MEET THE TEAM

SARA WHITLEY, LCSW

Meet Sara, the owner and office administrator and, potentially, your clinician! She was born with a heart for service and has followed her passion from coast to coast. Hailing from the Midwest, her journey took her to sunny San Diego then landing in the charm and beauty of western North Carolina! That was almost 15 years ago and today she continues to relentlessly work towards individual and community wellbeing.  

Sara’s career has granted her experience working with adolescents and teens, adults, couples, and 65+ individuals. Her training has been primarily focused on trauma, integrative health strategies, treating anxiety, and depression with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Mental Health and Nutrition strategies. 

Devan Elingburg, LCMHCA

Introducing Devan! He's not only our own homegrown mountain man but he is also soft spoken, super easy-going, and so easy to connect with and trust. From depression and anxiety to eating disorders, he's been there helping people navigate their challenges in various capacity throughout his career. He tailors a mixture of techniques to meet each client’s individual needs, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, He prides himself on serving others with dignity and respect.

He has worked with a wide variety of clients, from adolescents to adults and couples. His professional experience includes treating Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, Eating Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and personality disorders.

Geoff Graham, LCSW

Geoffrey completed his masters in social work from the University of Maryland in 2018. He initially focused on work in residential recovery, specializing in adults with depression/anxiety, bipolar disorder, and substance addictions. He currently works with individuals and couples, generally using a trauma-informed and highly relational approach to facilitate healing, integration, and empowerment.

He is certified in DBT and has training in Gestalt and Emotion Focused Therapy, often utilizing "parts work" with his clients.

He has worked with individuals from across the economic spectrum, as well as with individuals from different cultural backgrounds, including an internship in India. He has facilitated gender workshops/groups for male identifying individuals looking to enrich their lives. He is a firm believer in the power of compassion and radical acceptance.

Cara Nelsen, LCSW

Offering Virtual Appointments Only

Hello Cara! She graduated from Fordham University, Graduate School of Social Service, NY with a Masters of Arts Degree in Social Work.  She works with adults and couples who are facing challenges with depression, anxiety, addiction, among other challenges. She models and teaches evidence-informed approaches to help the client reach their identified goals. Techniques used in session combine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy. Cara is exceptionally phenomenal at identifying experiences that have developed into ingrained thought patterns, resulting in constant distress in interpersonal interactions and activities of daily life. “Finally a counselor that ‘gets me’!” -MB

Personal interests are, at times, incorporated into sessions are creativity, her love of language and reading, and the natural world. She believes that when a change is made within ourselves, change begins to happen within our system.  

Chris Parker, LCMHC

Offering Evening Hours

Say Hi to Chris. He graduated with his master’s degree in 1994 from Northern Illinois University and has been a licensed counselor for 30 years. He recently moved to the mountains of Western North Carolina with his wife and their dog, Wrigley.

He has spent his career helping people meet life’s challenges by providing skills, support, and hope to them. He believes in your ability to change. He believes change happens relatively quickly. He believes in building strong relationships with his clients from a strength-based perspective. He also believes the relationship is the catalyst to achieving goals. Through the relationship you develop with Chris, He will help you make the changes you desire in your life.

Ryan Zelov, LCSW

Say hello to Ryan. He enjoys working with people that have come to the place where they recognize a shift is needed. Whatever your experience is that has brought you to that place, Ryan welcomes you and would like to help you get more out of life.

Ryan’s approach to counseling uses experiential and hands on interventions alongside evidenced based talk therapies. He works to help others build awareness and improve their ability to manage their emotional and mental health.

Ryan graduated from The University of New Hampshire and receiving a master’s degrees in Social Work and Outdoor Education through the dual degree Adventure Therapy Program. Ryan, his wife, their three children and Maple, a rescue cat relocated to western North Carolina in 2016 and only wish they had arrived here sooner. He enjoys working with my hands, adventuring with his family, and finding ways to go mountain biking more.