their faith or spiritual beliefs in therapy.  She approaches her clients with caring compassion and non-judgment and believes everyone can build resilience and experience growth.

Carrie Jackson, Practice Manager

Bio Coming Soon

Dana Jaffe, LCMHCA

Dana is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in North Carolina. She received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Dana completed her graduate-level field work at the CBT Center and has since joined the staff full-time.

Her clinical specialties include helping adult clients with anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, insomnia, and trauma. Working from a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach, she believes a foundational element of the counseling process is introducing clients to practical skills that can empower them to better manage their challenges in the short and long-term. Dana is passionate about offering evidenced-based treatments including cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), exposure and response prevention (ERP), and mindfulness-based techniques. Additionally, she integrates acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), which means that the counseling process is driven by the client’s values.

Dana is a compassionate listener who has a genuine desire to understand every client’s unique inner world. She enjoys helping clients move toward observable and lasting changes that align with their personal therapy goals.

Dana practices out of the West Asheville office. Please call (828) 232-8934 for availability.

Dena Watts, Administrative Assistant

Bio Coming Soon

Derek Martinez, LCMHCA

Derek received his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Florida as well as a Master’s degree in Education with a Specialist’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida. He has worked with clients in both outpatient and inpatient settings.

Derek’s specialty is in treating OCD and anxiety related disorders, with experience using CBT with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) with all ages as well as habit reversal training for repetitive body focused behaviors (e.g., trichotillomania, dermatillomania/excoriation). Derek utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to treat depression, grief, anxiety, and phobias.

Derek is available to work with people of all ages to treat OCD and anxiety related disorders. He practices out of the West Asheville location, please call 828-232-8934 to schedule.

Administrative Assistant

Eisha Carmichael

Eisha is from a small town in South Carolina. She now resides in Charlotte, NC. She is the mother of one daughter. She has a background of working in the medical field which her favorite was the emergency department. She is a huge advocate for mental health.

Outside of work she loves to do hobbies with her little one, go to the gym, go to the trail rides, and enjoy family time. Eisha works out of our Pineville, NC location.

Emily Ferlo, LCMHC

Emily obtained her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. She graduated in 2020 and is practicing as a LCMHC-A in Charlotte, North Carolina. Prior to receiving her Master’s degree, Emily worked with at-risk youth providing wraparound services, directed a mental health program geared toward peer support, and provided services at outpatient mental health and addiction treatment facilities.

Emily specializes in working with individuals battling depression, anxiety, relationship issues, eating disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance use disorders, and grief. She also enjoys working with couples and conducting group therapy.

Emily takes the time to understand her client’s needs and goals in order to determine the most effective treatment modalities. Some of the evidence- based approaches she utilizes include: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness. Emily believes in taking a trauma informed approach with all of her clients, and provides a client-centered experience to foster healing, hope, empowerment, and self-compassion.

During her free time, Emily enjoys spending time with her beloved dog, two cats, friends, and family. Some of her favorite hobbies include reading, cooking, traveling, and hiking.

Haley Elder, Ph.D.

…is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in empirically-based cognitive and behavioral treatments for anxiety and mood disorders.

She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from St. John’s University in Queens, New York and has worked in a variety of settings, including partial hospitalization programs, outpatient clinics, and a college counseling center. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Albert Ellis Institute in Manhattan where she gained expertise treating anxiety and depression in adults using Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT).

Most recently, her interests have focused on the treatment of adults with obsessive-compulsive spectrum and other anxiety disorders at the Bio-Behavioral Institute in Long Island, New York, using cognitive-behavioral and exposure and response prevention (ERP) frameworks.

Dr. Elder joined the staff of the CBT Center in 2014.

You can eMail Dr. Elder at helder@behaviortherapist.com  or call (828) 350-1177. She practices out of the East Asheville office.

Jeff Byham, LCSW

Jeff is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in North Carolina.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Pittsburgh.  Jeff and his family recently relocated to the Asheville area and are loving the beautiful scenery and weather.

Jeff has worked in the mental health field for over 10 years in various settings including in-home treatment, inpatient psychiatric units, school-based therapy, employee assistance programs, and outpatient mental health clinics.  He utilizes evidenced-based treatment modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure and response prevention for obsessive-compulsive disorder, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and structural family therapy.  Using a caring and non-judgmental approach, Jeff strives to foster a strong rapport and connection with each client in order to promote growth and positive change.

In his free time, Jeff enjoys spending time with his wife and son, playing guitar, and doing yard work.

Jeff practices out of the East Asheville office.  Please call (828) 350-1177 to schedule an appointment.

LCMHCA, NCC

Jennifer Gift

Jenn is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in North Carolina and a Qualified Professional in the field of Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare.

For ten years, prior to earning her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Western Carolina University (May, 2021), she worked as a direct care staff and mentor serving pre-teens, adolescents, young adults, and their families in the context of wilderness therapy, residential treatment, and therapeutic boarding school. She devoted her internship in private practice toward serving helping professionals, through individual counseling, peer support groups, advocacy, research, conference participation, and professional presentations. She is passionate about holistic wellness within the Mental/Behavioral Healthcare field, as this directly impacts client care.

Through evidence-based practices, grounded in cognitive behavioral theory, Jenn aims to empower healing and resilience for clients experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, attachment issues, learning differences, burnout, and life transitions. She focuses on fostering engagement with all aspects of wellbeing, while providing clients with tools, such as mindfulness-based cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation. Jenn is committed to honoring the dignity of all, with particular attention to respecting diverse and intersectional identities. Her approach is collaborative and holistic, allowing each unique individual to inform the development of treatment goals and planning.

Jenn has a talent for building authentic relationships with immediacy and attunement to here-and-now experiences. She derives immense joy from being outside and facilitating restorative encounters with Nature. She maintains a Wilderness First Responder certification, is a guide with Blue Ridge Hiking Company, and a volunteer trail maintainer for the Carolina Mountain Club. Her hobbies include creative arts, dancing, hiking, and caring for a very large quantity of house plants.

Regional Clinical Director of Central & Eastern NC

Jessica Booth, LMFT, LCAS-A

Jessica Booth, LMFT, LCAS-A is an experienced psychotherapist who treats every member of the family. She is a full-time, integrated member of the CPCH team and works with patients individually, as a couple, as a family, or in a support group. Jessica is available to work with individually with both patients seeing a psychiatrist for medications and patients who do not currently need psychiatric medications.

At CPCH, Jessica specializes in: couples relationships, discernment therapy (in regards to divorce), family therapy, children with Attention Deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and depression. She also works with individuals, specializing in: phase of life issues, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and substance abuse. Jessica also helps to coach and support individuals through difficult challenges in life such as a loss of a job, grieving the loss of a loved one, or even adjusting to being a new mom.

Jessica is a North Carolina native from Sanford, NC. She received her Bachelor’s degree at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and then went on to receive her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy through East Carolina University. Jessica is a fully licensed Marriage and Family therapist in the state of North Carolina, and she continues to learn and study new research to hone her therapeutic skills and ensure that she is providing effective, cutting-edge psychotherapy services for all of her clients.

John Ludgate, PhD

…is a licensed psychologist, who has worked as a psychotherapist for almost 30 years. He specializes in treating mood, anxiety, and psychosexual disorders. He trained at the Center for Cognitive Therapy under Dr. Aaron Beck, the founder of Cognitive Therapy, obtaining a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Cognitive Therapy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986. He subsequently became Assistant Director of Training at Dr. Beck’s Center. In the early 1990’s Dr. Ludgate was a Research Clinical Psychologist at the University of Oxford in England and served as cognitive therapist in several outcome studies of panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia and hypochondriasis.

In 1988 he published the book Relapse Prevention in Emotional Disorders, and was co-editor with Beck and others of Inpatient Cognitive Therapy published by Guilford in 1990. He has written numerous journal articles and book chapters in the field of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety and Depression. He has presented many seminars and workshops on cognitive behavioral approaches, both nationally and internationally. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and is licensed in North Carolina.

Karlene Marino, Administrative Assistant

Karlene is new to Asheville and has really enjoyed experiencing the four seasons as opposed to the hot Florida weather year-round.  Her and her husband love visiting the Biltmore, as well as all the beautiful waterfalls and scenery here in North Carolina. She loves most outdoor activities, as well as cooking and baking.

Karlene works out of our East Asheville office and can schedule for any location. She can be reached at 828-350-1177 or kmarino@behaviortherapist.com.

Katherine Palmgren, PMHNP-BC

Note: Katherine will begin seeing clients January 2022

Katherine Palmgren is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) who treats individuals throughout the lifespan. She is a full-time member of the Charlotte office offering telepsychiatry.

Katherine is a North Carolina native who recently returned to the Carolinas from Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Bluefield College in Bluefield, Virginia. After several years of experience as a psychiatric-mental health registered nurse, she went on to receive her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of South Carolina at Columbia in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program.

Katherine’s plan is to deliver individualized care that is caring, collaborative, and evidenced-based to improve individuals mental health and quality of life.  Her lifelong passion is to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the community through advocacy and education. Her treatment approaches include medication management, psychoeducation, and brief supportive psychotherapy.

Katherine is married and lives with her husband and chocolate Labrador. She enjoys reading, baking, and pottery.

Kelley Joyner, Operations Manager

Kelley joined us in 2018 and currently works remotely from her home town of Seattle, WA. She handles marketing efforts, internal employee affairs such as on boarding, payroll and insurance, and also makes sure our offices are running at their best capacities day-to-day to provide the best form of care to our clients. In her spare time she enjoys her dogs, cats, and spending time with her fiancé planning their wedding!

If you need to contact Kelley for any reason, please email kjoyner@behaviortherapist.com

Lynette Davis, LCMHC

My name is Lynette and I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC. I have ten years’ experience in mental health counseling, trauma therapy, group and family therapy and parenting issues. I specialize in empowering individuals that may be struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and past and present trauma/abuse.

My main therapy approach is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which primarily uses strategies and coping skills rather than talk therapy as the predominant intervention. Secondary to CBT, I use Positive Psychology, and Psychodynamic therapy both of which use talk therapy, but there again, are mainly made up of learning and applying strategies and coping skills. In my experience, a great deal of healing and change come from awareness of how your thoughts, feelings, behavior, and actions influence each other, along with developing patterns that cause distress. To help change unhelpful perspectives and mindsets, I use research based interventions including writing, brief exposure to fears, mindfulness, and guided meditation to facilitate healing. I include spirituality and solution focused therapy, along with other treatment vehicles and have seen good progress with many clients. I use interventions based on the Client’s personality and needs.

I am humbled that Clients want my help, and I offer empathy, a nonjudgmental presence, and compassion to assist Clients to gain awareness reaching their full potential. I call myself “your cheerleader” offering a strong therapeutic relationship to promote your healing and change. Please know that I schedule my clients initially so you will not see many openings on my calendar but be assured, there are openings.

SPECIALTIES

• Stress, Anxiety
• Family conflicts
• Trauma and abuse
• Grief
• Self esteem

Also experienced in:
Relationship issues , Sleeping disorders , Parenting issues , Anger management , Career difficulties , Bipolar disorder , Depression , Coping with Transition , Abandonment , Adoption and Foster Care, Aging and Geriatric Issues , Attachment Issues , Blended Family Issues , Body Image , Cancer , Caregiver Issues and Stress , Chronic Pain Illness and Disability , Co-morbidity , Codependency , Commitment Issues , Communication Problems , Control Issues , Dissociation , Divorce and Separation , Domestic Violence , Family of Origin Issues , Family Problems , Fatherhood Issues , Fertility Issues , First Responder Issues , Forgiveness , Guilt and Shame , Impulsivity , Isolation/Loneliness , , Life Purpose, Men’s Issues , Midlife Crisis , Military and Veterans Issues , Money and Financial Issues , Mood Disorders , Narcissism with loved ones , Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD , Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks , Personality Disorders , Phobias , Postpartum Depression , Posttraumatic Stress , Pregnancy and Childbirth , Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) , Self-Harm , Self-Love , Social Anxiety and Phobia , Somatization , Trichotillomania , Visually Impaired , Women’s Issues , and Workplace Issues.

Clinical approaches:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Trauma-Focused Therapy

Makenzie Wilbourn, LCMHC, CSI, LCAS

Makenzie (she/her) received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling after a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from East Carolina University. She has been working in the addiction and mental health counseling field since May 2019, and is fully licensed as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), and a Clinical Supervisor Intern (CSI). Although her primary area of expertise is working with individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders, she has a special interest in helping individuals work through mood disorders, anxiety disorders, behavioral addictions, self-esteem issues, codependency, and trauma-related disorders.

Makenzie enjoys working from a holistic model, integrating the mind-body connection while working towards a rich and meaningful life. As a therapist, she views her role as supportive and collaborative. She hopes to join alongside individuals to navigate life’s obstacles, meet their own unique needs, and build a life worth living. Her clinical approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Client-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Grief Counseling, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

In her free time, Makenzie enjoys spending time with her husband and their cat, Izzy, exploring in nature, reading, and cooking healthy meals.

Mara Leary, Administrative Assistant

Matthew Brown, LCMHC

Matthew is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC). Prior to receiving his graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling Matthew worked as an outdoor experiential educator at a boarding school and several camps/ropes courses. Since graduating and obtaining licensure he worked in Kentucky as a therapist in a variety of settings over the past decade including inpatient psychiatric hospitals, university counseling centers, and in his own private practice. Matthew moved to NC with his family in 2022 and is excited to join the CBT Counseling team.

Matthew uses a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities to help clients seek both healing and growth including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and existential and mindfulness based approaches. He notes that “as a rule I don’t want to try and fit a client or their concerns into one prescriptive template, I want to meet each individual where they are, help them assess there needs and then take the approach that is going to help them meet their own specific goals.” Reflecting on the therapeutic process Matthew notes “As a fellow human and LCMHC my mission is to create safe places in the wildernesses of our lives to explore new relationships with ourselves and others and imagine new possibilities for the future.”

Matthew is passionate about working with clients from all walks of life and is particularly skilled at addressing depression, anxiety, trauma related disorders, spiritual crisis, and difficult life transitions. When not working with clients he is usually playing with his three young children, reading a good book or adventuring in the outdoors with his wife or friends.

Matthew is based in the Fletcher, NC office. Please call to schedule an appointment.

Melissa Barnes, Office Manager

Melissa is a North Carolina native and warmly opens the lines of communication with clients. With over 20 years in both public and private sectors, Melissa has experience in team building, professional development, and customer service. Melissa attended Liberty University and is listed on the President’s list at Durham Technical Community College, where she continues to work towards her educational goals in Health Information Technology and Executive Business Administration. When Melissa is not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Michelle Stephan, LCMHCA

Michelle is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA). She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu, and her Master’s of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Prior to receiving her degree, she served as an interning counselor at Fort Hood, Tx providing clinical mental health services to soldiers and their families.

Michelle has experience working with adults and adolescents struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, attachment, grief, eating disorders, psychosis, and personality disorders. She uses an integrative evidence-based practice, which includes Cognitive Behavioral as well as Acceptance and Commitment approaches.

Michelle works out of the West Asheville office, please call 828-232-8934 to schedule.

Monica Grambusch, LCMHC, LCAS

Monica Grambusch received her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling in 2013 after a Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Troy University.  She is fully licensed as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS).

Monica focuses is on depression, anxiety, self-image, substance abuse issues in all ranges of recovery, PTSD, and with military families.  She has extensive experience dealing with military families, deployments, and dynamics with military related issues, including working with the VA and Veterans Court.

She works dynamically with her clients, assessing for what their needs are with regards to treatment modality.  Her primary focus is typically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) but she also utilizes; Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, and Mindfulness techniques.  Monica’s main focus is to provide a team based environment, working together on the client goals and providing a supportive environment to reach those goals.

Monica works with individuals 12 years old and up, couples and families.  Her primary location is the Fayetteville center on Meed Court.  Please call (828) 350-1177 to schedule an appointment.

Executive Director

R. Trent Codd, III, Ed.S.

…is the president and founder of the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Center of WNC, P.A.

He specializes in evidence-based practice and has extensive training and experience with several empirically-supported therapies including Beckian Cognitive Therapy, and Clinical Behavior Analytic approaches such as Goldiamond’s Constructional/Non-linear Functional Analytic Approach, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) and Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT).

He treats a broad range of clinical concerns, but has particular interest and specialization in the treatment of disorders of over-control (e.g., chronic depression, Misophonia, etc.) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and OC-Spectrum Disorders including Tourette’s Syndrome, Trichotillomania (Hair-pulling disorder) and Excoriation Disorder (chronic skin picking). He works with children, adolescents and adults.

He completed his M.A. and Ed.S. degrees in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Florida and an internship at UF’s Shands hospital inpatient psychiatric unit. He also completed a Certificate of Graduate Study in Alcohol and Drug Studies at USC’s School of Public Health and graduate training in Applied Behavior Analysis through the University of North Texas. He trained at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research and is a graduate of the International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation’s and the National Tourette Syndrome Association’s Tourette Syndrome Behavior Therapy Training Institutes (BTTIs).

Trent is a Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and maintains professional membership in the Association for Behavior Analysis International, the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.

He is the author of Teaching and Supervising Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

and Practice-Based Research: A Guide for Clinicians

He is not accepting patients at this time.

Download R. Trent Codd, III Curriculum Vitae here

Rachel Henderson, LCMHC

Rachel Henderson is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, who graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1995 and has over 25 years of experience working in a wide variety of treatment settings, which includes inpatient, residential, outpatient community mental health, and private practice. Rachel has worked with individuals with a wide range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and trauma. Her therapeutic approach includes CBT, DBT, ACT, and Trauma-Informed Care, with some experience in TF-CBT.

Rachel specializes in working with older adolescents and adults and really enjoys helping her clients identify and achieve their goals, as well as recognize their full potential and life’s purpose.

Rachel is taking new clients at the West Asheville location, please call 828-232-8934 to schedule!

Samantha Edwards, MS/EdS, LCMHC, Regional Clinical Director, WNC

Sam obtained her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Communication Studies from UNC Chapel Hill in 2011 and her Masters of Science and Education Specialist in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Couples and Family Counseling from UNC Greensboro in 2013.  She has worked with children, adolescents, adults and senior adults in a variety of settings, including office and school-based outpatient clinics, a primary care pediatric office, community and home settings, and inpatient adult and senior psychiatric units.  She has a special interest in working with children, adolescents and their families.

Sam has a strong interest in treating trauma and developing resiliency, and in family systems work.  Sam uses Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) informed treatment.   She is certified on North Carolina’s roster of TF-CBT practitioners, and has training in Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) and play therapy.   She has experience working with individuals living with mood disorders, personality disorders, dual diagnoses (substance use, concurrent developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, as well as concurrent physical health conditions).  She also has experience with behavioral treatments for those with an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Oppositional Defiant Disorder diagnosis (ODD).  She also has experience supporting individuals who identify/are exploring LGBTQI+ identities, and works to practice cultural humility.

In her free time, Sam enjoys cooking, reading, jogging and hiking.

Sam practices our of our Waynesville location as well as telehealth, if you’d like to schedule with her, please call 828-232-8934.

Scott Hubener, MA, LCMHC

Scott completed his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lenoir-Rhyne University. Prior to receiving his degree, Scott worked with clients in a variety of settings including residential, day programs, and community based settings. Scott is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate and National Certified Counselor.

Scott utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Prolonged Exposure (PE). Scott also uses other evidenced-based interventions including Motivational Interviewing (MI) and mindfulness-based practices. Scott is a registered yoga instructor, RYT 200. He is passionate about working with clients struggling with trauma related disorders, depression, anxiety and life transitions.

Scott is based in the West Asheville office. Please call 828-232-8934 to schedule an appointment.

Tynnatta Pettit, LCSWA, LMSW, LCAS-A

Tynnatta, pronounced Ty-net-a, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at age 17. After her military service she received a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Winthrop University. She is a Clinical Social Worker Associate licensed in North Carolina and a Licensed Master Social Worker in South Carolina.

Tynnatta has worked in outpatient mental health and inpatient Addiction treatment facilities. Tynnatta also has years of experience providing individual support and group facilitation in a jail setting.

Tynnatta strives to empower clients 16 years and older utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy and a solution focused approach among other evidence-based therapy. Tynnatta has experience working with a variety of life issues including substance use, anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, self-esteem, life transitions and many others. She also enjoys helping clients when requested, incorporate their faith or spiritual beliefs in therapy.

Tynnatta is seeing clients our of our Pineville location, please call 828-350-1177 to schedule!