On this blog we provide a brief description of the clinicians currently seeing clients at Pfeiffer Institute Reach. In general, we would discourage requesting a particular clinician, as we are more familiar with their areas of expertise, not to mention schedules! These brief "bioflyers" are intended to give you an idea of the kinds of people you would meet with, giving you a sense of familiarity so it's not quite so intimidating to come talk to someone you don't know!
CLINIC DIRECTOR
Susan Perkins, PhD
I am the Clinic Director of Pfeiffer Institute Reach, as well as an Associate Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Pfeiffer University (Raleigh/Durham). I am responsible for the day-to-day operations of the clinic, as well as the majority of the supervision. I also want to let everyone know about the clinic, so if you would be interested in having brochures or flyers, please contact me. Likewise, I am interested in forming partnerships (e.g., internships) with other mental health agencies in the area. As part of our training process and reaching my own professional goals, I plan to begin seeing clients at Reach soon. I am also available in case of questions or problems.
I earned my PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Virginia Tech in 2010 and led the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling track at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho for 8 years. I am passionate about helping people reach their goals and enjoy focusing on working with couples and families to help them develop rich, rewarding relationships. Much of my clinical work has been helping families with children who have behavioral and emotional disorders. Seeing families transition from chaos and frustration to having fun together and valuing each other has been some of my life's most rewarding work. I also enjoy researching therapy effectiveness, client factors, and the impact of technology on relationships. I believe that the most effective therapists are mini-researchers who approach their work with an investigative mindset.
On a personal note, I married Ross Perkins in 2005 and we have two daughters. Esther is 9 and Amelia is 3. Somehow two cats and a bouncy dog also joined our family, adding to both the fun and chaos.
Below you will find a brief description of the Interns at Reach.
This symbol beside an intern's name means they are trained in PREPARE/ENRICH®, a customized online assessment tool that identifies a couple’s strength and growth areas. A trained facilitator provides feedback sessions in which they help the couple understand their results as well as to learn important relationship skills. Learn more at www.prepare-enrich.com.
THERAPIST INTERNS
Andrea Kinnaugh
As a Pfeiffer Therapist intern, I hope to foster a safe and authentic environment for people. I see therapy as your time. Whether you are a couple wanting a more intimate connection, a family adjusting to life transitions, or individual experiencing feelings of being stuck, I want to create a space for you to explore changes you would like to make in your life. I understand there is no single approach to address everyone's needs. This is why I pull from different modalities such as Solution Focused Therapy, Experiential, and Mindfulness techniques to tailor a holistic and individualized approach to meet you and/or your relationships specific needs.
I am originally from New Jersey and received my undergraduate degree in psychology at Towson University. I have 5 years experience providing direct care services to adults and children with behavioral health needs and/or intellectual/ developmental disabilities and 14 years experience working within North Carolina public behavioral health system. I am passionate about working with people that are experiencing the following: anxiety, depression, life transitions, premarital counseling, couples counseling, caregiver stress, and adjustment to medical/developmental diagnosis.
Casey Williams
Hi! My name is Casey Williams and I am very excited to begin therapy with clients and look forward to getting to know each one that I have and building a therapeutic relationship with them. The areas I am most passionate and knowledgeable about are: eating disorders, body image struggles, substance use, addictions, premarital and marital counseling, and helping families strengthen their relationships with one another. I also welcome any incorporation of spirituality when a client would like to incorporate that into therapy. My personal therapeutic approach is one similar to a cheerleader, because I believe that life gets tough, but it is possible to get through anything that happens and I am here to help cheer you on while you walk through that process. I personally like using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy because I believe that thoughts influence emotions which influence behavior. I like challenging destructive thought processes to help regulate emotions better. I also use Structural Family Therapy because I like helping others construct healthy boundaries to improve relationship quality. In addition to being an intern at Pfeiffer Institute Reach, I am also fortunate to be a part of an organization where I can help women in their recovery.
Erin Coleman
Hello! My name is Erin Coleman and I'm
a therapist intern at Pfeiffer Institute Reach. I'm a native of Cary, North
Carolina and have lived in this area for majority of my life. I received my
undergraduate degree from UNC Charlotte in 2015 where I studied Psychology with
two minors in Child & Family Development and Urban Youth & Communities.
While I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Charlotte, I moved back to the Cary area
to pursue my graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
As a therapist intern, I want my work with clients to encourage
growth in an individual while also promoting support from those around them. My
special interests include working with those who wish to incorporate their
faith and spirituality in therapy, minority populations, and adolescents and
their families. I am passionate about helping individuals, couples, families
discover new meanings to the way they live their lives. I consider it an honor
to walk the journey with my clients as they explore the different sectors of
their life that make their story unique. I strive to use my session rooms as a
safe space for my clients to use our time in a way that benefits them most. To
allow me to do that, I'll use an integrative approach that includes elements of
the Structural Family therapy approach as well as Cognitive-Behavioral therapy
approach and others.
Erin Healy
Hello! I am a therapist intern at Pfeiffer Institute Reach Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic in Morrisville, NC. I am currently working towards my hours to be a fully licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of North Carolina as well as being a full time graduate student. I received my Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Augusta State University in Augusta, Georgia. I have experience in crisis work from volunteering with Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services in Georgia, and look forward to gaining a variety of experiences from my internship at Pfeiffer Reach.
I have a systemic view of therapy and use a combination of family systems and post-modern therapy models to help clients. Specifically, I work from a Solution-Focused Therapy model to help set and reach goals with my clients. Other styles of therapy I may use include Structural Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. My therapeutic style emphasizes collaboration with clients to acknowledge their inner strengths and resources to help aid them in their troubles. I want to give my clients the best support and help possible. Through this internship I will be supervised by Dr. Portia Smith who will guide me in understanding my clients and the best course of treatment for them as well as continuing to help me grow personally as a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Janet Farrell
Hello,
my name is Janet Farrell and I am a Therapist Intern at Pfeiffer Institute
Reach. Born and bred in North Carolina I receive a bachelor’s degree in English
and psychology the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
After
a 30-year career as a CPA and business manager I am finally pursing a lifelong
goal to help those dealing with challenges in their lives by becoming a
marriage and family therapist. I am passionate about helping others in their
personal growth and relationships. I endeavor to support my clients through
challenging times to greater healing, treating the whole person, while considering
the mind, body and spirit. I recognize that it is especially important to
provide treatment that is based on the needs of the individual or family. I
believe in joining with the client to provide a personalized approach
incorporating various therapeutic methods.
Respecting where each client is on their journey, I seek to provide a
safe environment where I can gently encourage clients in their growth. My goal
is to provide compassionate, quality care and assist individuals, couples and
families in reaching their highest potential by optimizing their relationships
with others and more importantly, with themselves. I am especially interested
in working with those experiencing grief and loss as well as families
struggling with substance abuse. It is my honor and privilege to assist you in
accessing the wisdom that is already within you.
Luree Benjamin
Hello! My name is Luree Benjamin, and it is a pleasure
to meet and join with you as you journey towards change. I obtained my Bachelor’s
in Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and am completing
my final year of the Family and Marriage Therapy program at Pfeiffer University.
As a therapist intern at Reach, I
strive to listen to you with empathy while offering a warm, non-judgmental
environment, so you leave our sessions feeling understood and heard. I am
inquisitive by nature and enjoy working with people from all cultures and
backgrounds. I am genuinely dedicated to
helping individuals and couples develop deeper levels of connection and
intimacy.
I am a native of The Bahamas, and in my spare time, I
love spending quality time with my family, friends, and beau. I enjoy reading,
traveling, collecting quotes, sleeping, cooking, dancing and listening to
music.
Michael Sleigh
My name is Michael Sleigh,
and I was born and raised on the west coast in both the U.S. and Canada. I graduated with a B.A. in Social and Behavioral
Studies from George Fox University in Oregon. After moving to North Carolina over 3 1/2
years ago, I decided Marriage and Family
Therapy was the counseling path I wanted to pursue, which led me to attend Pfeiffer University.
My interest in the counseling field started over a decade
ago with a desire to see human potential actualized. I chose this particular
type of therapy because I believe each
person is affected not only by their actions
but by those in their closest circle as well.
Therefore, I feel it is vital for
therapy to include all those who may be a part of the equation.
I use a strengths-based, collaborative approach to the therapeutic process. By collaborative, I mean every participant has an expertise and an
active role. I trust clients to be the
expert on themselves, and I work to
listen and understand what they already
know. Then I work as the expert to help
guide toward new solutions or a clearer
understanding of themselves or their situation.
To facilitate these changes, I aim to help set realistic goals and
empower others to accomplish what they need.
I want each person to know they have someone behind them; I am a support to
help others work towards change, which at times can be challenging and
overwhelming. My hope is every client I
encounter knows my sincere interest in seeing their potential grow to the point
of thriving, and I work to the best of my abilities to see that they make gains
in the direction that they are wanting or needing to go.
Five years ago, I said, “I
do!” and my wife and I were blessed
with our first child in 2015. In my free
time, my interests include cycling (now with
my toddler along for the ride), researching cars, roasting and drinking coffee
with friends, and photography. I love the outdoors, the setting where I make
time to reflect and simply enjoy the beautiful world in which we live.
Olatunde D.R. Howard
I am beginning the fulfilling my calling as a Therapist Intern at Pfeiffer Institute Reach.
In an integrative therapeutic approach, I strive to give clients a Cognitive Structural Existential EXPERIENCE. I personally call this approach C.S.E.E. therapy:
An exploration of Cognitive perceptions, Structural role assumptions, and Existential life missions in the Experiential present moment.
Through C.S.E.E. therapy, I strive for the ultimate relational intimacy.
I seek to connect and work with couples on newlywed issues, conflict resolution, and enhanced marital satisfaction. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia. I also served as a certified corrections officer for 10 years at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Key West, Florida. I have worked as an in-home skill builder of individuals of Autism. I presently work as a therapist assistant of adolescents with Eating Disorders.
I am a husband of 14 years to the woman I longed for all of my life, and a father of 7 blessings; I no longer think of myself without them. I enjoy reading, writing blogs and short stories, watching movies with my family, and pursuing spiritual life. I offer you the opportunity to explore the core of you who you are in the deepest connections of your life.
In an integrative therapeutic approach, I strive to give clients a Cognitive Structural Existential EXPERIENCE. I personally call this approach C.S.E.E. therapy:
An exploration of Cognitive perceptions, Structural role assumptions, and Existential life missions in the Experiential present moment.
Through C.S.E.E. therapy, I strive for the ultimate relational intimacy.
I seek to connect and work with couples on newlywed issues, conflict resolution, and enhanced marital satisfaction. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Composition from Morehouse College in Atlanta Georgia. I also served as a certified corrections officer for 10 years at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office in Key West, Florida. I have worked as an in-home skill builder of individuals of Autism. I presently work as a therapist assistant of adolescents with Eating Disorders.
I am a husband of 14 years to the woman I longed for all of my life, and a father of 7 blessings; I no longer think of myself without them. I enjoy reading, writing blogs and short stories, watching movies with my family, and pursuing spiritual life. I offer you the opportunity to explore the core of you who you are in the deepest connections of your life.
Tatiana Chapple
MMFT Program at Pfeiffer University
Do you want to become a Marriage and Family Therapist? Would you like to work at Pfeiffer Institute Reach? The Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Pfeiffer University (Raleigh-Durham Campus) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). The program is designed to prepare graduate students as Marriage and Family Therapists and agents of positive change to work specifically with individuals, couples, and families in a wide variety of work settings. The mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program is to provide effective clinical and academic training to students who affirm the dignity and integrity of all individuals and how demonstrate respect for diversity through life-long learning and the competent practice of marriage and family therapy. The program is intended to meet the academic and experiential requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in the state of North Carolina, and to prepare students for the national examination in Marital and Family Therapy.
If you are interested in learning more about the COAMFTE-accredited Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Pfeiffer University (Raleigh-Durham Campus), please click here.
