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.
CINDY DAVIS-WEST, LCMHC,
Cindy is licensed by the state of North Carolina as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Clinician with 34+ years of experience. Cindy’s clinical work consists of working with adults through personal, career, relationship, and parenting struggles. She has experience working with children and families, addressing family dynamics, areas of concern, and helping them navigate towards healthier patterns of communication, interaction, and overall healthier family systems. She also has experience working with couples addressing marital issues, teaching effective communication, coping skills, and helping them work towards their goal. Cindy primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) within sessions while also utilizing Humanistic Therapy, Mindfulness-based therapy, trauma-based therapy, and Interpersonal therapy as appropriate. Cindy has provided group therapy on varying topics. She also provides Leadership training, team building training, trauma training, and wellness training, among other topics. In addition to therapy work, Cindy is an accomplished leader in both nonprofit and for-profit agencies and corporations. Her background includes organizational leadership, quality assurance, operational assessment and planning, program development, project management, and employee training.
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 master’s 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 those from diverse 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.
Debbie Fain, LCMHC
Debbie Fain is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina. She holds an M.Ed. in counseling from Augusta University, has completed a two-year program in Dream Leader Training at the Haden Institute, and has an Education for Ministry certificate from the School of Theology at The University of the South.
As a therapist, Debbie integrates two theories of approaches, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and a holistic Jungian-oriented approach. CBT is a goal-oriented treatment that focuses on a practical means of solving life’s challenges. Debbie sometimes combines Jungian techniques to help patients navigate through their individuation processes. Faith-based counseling is available upon request.
Debbie has experience in the following: ADHD, Alcohol/Substance use issues, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, grief, later life and midlife transitions, trauma, and women’s issues.
In her spare time, Debbie enjoys traveling with her husband, hiking, reading, music, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.
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.