Bethanne Folks, LPC

Jessica Vassallo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in the area of mental health. She has worked with patients of various demographics including World Trade Center responders, college students, patients with severe and persistent mental illness, dually diagnosed patients, patients who have or have had cancer, and patients with impoverished backgrounds. She received her Master's Degree at Adelphi University in 2003, became certified that year and received her license in clinical social work in 2008. Jessica has been practicing in social work for 20 years, focusing on anxiety, depression, and PTSD. She uses an eclectic approach in therapy with a foundation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness therapy, and supportive psychotherapy. She develops an individualized treatment plan for all patients to focus on their goals. She believes that the person is impacted by all the larger systems they are in (family, workplace, community, larger society) and is committed to providing a non-judgmental, warm, and empathetic space to help clients feel understood and comfortable exploring the roots of their issues.

Nicole Groves, LPC, LMHC, earned a Bachelor of Science in English and Psychology from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lamar University. She spent five years as a K–12 English and Special Education teacher before transitioning to community mental health, serving children and adolescents across three East Texas counties. She later moved into private practice and now practices at Talkiatry. Nicole is trained in EMDR, somatic therapy, TF-CBT, and DBT, and is also a registered yoga teacher.

Nicole brings a direct, nonjudgmental, and holistic approach to therapy. She is caring and compassionate, creating a safe, affirming space where clients can explore their needs without fear or shame. She encourages each person to show up authentically, supporting them as they navigate complex emotions, relationships, and life transitions.

Nicole believes nothing in therapy is one size fits all. She partners with clients to identify strengths, address challenges, and build practical skills. Sessions focus on empowerment and actionable insights clients can use immediately. Progress is celebrated, and treatment evolves as clients grow and their needs change.

LaTonya Washington, LICSW-S, PIP, is a trauma and couples' therapist with a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama and advanced training in Brain spotting, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and the Gottman Method for couples therapy. With over 15 years of experience, she provides compassionate, evidence-based care to individuals and couples navigating trauma, relationship challenges, and major life transitions.

She specializes in helping couples rebuild trust after infidelity, strengthen emotional connection, and improve communication. She also supports individuals facing anxiety, burnout, and the emotional impact of chronic illness, guiding them toward healing and resilience

New clients can expect a warm, supportive space where they feel heard and understood. LaTonya takes a collaborative approach, tailoring therapy to each client’s needs while integrating practical strategies for healing and growth. Her sessions are focused on fostering insight, building emotional resilience, and equipping clients with tools to create lasting change. Whether working with individuals or couples, her goal is to help clients navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity, connection, and confidence.

Rutanya Simon, LCSW, earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Oklahoma and has over eleven years of experience supporting children, families, and couples. She has worked with the courts, including mental health and substance abuse programs, and with families involved in child protective and adoption services. Rutanya integrates Gottman techniques to strengthen communication between couples and applies family systems theory to help families identify and improve maladaptive patterns and behaviors.

Rutanya is a solution-focused therapist who has worked with diverse populations throughout her career. She provides insight from a non-biased and compassionate perspective, helping clients create practical solutions for life transitions and personal healing. Her approach encourages introspection and self-compassion, empowering clients to focus on what is within their control while fostering growth and resilience.

In the initial session, Rutanya works to build rapport and trust while gaining a clear understanding of each client’s needs. She collaborates with clients to identify small, achievable steps toward their goals and uses these to guide the development of individualized treatment plans that promote meaningful progress and lasting change.

Erika Zarco is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Telehealth provider. She has extensive experience working in non-profits, schools, academic settings, and private practice. Erika is certified in Trauma-Informed Interventions, Advanced Grief Counseling, Addictions-Informed Care, Narrative Therapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Nutrition & Integrative Medicine for trauma. She holds a BA in Humanities from New College of California and a master’s in Counseling from the Wright Institute.

Erika values open communication and helps clients set clear treatment goals. She fosters a collaborative environment using narrative counseling, Internal Family Systems, and “parts” work to help clients re-story their experiences. She also offers EFT Tapping for trauma, anxiety, depression, and pain. Erika works from the belief that clients are the experts in their own lives and promotes self-determination through Motivational Interviewing, Harm Reduction, and Energy Psychology.

Erika begins by understanding what brings clients to therapy and building a strong therapeutic relationship. She tailors Narrative Counseling and EFT sessions to each individual, collaboratively creating personalized treatment plans with achievable, transformational goals. Her approach is holistic, supportive, and designed to empower clients to recognize their strengths and motivation for meaningful change.

Kristen Soukup, LCSW is a mental health therapist at Talkiatry. Kristen completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester where she studied Psychology and Brain & Cognitive Science. She then went on to pursue her Master's degree in Social Work at the State University of New York at Buffalo. After completing her Master's degree, Kristen began working at an outpatient cancer center where she provided care coordination and therapeutic support to patients and their families enduring cancer diagnoses, treatments, and end of life. She then worked to pursue her clinical license in working with adults with significant and persistent mental illness in an outpatient setting. Kristen functioned not only as a primary therapist but also as the crisis team leader, providing supervision to other clinicians and assisting clients both in the clinic and the community. Kristen believes in looking at the whole person in their environment when working with her patients. She comes from a nonjudgmental and empathetic standpoint and genuinely wants to put the patient's goals and values first. Kristen has experience in treating patients with anxiety, depression, OCD, Bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. Kristen is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and tends to utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques in treatment. She has knowledge and interest in human motivation and performance related issues, and utilizes Motivational Interviewing and mindfulness skills to assist her patients with these concerns. Kristen also has training in treating anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive disorders and uses exposure therapy to assist patients in overcoming these struggles.‍