Counseling & Psychological Services

Gabrielle Bannon
Doctoral Practicum Student
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: I utilize an integrative approach of client-centered theory and CBT interventions. My primary goal is to create a collaborative and safe space for my clients to navigate their journey to emotional wellness.

Fun Fact: I have completed over 150 escape rooms in the tri-state area and beyond.

Judy Bijoux-Leist, Psy.D., LMFT
Social Justice Coordinator
Associate Professor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Integration of psychodynamic, family systems, bio-social and multi-cultural approaches

Special Areas of Interest: Relationship issues: families and couples. Identity development (gender, race, religion, abilities). cultural/bi-cultural, immigrant issues*, biracial / multiracial issues*. Social justice. Retired physician with strong interest helping individuals with physical health related stressors** (sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, cancer…) Mood Disorder, Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder*, Grief and Loss, Complex traumas*

Fun Fact: Judy loves to dance!

Kelsey Blum, Psy.D.
Instructor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Areas of interest: Eating disorders, disordered eating behaviors, body image concerns, student athletes, anxiety and performance anxiety concerns, and perfectionism. 

Theoretical orientation: I utilize a mix of client-centered, cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and dialectical behavioral approaches in therapy. 

Fun fact: I have a golden retriever named Chandler. 

Favorite quote: “ -“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anyone” -Maya Angelou

Moira Compton
Master's of Social Work Practicum Student
she/her/hers

Areas of Interest: Grief and loss, life transitions, chronic illness, trauma, interpersonal violence and violence prevention, mindfulness, self-acceptance

Fun Fact: After attending sound bath meditations for many years, Moira started taking courses on sound healing and enjoys playing her crystal singing bowls in her free time.

Favorite Quote: "You do not just wake up and become the butterfly, growth is a process." – Rupi Kaur

Michele Cooper, LCSW
Outreach Coordinator; Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Instructor/Counselor
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Person Centered and Systems Theory approach with a social justice orientation. Integrates aspects of 3rd Wave Cognitive Approaches

Special Areas of Interest: Suicidology, Non Suicidal Self Injury, family of origin concerns, interpersonal concerns, exploration of sexual identity and/or gender identity

Fun Fact: Michele loves hanging out with her dogs and family, college football and anything related to pop culture!

Favorite Quote: There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. – Maya Angelou

Rachel Daltry, Psy.D.
Chair/Director
ISP Coordinator 
Professor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Integrative, drawing primarily from ACT/third-wave behavioral approaches and interpersonal theories. Strong focus on self-compassion, mindfulness, and acceptance.

Special Areas of Interest: Anxiety; perfectionism and self-criticism; guilt and shame; interpersonal difficulties; grief and loss; identity development; sports psychology; exploration of sexual identity and/or gender identity.

Fun Fact: Rachel is the proud mom to Muddy Puddles and Moosey.

Favorite Quote: “You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” ― Maya Angelou

Bree Gould, Psy.D.
Training Coordinator
Assistant Professor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Relationally oriented; incorporating psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, emotion focused and interpersonal techniques in the therapy process.

Special Areas of Interest: Adjustment concerns, identity concerns and development, relationship concerns, emerging mental illness

Favorite Quote: "The only way out is through." - Robert Frost

Meg Hoffer-Collins, Psy.D.
Therapy Dog Coordinator
Assistant Professor/Psychologist
they/them/theirs

Theoretical Orientation: Interpersonal process incorporating dialectical-behavioral, cognitive behavioral, and self-compassion techniques.

Special Areas of Interest: Clinical interests include anxiety, depression, family and relationship distress, and working with diverse student populations (including LGBTQ+ individuals, students of color, students with disabilities, and international students.) Research interests involve social support networks of LGBTQ+ college students and the co-occurrence of LGBTQ+ identity and autism.

Fun Fact: They enjoy playing board games and tabletop roleplaying games, reading, and hanging out with dogs.

Favorite Quote: “Our feelings are our most genuine paths to knowledge. They are chaotic, sometimes painful, sometimes contradictory, but they come from deep within us. And we must key into those feelings and begin to extrapolate from them, examine them for new ways of understanding our experiences. This is how new visions begin, how we begin to posit a new future nourished by the past.” - Audre Lord, 1982 interview

Heather John, MD, PhD
Part-time Psychiatrist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Psychodynamic and psychoanalytic

Special Areas of Interest: Mood, anxiety, personality

Favorite Quote: "Be kind, for everyone is on a hard journey."

Maria Marcelin, LCSW, M.Ed.
Veterans Counselor
Instructor/Part-time Counselor 
She/they

Theoretical approach: Client-centered, biopsychosocial model from which Narrative, CBT, EMDR, and Gestalt elements integrate to promote a culturally competent, collaborative, strengths-based and emotions-focused approach.

Special areas of interest: Traumas (interpersonal abuse/neglect, transgenerational, systemic/historical), the mind-body connection, issues related to identity development, adjustment, moral injury, sexuality/LGBTQ+ and gender, and fish-out-of-water experiences. Multicultural issues (immigration/Third Culture Kids, foster histories, mixed socioeconomic class experiences) and issues of emotional and systemic justice.

Fun Fact: Instead of Santa Claus, Maria gives her child a gift and greeting card from an important historical or cultural figure for the winter holidays.

Favorite Quote: “Only by learning to live in harmony with your contradictions can you keep it all afloat.” Audre Lorde

Kristin Mehr, Ph.D.
Assistant Chair
Tenure and Promotion Coordinator
Professor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Integration of primarily interpersonal, psychodynamic, and ACT theories with appreciation of multicultural identities and societal influences. Strong focus on self-compassion, acceptance of emotions, and mindfulness techniques.

Special Areas of Interest: Relational issues; family concerns; perfectionism and self-criticism; guilt and shame; grief and loss; sexual assault; body image and disordered eating concerns; identity exploration

Favorite Quote: "You're imperfect, and you're wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging." - Breneé Brown

Allison Murphy, LSW
Clinical Case and Referral Specialist
she/her/hers

Areas of interest: Self advocacy and self compassion, adjustment and transition, social justice, service coordination and connection. 

Fun facts:  I have four cats and four dogs, as well as a never ending collection of indoor plants.

Samantha Nardi, Psy.D.
Interim Therapy Dog Coordinator & Social Media Coordinator
Instructor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: I work from a relational, psychodynamic perspective prioritizing the therapeutic relationship as a mechanism of change. I integrate techniques from mindfulness, ACT, DBT, and Gestalt modalities to support healthy coping, self-compassion, and development of insight. I believe in understanding the individual within the context of the systems around them, including oppressive societal forces that impact psychological wellness.

Areas of Interest: self-compassion and self-criticism, individuation from family of origin, grief, and complex trauma

Fun Fact: I have a cat and a dog, both named after It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia characters!

Favorite Quote: "Don't wonder why people go crazy. Wonder why they don't. In the face of what we can lose in a day, in an instant, wonder what the hell it is that makes us hold it together." -Grey's Anatomy

Allison Palmer, Psy.D.
Group Coordinator
Instructor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Integration of psychodynamic, interpersonal, and cognitive-behavioral approaches with attention to multicultural and systemic influences.

Areas of Interest: Interpersonal concerns, family of origin issues, identity exploration, adjustment, anxiety, depression, multicultural issues, and grief and loss.

Fun Fact: I enjoy all types of puzzles!

Stephanie Sibley, Psy.D.
Clinical Coordinator
Associate Professor/Psychologist
she/her/hers

Theoretical Orientation: Interpersonal and psychodynamic approaches. Also integrates elements of cognitive-behavior therapy, mindfulness and family systems

Special Areas of Interest: Trauma, family of origin concerns, interpersonal concerns, multicultural/diversity issues, spirituality, anxiety, depression and shame/self-compassion.

Favorite Quote: “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” - Maya Angelou
 

Dawnielle Simmons, Ph.D., LPC
Instructor/Counselor
black/woman

Theoretical Orientation: My therapeutic approach is centered in decolonizing the profession by interrogating systems and conventional forms of evidence-based practice when working with individuals that are forced to exist on the margins. As a conscious psychologist, my goal is to create a movement of individuals that have access to culturally-informed mental health services and a safe, therapeutic space where students can develop as fully autonomous and psychologically-minded individuals.

Special Areas of Interest: Race-based trauma, Acculturative/Assimilative stress, Gender identity development, QPOC and LGBTQ+ issues, Women's Issues, Black American/Black Diaspora, ADHD, Personality Disorders

Fun Fact: I have over 40 tattoos.

Shannon Skahan, LCSW
Instructor/Counselor
she/her/hers

Theoretical orientation: Integrative and client-centered. I provide trauma-informed care and incorporate aspects of ACT, DBT, EMDR, family systems, and psychodynamic approaches.

Special Areas of Interest: Identity exploration, social justice, life transitions, trauma, family of origin concerns, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, and self-compassion.

Fun Fact: I started college as a clarinet performance major!

Favorite Quote: "may my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living" -E.E. Cummings

Joshua Smith, LPC
Instructor/Counselor
he/him/his

Theoretical Orientation: I use psychodynamic and person-centered treatment to facilitate my clients in addressing anxiety, depression, and family concerns.

Special Areas of Interest: I enjoy working with underserved individuals with a specific focus on men of color.

Fun Fact: I host and curate a concert series that highlights independent artists in the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Favorite Quote: “Nothing is more creative... nor destructive... than a brilliant mind with a purpose.” ― Dan Brown

Moosey
Embedded therapy dog
she/her

Special Area of Interest: Belly rubs, butt scratches, and cuddles; following my mom around; snacks
Fun Facts: Moosey is a rescue from North Carolina and loves to chase birds and bunnies; She is Muddy Puddles' younger sister.
Favorite Quote: “BACCCCCOOOOOOOON!" - Beggin Strips commercial

Ruby
Embedded Therapy Dog
she/her/hers

Special Area of Interest: People, greeting people, getting rubs from people. Ruby also loves barking at the television, playing with her sister Izzy and making her brother Scout howl.
Fun Facts: Ruby will do anything for a treat. She has a signature move called “the melt” that she does on every single person she meets. She loves to swim. She was the runt of her litter.
Favorite Quote: “Happiness is a warm puppy.” – Charles Schultz

Barbara  DiEdwardo
Administrative Assistant I
she/her/hers

I have been here at WCU since 2015 and have enjoyed all the folks I have worked with! I am super excited to be here at the Counseling Center and working with the wonderful staff here! (including the furry ones!)

Some of my favorite things are spending time with my family, working in my yard and firepits!

I don’t have a favorite quote, but my favorite word is KINDNESS!

Kelly Donegan
Clerk Typist III
she/her/hers

Fun Facts: Kelly loves spending time with family, cooking classes, playing card games, corn hole, the beach, Nashville, reading, and chocolate. She adores her 2 German shorthair pointers (Nylah and Murphy) and her grand fur baby Tucker. She also loves Muddy like one of her own and spoils him at work with Rachel Rays Meatballs.