About Us

Bring the Real Story. We’ll bring the Skill, Experience and Compassion

This isn't a practice of beginners. Our clinicians bring decades of real-world experience across mental health, trauma, addiction, family systems, military service, and more — because the work we do demands depth, not just credentials.

Led by Sara Whitley, LCSW — a Gottman Trained Couples Counselor with over 25 years in the field — our team combines deep clinical expertise with genuine warmth. We specialize in anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, and relationship challenges using evidence-based approaches that actually move the needle.

  • Experienced, licensed clinicians

  • In-person & virtual

  • Some Evening & Weekend hours available

  • Insurance accepted

Sara was born with a heart for service and has followed her passion from coast to coast — from the Midwest to San Diego and ultimately to the beauty of western North Carolina over 15 years ago. Her career spans work with adolescents, teens, adults, couples, and seniors. She specializes in trauma, integrative health, anxiety, and depression using CBT, DBT, Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gottman Couples Work, and mental health nutrition strategies.

  • ANXIETY/ DEPRESSION

  • DEPRESSION

  • TRAUMA

Our Team….We’re Growing!

Sara Whitley

Founder, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Entrepreneur

  • ADHD

  • COUPLES/ RELATIONSHIPS

Cindy brings 34+ years of clinical experience working with adults through personal, career, relationship, and parenting struggles. She primarily uses CBT alongside humanistic, mindfulness-based, trauma-based, and interpersonal therapy. Beyond the therapy room, Cindy is an accomplished leader in organizational development, quality assurance, and employee training.

Cindy Davis-West

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

  • TRAUMA

  • ANXIETY

  • LEADERSHIP

  • RELATIONSHIPS

  • PARENTING

  • PERSONAL STRATEGIES

Devan Elingburg

Devan is our homegrown mountain man — soft-spoken, easy-going, and incredibly easy to connect with. He works with adolescents, adults, and couples, tailoring CBT and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to each client’s needs. He prides himself on serving others with dignity and respect.

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

  • ADHD

  • EATING DISORDERS

  • NEURODIVERGENT SERVICES

  • PTSD

  • SUBSTANCE USE

Joseph has worked in the counseling field since 1988, earning his Master’s from the University of Georgia. His career spans mental health, addiction treatment, school settings, and 12 years serving children and adolescents with the US Military in Germany, Japan, and the US. He offers play therapy, art therapy, family systems, person-centered, somatic-based, and mindfulness approaches — incorporating yogic and martial arts-based breath work. Clients describe him as compassionate and down-to-earth

Joseph Howard

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Debbie holds a Master’s in Counseling from Augusta University and advanced training in dream work through the Haden Institute. She blends CBT with a holistic, Jungian-oriented approach to help clients solve practical challenges while exploring deeper patterns of growth. Faith-based counseling is available upon request.

  • PLAY THERAPY

  • ART THERAPY

  • MINDFULNESS

  • FAMILY SYSTEMS

  • ANXIETY

Debra Fain

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

  • TRAUMA

  • ANXIETY

  • DEPRESSION

  • DEPRESSION

  • LIFE CHANGES

  • WOMENS ISSUES

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Geoffrey completed his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Maryland in 2018. He currently works with individuals and couples using a trauma-informed, relational approach. Certified in DBT with training in Gestalt and Emotion Focused Therapy, he often uses “parts work” with clients. He is a firm believer in the power of compassion and radical acceptance.

Geoffrey Graham

  • ANXIETY

  • BIPOLAR

  • INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Cara Nelsen

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

  • ADDICTION

  • ANXIETY

Cara graduated from Fordham University in New York with a Master’s in Social Work. She works with adults and couples facing depression, anxiety, addiction, and other challenges using CBT, Solu tion Focused Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. She’s exceptionally skilled at identifying ingrained thought patterns that cause distress in daily life. As one client put it: “Finally a counselor that gets me!”

  • VIRTUAL

  • GRIEF/ LOSS

  • MEDICAL TRAUMA

  • ADHD

  • TRAUMA

Chris has been a licensed counselor for 30 years since earning his Master’s from Northern Illinois University in 1994. He believes in your ability to change — and that change can happen relatively quickly. He takes a strength-based approach, building strong therapeutic relationships as the catalyst for achieving your goals. Chris offers evening hours.

Christopher Parker

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

  • COUPLES

  • DEPRESSION

  • ADHD

  • CORE GOALS & VALUES WORK

Justina is a compassion-based therapist with over 20 years of experience. She graduated summa cum laude from Western Carolina University and specializes in trauma treatment using EMDR, supporting clients through pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenting, and couples counseling — including for partners in non-traditional relationships. She also helps clients build self-esteem, improve communication, practice mindfulness, and navigate grief.

  • EMDR

  • TRAUMA

  • COUPLES

Justina Prenatt

  • POSTPARTUM

  • MINDFULNESS

  • WOMEN’S ISSUES

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Lea brings 25 years of experience helping children, adolescents, and teens navigate the unique challenges of growing up. She takes a collaborative, client-centered approach using CBT and mindfulness-based techniques. She specializes helping young people build healthier relationships and develop effective coping strategies in a safe, supportive space.

Lea Putnam

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

  • TEEN

  • YOUNG ADULT

  • ADHD

  • LIFE CHANGES

  • ANXIETY

  • FAMILY

Join the Team

Now Hiring! Looking for bright, creative licensed clinicians

Call Us to Find Out More