Veronica McKnight, LCSW

Jessica Mars is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has worked in clinical practice for over 10 years. Jessica received her undergraduate degree in Social Work at Colorado State University-Pueblo and her master's degree in social work from Newman University. Along with her clinical work, Jessica teaches undergraduate and graduate students of Social Work at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, because she values being able to work in her local communities to educate and teach. She identifies as a lifelong learner and incorporates that into her treatment approaches. ‍Jessica has primarily focused her clinical practices working with individuals who have experienced intimate partner violence, sexual assault, trauma from medical or physical health problems, substance use, and other forms of trauma. Her approach is culturally aware, trauma informed, and client centered, and she will work closely with her clients to ensure that the treatment approach and plan is thoughtful and matches what the client may need. ‍Jessica has extended training in EMDR, TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, developmental trauma, suicidality, and trauma informed care. Jessica will encourage you to increase your awareness of thoughts, feelings and behaviors in the present and to increase your personal sense of freedom and well-being. Jessica hopes to work with you to empower you and help you recognize your own strengths, with compassion for both yourself and for others.

Valene, pronounced (Val-leen), is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who has worked in the mental health field for 7 years. During this time, she has worked with clients from various backgrounds and cultures with a variety of mental health conditions. Valene's experience ranges from an inpatient psychiatric facility to private practice to telehealth. Valene attended the University of South Florida for her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Florida International University for her graduate degree in Mental Health Counseling.‍Valene believes each therapeutic interaction should be individualized and client-centered, thus she uses an eclectic therapy approach. An eclectic approach means assisting clients by drawing from various therapeutic approaches and techniques, thus tailoring treatment to each client's needs. Valene considers the therapeutic relationship to be extremely important and strives to be a collaborative, empathetic, non-judgmental, person-centered therapist. Valene's professional interests include working with young adults, Caribbean Americans, and the BIPOC community. Within mental health she enjoys working with anxiety, depression, women's issues, adjustment disorders, and relationship issues, just to name a few.

Richard "Rick" States is a Licensed Professional Counselor, with broad and varied professional work experience in behavioral health (inpatient and outpatient, individuals and families, children and adults, direct service and program administration). Rick earned his B.A. in Psychology at Gannon University and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

He's earned a Post-Master's Certificate in General Psychology from Northcentral University and has completed many doctorate credits in Psychology. Since 1999, Rick has taught university courses in Psychology, Sociology, and Human Services, most recently at Gannon University and Penn State University.

Rick's greatest area of clinical interest and skill centers around self-regulation or "how we manage" our thoughts, feelings, emotions, behaviors, etc. Rick appreciates the challenges related to anxiety, stress, depression, substance use, and trauma, and he employs various tools to help folks manage (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, humanism, mindfulness/somatic psychology, etc.).

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Raquel Weinum is a licensed clinical social worker. Her career in the field has spanned over 20 years and includes work with adults, adolescents, and children from diverse populations and experiences. She has treated a wide range of symptoms and challenges, including but not limited to, depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, difficulty with relationships, family conflicts, and loss. ‍Her style is warm and engaging. She considers the role of the therapist to be collaborative. As a therapist she aims to create a safe non-judgmental space for self-exploration, discovery, and healing. The goals in the therapeutic process may involve developing new skills to cope with emotional pain, learning to set new boundaries in relationships, or finding more meaning in life. She utilizes a wide range of approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, relational and psychodynamic approaches, and mindfulness and embodiment work. Regardless of the modality, her work is always trauma informed and strength-based. ‍Ms. Weinum received her Master's degree in Social Work from Fordham University and her BS in psychology from Brooklyn College. She has worked in varied settings including hospitals, community mental health/substance abuse clinics, and home-based crisis intervention services. She has provided individual and group psychotherapy, and has served in supervisory/administrative roles throughout her career.‍

Paula Bennett, LPC, has been in practice for over 20 years. She specializes in CBT and individual therapy. Paula strives to provide a client-centered approach based on the individual’s needs.

Paula has a specific passion for victims of trauma. As a teen and young adult, she struggled with depression. There weren’t many treatment options at that time but she found a counselor who inspired her to help other with mental health issues.

Outside of work, Paula is known to enjoy reading, swimming, animals, spending time with family and watching movies. She also loves being able to help people and watch them grow.

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Barbara (Barb) Pack is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with the Supervision Endorsement and a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor, Clinical Supervisor Endorsement who has been providing mental health treatment for over 24 years and addiction treatment for over 27 years. Barb utilizes a combination of approaches in working with her clients, including person-centered, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution focused techniques, and a variety of other techniques. She has experience in several different types of treatment settings and treatment modalities in both Ohio and Florida. Barb enjoys working with individuals who also have co-occurring disorders, both mental health and substance use. Barb has experience working with a wide range of age groups and mental health issues including but not limited to depression, anxiety, trauma, stress management, grief, relationship issues, and a wide range of substance use issues. She will assess individuals' needs in their first few visits and work with them to develop an individualized treatment plan. Barb works to provide the empathetic listening and emotional support that her clients need to reach their goals. Her dream has been to work herself out of a job, as she wants to help her clients find healing and happiness. Barb attended the University of Akron for graduate school in a Community Counseling Program and attended Malone College, now University, and majored in Psychology.