Meet our Providers

Aleesha Hughes, LCMHC, LCAS-A

Philosophy of Care

Aleesha Hughes is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist-Associate in the state of North Carolina who has 2.5 years of experience partnering with young, middle, and older-aged adults, refugee families with chronic medical conditions seeking help and recovery with addiction, mood, crisis intervention/stabilization, detoxification, dual diagnosis, adjustment/trauma-stress related disorders, life transitions, and interpersonal conflict issues. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Addictions from North Carolina Central University.

Aleesha utilizes solution-focused, cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, reality-focused approaches to therapy always maintaining the creativity, cultural flexibility/ open-mindedness and awareness necessary to best meet the presenting concerns of every unique individual and couple.

Aleesha commits to establishing a warm and caring relationship with you in order to assist in building on your strengths and better collaborate with you towards meeting your goals and living the meaningful life you value and desire.

Education

North Carolina Central University
Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Specialties

• Substance Use/Abuse Addiction
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Medication-Assisted Treatment Counseling
• Crisis Intervention/Stabilization
• Detoxification
• Dual-Diagnosis
• Person-Centered
• Motivational Interviewing
• CBT
• Solution-Focused
• Bipolar Disorder 
• Immigration/Refugee Advocacy & Support
• Life Transitions

Amy Locklear, PMHNP-BC

Philosophy of Care

Amy is a native and resident of North Carolina. She is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and is board certified by the American Nursing Credentialing Center and is currently licensed to practice in the state of North Carolina and Virginia. In 2019, she received her postgraduate nursing degree in Psychiatric Mental Health from Maryville University. She is qualified to provide psychiatric and mental health services across the entire lifespan. 

Amy’s interest is in evaluation and management of psychiatric and mental health problems which in include both evidence-based practice psychopharmacotherapy and psychotherapy services. Therapy services include but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Supportive Therapy (ST).

Education

Maryville University
Psychiatric Mental Health

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood disorders
• Stress management
• PTSD
• Grief/loss

Ang’elita Dawkins, LCMHC, LCAS

Philosophy of Care

No one is exempt form experiencing the various challenges of life. While we cannot always control the things that happen, we can be empowered in how we navigate life’s challenges. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in the state of North Carolina, my goal is to walk with you through the challenges you are experiencing and aid in “re-writing the script” to support changes in thinking, responses to emotions, and overall behaviors. My goal is to serve as an agent of change to support you in making the changes that you most desire to experience in your life.

I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and my Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. I am currently completing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision from Capella University. I tailor individual, couples, and family therapy utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and a person-centered approach to therapy when working with individuals, couples, and families.

I have aided both adults and adolescents in navigating addiction and substance use issues, as well as served adults, children, and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, mood disorders, life stressors and transitions, family and relationship issues, eating disorders, trauma, self-esteem issues, and anger management issues. I also encourage the use of expressive therapy techniques to support the unique challenges my clients are experiencing.

Education

Capella University
Master Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Specialties

• Christian Counseling
• Substance Use/Abuse Addiction
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Dual-Diagnosis
• Trauma
• Identity Crisis
• Bipolar Disorder
• Family Conflict
• Eating Disorders
• Life Stressors
• Self Esteem
• Relationship Issues
• Anger Management
• Person-Centered
• Motivational Interviewing
• CBT
• DBT
• Solution-Focused

Angela Rasheed, PMHNP-BC

Philosophy of Care 

Angela Rasheed is a board-certified psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner with experience providing the highest, quality mental health care to diverse populations. She has experience treating a wide range of conditions including Bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, depression, PTSD, autism, personality disorders, substance use and addiction disorders, and eating disorders. Angela incorporates an evidence-based approach in her practice, with a focus on holistic mental health treatment.  Angela is certified in motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy.  

Education

Gardner-Webb University
Masters of Science in Nursing Education 

Specialties

• Bipolar disorder
• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Depression
• PTSD
• Autism
• Eating disorders
• Substance/Addiction disorders
• Personality disorders

Ariel Harris, LCSW

Philosophy of Care

Ariel Harris is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Raleigh/ Triangle area. She earned her Master’s in Social Work & Bachelors in Mental Health at University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY).

Ariel has experience working in various levels of care including; inpatient, outpatient and residential. She utilizes a relational, collaborative, strengths based and person-centered therapeutic approach with her clients. While, well versed in modalities such as; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Structural Family therapy she individualizes treatment and modalities/ approaches used based on the needs of the client.

Ariel is passionate about working towards building self-confidence, enhancing assertiveness and utilizing the strengths of each individual client to help them attain their goals. Ariel has a direct yet nurturing and supportive therapeutic style with her clients and prides herself on using authenticity and openness to develop strong relationships. Ariel's clients consider her to be kind, nurturing, direct, empathetic and calming. While Ariel’s clinical services are open to everyone, adolescents & young adults tend to gravitate towards her because of her bubbly personality, compassion and use of humor that helps foster an environment for them to thrive.

Education

University at Buffalo
Master’s in Social Work

Specialties

• Family Conflict
• Eating Disorders (HAES approach)
• Life Stressors/ Adjustment Struggles
• Self Esteem
• Depression
• Relationship Issues
• School Issues
• Adoption
• Anxiety
• Self-Harm
• Gender Dysphoria
• Body Dysmorphia

Christopher Betley, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Christopher Betley is a board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with broad experience in caring for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. He completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at UNC-Charlotte and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) at East Carolina University. Chris specializes in psychiatric (mental health) medication management for a wide variety of conditions.

Chris enjoys educating clients about mental health and how treatment can help. He closely partners with his clients to design and implement a personalized treatment plan while helping to boost confidence and resilience along the way. If medication is recommended, he takes time to ensure an understanding of how, why, and where it fits into the plan.

Chris believes a light-hearted, “human” approach with real conversation works best, and he aims to create an experience that doesn’t feel like your average trip to the doctor or NP. He looks forward to meeting you and helping to live the life you desire and deserve.

Education

East Carolina University
Master of Science in Nursing

Specialties

• Medication Management

Courtney Houston, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Philosophy of Care

“Mental health problems don’t define who you are.  They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain but, more importantly, You Are Not The Rain.”- Matt Haig

Courtney Houston is a caring, compassionate, and empathetic Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) in the state of North Carolina who has over 9 years of healthcare experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults seeking help with depression, anxiety, self-esteem & shame issues, abuse & neglect, college age & young adult transitions, PTSD, and trauma.  She completed her Registered Nursing degree from Temple College and received her master’s degree as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Walden University as an honors student. She is a member of American Psychiatric Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society.

Courtney’s goal is to use a collaborative treatment approach with her clients by considering the unique needs of each client. She is a strong believer that everything we do makes sense in the context of our experiences and how they have impacted our personal identities and relationships with those around us. She utilizes a combination of medication management and psychotherapy when necessary by implementing cognitive behavioral, mindfulness, motivational, and solution focused therapy techniques.

Her hope is you no longer have to struggle alone, for her to hear your story and help shoulder the pain, making the therapeutic process a sacred place where you can be seen, heard, and validated. If you are a person suffering from depression, anxiety, and/or trauma, ask to speak with Courtney. She wants to see you heal and grow to feel like a whole person who is thriving in life!

Education

Walden University
Master's in Psychiatric Mental Health 

Specialties

• Medication Management
• Depression, Sadness, Grief
• Self-Esteem Issues
• Anxiety, Fears & Worry
• Trauma and PTSD
• Life Transitions
• Sleep Disturbances
• Stress Management
• Frontline/First Responder Worker Related Issues
• LGBTQ+

Ha Nguyen, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Ha Nguyen is a dual-certified family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health in the state of North Carolina. She graduated from the University of Texas at Rio Grande for her psychiatric study. She has worked in a wide variety of settings such as nursing home, rehab, hospitals, and home health, from rural to metropolitan areas. Her specialty focuses on family psychiatry across all ages. 

Prior to earning her PMHNP license, she earned her FNP license from the Univeristy of North Carolina at Charlotte. She recognizes the challenges of lacking adequate mental care and the overwhelming needs for psychiatric providers. She emphasizes patient-center approach and believes in the essence of therapeutic relationships. 

She embraces and celebrates her experiences living in different cultures and being bilingual. She likes to spend time with her family and friends. She enjoys outdoor activities, food, and traveling. 

Education

Univeristy of North Carolina
FNP license

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress management
• Self esteem
• PTSD
• Anger management
• Schizophrenia
• Schizoaffective disorders
• ADHD
• Grief & Loss

Harley Locklear, Resident in Counseling

Philosophy of Care

Harley Locklear is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor - Associate in North Carolina and has had the pleasure of working collaboratively with a variety of clients as they venture on their personal wellness journeys. Throughout his career, he has centered much of his practice around aiding clients with identity development, managing stress/anxiety/depression, life transitions, and goal setting. His strengths center around his competencies in working with multiculturally diverse clients, those identifying as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ especially. Harley is an empathetic clinician who places much emphasis on building a strong therapeutic alliance with his clients.

Harley uses a person-centered approach and really allows for his clients to direct sessions based off their needs. He supplements this with collaborative, strengths-based, cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, and motivational-interviewing approaches. 

If you are ready to begin your journey to increased wellness, Harley is eager to establish a warm and collaborative relationship with you to help guide you in meeting your goals and living the life you have always wanted to.

Education

M.A.Ed. Counseling
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Specialties 

• Anxiety
• Stress Management
• School Issues
• Careers
• LGBTQIA

Hilary Cissokho, LCSW

Philosophy of Care

Hilary Cissokho is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of North Carolina with nine years of experience helping adults, children, and families navigate issues such as depression, life transitions, substance use, family and relational conflict, and trauma. Hilary completed her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy at Appalachian State University and her Master of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

Hilary’s approach to counseling is person centered and emotionally focused and utilizes cognitive behavioral, solution focused, and mindfulness-based techniques to partner with individuals and families in addressing their unique needs. Her approach is flexible and honors the creativity, value, and inherent wisdom within each individual.

Hilary seeks first to listen and connect, to create an authentic, safe space where healing and growth can occur. In this space it becomes possible to highlight and amplify the strengths and insights that exists within you, so that you may work towards creating the life of meaning and joy that you so desire. 

Education

Master of Social Work
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Specialties

• Life transitions
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Stress management
• Relational conflict
• Mindfulness
• Trauma
• Domestic Violence
• Women’s issues

Jennifer Chapman, Supervisee in Social Work

Philosophy of Care

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate in the state of North Carolina. Jennifer obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After spending some time volunteering as a guardian ad litem in Orange County, she went on to obtain her Masters of Social Work from North Carolina Central University. Jennifer has experience working with adults experiencing homelessness, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and grief.  Jennifer also has a variety of experience in trauma informed care and harm reduction. 

Jennifer utilizes a strength based, client centered approach and draws on tools and approaches from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment, mindfulness, and art to facilitate a holistic therapeutic approach to building coping skills. 

Jennifer is eager and excited to work with you and walking with you on your journey. 

Education

Masters of Social Work
North Carolina Central University

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Grief
• Mood Disorders
• Relationship Issues

Johnesha “Maggie” Truesdale, LCSW

Philosophy of Care  

Johnesha Maggie Truesdale is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of North Carolina. She has a significant amount of experience working with children and families to address parenting/co-parenting challenges, child behaviors, and overall relationship and family dynamic concerns. Additionally, she has experience and enjoys working with individuals and couples. 

Maggie utilizes a variety of approaches when working with her clients, to ensure they are person centered. She provides a safe, non-judgmental, therapeutic environment that embodies a unique holistic approach. Some of the treatment practices she regularly uses are cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused, emotion focused, mindfulness, and faith based therapy interventions, to list a few. 

Therapy should be a space where you are welcome to be yourself and discuss your authentic feelings. Maggie believes that the rapport building process is vital to the therapeutic relationship. Maggie is committed to proving a healthy and adventurous journey for you during this process. She believes this is a collaborative process and all you need to prepare for each session, is to, show up as yourself. She invites you to begin on your journey to wellness. 

Education

Masters of Social Work
North Carolina State University

Specialties

• Relationship counseling 
• Martial and pre-martial counseling 
• Relationship concerns (Family, Couples, and friendships) 
• Anxiety (including physical healthy lifestyle’s) 
• Child behavioral concerns 
• Aggression/Anger management  
• Stress management 
• Women & Men issues 
• Parenting concerns (including co-parenting) 

Laurin Oxendine-Myers, LCMHC

Philosophy of Care

Laurin Oxendine-Myers is a Licensed Professional Counselor/ Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the state of North Carolina, who has worked with children, teens and families for over 8 years. She has assisted both individuals and families with issues they face such as depression, substance abuse, family/relationship issues and anxiety.  Her education was obtained from The University of North Carolina at Pembroke with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology followed by a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Webster University.

Laurin specializes in an integrated approach when working with clients in hopes of focusing on each person’s individuality. She promotes a collaborative approach, cognitive behavioral, solution focused and narrative approach; however a blended mix of techniques has found to be successful. 

The most important aspect of the opportunity to work together is establishing a safe space to heal. Together we can fill your personal toolbox to live the successful life you desire. 

Education

Webster University
Master's in Clinical Counseling

Specialties

• Anxiety
• Family Systems
• Transitions
• Depression
• Anger Management
• Relationship Issues
• Substance Abuse Issues
• Women Issues

Olivia Glance, DNP, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care 

Olivia Glance is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner providing psychiatric evaluation and medication management services. Olivia knows that, as Dr. David Satcher said, “There is no health without mental health.” Since mental health is essential to an individual’s overall wellbeing, she believes in a comprehensive approach to care, tailoring it to meet people’s individual needs. Her mission in practice is to provide the best mental healthcare to all of her clients, with the goal of improving their overall quality of life.

A believer in client-centered care, Olivia has worked in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Although she treats clients struggling with a wide array of different psychiatric conditions, she is proudest of her work in eating disorders, having gained extensive experience treating and managing this very complex and often overlooked issue. Her mission is and always has been to provide the most comprehensive, highest quality care that she can to each individual that she encounters in her work, always taking the personal background, values, and beliefs of her patients into consideration when treating them.

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Nursing

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Mood Disorders
• Eating Disorders
• Personality Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Payal Khanna, PMHNP

Philosophy of Care

Payal Khanna is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner in the state of North Carolina, who has experience partnering with adults seeking help with anxiety, depression and mood disorders. She completed her Post Master Certificate in Psychiatry from University of Cincinnati and Family Nurse Practitioner from Middle Tennessee State University. Ms. Khanna provides psychiatric assessment, treatment plan and medication management. She seeks to establish a warm and caring relationship with her patients. Her goals are to assist her patients in building on their assets and help them achieve a positive life they desire.

Education

University of Cincinnati
Middle Tennessee State University

Specialties

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Life Situations
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Mood Disorder
• Panic attacks
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Anger Management

Sherri Osborne, PMHNP-BC, GNP-BC

Philosophy of Care

Sherri Osborne is a certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner as well as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in the State of North Carolina who has 12 years of experience in working with adults seeking help with medication management for mental health conditions.  She completed her Master’s Degree in Nursing from the University of South Alabama along with her post-Master’s certificate.  She also received her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Winston-Salem State University and her Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Guilford Technical Community College.

Sherri utilizes a wholistic approach to mental health conditions. The goal is to ensure that one’s physical health has been ruled out as a contributing factor.  Medication is only a piece of providing care and in combination with counseling can be effective in improving a person’s quality of life. There is never the goal to dumb and numb someone but to have the least amount of medicine needed to help manage symptoms.  

Sherri seeks to establish a relationship with you that is based on warmth, trust, caring, and integrity in order to promote mental wellness and recovery for you which in turn improves your quality of life.  Every day life can be hard and stressful and having someone there to support you in that journey can mean a lot. Goal is for each day to be the best it can be for you and as your life improves so does the lives of those around you.  

Education

University of South Alabama
Master’s Degree in Nursing

Specialties

•  Depression
• Anxiety
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Grief, Loss, and Bereavement
• Substance Use
• Pharmacology/Medication Management
• Sleep disorders
• Stress management
• Geriatric psychiatry
• Military/Veterans Treatment