Caitlin Helton, LMFT

"We don’t have to do all of it alone. We were never meant to.” - Brené Brown.

Caitlin gained great knowledge from her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Mercer University School of Medicine. Her systems approach helps her understand people don’t exist inside a vacuum. We all take on many roles in our daily lives such as mother, father, sister, brother, friend, spouse, etc. Working with individuals, couples and families, Caitlin has guided her clients through transitional difficulties such as grief and loss, divorce, illness, and symptoms related to trauma.

Caitlin believes that connections are important to us all but sometimes can be strained, damaged, or lost. Whether it is pain, shame, loss, or disconnection, we all go through moments where it can seem unbearable to continue the journey. Caitlin knows how hard it can be at times to get started but can walk with you through this healing process so you don’t have to stay stuck.

Caitlin believes everyone has the power within themselves to create change. She will help you stay focused on your goals, so you can find the healthiest ways to restore your hope and improve your quality of life.

Cathy Cannon, LPC/MHSP

Cathlyn C. Cannon has dedicated her life to helping people improve their quality of life and find hope in life’s challenges. Cathy takes her commitment as a therapist seriously, encouraging each person to work out the solutions that best fit the individual’s lifestyle. She works within a cognitive-behavioral framework to improve clients’ coping strategies and reduce or eliminate negative thoughts and habits. She is considered a generalist, having worked with clients with adjustment of life issues, depression, anxiety, traumatic stress disorders, relationship issues, as well as parenting and family issues. She works with a wide range of age groups, including children through seniors. For Cathy, no issue is too small, or too overwhelming to deal with.

Cathy has a unique sense of humor and a realistic perspective that focuses on helping her clients with relieving their stress and improving each client’s well-being. She approaches people with a non-judgmental, inclusive attitude, taking into consideration each client’s culture and personal background.

Cathy obtained her Master of Arts degree in Human Developmental Counseling in 1981, at the University of Illinois-Springfield, with an emphasis in Clinical Psychology. She has been a Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider in Tennessee since 1989. Cathy has worked as a therapist in a wide variety of mental health settings, both inpatient and outpatient, as well as extensive work as a forensic expert in child custody and divorce cases. She has been an adjunct professor at East Tennessee State University, teaching a variety of psychology and counseling courses. She has made numerous public presentations and seminars on mental health topics over the years to peers and the public sector.

Cathy grew up in a small town in Appalachia, moved to a large city in the Midwest, and returned to the Tri Cities area in 1988. In her spare time, she enjoys painting multimedia artwork. She has volunteered in local and national disaster response efforts with the American Red Cross. She worked with training therapy dogs for several years, and is a firm believer in the positive impact of a loving pet.

Cathy’s basic philosophy is, “Your Life is Your Creation.” Her hope for you is, “To help you improve your life daily, maintaining a healthier lifestyle from this day forward.”

Jessica Gregory, LPC/MHSP

Jessica believes in the philosophy that every person has the ability to positively change their lives through their own untapped potential. She utilizes several techniques and skills to help her clients discover their own strengths and use them to achieve their goals. Jessica’s passions include helping her clients set and accomplish their goals during therapy, by meeting her clients where they are. Jessica earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Sociology at Emory and Henry College. She continued her education at Radford University where she earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Development. Jessica is most experienced with Behavioral Disorders, Mood Disorders, Trauma Work, and Substance Use Disorders. Jessica offers a wide range of approaches to counseling which include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and if desired, Spiritual Counseling. Jessica provides a welcoming environment for everyone she works with, so in their time of need, they can feel safe and comfortable. This environment facilitates the ability for her client’s to start or continue their journey down their path towards healing. During her time as a therapist, Jessica has worked in a variety of environments, including inpatient, outpatient, and in-home settings. This experience has enabled her to develop her clinical skills with clients of differing ages and backgrounds. Jessica has a particular affinity for women who have a history of trauma, as well as all individuals who have experienced substance abuse issues in their lifetime. Jessica is ready to assist you with your recovery, help you stay focused on your goals, enable you to identify your strengths, and walk with you down the path towards healing.

“Scars remind us where we've been. They don’t have to dictate where we’re going.”
- David Rossi

Patricia E. Starbird-Fanning, MS, LPC/MHSP

Trish has a passion for helping adults and couples find a better way to live and relate to one another. She enjoys working with depression and anxiety that hasn’t responded well to medication, as she believes that often the negative messages we have about ourselves hinder that healing; messages such as “I’m not good enough,” “I’m a disappointment”, “I’m powerless”, and “It was my fault - I should have done something". As a EMDRIA-certified therapist, Patricia has specialized certification from the Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing International Association which allows her to proactively assist her clients in resolving problems at their root, resulting in lasting change. EMDR neutralizes the debilitating effects on self-esteem and empowerment. EMDR treatment is one of the most effective methods to address abuse and trauma as well. She has utilized this therapy to address veterans with combat trauma, adults abused while growing up or those who have been in abusive relationships.

Patricia has a compassionate, non-judgmental approach which provides a safe atmosphere for her clients to explore their thoughts and feelings in order to better understand themselves. She takes the time to listen to your concerns and which goals you would like to achieve and then engages in a problem solving method to find the best solution for each client.

Patricia is licensed in the state of Tennessee as a professional counselor and has worked with clients for over 20 years in a variety of settings. Patricia works with clients who are experiencing depression, anxiety, panic, abuse, and trauma. She has extensive experience working in the domains of marriage and family counseling, stress management, grief and loss challenges, life transitions, spiritual concerns, and substance abuse and/or dependence. She received her master's degree from the University of North Carolina, one of the top ten counseling programs in the country.

Amanda K. Chapman, MEd, LPC/MHSP

For over 20 years, Amanda Chapman has dedicated her life to helping families, couples, adults and children alike find hope and healing in the darkest of places. She has worked in several different environments over the course of her career, including inpatient and outpatient mental health centers, and assisted those in crisis and with in-home needs.

Amanda has vast experience counseling men and women who are struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, family and parenting stress, couples' issues, "life" adjustments and problems of all types. She has a special affinity for helping women successfully cope with issues such as self-esteem, infertility, assertiveness, codependency and relationship stress, and has facilitated several empowerment groups for women. Amanda has also received specialized training from the Employee Assistance Professionals Association and has achieved the classification of  Employee Assistance Specialist-Clinical.  Her certification allows her to provide services to employee assistance organizations, employees and family members. Additionally, she is a HearthMath Certified Practitioner and provides Heart Rate Variability (HRV) biofeedback for a variety of disorders and performance enhancement.

Her philosophy of treatment is grounded in the belief that everyone at some point in his or her life will suffer what may feel like overwhelming emotional sadness, pain and loneliness; however, those feelings do not mean that he or she is alone. Amanda truly wishes to provide a safe place for helping one make sense of their thoughts and feelings, and to rediscover peace from within. Her style of counseling consists of a multifaceted approach utilizing thoughts to help identify stories and core beliefs in order to construct new ones, acknowledging unresolved feelings to leave the past behind and embrace the future, and encouraging action to change unhealthy patterns with others. Amanda's style is empathic, relaxed and judgment-free.

As a graduate of East Tennessee State University, Amanda is a licensed professional counselor, with a designation as a mental health service provider in the state of Tennessee. She has a master of education in counseling, with a specialty in marriage and family issues. She is an active member of the American Counseling Association and was an award recipient of the American Association of Presidents.

Sydney R. Peltier, MS, LPC/MHSP

Sydney Peltier is a licensed professional counselor who has spent her career passionately serving the mental health needs of her community through counseling, training and teaching, and advocating for quality care. With a variety of skills and expertise Sydney enjoys working with individuals, couples, and families to feel better, experience more joy in life, and have meaningful relationships that work. She believes wholeheartedly that health and healing are possible, especially when people recognize their own value, purpose, and strengths in partnership with professional and experienced clinical care.

Sydney is a Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor (RPT-S) with the Association for Play Therapy and has extensive training and experience working with children, families, and the agencies that serve them so they can properly attach, play, grow, and feel and be safe in their world. Sydney greatly enjoys working with adults as well. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which can be used to address a myriad of issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression and self-esteem. Sydney works with men and women to address different stage of life issues and to improve overall functioning and well-being with regard to mental, physical, and spiritual health. In addition, she works with individuals and couples to address premarital needs, communication problems, and sexuality in general and in specific relationships.

Sydney is a graduate of Appalachian State University, earned her master’s degree with honors in counselor education from Radford University, has a post-graduate certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Longwood University, and has completed specialized training at The Colorado School for Family Therapy. She is also an adjunct faculty member at King University and provides training and consultation opportunities to different agencies and programs in the region based on community needs.

It is Sydney’s goal for clients to feel comfortable, open, and at ease while working with her. Her style is thoughtful, personalized, relaxed, empowering, and fun. She looks forward to working with you and your family!

K. Neal Hughes, MDiv, MA, LSPE

Mr. Neal Hughes has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1989, when he graduated with a master's degree in clinical psychology from East Tennessee State University. Prior to this he acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Asbury College (now Asbury University) and a M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary with a specialized curriculum in historical theology. He is a student of world religions and philosophy, and has an appreciation for different belief systems — including the secular. All are welcome to explore from their personal framework

His personal study and continuing education help him keep up-to-date on the latest research in the growing fields of mindfulness-based interventions and positive psychology. He has acquired continuing education from Harvard Medical School and the Mind and Life Institute, as well as regional presentations by leading figures in the field of psychiatry and psychology.

In addition, he has presented on mental health related topics himself, including the integration of psychological and neurological functions in this region as well as in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Seattle. The use of mindfulness-based interventions and the technical eclecticism of positive psychology building on the foundation of neuroscience, enable him to meet the needs of a wide variety of clients.

Those suffering with depression, anxiety, excessive worry, grief, emotional instability both chronic and acute, sexual and sexual orientation issues, those with chronic medical illnesses, as well as issues related to interpersonal conflicts and communication may all benefit.

These intervention strategies find many correlations with religious or spiritual perspectives and may easily be utilized to strengthen a person's spiritual life but no religious perspective is needed for counseling in this framework to be effective. Neurological principles are effective in any case and are most easily integrated into existing patterns and habits of belief. Feel free to come and explore how to make your life more satisfying and rich.