Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness

Steve received his graduate degree in Social Work from UNC Wilmington—a solution focused, strength-based, clinical program—in 2008. He has been an LCSW/LCAS since 2011 and earned certification as a Clinical Supervisor (CCS) in 2015. He has worked in a variety of social work and clinical settings including drug court, community-based services for mental health, and substance use. He comes to MAHEC from Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune where he served as MH Therapist for about eight years. He worked primarily for Wounded Warrior Battalion East, serving marines with complex medical/mental health challenge. Many marines experienced high levels of trauma and not all trauma was a direct result of combat experience. He was able to work closely with both medical and psychiatric providers during this time. Steve enjoys working with adult populations in high-risk, underserved populations. He is trained in CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Gestalt, and EMDR. He is very interested in building experience with ACT, IFS, and somatic approaches. Enjoyable activities include cycling and photography as his personal approaches to mindfulness and stress relief.

Dr. Buie is program chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. He treats adults with all psychiatric conditions with particular interests in bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. He is trained in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a treatment for severe depression. Dr. Buie attended the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill as an undergraduate on a Morehead Scholarship. He obtained his medical education at the University of the North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at a Columbia University training hospital in New York and a psychiatry residency at Cornell Medical College, also in New York. Dr. Buie is an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the UNC School of Medicine. He is a past president of the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, is president of the North Carolina Psychiatric Foundation, and is a member of the American College of Psychiatrists.

In his free time, Dr. Buie enjoys hiking the beautiful trails of the Blue Ridge mountains, making wine and working in his permaculture garden.

Jarod Coffey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Behavioral Health Provider. Jarod earned his BS in Psychology and Master of Social Work Degrees at the University of Iowa. Just before coming to work at MAHEC, he worked for ten years at Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. Prior to Mission, Jarod worked at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center of Western North Carolina where he developed his skills in CBT interventions. He has worked collaboratively on integrated care initiatives with other professionals in specialty medical departments including internal medicine, oncology, general pediatrics, gastroenterology, neurology, pulmonology, endocrinology, and developmental pediatrics, among others. Over the past few years, in addition to working with patients and their families, Jarod has been the lead trainer in a project that provided behavioral health providers in rural clinics with integration training to promote and offer more of the services remotely that are provided at Mission’s regional developmental pediatrics clinic.

Jarod is an energetic and empathetic therapist who loves to see kids and adults benefit from evidence-based treatment approaches that promote overall success in day-to-day life. He enjoys working with all ages of patients, but has a particular affinity for working with children, adolescents, and their families. Jarod has particular interest in treating people with Tics, anxiety, ADHD, autism, sleep issues, and working with families on effective parenting using Conscious Discipline and other strategies. When he is not at work, Jarod enjoys spending time with his family and riding his mountain bike in the woods.

Jenny is a school-based therapist in McDowell County. She earned her BA with a major in psychology and human services from Albion College in 2000 and earned her MSW from UNC - Chapel Hill in 2006. Jenny has spent her career working with children, adolescents, and families. Jenny enjoys working with children and teens of all ages to help them draw on their strengths in order to improve their emotional well-being. Jenny has extra training to provide services to children who have experienced trauma and offers Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Jenny is an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, fostering kittens for a local animal rescue, and cooking.

Claudia DeVaney is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and a school-based therapist at MAHEC working in Buncombe County schools. Claudia earned her Master of Social Work degree from Western Carolina University in 2023 and has been able to work with students in Asheville schools over the past few years. Claudia is passionate about empowering children and adolescents and supporting them through a strengths-based approach. Claudia uses a multidisciplinary approach including person-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, CBT, and mindfulness as tools to support the emotional well-being of the students she works with.

Outside of work, you can find Claudia outside in nature with her dog and at live music events. After moving to Asheville six years ago, Claudia is excited to call this vibrant oasis in the mountains her home and plans to continue to serve the youth in Asheville through her work as a therapist.

Rebecca Dickerson is a Psychiatry Physician Assistant with the MAHEC Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Clemson University in Clemson, SC in 2011; she also earned both a Masters of Medical Science and a Masters of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She finished all requirements for both graduate degrees in August 2019.

Rebecca sees both general adult psychiatry and addiction medicine patients. She has experience both in community mental health services and outpatient psychiatry. She volunteered at a local free clinic for the unhoused and underserved during her Physician Assistant training, and continues to work with that population Thursday mornings through the Asheville Bridge Collaborative program at the AHOPE day shelter in downtown Asheville. She is excited to be a part of the team at MAHEC!

Brian Espe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has focused on serving children and adolescents in public schools. Brian earned his Master of Social Work from Western Carolina University and was awarded the excellence in academics award. Brian has worked for several school systems across the country providing mental health and case management services. He specializes in trauma, depression, anxiety, anger and opposition, and autism, and believes in a community and family-based approach to engaging with adolescents.

Brian joined MAHEC in 2023 as a school-based therapist and is excited to continue serving children, adolescents, and families in his home community. In his free time, Brian enjoys rock climbing and trail running.

Allison Hartsoe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and a Behavioral Health Provider. She earned her Bachelors of Social Work and Masters of Social Work degrees from Western Carolina University. Allison grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, but has lived in Western North Carolina for the last eight years. In her free time, she enjoys reading, finding new coffee shops, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Allison is energetic and dedicated to her clients. She enjoys working with children, adolescents, and their families in order to maximize the child’s emotional well-being. Allison works with anxiety, depression, and behavior challenges. Specifically, she brings a trauma lens to her work and believes that mental health symptoms most often stem from an event in a person’s life. Allison enjoys helping children and their families process their trauma as well as the symptomology present in order to maintain a healthy day-to-day living experience. She welcomes all individuals with open arms and believes that everyone is deserving of the utmost love and respect for their lifestyle.

Rachel is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate who has served as a school counselor for 10 years and prior to that as an after-school program director aimed at reducing high school dropout. Rachel has a passion for advocating for young people. She is client-centered and thrilled for the opportunity to narrow her focus on just a handful of students rather than an entire school! She is solution-focused and specializes in expressive arts therapy. She is also very interested in animal-assisted therapy and has a small farm with her family.

Julia is a LCMHC-A and is working on full LCMHC licensure (anticipated 2024) as a MAHEC School-Based Therapist. She currently serves Buncombe County Schools exclusively, mainly at elementary schools. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the Clemson University in her hometown, studying Nutrition and Dietetics. Julia received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Western Carolina University in December 2022. Julia is also a certified yoga instructor and anticipates blending nutrition and mental health knowledge into a holistic and wellness-based therapeutic approach. She previously taught as a preschool teacher in the Asheville area providing holistic education experiences for young children in a play-based environment. Julia works from a multi-disciplinary approach and uses a combination of person-centered therapy, play therapy, and nature as a metaphor. She is excited to get to serve families in the Asheville community.

Julia considers herself a creative and is a local Asheville artisan. Outside of her counseling work, you can find her vending at her art booth at local WNC craft markets, exploring the Blue Ridge with her husband and her two dogs, or practicing yoga.

Karen Jordan (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate who grew up in Atlanta, Ga. She has worked in behavioral health, education, and sales over the years, and in 2016, she felt called to study clinical social work. She completed her degree from Simmons University in 2019 with a focus on addiction, trauma, and group therapy.

Karen’s clinical practice is founded in her belief that everyone has the capacity to heal and is worthy of support. Her clinical approach is heavily influenced by Internal Family Systems- parts work- and believes we each have our own answers inside us. When people come together to support one another, they are embodying some of the most divine aspects of what it is to be human and prove that together, all things are possible.

Julia Kaminer is a proud Tar Heel who grew up in Western North Carolina (Black Mountain and Yancey County) and attended UNC Chapel Hill (B.A. Psychology 2007). After graduation she spent five years living in Orlando, FL where she attended graduate school for her Masters in Counseling (MAC 2016). She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) with experience working in intensive in home, inpatient psych, and private practice.

Dr. Ladd is a native of Western North Carolina who completed his education throughout this region. He majored in Environmental Studies and Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Then, he attended medical school at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine because of its focus on serving rural Appalachia. In wishing to stay close to the community he wanted to serve, he completed his general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship at Wake Forest Baptist Health where he served as a Chief Fellow.

Since 2018, he has worked at MAHEC helping to grow the residency class size, starting satellite clinics, initiating an international psychiatry experience for residents/fellows, developing pediatric Collaborative Care, and helping to start the CAP fellowship. Clinically, he works as an outpatient psychiatrist providing direct patient care at MAHEC and a regional pediatric office. He also provides Collaborative Care consultation for regional pediatric offices.

Dr. Ladd is excited about helping to meet the needs of underserved children and families across Western North Carolina by training the next generation of compassionate psychiatric providers who will be equipped to serve community members throughout their life span.

Carey McDivitt is a school-based therapist in McDowell County. She received her BA with a major in psychology and her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. She has over 30 years of professional ministry experience supporting families and nurturing children and teens through mentoring to help overcome diverse obstacles and teaching skills to maintain personal growth. Carey is passionate about walking alongside parents, caregivers, and teachers to help them see life through their child’s eyes. Her work focuses on attachment, conflict resolution, and forgiveness. Carey enjoys dating her husband, dancing with her adult children, journaling, painting, playing with her animals, and going on long walks.

McKenna Meitner is a school-based therapist in Buncombe County. She received her Bachelor of Psychology from Western Carolina University in 2018 and her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montreat College in 2023. McKenna is passionate about working with children and adolescents. She enjoys using a client-centered approach when helping others, while also utilizing CBT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness. She is looking forward to serving families in her local community. In her free time, McKenna enjoys cooking, watching scary movies, and spending quality time with her family and two dogs.

Eduardo Fabian is a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who enjoys working with both English and Spanish speaking children, families, and adults dealing anxiety, depression, trauma- and stress-related disorders. He also enjoys working with those who are neurodiverse (ADHD, autism and Down syndrome), as well as those in the LGBTQ+ community. He utilizes an integrated approach towards counseling that focuses on client-centered engagement, psychoeducation, solution-focused and motivational interviewing, along with CBT and EMDR. Eduardo Fabian also uses nature as a metaphor along with creative and expressive arts within his work. He is bicultural, a first generation Mexican-American on one side, and a Western North Carolinian on his other side. Being from the Brevard and Hendersonville area, Eduardo Fabian attended Brevard College for his undergraduate degree, obtaining a B.A. in Psychology. Later, he attended Western Carolina University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in which he acquired his M.S. degree and has since engaged in community mental health services. Eduardo Fabian values the unique journeys we humans go through in this life, seeking to honor the humanness we all have and our efforts towards wellness – collectively and individually.

Dr. Nicholls is a general and child/adolescent psychiatrist. Prior to attending UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, he was an active lawyer, working for a federal judge and then for large firms in North Carolina and Georgia. After medical school, he completed his residency in general psychiatry and his fellowship in child/adolescent psychiatry at UNC Hospitals where he remained on faculty as Medical Director for its Child/Adolescent inpatient units. Dr. Nicholls and his family moved to Asheville in 2012 and has worked in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and managed care settings. He is a native of Western North Carolina and when he is not working, he enjoys time with family, various sports, and all kinds of music.

Lyndsey is a Bilingual School-Based Behavioral Health Therapist who serves English and Spanish-speaking clients at Buncombe County Schools. She received her Master of Social Work graduate degree from Western Carolina University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA). Lyndsey’s therapeutic practice is advocacy and social justice-oriented. She is committed to walking alongside you as you work towards becoming your most authentic self. She believes that pursuing therapy is a courageous choice in working towards increased well-being. Lyndsey is dedicated to creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and valued. She seeks to provide integrated, trauma-informed services to diverse populations through a person-centered, culturally-responsive lens.

Outside of work, Lyndsey likes spending time in the great outdoors, enjoying delicious food with friends and family, channeling her inner athlete on the kickball field, and embarking on adventures around the world.

Lauren is a LCSA is working on full LCAS (anticipated 2022). She currently serves Asheville City Schools exclusively, mainly at the high schools and middle schools. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, her home state, and her MSW from the joint program between UNCG and NC A&T State programs. In her past life, she taught middle and high school math. From 2014-2020, she worked in medical offices providing Integrated Care and believes that mental health pairs excellently with physical health and vice versa. Lauren values patient experiences and is focused on client-and recovery-oriented services. She pulls on Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the Community Resilience Model/Resources for Resilience among other approaches. She believes that anyone, any age, can benefit from more playfulness. She has trained herself to make games for use in daily life and gladly accepts dares to “gamify” anything.

Katie Rowe is a licensed psychologist who joined the MAHEC team as a therapist for the clinic-based therapy team as well as faculty member for the psychiatry residency program. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from East Tennessee State University in 2017. She went on to complete her predoctoral internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center and her postdoctoral fellowship through the Colorado Health Foundation in Denver, both of which focused on providing integrated behavioral health services for underserved and underrepresented populations within primary care and health psychology. Dr. Rowe previously worked at Denver Health in which she served in the role of postdoctoral supervisor and clinician within internal and family medicine clinics.

In her current role, Katie offers individual therapy, ongoing supervision and training to psychiatry residents and psychology practicum students, and engagement in program development and evaluation for the department. Katie works primarily with adults who are experiencing concerns with mood (e.g., major depression, adjustment issues, anxiety-related disorders); individuals with medically complex needs; issues associated with age-related changes; individuals facing difficult interpersonal challenges, and individuals in the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Katie practices primarily from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy lens and actively utilizes other modalities such as DBT-informed and Trauma-informed care.

Hannah Stampe is a License Clinical Social Worker and serves as a school-based therapist at North Buncombe Middle School. Hannah received her Bachelor of Social Work from Mars Hill University and completed her Master of Social Work at Appalachian State University in 2020. In her past life, Hannah has worked with adolescents in a variety of contexts, including leading nature-based mentorship programs for teens and working with Helpmate to provide dating violence prevention programming in Buncombe County Schools. Hannah lives in Barnardsville and is delighted to get to serve families in her community. Hannah works from a multi-disciplinary approach and uses a combination of person-centered therapy, CBT, DBT, play therapy, and gestalt therapy. Hannah loves working with teens and their families to explore issues of identity and sense of self and help teens to draw on their strengths in order to improve their emotional well-being. In her free time, Hannah loves hiking, camping, and foraging for edible plants.

Rachel Stricklin is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a PhD in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. In her current role, Rachel serves as the manager of integrated behavioral health services across MAHEC. This includes providing supervision and support for a team of integrated care therapists in the OBGYN department at Biltmore campus and at the Enka/Candler campus as well as a team of Collaborative Care clinicians in the OBGYN, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine departments at Biltmore campus in addition to two offsite locations with Asheville Pediatrics and Haywood Pediatrics. Clinically, Rachel provides a solution-focused approach to therapy along with motivational interviewing to support families, couples, and individuals meet their goals. She also has a strong interest in providing behavioral health services through integrated care so that each patient’s biopsychosocial-spiritual needs are met.

Rachel is also an AAMFT approved supervisor who enjoys connecting with newer therapists and joining them on their journey to full licensure.

Meagan Tucker-Wiles (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist who earned a PhD from UNC, Greensboro and received advanced training with the VA healthcare systems in Albuquerque, NM and San Diego, CA.  Dr. Tucker-Wiles’ career has focused on reducing access barriers to high quality behavioral healthcare through direct patient care and program development and evaluation. She provides short term psychotherapy to OBGYN patients with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, utilizing primarily cognitive behavioral and third wave therapies. Dr. Tucker-Wiles offers precepting and consultation to OBGYN medical residents and faculty. She is a faculty member for the Psychiatry Residency Program and regularly contributes to psychiatric resident didactics and provides clinical supervision to student learners.

Caitlin Tugman is a Physician Assistant at MAHEC Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. She received her Bachelors is Exercise Science and Minor in Dance Studies at Appalachian State University in 2015. She gained clinical experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant before graduate school working in home health, at an assisted living facility, volunteering at a free health clinic, and doing medical mission work in Haiti. She attended Wake Forest School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program and graduated with a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies in 2020.  She joined the MAHEC team early in 2022 and enjoys working with people of all ages and psychiatric conditions.

Caroline Van Nort is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor. She works as a school-based therapist in Buncombe County Schools and with adults at the MAHEC Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. Caroline received her Bachelor of Psychology from North Carolina State University in 2016 and Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Appalachian State University in 2018. Caroline has a graduate certificate from Appalachian State University in Expressive Arts Therapy. Caroline enjoys yoga, journaling, and spending time in nature.

Anne is a dually licensed clinician (LCSW, LCAS) with over 20 years of experience in the field of clinical social work, working across the lifespan, inclusive of the needs of LGBTQIA, gender, race and ethnicity. Her areas of specialty include trauma, grief, addiction, anxiety, depression, dual diagnosis, neurodivergence, eating disorders, chronic health conditions, and life transitions. She enjoys individual and groups, integrating various modalities of treatment, including somatic and self-regulatory practices, polyvagal theory, mindfulness, ACT, Motivation Interviewing, CBT, DBT, and NVC. A solution-focused therapist, she loves teaching clients about managing their own conditions and sees them as experts in their own care. As a clinical social worker, applying a social justice lens, she is guided by her beliefs in advocating for the underserved and others who struggle. The mission of MAHEC aligns with Anne’s values, with hope to help each person achieve their full potential.

Autumn Wallen is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience in working with individuals, couples and families. She has spent her career working in a wide range of areas with children, adolescents and adults that include but are not limited to: depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief and loss, adjustment to life events, health/medical conditions, parenting, relationships, and substance abuse. Autumn uses several evidenced-based therapeutic models within her counseling sessions that include motivational interviewing, EMDR, strength based, solution focused and cognitive behavioral approaches to empower her clients to reach their true potential. Autumn works with her clients by forming a collaborative relationship to help them better understand their behaviors, thoughts and feelings in a safe, therapeutic environment.

Autumn is originally from rural southwestern Virginia, and made her way back to the mountains in 2017 by way of Central Florida. She received her undergraduate degree in Family and Child Sciences from The Florida State University in 2002 and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from University of Central Florida in 2006. She is also a Certified North Carolina First Level Commitment Examiner for Involuntary Commitments. She has provided services to her community both locally and nationally in several settings which include outpatient mental health, schools, hospitals, nonprofit organizations and teaching MSW students in the university setting.

Susan Whitley, MD, was raised in New York City, but has deep roots in Western North Carolina. She is passionate about partnering with individuals to set goals toward improving their total health—including mental health, substance use, and physical health challenges.

Dr. Whitley is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, followed by a combined Residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York, NY. Throughout her training, she remained intrigued by the interplay between physical and mental health and the role of substance use. She decided to pursue subspecialty training in Addiction Psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY, to further hone her expertise in the management of addictions.

Dr. Whitley is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Family Medicine with added subspecialty certification in Addiction Psychiatry. She has over 20 years of experience including patient care, program administration, and the teaching of students and residents. She is an expert in the treatment of opioid use disorder, including multiple publications on this topic. Dr. Whitley has spent her career focusing on access to care for underserved populations with complex healthcare needs and is excited to join the MAHEC team.

Stephen A. Wyatt, D.O, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with added subspecialty certification in Addiction Psychiatry. He practiced emergency medicine for 12 years prior to entering a psychiatry residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland. He was then accepted into the NIDA clinical research fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. He is an adjunct professor of psychiatry at University of North Carolina. He is a past president of the AOAAM. He is the current Chairman of the NC Psychiatric Associate Addiction Psychiatry Committee and Vice Chair of the Coalition on Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders a national organization focused on addiction medicine medical school education. He was a Co-Chair for the 2020 focused update of the ASAM Clinical Guidelines for Office Based Opioid Treatment. He is a clinical expert for the SAMHSA funded Provider Clinical Support System, PCSS; Medication Assisted Treatment and Implementation Projects.

Ana Zuber is a Mental Health Professional and Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving as a school-based therapist at South Buncombe County Schools. She received her Bachelor of Social Work from University Federal Fluminense in Brazil and completed her Master of Social Work at East Tennessee State University. Ana has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations in inpatient psychiatric units. She completed extensive clinical training for both undergraduate and graduate schools in psychiatric intake at Emergency Departments. In her free time, Ana enjoys learning new things and spending time outdoors.

Dr. Buie is program chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. He treats adults with all psychiatric conditions with particular interests in bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders. He is trained in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a treatment for severe depression. Dr. Buie attended the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill as an undergraduate on a Morehead Scholarship. He obtained his medical education at the University of the North Carolina School of Medicine. He completed a residency in internal medicine at a Columbia University training hospital in New York and a psychiatry residency at Cornell Medical College, also in New York. Dr. Buie is an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. He is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the UNC School of Medicine. He is a past president of the North Carolina Psychiatric Association, is president of the North Carolina Psychiatric Foundation, and is a member of the American College of Psychiatrists.

In his free time, Dr. Buie enjoys hiking the beautiful trails of the Blue Ridge mountains, making wine and working in his permaculture garden.

Jarod Coffey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Behavioral Health Provider. Jarod earned his BS in Psychology and Master of Social Work Degrees at the University of Iowa. Just before coming to work at MAHEC, he worked for ten years at Mission Children’s Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina. Prior to Mission, Jarod worked at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center of Western North Carolina where he developed his skills in CBT interventions. He has worked collaboratively on integrated care initiatives with other professionals in specialty medical departments including internal medicine, oncology, general pediatrics, gastroenterology, neurology, pulmonology, endocrinology, and developmental pediatrics, among others. Over the past few years, in addition to working with patients and their families, Jarod has been the lead trainer in a project that provided behavioral health providers in rural clinics with integration training to promote and offer more of the services remotely that are provided at Mission’s regional developmental pediatrics clinic.

Jarod is an energetic and empathetic therapist who loves to see kids and adults benefit from evidence-based treatment approaches that promote overall success in day-to-day life. He enjoys working with all ages of patients, but has a particular affinity for working with children, adolescents, and their families. Jarod has particular interest in treating people with Tics, anxiety, ADHD, autism, sleep issues, and working with families on effective parenting using Conscious Discipline and other strategies. When he is not at work, Jarod enjoys spending time with his family and riding his mountain bike in the woods.

Rebecca Dickerson is a Psychiatry Physician Assistant with the MAHEC Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Clemson University in Clemson, SC in 2011; she also earned both a Masters of Medical Science and a Masters of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She finished all requirements for both graduate degrees in August 2019.

Rebecca sees both general adult psychiatry and addiction medicine patients. She has experience both in community mental health services and outpatient psychiatry. She volunteered at a local free clinic for the unhoused and underserved during her Physician Assistant training, and continues to work with that population Thursday mornings through the Asheville Bridge Collaborative program at the AHOPE day shelter in downtown Asheville. She is excited to be a part of the team at MAHEC!

Karen Jordan (she/they) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate who grew up in Atlanta, Ga. She has worked in behavioral health, education, and sales over the years, and in 2016, she felt called to study clinical social work. She completed her degree from Simmons University in 2019 with a focus on addiction, trauma, and group therapy.

Karen’s clinical practice is founded in her belief that everyone has the capacity to heal and is worthy of support. Her clinical approach is heavily influenced by Internal Family Systems- parts work- and believes we each have our own answers inside us. When people come together to support one another, they are embodying some of the most divine aspects of what it is to be human and prove that together, all things are possible.

Dr. Ladd is a native of Western North Carolina who completed his education throughout this region. He majored in Environmental Studies and Philosophy at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Then, he attended medical school at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine because of its focus on serving rural Appalachia. In wishing to stay close to the community he wanted to serve, he completed his general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship at Wake Forest Baptist Health where he served as a Chief Fellow.

Since 2018, he has worked at MAHEC helping to grow the residency class size, starting satellite clinics, initiating an international psychiatry experience for residents/fellows, developing pediatric Collaborative Care, and helping to start the CAP fellowship. Clinically, he works as an outpatient psychiatrist providing direct patient care at MAHEC and a regional pediatric office. He also provides Collaborative Care consultation for regional pediatric offices.

Dr. Ladd is excited about helping to meet the needs of underserved children and families across Western North Carolina by training the next generation of compassionate psychiatric providers who will be equipped to serve community members throughout their life span.

Eduardo Fabian is a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) who enjoys working with both English and Spanish speaking children, families, and adults dealing anxiety, depression, trauma- and stress-related disorders. He also enjoys working with those who are neurodiverse (ADHD, autism and Down syndrome), as well as those in the LGBTQ+ community. He utilizes an integrated approach towards counseling that focuses on client-centered engagement, psychoeducation, solution-focused and motivational interviewing, along with CBT and EMDR. Eduardo Fabian also uses nature as a metaphor along with creative and expressive arts within his work. He is bicultural, a first generation Mexican-American on one side, and a Western North Carolinian on his other side. Being from the Brevard and Hendersonville area, Eduardo Fabian attended Brevard College for his undergraduate degree, obtaining a B.A. in Psychology. Later, he attended Western Carolina University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in which he acquired his M.S. degree and has since engaged in community mental health services. Eduardo Fabian values the unique journeys we humans go through in this life, seeking to honor the humanness we all have and our efforts towards wellness – collectively and individually.

Dr. Nicholls is a general and child/adolescent psychiatrist. Prior to attending UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, he was an active lawyer, working for a federal judge and then for large firms in North Carolina and Georgia. After medical school, he completed his residency in general psychiatry and his fellowship in child/adolescent psychiatry at UNC Hospitals where he remained on faculty as Medical Director for its Child/Adolescent inpatient units. Dr. Nicholls and his family moved to Asheville in 2012 and has worked in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and managed care settings. He is a native of Western North Carolina and when he is not working, he enjoys time with family, various sports, and all kinds of music.

Lauren is a LCSA is working on full LCAS (anticipated 2022). She currently serves Asheville City Schools exclusively, mainly at the high schools and middle schools. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, her home state, and her MSW from the joint program between UNCG and NC A&T State programs. In her past life, she taught middle and high school math. From 2014-2020, she worked in medical offices providing Integrated Care and believes that mental health pairs excellently with physical health and vice versa. Lauren values patient experiences and is focused on client-and recovery-oriented services. She pulls on Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the Community Resilience Model/Resources for Resilience among other approaches. She believes that anyone, any age, can benefit from more playfulness. She has trained herself to make games for use in daily life and gladly accepts dares to “gamify” anything.

Katie Rowe is a licensed psychologist who joined the MAHEC team as a therapist for the clinic-based therapy team as well as faculty member for the psychiatry residency program. She received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from East Tennessee State University in 2017. She went on to complete her predoctoral internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center and her postdoctoral fellowship through the Colorado Health Foundation in Denver, both of which focused on providing integrated behavioral health services for underserved and underrepresented populations within primary care and health psychology. Dr. Rowe previously worked at Denver Health in which she served in the role of postdoctoral supervisor and clinician within internal and family medicine clinics.

In her current role, Katie offers individual therapy, ongoing supervision and training to psychiatry residents and psychology practicum students, and engagement in program development and evaluation for the department. Katie works primarily with adults who are experiencing concerns with mood (e.g., major depression, adjustment issues, anxiety-related disorders); individuals with medically complex needs; issues associated with age-related changes; individuals facing difficult interpersonal challenges, and individuals in the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Katie practices primarily from an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy lens and actively utilizes other modalities such as DBT-informed and Trauma-informed care.

Caitlin Tugman is a Physician Assistant at MAHEC Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. She received her Bachelors is Exercise Science and Minor in Dance Studies at Appalachian State University in 2015. She gained clinical experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant before graduate school working in home health, at an assisted living facility, volunteering at a free health clinic, and doing medical mission work in Haiti. She attended Wake Forest School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program and graduated with a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies in 2020.  She joined the MAHEC team early in 2022 and enjoys working with people of all ages and psychiatric conditions.

Anne is a dually licensed clinician (LCSW, LCAS) with over 20 years of experience in the field of clinical social work, working across the lifespan, inclusive of the needs of LGBTQIA, gender, race and ethnicity. Her areas of specialty include trauma, grief, addiction, anxiety, depression, dual diagnosis, neurodivergence, eating disorders, chronic health conditions, and life transitions. She enjoys individual and groups, integrating various modalities of treatment, including somatic and self-regulatory practices, polyvagal theory, mindfulness, ACT, Motivation Interviewing, CBT, DBT, and NVC. A solution-focused therapist, she loves teaching clients about managing their own conditions and sees them as experts in their own care. As a clinical social worker, applying a social justice lens, she is guided by her beliefs in advocating for the underserved and others who struggle. The mission of MAHEC aligns with Anne’s values, with hope to help each person achieve their full potential.

Autumn Wallen is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience in working with individuals, couples and families. She has spent her career working in a wide range of areas with children, adolescents and adults that include but are not limited to: depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief and loss, adjustment to life events, health/medical conditions, parenting, relationships, and substance abuse. Autumn uses several evidenced-based therapeutic models within her counseling sessions that include motivational interviewing, EMDR, strength based, solution focused and cognitive behavioral approaches to empower her clients to reach their true potential. Autumn works with her clients by forming a collaborative relationship to help them better understand their behaviors, thoughts and feelings in a safe, therapeutic environment.

Autumn is originally from rural southwestern Virginia, and made her way back to the mountains in 2017 by way of Central Florida. She received her undergraduate degree in Family and Child Sciences from The Florida State University in 2002 and a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from University of Central Florida in 2006. She is also a Certified North Carolina First Level Commitment Examiner for Involuntary Commitments. She has provided services to her community both locally and nationally in several settings which include outpatient mental health, schools, hospitals, nonprofit organizations and teaching MSW students in the university setting.

Susan Whitley, MD, was raised in New York City, but has deep roots in Western North Carolina. She is passionate about partnering with individuals to set goals toward improving their total health—including mental health, substance use, and physical health challenges.

Dr. Whitley is a graduate of the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, followed by a combined Residency in Family Medicine and Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York, NY. Throughout her training, she remained intrigued by the interplay between physical and mental health and the role of substance use. She decided to pursue subspecialty training in Addiction Psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY, to further hone her expertise in the management of addictions.

Dr. Whitley is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Family Medicine with added subspecialty certification in Addiction Psychiatry. She has over 20 years of experience including patient care, program administration, and the teaching of students and residents. She is an expert in the treatment of opioid use disorder, including multiple publications on this topic. Dr. Whitley has spent her career focusing on access to care for underserved populations with complex healthcare needs and is excited to join the MAHEC team.

Stephen A. Wyatt, D.O, is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist with added subspecialty certification in Addiction Psychiatry. He practiced emergency medicine for 12 years prior to entering a psychiatry residency at University Hospitals of Cleveland. He was then accepted into the NIDA clinical research fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. He is an adjunct professor of psychiatry at University of North Carolina. He is a past president of the AOAAM. He is the current Chairman of the NC Psychiatric Associate Addiction Psychiatry Committee and Vice Chair of the Coalition on Physician Education in Substance Use Disorders a national organization focused on addiction medicine medical school education. He was a Co-Chair for the 2020 focused update of the ASAM Clinical Guidelines for Office Based Opioid Treatment. He is a clinical expert for the SAMHSA funded Provider Clinical Support System, PCSS; Medication Assisted Treatment and Implementation Projects.

Steve received his graduate degree in Social Work from UNC Wilmington—a solution focused, strength-based, clinical program—in 2008. He has been an LCSW/LCAS since 2011 and earned certification as a Clinical Supervisor (CCS) in 2015. He has worked in a variety of social work and clinical settings including drug court, community-based services for mental health, and substance use. He comes to MAHEC from Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune where he served as MH Therapist for about eight years. He worked primarily for Wounded Warrior Battalion East, serving marines with complex medical/mental health challenge. Many marines experienced high levels of trauma and not all trauma was a direct result of combat experience. He was able to work closely with both medical and psychiatric providers during this time. Steve enjoys working with adult populations in high-risk, underserved populations. He is trained in CBT, Motivational Interviewing, Gestalt, and EMDR. He is very interested in building experience with ACT, IFS, and somatic approaches. Enjoyable activities include cycling and photography as his personal approaches to mindfulness and stress relief.

Rachel Stricklin is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a PhD in Medical Family Therapy from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. In her current role, Rachel serves as the manager of integrated behavioral health services across MAHEC. This includes providing supervision and support for a team of integrated care therapists in the OBGYN department at Biltmore campus and at the Enka/Candler campus as well as a team of Collaborative Care clinicians in the OBGYN, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine departments at Biltmore campus in addition to two offsite locations with Asheville Pediatrics and Haywood Pediatrics. Clinically, Rachel provides a solution-focused approach to therapy along with motivational interviewing to support families, couples, and individuals meet their goals. She also has a strong interest in providing behavioral health services through integrated care so that each patient’s biopsychosocial-spiritual needs are met.

Rachel is also an AAMFT approved supervisor who enjoys connecting with newer therapists and joining them on their journey to full licensure.

Meagan Tucker-Wiles (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist who earned a PhD from UNC, Greensboro and received advanced training with the VA healthcare systems in Albuquerque, NM and San Diego, CA.  Dr. Tucker-Wiles’ career has focused on reducing access barriers to high quality behavioral healthcare through direct patient care and program development and evaluation. She provides short term psychotherapy to OBGYN patients with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, utilizing primarily cognitive behavioral and third wave therapies. Dr. Tucker-Wiles offers precepting and consultation to OBGYN medical residents and faculty. She is a faculty member for the Psychiatry Residency Program and regularly contributes to psychiatric resident didactics and provides clinical supervision to student learners.

Jenny is a school-based therapist in McDowell County. She earned her BA with a major in psychology and human services from Albion College in 2000 and earned her MSW from UNC - Chapel Hill in 2006. Jenny has spent her career working with children, adolescents, and families. Jenny enjoys working with children and teens of all ages to help them draw on their strengths in order to improve their emotional well-being. Jenny has extra training to provide services to children who have experienced trauma and offers Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Jenny is an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist. In her spare time, Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, fostering kittens for a local animal rescue, and cooking.

Claudia DeVaney is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and a school-based therapist at MAHEC working in Buncombe County schools. Claudia earned her Master of Social Work degree from Western Carolina University in 2023 and has been able to work with students in Asheville schools over the past few years. Claudia is passionate about empowering children and adolescents and supporting them through a strengths-based approach. Claudia uses a multidisciplinary approach including person-centered therapy, motivational interviewing, CBT, and mindfulness as tools to support the emotional well-being of the students she works with.

Outside of work, you can find Claudia outside in nature with her dog and at live music events. After moving to Asheville six years ago, Claudia is excited to call this vibrant oasis in the mountains her home and plans to continue to serve the youth in Asheville through her work as a therapist.

Brian Espe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has focused on serving children and adolescents in public schools. Brian earned his Master of Social Work from Western Carolina University and was awarded the excellence in academics award. Brian has worked for several school systems across the country providing mental health and case management services. He specializes in trauma, depression, anxiety, anger and opposition, and autism, and believes in a community and family-based approach to engaging with adolescents.

Brian joined MAHEC in 2023 as a school-based therapist and is excited to continue serving children, adolescents, and families in his home community. In his free time, Brian enjoys rock climbing and trail running.

Allison Hartsoe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and a Behavioral Health Provider. She earned her Bachelors of Social Work and Masters of Social Work degrees from Western Carolina University. Allison grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, but has lived in Western North Carolina for the last eight years. In her free time, she enjoys reading, finding new coffee shops, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.

Allison is energetic and dedicated to her clients. She enjoys working with children, adolescents, and their families in order to maximize the child’s emotional well-being. Allison works with anxiety, depression, and behavior challenges. Specifically, she brings a trauma lens to her work and believes that mental health symptoms most often stem from an event in a person’s life. Allison enjoys helping children and their families process their trauma as well as the symptomology present in order to maintain a healthy day-to-day living experience. She welcomes all individuals with open arms and believes that everyone is deserving of the utmost love and respect for their lifestyle.

Rachel is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate who has served as a school counselor for 10 years and prior to that as an after-school program director aimed at reducing high school dropout. Rachel has a passion for advocating for young people. She is client-centered and thrilled for the opportunity to narrow her focus on just a handful of students rather than an entire school! She is solution-focused and specializes in expressive arts therapy. She is also very interested in animal-assisted therapy and has a small farm with her family.

Julia is a LCMHC-A and is working on full LCMHC licensure (anticipated 2024) as a MAHEC School-Based Therapist. She currently serves Buncombe County Schools exclusively, mainly at elementary schools. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the Clemson University in her hometown, studying Nutrition and Dietetics. Julia received her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Western Carolina University in December 2022. Julia is also a certified yoga instructor and anticipates blending nutrition and mental health knowledge into a holistic and wellness-based therapeutic approach. She previously taught as a preschool teacher in the Asheville area providing holistic education experiences for young children in a play-based environment. Julia works from a multi-disciplinary approach and uses a combination of person-centered therapy, play therapy, and nature as a metaphor. She is excited to get to serve families in the Asheville community.

Julia considers herself a creative and is a local Asheville artisan. Outside of her counseling work, you can find her vending at her art booth at local WNC craft markets, exploring the Blue Ridge with her husband and her two dogs, or practicing yoga.

Julia Kaminer is a proud Tar Heel who grew up in Western North Carolina (Black Mountain and Yancey County) and attended UNC Chapel Hill (B.A. Psychology 2007). After graduation she spent five years living in Orlando, FL where she attended graduate school for her Masters in Counseling (MAC 2016). She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) with experience working in intensive in home, inpatient psych, and private practice.

Carey McDivitt is a school-based therapist in McDowell County. She received her BA with a major in psychology and her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. She has over 30 years of professional ministry experience supporting families and nurturing children and teens through mentoring to help overcome diverse obstacles and teaching skills to maintain personal growth. Carey is passionate about walking alongside parents, caregivers, and teachers to help them see life through their child’s eyes. Her work focuses on attachment, conflict resolution, and forgiveness. Carey enjoys dating her husband, dancing with her adult children, journaling, painting, playing with her animals, and going on long walks.

McKenna Meitner is a school-based therapist in Buncombe County. She received her Bachelor of Psychology from Western Carolina University in 2018 and her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montreat College in 2023. McKenna is passionate about working with children and adolescents. She enjoys using a client-centered approach when helping others, while also utilizing CBT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness. She is looking forward to serving families in her local community. In her free time, McKenna enjoys cooking, watching scary movies, and spending quality time with her family and two dogs.

Lyndsey is a Bilingual School-Based Behavioral Health Therapist who serves English and Spanish-speaking clients at Buncombe County Schools. She received her Master of Social Work graduate degree from Western Carolina University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA). Lyndsey’s therapeutic practice is advocacy and social justice-oriented. She is committed to walking alongside you as you work towards becoming your most authentic self. She believes that pursuing therapy is a courageous choice in working towards increased well-being. Lyndsey is dedicated to creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and valued. She seeks to provide integrated, trauma-informed services to diverse populations through a person-centered, culturally-responsive lens.

Outside of work, Lyndsey likes spending time in the great outdoors, enjoying delicious food with friends and family, channeling her inner athlete on the kickball field, and embarking on adventures around the world.

Hannah Stampe is a License Clinical Social Worker and serves as a school-based therapist at North Buncombe Middle School. Hannah received her Bachelor of Social Work from Mars Hill University and completed her Master of Social Work at Appalachian State University in 2020. In her past life, Hannah has worked with adolescents in a variety of contexts, including leading nature-based mentorship programs for teens and working with Helpmate to provide dating violence prevention programming in Buncombe County Schools. Hannah lives in Barnardsville and is delighted to get to serve families in her community. Hannah works from a multi-disciplinary approach and uses a combination of person-centered therapy, CBT, DBT, play therapy, and gestalt therapy. Hannah loves working with teens and their families to explore issues of identity and sense of self and help teens to draw on their strengths in order to improve their emotional well-being. In her free time, Hannah loves hiking, camping, and foraging for edible plants.

Caroline Van Nort is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor. She works as a school-based therapist in Buncombe County Schools and with adults at the MAHEC Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness. Caroline received her Bachelor of Psychology from North Carolina State University in 2016 and Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Appalachian State University in 2018. Caroline has a graduate certificate from Appalachian State University in Expressive Arts Therapy. Caroline enjoys yoga, journaling, and spending time in nature.

Ana Zuber is a Mental Health Professional and Licensed Clinical Social Worker serving as a school-based therapist at South Buncombe County Schools. She received her Bachelor of Social Work from University Federal Fluminense in Brazil and completed her Master of Social Work at East Tennessee State University. Ana has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and geriatric populations in inpatient psychiatric units. She completed extensive clinical training for both undergraduate and graduate schools in psychiatric intake at Emergency Departments. In her free time, Ana enjoys learning new things and spending time outdoors.