Tara Merchant, LMHC

Penny Clark is a Licensed Professional Counselor, who earned her Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey in 2004. Penny also completed a one-year training to become a Certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York in 2017. Penny has more than 20 years of counseling experience and has worked with individuals, couples and families, beginning by working with 9/11 displaced workers and recovery workers, including police, firemen and EMTs, and then Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy families, after which she worked with bereaved military families, homeless veterans, and other homeless men. Penny has done individual, couples, career and relationship counseling. Penny has worked in various levels of care including inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient and partial care programs. Penny has answered the National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-TALK, has worked in a psychiatrist’s office, and in her own private practice. Penny also worked at a drug and alcohol detox and rehabilitation program.  Penny has worked with individuals with Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, health and medical challenges, substance abuse, and the specific challenges that seniors face.

Penny provides a safe, therapeutic environment in which clients can share and process their thoughts and feelings, gain insight, and set and reach realistic and achievable goals. Penny’s primary goal is to develop a trusting relationship with her clients and helping them to improve their lives.

Penny uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (CBT,) Positive Psychology, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Psychoeducation while working with clients. Penny enjoys assisting clients in determining where they are and where they would like to be, the steps they need to take to get there, and in identifying and overcoming any obstacles that may be in their way.

‍

Diana Murray, LCSW, is licensed in New Jersey and South Carolina and has provided comprehensive mental health services to adolescents and adults for over 10 years. A 2009 Fordham University MSW graduate, she specializes in Solution-Focused and Person-Centered treatment. Diana has supported clients with a variety of challenges, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, self-injury, school refusal, and trauma, guiding them toward healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Diana offers a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel empowered and heard. She engages with humor, practical solutions, and unconditional positive regard, validating each individual’s experience while collaborating on personalized treatment plans. Her goal is to help clients change their narrative, reduce burdens, and maximize their potential.

Diana partners with clients to create individualized treatment plans that guide therapy from start to finish. She uses innovative, evidence-based approaches to address each client’s unique needs, ensuring therapy is effective, engaging, and solution-oriented. Her work combines empathy, skill, and creativity to help clients overcome challenges and thrive.

‍

Lisha Jones is a licensed clinical social worker with over 23 years of extensive experience working in the mental health field. Lisha has worked with clients facing a variety of life's challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as perinatal and postpartum mental health. She attended undergraduate school in Albany, GA, and graduate school in Valdosta, GA. Lisha is deeply committed to creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can express their thoughts and feelings freely. Lisha's approach to therapy involves engaging each client with warmth and enthusiasm. She encourages them to be active participants on their journey of emotional growth, healing, and empowerment. Lisha uses therapeutic expertise and various inner-healing approaches to teach clients restorative self-care practices, exercises that cultivate emotional awareness, strategies to manage unhealthy thoughts, and methods to change undesirable behaviors. Working with Lisha, clients can expect to take away from each session a plan of action with detailed steps, easy to apply skills and practical strategies to help them manage stress, heal from hurtful experiences, improve their communication skills and strengthen boundaries in their relationships. They will gain a better understanding about how and why they feel uncomfortable emotions and why they experience strong reactions in response to those associated thoughts.

Kristina Bona is a Licensed Professional Counselor with extensive experience working in the mental health field. Kristina received her bachelor's from The University of Texas at Austin and proceeded to obtain her Master's degree in Counseling from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Since graduating with her Master's, she has worked in the mental health field, providing mental health relief to a wide demographic of clients. Over the past 10 years, Kristina has worked for various agencies, ranging from the local mental health authority to private practice. Kristina has experience working with people experiencing Anxiety, Depression, Mood disorders, and other mental health diagnoses interfering with daily living. As a clinician, she meets the client where they are in their life and tailors her treatment style to help them learn/apply strategies in developing skills for emotional regulation, developing healthy boundaries, effective communication skills, and more. Kristina uses an eclectic blend of cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness to increase the clients' resiliency and autonomy and empower them to live full lives.

Natalie Noyes, LPC, had a successful legal career before returning to school to earn their Master’s in Counseling from Northwestern University. They have experience working with teens, adults, and the LGBTQIA+ community, bringing a diverse and inclusive perspective to their practice.

Natalie creates a nonjudgmental and realistic environment for patients to explore their needs and growth. All identities are respected and honored in the therapeutic relationship. Patients can expect support, understanding, and collaboration as they work toward meaningful change.

Natalie uses a patient-centered approach, emphasizing the therapeutic relationship and aligning treatment plans with patient goals. Initial sessions focus on building rapport and gathering background information. Subsequent sessions are tailored to advancing goals and fostering personal growth.

Frank Miller is a Licensed Professional Counselor with years of experience in a variety of mental health settings. Frank has worked in hospitals, community mental health care, a treatment center for clients struggling with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, as well as providing individual outpatient therapy to a wide variety of clients.

Frank attended graduate school at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX, while working in the mental health field, earning a Masters degree in their Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in 2019. Frank has provided individualized, client-focused therapy for adults and adolescents since that time, helping others to find purpose and meaning in their lives.

Frank utilizes a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Reality Therapy, depending on the client’s needs. Frank believes that we can all benefit from eliminating distorted thinking leading to negativity and self-defeat, and becoming more emotionally regulated, stress tolerant, and mindful, putting us back into the driver’s seat of our daily lives. We may then achieve the freedom to positively fulfill our needs, pursue our goals, and feel confident in our journey towards balance and peace of mind.