About Us
LYNNETTE S. BAILEY
THERAPIST & CO-OWNER
MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS,
CCSOTS
“Lynne” is a 1992 graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a 2011 graduate of East Carolina University with a Master of Social Work Degree. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Certified Clinical Supervisor, and Clinically Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist. She provides services to children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups. Lynne specializes in working with individuals with co-occurring disorders in addition to providing sex offender specific treatment for registered sex offenders in addition to juvenile offenders. She uses a variety of therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy in addition to others depending on the needs of the individual. Lynne’s experience varies from working with the Department of Social Services, public school system, and in a private practice mental health setting.
ERIC BAILEY
THERAPIST & CO-OWNER
MS, LCMHC
Eric has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings including; various enhanced mental health services focusing on adults and children with severe mental health issues, worked for many years in the public school system as an Exceptional Children’s teacher specializing in adolescents with behavioral and emotional issues and worked for Easter Seals with children and adults with special needs specializing in therapeutic recreation. Eric currently works with athletes with performance anxiety and serves as a local high school golf coach. Eric utilizes cognitive behavioral, behavioral modification, mindfulness, emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. Eric attended East Carolina University for his undergrad Degree and received his Masters of Science degree from Capella University in Mental Health Counseling. Eric is licensed by the state of North Carolina as a licensed professional counselor.
THERAPIST & CO-OWNER
MS, LCMHC, LCAS, CCS, CCSOTS
Michael is a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, Certified Clinical Supervisor in Addiction, and Clinically Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist. Michael specialized in treating members with dual diagnoses of mental health and addictions. He is trained in conducting DWI assessments and doing SAIOP groups. He also does sex offender assessment (both adult and adolescents) as well as individual therapy with members. He has experience working with members diagnosed with Traumatic Brain injury and behavioral issues. He has over 30 years of experience working with members with Individual Developmental Disabilities and writing both positive and restrictive behavior programs utilizing Applied Behavioral Analysis techniques (over 225 hours of educational training). Additionally, he is a Registered Yoga Trainer (over 250 hours of trainer) which he incorporates in histreatment with members as needed. He use the following treatment modalities,Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Person Centered Therapy,and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Michael got his undergraduate degree from Campbell University and his Masters from North Carolina State University. He got his training in Applied Behavioral Analysis through Florida Institute, Yoga training through the Yoga Connection and TBI training through Brain Injury of North Carolina.
JAMES D. (DOUG) EDWARDS
(JACKSONVILLE OFFICE)
THERAPIST
LCSW
Originally from Central Illinois, Doug received his Masters in Social Work at Indiana University in 1992 with a special emphasis on mental health issues effecting families and children. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has had a broad range of professional experiences, having worked many years in both mental health and substance abuse treatment in a variety of settings. Doug works primarily with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, and a variety of mental health and addiction-related issues. He also greatly enjoys assisting couples to improve, build, and restore their relationships. Doug is primarily a Client-Centered Clinician, and utilizes Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, Behavioral, and Insight-Oriented Therapy techniques in addition to others, in order to help people to achieve their goals. He is a therapist who is a Christian, and when asked, is able to offer counseling services in which integrate faith, Biblical concepts, and psychology in a way that respects each individual’s right to develop their own beliefs.
SHARON JEANES
THERAPIST
MSW, LCSW
Sharon is a 1983 graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a 2012 graduate of East Carolina University with a Master of Social Work Degree. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a broad range of professional experiences. Sharon has worked in a variety of therapeutic settings including in various enhanced mental health services focusing on adults and children with mental health issues, and in the public school system as a School Worker specializing in children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional issues. Sharon utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, behavioral modification, mindfulness, and emotional regulation in her work with adolescents.
JAMILA AYOUBI
THERAPIST
LCMHC, LCASA
Jamila is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Women & Gender Studies from Central Michigan University before moving back to North Carolina. Here, she earned her Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. Jamila has worked with several populations in the community, including survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, clients with substance use diagnoses, including those with co-occurring mental health and substance use diagnoses, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Jamila's experience includes working within the legal system, community mental health, public school system, and private practice sector. She utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches in order to best serve the client, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Feminist Therapy.
AMITY S. HINES
THERAPIST
MSW, LCSW, LCAS-A
Amity is a 2015 graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. She received her Master of Social Work degree from East Carolina University in 2016 after completing the Advanced Standing Masters Program. Amity has experience working with children, adults, families and groups. Amity currently works with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, behavior related concerns, substance use and trauma. Amity’s experience varies from working with the Department of Social Services as a Child Protective Services Social Worker and in a private mental health setting. Amity utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches which include; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy.
PURNELL T. PAGE JR.
THERAPIST
MSW, LCSWA
Purnell is a 2008 Graduate of Park University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a 2020 graduate of University of New England with a Master’s of Social Work Degree. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and has a broad range of professional experience. Purnell works in a variety of therapeutic settings including mental health services focusing on adults and children with mental health challenges. He also has experience with the North Carolina Juvenile Justice System, Detention Center, as well as the NC Public-School System as a counselor specializing in children with behavioral and emotional issues. Purnell utilizes social emotional learning therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
MICHAELA "DEANE" FORSYTHE
THERAPIST
LCMHC, LCAS
Deane is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Drug and Alcohol Studies from East Carolina University, where she also earned her Master of Science degree in Clinical Counseling with a Military and Trauma Certification. Deane’s experience includes working within the community mental health sector with the substance use population as well as the co-occurring substance use and mental health population and multiple populations within the private practice sector. Deane prefers to see adults but will accept adolescents aged 16 and over on a case-by-case basis. Her overall goal is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for clients to grow and ultimately become the version of themselves they want to be. She utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches in order to best serve the client, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Deane is down-to-earth, honest and direct while extending and encouraging unadulterated authenticity.
ANDIE MIESMER
THERAPIST
MSW, LCSWA
Andie is a 2011 graduate of Hunter College CUNY with a Bachelor’s in English Language and a 2015 graduate of New York University with a Master's of Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate. Andie has worked in a broad range of areas within the field, with experience in specific areas of foster care, child abuse, hoarding, substance abuse, and oncology. The connecting focus of Andie’s work has been encouraging resilience and supporting clients to rely on inward knowledge as they continue on their path. Andie offers a flexible model of therapy, with a best fit approach for each client’s presenting challenges, whether that means leaning into areas of DBT, CBT, somatic experiencing, psychodynamic and attachment approaches. Each person’s therapy may look different. Andie is encouraging of self-kindness in therapy sessions. She is open to meeting for therapy with all ages over 7-8 years, is an LGBTQ ally and accepting of all races and cultures.
STEPHANIE BEVERLY
MS, LCAS-A
Stephanie is a recent graduate of the University of Mount Olive where she earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Mount Olive in 2014. Stephanie is currently a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate (LCAS-A) and will be applying to become a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHC-A) in the near future. Stephanie has experience working with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and is currently offering social and emotional learning support in local schools. Additionally, she has experience as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer who advocates for children in the family court system. At Simplicity, Stephanie provides services for individuals with substance use diagnoses including those with co-occurring mental health and substance use diagnoses. She utilizes primarily Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral, Solution-Focused, and Client-Centered therapeutic approaches.
MELISSA CULBRETH
LIFE COACH & COUNSELOR
Melissa has worked in a variety of environments helping people navigate difficult times and life transitions. She holds a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from North Carolina Central University and a Master of Divinity from Campbell University Divinity School. While Melissa’s career has evolved over time, she spent 9 ½ years as a chaplain in the North Carolina Army National Guard. She had one combat deployment to Iraq and worked stateside with soldiers and their families helping with issues ranging from transitions to and from deployment, relationship issues, PTSD, health issues and others. Melissa enjoyed working with soldiers from such diverse social and spiritual / non-spiritual backgrounds. Additionally, she has managed programs to help at risk youth obtain educational and employment opportunities, taught classes on life skills to adolescents and adults, and was a chaplain at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, NC where she worked in trauma, oncology and pediatrics. Melissa has studied Qigong and meditation and has taught classes for children and adults on meditation and meditative movement. Melissa and her service dog, Lea, enjoy hiking, camping, and other outdoor activities. Melissa trains in martial arts and enjoys sports of all types. Melissa is providing services through telehealth as a Life coach and Counselor. She accepts self-pay only at a rate of $30 for 30 minute session and $60 for 60 minute session.
EMILY PLATT
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
STUDENT MS IN CLINICAL COUNSELING
CAHS OFFICE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANT
Emily is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern who has completed all curriculum required of the Clinical Counseling program at East Carolina University and is in her last semester of clinical internship. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown in Pennsylvania, where she is from. Emily’s experience with substance use and co-occurring mental health treatment began in 2021, when she worked as a case manager at a Medication Assisted Treatment Facility for substance use disorders. She decided to leave her job in Pennsylvania to attend the Clinical Counseling Program with an emphasis in Addictions at East Carolina University, where she will tentatively graduate from this December, 2023. Emily prefers to see Adults and Adolescents 16+, but will make an exception if needed. She provides a safe space with good energy for clients to discuss stressors, learn coping skills, or process experiences. Emily’s counseling style utilizes pieces from the following techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Art Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and most importantly empathy. Emily is only accepting self-pay clients currently at a discounted rate until she becomes provisionally licensed in early winter of 2024.
Supervised by Michaela Deane Forsythe, LCMHC
License #14654
MAGDALENA ARIAS
OFFICE MANAGER