Tripp Johnson is the founder and CEO of AIM: Advaita Integrated Medicine, and is the owner of Green Hill Recovery. As the CEO, Tripp is responsible for strategic decisions, organizational performance, and culture management. Tripp ensures that all team members are aligned with AIM’s core values: living centered, accountability, unity, transparency, and growth. Additionally, Tripp is responsible for developing AIM’s brand – the externalization of its culture – which involves representing the organization locally, regionally, and nationally.

Tripp graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a minor in Systems Engineering. At West Point, Tripp was a four-year member of the Varsity Tennis Team and winner of the Patriot League Championship. After graduation, he was commissioned into the Army as an infantry officer and completed the U.S. Army Ranger School, Airborne School, and Air Assault School. Tripp deployed to Southern Afghanistan as an infantry platoon leader in 2012-13 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon return, he was selected to be an executive officer before finishing his service as a battalion operations officer. Prior to joining Green Hill, Tripp was a second-year law student at UNC-CH and interned at the North Carolina Department of Justice. Tripp left law school to pursue his passion for helping young men navigate the complexities of early adulthood.

Throughout his experience in college and in the Army, Tripp saw the devastating effects that alcohol and drugs can have on emerging adults. He empathizes with those who turn to drugs and alcohol to make sense of this confusing world. When his own life was out of balance, Tripp became a dedicated practitioner of ashtanga yoga and silent meditation. For the past six years, Tripp has prioritized yoga and meditation daily, as those practices have provided him a path to peace which previously eluded him. Tripp is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and experiences to help others take control of their lives and reach their fullest potential.

Tripp is a student of organizational psychology and a proponent of conscious leadership. When he’s not working, you’re likely to find Tripp in a coffee shop with his nose buried in a book on Eastern philosophy or leadership. In addition to his work at AIM and Green Hill, Tripp enjoys consulting with entrepreneurs and helping them turn their passions into viable, values-based, and purpose-driven enterprises. He lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, Kelsey, daughter, Zoey, and their dog Gizmo.

Education

United States Military Academy at West Point (West Point, NY) — B.A.

Matt Bader is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with subspecialty training in addiction psychiatry.

Originally from New Jersey, he found a second home in North Carolina during his residency training at Duke University. He spent a year away from the  Tar heel State completing his fellowship training in addictions at the  Medical University of South Carolina in sunny Charleston, SC. He has happily traded coastal living for a return to the Triangle and all the  diversity that it offers!

Given his specialty training, he has a great deal of experience treating a wide range of addictions including alcohol, opiates, marijuana, cocaine, and prescription medications just to name a few. However, he has found that in most individuals struggling with addiction issues, there is often also an ongoing battle against mood issues such as depression or anxiety. Thus, he strives to treat the  client as a “whole” individual rather than focusing on one side of the  addiction versus mood coin. Along those lines, he also has a great deal of experience treating a wide range of mental health problems including depression, generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder outside of the  context of addiction.

His goal is to provide compassionate, timely, and evidence-based care so that you can get to feeling better and living the  life that you want to live. His treatment approaches include Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive therapy, and motivational enhancement therapy.

Education:

Medical University of South Carolina (Charleston, SC) — Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship
Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC) — Psychiatry Residency
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (New Brunswick, NJ) — M.D.
Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ) — B.A.

Corey is the Clinical Director providing leadership, supervision and quality assurance of the clinical teams at both Advaita Integrative Medicine and Green Hill Recovery. Corey holds a Masters in Social Work from  University of South Carolina and a B.S. in Community Health Education from UNC-Wilmington.

Prior to obtaining her Masters, Corey worked under the Governor’s Crime Commission Grant in Wilmington,  NC aimed at reducing recidivism in youth through after school programming. This led to a nomination in  2015 as one of Wilmington’s Women to Watch. While receiving her Masters, Corey worked as a research  assistant with South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health publishing research on best practices,  access, delivery models and current implications for policy related to Behavioral Health and Substance Use delivery systems in South Carolina. During Corey’s four years with Carolina Outreach she served as a Community Support Team Lead, Site Director for both Raleigh and Durham Sites and the Director of the Behavioral Health Urgent Care. While at Carolina Outreach Corey co-created and implemented a new delivery model for medication management services aimed at increasing access to care, reducing provider burnout and reducing no-show rates.

Corey brings a variety of experiences including almost 10 years of program development and implementation, research, inpatient and emergency department social work, Community Mental Health enhanced services and clinical leadership. She is trained in ACT, CBT,  CPT, mindfulness based strategies and intensively trained in DBT. Corey believes in utilizing a relational approach to both her clinical practice and her leadership. She aims to assist individuals and supervisees in operating closest to their authentic self by aligning their goals and purpose with their innermost values for increased work and life satisfaction.

Corey believes human empowerment is intrinsic to whole-person care and that we, as practitioners, are the lucky guides in the human process towards flourishing. Corey hopes her role at AIM/GHR will create increased access to high-quality, whole-person care in Behavioral Health and Substance Use treatment while also focusing on developing clinical sophistication within her clinical team.

To get to know more about Corey, check out our recent Meet the Team post on the blog!

Education

University of North Carolina at Wilmington (Wilmington, NC) – B.S. Community Health Education

University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC) – Masters in Social Work

Teresa Terry is the Director of Operations at AIM, and has been with us since Fall of 2021. Teresa is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day functions of the office, and keeps everything running smoothly and efficiently. Working alongside our providers, Teresa ensures that our patients receive the highest quality of care in a timely manner. She coordinates care with patients and makes sure that they understand the financial and insurance aspects of their care.

Having been in the behavioral health field for 12 years, she has extensive experience managing a behavioral health practice and understands the ins and outs of the industry. Teresa holds Bachelor’s in Art and Art History from UNC Charlotte. Having a passion for photography and the arts, she values the humanistic approach to mental health and wellness. She enjoys advocating for and empowering patients to pursue their individual strengths and joys in life, all while helping to destigmatize mental health and addiction. 

Teresa was born and raised in Connecticut, but called the Charlotte area home for most of her adult life. She has been in Raleigh since 2008 and has enjoyed watching the city grow. Outside of the office, Teresa enjoys spending time with her husband and family.

Education

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, NC) — B.A.

Donna Bauer joined Advaita Integrated Medicine as our Community Outreach Representative in the spring of 2022, and later transitioned into the role of Admissions Director in early 2023.

Donna comes to Advaita Integrated Medicine with over 12 years of experience in the leadership and business development realm. Donna has a passion for customer service and business development, in the pursuit of holistic wellness. She spent 4 years moving throughout the state of North Carolina to various locations with Planet Fitness to either jumpstart a program or help to stabilize an already existing program. Throughout this experience, she found her love for problem-solving, business development, and empowering team members. 

Although Donna thoroughly enjoyed her time in the fitness industry, she realized that being in the behavioral health field was her true calling. She still stays in touch with her love for fitness by occasionally attending classes at Orangetheory, as she loves the connections she makes with members and the positive energy in the studio. Donna sees how physical health and mental health are intertwined, and loves to support others in engaging in healthy lifestyles that support their overall wellbeing.

Donna is extremely passionate about Advaita Integrated Medicine serving as an integrated practice with a whole-person care model, where we don’t approach health and wellness from a “one size fits all” perspective. Instead, we take an individualized approach that spans the whole continuum of care, all while paying attention to dual diagnoses and comorbid symptoms. She takes this very seriously during the admissions process by seeking to oversee, improve, and strengthen timely access to our providers and services. Her coordination with our providers and administrative team members allows us to provide a top-notch patient experience and exceptional quality of care, all of which enables patients to enhance their overall treatment and wellness outcomes.

Donna resides just north of Raleigh with her fiancé and 2 dogs, Jack and Goose. When Donna isn’t working, you’re likely to find her outdoors, spending quality time with family, practicing yoga, or finding other ways to stay active. 

Donna sits on the board for Oakwood 24, one of the largest fundraising efforts for the nonprofit Healing Transitions, which is an organization that offers peer-based recovery services to homeless and underserved individuals with alcoholism and other drug addictions. She resides just north of Raleigh with her fiancé and 2 dogs, Jack and Goose. When Donna isn’t working, you’re likely to find her outdoors, spending quality time with family, running, or finding other ways to stay active. She finds serenity in her home away from home on the coast of Belhaven, NC and the inter coastal waterway.

Dr. R. Dewayne Book is a Psychiatrist at Advaita Integrated Medicine, having joined our team in the late spring of 2022. Dr. Book specializes in addictive disorders (such as substance use and alcohol), having studied neurobiology and biochemistry to understand chemical brain functions. This knowledge informs his well-rounded, individualized approach to treating patients struggling with addiction, an approach that also includes medication management, psychotherapy, patient education, and social network development. Dr. Book also offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at Advaita Integrated Medicine. TMS is often used when a patient has treatment-resistant depression and has previously tried other treatment methods and modalities.

Dr. Book received his medical degree from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, Georgia. He was the outstanding resident of the year during his residency at the Department of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center.

Working in a variety of settings and having a private practice since 1999 has led him to have over 30 years of experience treating patients with a wide range of psychiatric conditions, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Prior to coming to Advaita Integrated Medicine, Dr. Book was the Medical Director of the Addiction Recovery Center at MindPath, and was the Medical Director at Fellowship Hall for 10 years.

Dr. Book received the ROCK Sleyster Scholarship from American Medical Association as well as the Fredrick B. Glaser Award from the Governors Institute. He was president of the NC Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) chapter, a guest editor of the NC Medical Journal, and served as an adjunct faculty member at Duke University Medical Center.

Education:
Mercer University School Of Medicine — M.D.

University Of Georgia School Of Social Work — M.S.W.

Louisiana State University — B.S.

Lindsay Hildreth, PA-C, serves at Advaita Integrated Medicine as a psychiatric physician assistant who provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management to patients in person and through telehealth. Lindsay was a biology teacher for 13 years and a yoga instructor for almost 17 years. She has been a PA since 2018, entirely focusing on psychiatric medicine since.

Lindsay is very passionate about patient empowerment through patient education, and believes medication is one part of a multi-faceted approach towards mental and physical wellness. “I am passionate about various therapeutic modalities- including talk-therapy, exercise, nutritional therapy, meditation and mindfulness -and how they work in conjunction with medication to manage symptoms and disease processes”, she stated. She sees how emotional wellness and physical wellness are deeply intertwined within each person, with each affecting the other in positive or negative ways. As an educator by nature and experience, a medical provider by training, and a practitioner in holistic wellness by passion- she hopes to empower patients at Advaita Integrated Medicine to become masters of their own wellness, both emotionally and physically.

In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys hiking, exercising, practicing yoga and spending time with her family and friends.

Education

University of Dayton (Dayton, OH) – Bachelors of Science in Secondary Science Education 

SUNY Brockport (Brockport, NY) Masters of Arts in Liberal Studies

Wingate University (Wingate, NC) –  Masters of Science In Physician Assistant Studies

Hannah Snyder, PA-C, is passionate about helping patients transform their mental health and feel their best.  She is earning her Doctorate of Medical Science degree through the University of Lynchburg while  completing a fellowship at Advaita Integrated Medicine as our first PA fellow. Having completed a clinical rotation at Advaita Integrated Medicine with preceptor Julie Romeis, DMSc, PA-C, as a PA student, she is excited to further her education and continue working with the very patients and clinicians that inspired her to specialize in psychiatry. She provides services at our location in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Before PA school, Hannah attended Lenoir-Rhyne University and earned a B.S in Biology. She worked as a nursing assistant in a long-term care facility and on a neuro/oncology unit in a hospital setting throughout her undergraduate education. These valuable encounters and experiences with patients inspired her to further her career in healthcare. 

As a High Point, NC native, Hannah is delighted to help patients in her home state navigate their mental health journey. She values and utilizes a holistic approach when working with patients, recognizing that you must treat the entire person and address all aspects of their life while working toward mental wellness. Her personal experiences with mental health and addiction provide her with unique insight and allow her to empathize with patients. Highly valuing her patients’ input and expert opinions on themselves, she prioritizes discussing multiple options for treatment while placing patients at the center of their care and decision-making. 

In her free time, Hannah enjoys cuddling with her dog, playing video games with her husband, going to Carolina Hurricanes games, and baking.

Education:

University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, VA) — Master of Physician Assistant Medicine 

Lenoir-Rhyne University (Hickory, NC) — B.S in Biology

Mari-Jane Shaffer is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Advaita Integrated Medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina. Specifically, she is a post masters’ certificate prepared advanced practice nurse. She has been a registered nurse for 38 years and a nurse practitioner for 8 years. After working with patients in a variety of settings as an RN for 28 years, she decided to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing degree at Duke University specializing in Family Practice.

As a Family Nurse Practitioner, she realized that working with patients on their mental health was pivotal in order for them to achieve optimal wellness. She then completed a post masters’ certificate in psychiatric mental health nursing at East Carolina University. She is dual certified in both family practice/primary care and psychiatric-mental health. She has worked with military families and retirees, at community health centers and in private practice with diverse patient populations.

Mari-Jane enjoys working with patients of all ages to help them achieve optimal wellness. She works diligently with patients across the lifespan (children, adolescents, adults) on all aspects of mental and physical health care. Mari-Jane is passionate about integrated care and caring for the whole person. This process involves mutual respect, open communication, and individual goal setting.

 

Education:

East Carolina University (Greenville, NC) — Post Masters’ Certificate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Duke University (Durham, NC) — Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner

University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Greensboro, NC) — Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Caroline is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with her Bachelor’s in Social Work from NC State University and her Masters in Social Work from East Carolina University.  She has been practicing in the mental health and substance abuse field since 1991.  She currently provides individual therapy to adults with issues including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, life transitions, codependency, grief, and loss via telehealth and in-person at Advaita Integrated Medicine’s location in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Caroline has worked in a variety of settings throughout her career including inpatient psychiatric care, partial hospitalization treatment, outpatient substance abuse treatment, outpatient psychiatry, and grief counseling.  She was a case manager and therapist at Holly Hill Hospital from 1995-2015 (part and full time, with some time off to raise children!).  She moved into outpatient psychiatry in 2015 and began her career as an individual and group therapist in Wake Forest and Raleigh, NC.  She is known for her warm, compassionate, non-judgmental, and humorous approach to life, people, and therapy.

Caroline’s practice is the culmination of years of training, along with professional and personal experience. She has a deep respect for the strength of the human spirit and its ability to endure the most difficult circumstances. She sees therapy as an opportunity to join with her clients on the road to recovery, helping move past “stuck” places and encouraging growth and strength.  Her passion is to assist clients in reclaiming their worth by being vulnerable, open, and transparent and learning to appreciate themselves for the amazing humans they are!

​​Education:

East Carolina University (Greenville, NC) — M.S.W.

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) — B.S.W.

Julie Kimball, MSW, LCSW is a clinical therapist at Advaita Integrated Medicine. She graduated from NC State University with a Bachelors in Social Work and received her Masters in Social Work from Boston University. She has spent her career working in Addiction Treatment Centers, Community Mental Health, and in the last 8 years providing individual therapy to adults. She is passionate about working with individuals and families struggling with drug, alcohol, or other addictions and helping them to find recovery in a way that is meaningful for them. She is an active participant in the therapy process and always draws from client strengths. Julie uses a variety of treatment modalities including cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy. She strives to provide an atmosphere that is accepting, non-judgmental and empowering. She has extensive experience working with drug or alcohol addictions/recovery, anxiety, navigating divorce and co-parenting, grief and loss and is trained in EMDR.

Julie is passionate about helping her clients find and connect with their authentic self while pushing them to meet their stated goals. She sees therapy and prioritizing mental health as a courageous step to becoming the person you want to be and always feels honored to get to be a part of that journey.

Education

Boston University (Boston, MA) — M.S.W.

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) — B.S.W.

Shane joined AIM in the beginning of 2022. He is an alumni of UNC Chapel Hill, and now resides in western North Carolina. Shane has extensive experience providing clinical services to adolescents, adults, and families in a variety of treatment settings, including collegiate student services, academic medical centers, residential addiction treatment, and primary care.  Additionally, he has worked in program administration, taught at the university level, and provided supervision to provisionally licensed counselors.

Shane takes great care to get to know his patients and deeply understand who they are and what they want out of life.  His work is rooted in third wave cognitive behavioral therapies and helping people develop tools for acceptance and change. Shane utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Based Therapy, and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) when working with his patients.

Shane starts from the position that people can and do recover from substance use and mental health problems, and that doing so most often involves “the protective wall of human community” (Jung 1961), changing one’s fundamental relationship with one’s symptoms, and reorganizing life around knowing and doing what matters most.

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) — M.S.W.

Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA) — B.A.

Brian Franco, MSW, LCAS, CADC, joined Advaita Integrated Medicine as a Clinical Therapist in the summer of 2022. He brings high energy, passion, and over 10 years of dedicated experience working with diverse populations in the field of Addiction and Behavioral Health. He provides individual counseling, group therapy, and family services. 

Brian earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He went on to complete the Advanced Standing Joint Master of Social Work Program at UNCG and North Carolina A&T. He is currently working towards dual licensure as an LCAS and LSCW.

Brian’s areas of specialty include Addiction/Substance Abuse for drugs and alcohol, PTSD, Anxiety/Depression, Childhood Trauma, Grief/Loss, and Relationships. He believes people have the inherent ability to heal and flourish but often need help finding the resources to do so. 

Brian works from a trauma-informed, person-centered approach while adapting to each person’s unique journey of recovery. His eclectic therapy style is rooted in Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Experiential Therapy, and Family Systems.

Brian’s social work background pushes him to find creative ways to make resources more accessible to the underserved. His goal is to utilize community networking, telehealth, and AIM’s integrated team to help bridge the gap between healthcare services and societal needs.

When not in the office, you can find Brian making music, writing, traveling, watching sports, playing basketball, and working on his own health and well-being. He is also a dedicated family man who loves spending time with his fiancé and four children. 

Education

University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Greensboro, NC) — Advanced Standing M.S.W.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Greensboro, NC) — B.S.W.

Guilford Technical Community College ( Greensboro, NC) — A.A.S.

Samantha Puckett is a Primary Therapist at Advaita Integrated Medicine. Samantha earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services with a minor in Psychology from Old Dominion University located in Norfolk, Virginia. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Samantha first joined Green Hill Recovery as an intern in 2018 while completing her Undergraduate Degree. While working as a Behavioral Health Technician at a substance use facility in Florida, she became interested in working with individuals with substance use disorder. Through this experience, she learned that she has a passion for working with these individuals and decided to pursue a career in this field.

Samantha is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Associate and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist-Associate. She provides therapy to individuals with both mental health and substance use disorders. She believes in utilizing a holistic approach to enhance the lifestyle of individuals.

Samantha grew up in Virginia and relocated to the Raleigh area from Florida in 2016. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, fishing, hiking, and playing with her dog, Cooper. Samantha has also been a certified Peer Support Specialist since 2017. 

​​Education:

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) — M.S.W.

Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) — B.S.

Briana Barrett is a Clinical Therapist at AIM: Advaita Integrated Medicine. She is responsible for providing mental health therapy for clients experiencing behavioral health concerns. Bri is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in the state of North Carolina and a National Certified Counselor. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education at North Carolina State University.

Briana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from the University of Virginia and a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Carolina State University. During her time as an undergraduate, Briana discovered her passion for helping others through mentoring and peer counseling programs. She completed her counseling internship at Advaita Integrated Medicine’s sister organization, Green Hill Recovery in Raleigh, North Carolina and previously served as a Career Advisor for the College of Design at NCSU. She is currently working as a Research Assistant for the Counselor Education faculty at NCSU.

Briana loves learning about and growing with others through life experiences. She believes working with people to understand and define their lives on their own terms is essential to holistic care. Therapy should be a safe space for community members to continue on their wellness journey and Briana strives to create an atmosphere of empathy, authenticity, and empowerment for clients.

Education

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) — M. Ed. Clinical Mental Health Counseling

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) — Study Abroad: China

University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) — B.A. English & Psychology

Krista Allen, MSW, LCSW, is an outpatient therapist and clinical supervisor at Advaita Integrated Medicine. Krista is a licensed clinical social worker and brings over 10 years experience working with individuals and families in many different capacities. Krista graduated with her Masters in Social Work from NC State in 2015 and her B.S. in Social Work from University of North Carolina Greensboro in 2011.

Krista has provided clinical mental health services since 2015, including intensive in-home services for children and their families, outpatient therapy and outpatient therapy groups. Krista’s  approach to therapy is informed by cognitive and dialectical behavioral frameworks, psychodynamic and relational, solutions and strengths focused, acceptance and commitment and trauma informed models. Krista takes an active stance in sessions and supports individuals in identifying their own goals and steps towards achieving these. In addition to therapy, Krista provides clinical supervision to masters levels interns and newly licensed clinicians. Krista also has many years experience with clinical program development and management. Krista is passionate about human connection, understanding, curiosity, reflection and empowerment and believes these things can be the catalyst for change. Krista also takes this approach in clinical supervision and trainings with other professionals in the field.  

Krista hopes her work with Advaita Integrated Medicine will continue to allow her to provide high quality therapy, clinical supervision and consultation and training to therapists in the area. Krista is excited to be a part of Advaita Integrated Medicine’s mission to increase accessibility to mental health services and individualized whole-person care. 

Education

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) — M.S.W.

University of North Carolina at Greensboro  (Greensboro, NC) — B.S.W.

Welcome! Are you someone who is ready to take the next step on your personal journey? Do you have a child in your life needing support? Aren’t sure what those steps are? That’s okay! We will work together as partners to assist in your personal growth whether you’re an individual or family. I believe in the power of being heard and am committed to helping you find your strengths to become the best version of you.

I am passionate about working with children, teens, and young adults. I utilize cognitive behavioral therapy with strength-based and person-centered approaches. I tailor my interventions to be appropriate for age and education level which may include play based approaches. When you walk into a session with me, I’ll meet where you’re at, spend time getting to know you, build a partnership, and develop shared goals that will help you thrive. While structure can be great, sometimes that’s not what’s needed in session. Each session might be different, but we will work to find your unique strengths and passions, and how those fit into your individual therapeutic journey. I specialize in anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions and trauma.

When I am not practicing, you can find me outside with my Mini Goldendoodle, working out/running, or baking delicious treats. Born and raised in Durham, NC, I completed undergraduate studies at Elon University, majoring in Human Service Studies and minoring in Psychology. Following that, I attended University of Georgia where I received my Masters of Social Work. Throughout my academic endeavors, I worked in Social Services, Child Advocacy Centers, Schools (k-12), and Outpatient Settings. After returning to North Carolina, I worked at a Crisis Center before moving into Community Mental Health, and ultimately landing at Willow!

If you’re ready to take that first step, let’s connect and make a plan to reach your goals!

Sunny is a bilingual licensed clinical therapist at AIM who offers purposeful and holistic counseling services for individuals, families, couples, and groups in English and Spanish. Sunny provides an authentically safe space that supports individuals in their healing journey while facilitating processes for self-discovery, self-compassion, and self-advocacy.

Sunny is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate and Nationally Certified Counselor. She earned her Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Several years prior, she earned her Bachelors of Arts in International Studies and Spanish with minors in Political Science and Nonprofit Management from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Sunny discovered her passion for counseling while developing a non-profit in Latin America. This work allowed Sunny a platform to support communities to identify their needs and creatively collaborate to develop programs to address them. This experience guided her to realize that above all else, humans crave to be seen, heard, and accepted. Many of us go through life without having spaces that are conducive for authentic and deep connection, which are ultimately so helpful for self-actualization. She went from working in community-based projects for holistic healing, to focusing on understanding how to support individual journeys of transformation. Sunny now has three+ years of experience working in community mental health supporting a vast array of needs, backgrounds and ages. She specializes in working with trauma of all forms.

She loves to support individuals in understanding how their life experiences impact their daily life. She also has extensive experience working with depression, anxiety, ADD/ADHD, identity questions, faith and spirituality exploration, life transitions, stress, grief, disordered eating, academic and career challenges, and other mood and personality
disorders.

Sunny operates from a person-centered, trauma-informed approach. She considers herself an “eclectic” therapist, bringing in tools from a wide range of therapy theories and modalities such as Gestalt, Humanistic, Existential, Attachment-Based, Somatic-Based, Mindfulness, Acceptance & Commitment, Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavioral therapies. She loves to bring in body-based practices, mindfulness exercises, and other ‘new age’ approaches when they are a good fit for the client.

Sunny is very passionate about supporting and advocating for all communities who’ve experienced the many forms of oppression. Sunny is a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and believes strongly in fostering an inclusive environment for all identities and orientations. She would love to welcome you, exactly as you are, to a loving therapy space. Outside of therapy, you can find Sunny taking nature walks, practicing yoga, meditating, cooking yummy new things, dancing, reading, writing, painting, exercising, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

 

Education

University of North Carolina at Greensboro (Greensboro, NC) — M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

University of North Carolina at Wilmington (Wilmington, NC) — B.A. in International Studies and Spanish

Corey Myrick, MSW, LCSWA, graduated with a Bachelors in Social Work and completed a Masters in Social Work degree at UNC Chapel Hill. He has experience utilizing a wide variety of treatment models including cognitive behavioral (CBT) and dialectical behavioral (DBT) therapeutic methods, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and MI (Motivational Interviewing) to improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Prior to receiving his Masters degree, Corey worked with young adults transitioning out of foster care and successfully utilized a wide variety of therapeutic techniques and models including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, and others. For the past 5 years Corey has practiced in numerous therapeutic settings including school counseling, non-profit agencies, and private practice. He has strengthened his skills in working with individuals from a variety of cultural, social backgrounds and age ranges.

Corey’s approach is very relational and personal to each individual he works with. He believes building rapport and trust is vital to the therapeutic process and enjoys getting to know individuals in their complexities and various identities. He is especially passionate about working with individuals who need assistance in processing their own identities, overcoming self-doubt and negative self-image; working to be comfortable in who they are and advocating for a life where they are fully-realized and appreciated. Ultimately, Corey is passionate about empowering clients in processing difficult emotions and experiences and identifying life enhancing coping skills.

Corey believes therapeutic settings should be inclusive and that staff identities and experiences should reflect those of a diverse client population. He is looking forward to providing encompassing and whole-person care through his role at Advaita Integrated Medicine, all while connecting clients to resources and services that best fit their unique needs. He provides services via telehealth, and in-person at our Raleigh, North Carolina, and Cary, North Carolina locations.

To learn more about Corey, check out the Meet the Team post about him on our blog!

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (Chapel Hill, NC) — M.S.W.

North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC) —B.S.W

Diane Mason, LCSW, CDBT, is a clinical therapist at Advaita Integrated Medicine. She brings a contagious positive energy to our team! She offers therapy at both of Advaita Integrated Medicine’s locations in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina.

Diane is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Social Work, having previously completed her Masters degree in Social Work in 2016 from Salisbury University in Maryland. Her Bachelors and Masters degrees are in social work with concentrations in women’s studies, psychology, and conflict resolution.  Diane is certified to provide the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) modality. “My approach to therapy is using different lenses to observe and understand a person’s goals,” Diane says, “My approach is informed by Dialectical Behavior Therapy, trauma-informed and attachment theories, as well as ACT and CBT. We will work together to build your awareness of thoughts and emotions and to develop strategies to help guide you towards your goals. My approach also incorporates an understanding of the mind and body connection, so I will use that understanding to help you build awareness and offer another set of helpful tools.” Diane’s varied skill set allows her to strike a balance between validation and problem-solving in order to support clients’ steps toward reaching their goal.

Diane’s experiences as an intern included hospice and student counseling settings. Most of her professional experience comes from working with adults and adolescents/teens in inpatient and outpatient crisis settings with various issues including helping individuals manage symptoms related to anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationships.

Her professional passion is getting to see the individuals she works with find their “aha!” moments, benefit from setting clear boundaries, identifying values they want to incorporate into their lives, and developing skills to feel more in control of their thoughts and emotions.

Education

Capella University (Minneapolis, MN) – Doctorate of Social Work (in progress)

Salisbury University (Salisbury, MD) – Masters in Social Work

Salisbury University (Salisbury, MD) – B.S. in Social Work

Crystal Eve Outlaw is an outpatient therapist at Advaita Integrative Medicine. Crystal earned her Master of Social Work at The University of Pittsburgh and her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications at The Pennsylvania State University. Crystal brings over 10 years of experience in community mental health services, community organizing, program management, and social administration. Crystal offers therapy via Advaita Integrated Medicine’s telehealth platform for individuals living in North Carolina.

Crystal has experience including but is not limited to, working with individuals 13 and up with co-occurring disorders, those navigating race-based stress, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues. Crystal utilizes a wide range of modalities including, Cognitive Behavioral, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical and Trauma-informed approaches among other psychodynamic and behavioral therapies that can assist in alleviating internal and external stressors.

Crystal has a professional passion for holistic care with the lens of empowering black women and those in the BIPOC community who seek to transform their lives by learning to create healthier habits. Crystal offers culturally competent therapy in a safe space to explore support in trauma care, racial trauma/violence, race- based stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation.

Crystal believes that everyone deserves peace of mind and that it can be achieved through creating integrated treatment goals to address mental health from an intercultural competence perspective.

Education

The Pennsylvania State University ( Pittsburgh, PA) – BA in Communications

The University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) – Masters in Social Work

Life presents difficulties that can cause us to stumble. At times, we may face significant changes that can snowball and overwhelm us – such as significant loss (of job or a loved one) and a difficult (hurtful) relationship or family situation. These challenges often trigger feelings of hopelessness or anger, or a sense of low self-esteem or insecurity, or intense grief from loss. Some of us, also, may experience clinical symptoms – depression, anxiety, personality traits or chronic medical conditions.

How we cope with life’s challenges and our emotions can determine if we find a sense of balance. Your emotional wellbeing is critical to your overall health and happiness.

Work with me to identify your best strategies to overcome obstacles blocking your balance and joy. I help clients move through challenging circumstances, by providing them with the necessary tools to achieve their desired positive change, and to discover a sense of confidence, inner-peace, and fulfillment. Allow me to help you develop better ways to handle the issues that inhibit you achieving your goals.

Professionally, I have worked at an addiction treatment clinic and a community mental health clinic. My therapeutic approach focuses on a person/client-centered approach that involves mindfulness-based strategies, value identification, boundaries exploration, and emotion-focused therapy to help my clients achieve their desired positive life changes. My approaches are informed by CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing, and trauma-informed modalities. We would start by identifying what you most need and where you want to go. My role is to help you achieve those goals and make the changes that you desire by using new skills and resources to move forward towards these changes. I use a collaborative approach to create an individualized holistic, treatment plan that may draw from Eastern and Western techniques, per your preference. I look forward to helping patients through telehealth, and in-person at our locations in Cary, North Carolina, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Let’s figure out together how to best make the positive life changes you desire!

Hi there! If you’re reading this, there’s a chance you’re looking to make a change. Whether that’s breaking cycles, untangling old patterns that no longer serve you, or learning to prioritize yourself, I’m glad you’re here. Seeking therapy can be a daunting decision but you don’t have to go it alone. My hope is to empower you to come as you are.

As a licensed clinical mental health counselor associate (LCMHCA) and registered art therapist (ATR) passionate about working with a diverse range of children, adolescents, and young adults, I believe in the power of creativity, flexibility, and authentic, non-judgemental expression as a means of healing. If you’ve ever struggled to find the right words for impactful experiences then you know that sometimes words alone just aren’t enough. Art can fill the spaces where words fall short. My training allows me to offer a mix of traditional talk therapy and creative arts therapy as I work to collaborate with clients to find their preferred balance.

My background working in a variety of settings has afforded me with a wide range of experience implementing evidence based treatment modalities for a diverse range of challenges. I have specific experience implementing CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing skills as I work to take an eclectic, trauma informed approach. I am currently pursuing certification in MATCH-ADTC (Modular Approach to Therapy for Children -Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Conduct) and implement a structural systems lens to view all challenges in context. As a therapist I believe the personal is political and fundamentally take an anti-oppressive stance in my work. My ultimate goal is to create a space for others to be fully and authentically seen and heard for who you are. Above all, I value the healing power of connection and the therapeutic relationship.

In my downtime, I love to get crafty and practice what I preach from painting to ceramics to amateur quilting. I have a crusty administrative assistant by the name of Little Dipper who loves our afternoon walks. We like to spend our time outdoors when we can playing in our garden that we sometimes forget to water.

Wendy Kimball Riggins, LPC, CEAP, is the Director of Personal Development at Advaita Integrated Medicine. As Director of Personal Development, Wendy facilitates personal and professional goal setting and growth of our team members. Wendy guides AIM so that there is continued increased access, affordability, and quality healthcare.

Wendy graduated from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and received her Master’s in Addiction Counseling from the College of William & Mary. Wendy has spent her entire career working in the mental health and substance use field; with refugee communities in the District of Columbia, with recovering professionals across the country, in employee assistance programs, and with young adults in experiential and wilderness treatment. Most recently, Wendy served as the Clinical Outreach Director at Four Circles Recovery Center. Wendy most recently served as the Admissions Director at Green Hill Recovery. A North Carolina native, Wendy brings 20 years of both clinical and program development experience to the team. Wendy worked in an employee assistance setting for 12 years, providing individual and family counseling, substance abuse compliance workshops, and crisis response.

She is passionate about working with individuals and families in recovery. Wendy has developed and implemented monitoring and recovery coaching programs while also working to promote evidence-based treatment in residential and inpatient settings. She relies on a strengths-based, collaborative approach when working with clients and families, believing that we all strive to be the best versions of ourselves and have the internal resources to get there. She is trained in EMDR, Harvard Mind-Body Relaxation techniques, and is a qualified MBTI administrator. Outside of work, you will find her running on a long flat trail or having another cup of coffee.

Education:

College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA) — M.S.

Davidson College (Davidson, NC) — B.A.

Emily Kaluza joined AIM in the spring of 2022 as our HR Coordinator. She is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, but has been in NC since 2016. She has an extensive background in behavioral health administration, including experience in various areas such as billing, patient care coordination, and insurance contracting and credentialing. Emily has started multiple behavioral health practices from the ground up, and she even grew a practice from 3 to nearly 40 providers.

Emily loves helping others, and she is passionate about playing a vital role in an organization’s expansion. She is delighted to be helping our organization grow, all while helping our patients and clients receive the highest level of care. 

In addition to serving others, Emily is also an advocate for mental health. She is committed to helping reduce the stigma that people face when accessing mental health care and support. She is actively involved in numerous mental health organizations and enjoys volunteering. When she isn’t working or volunteering, you’re likely to find Emily playing with her dogs Wally, Jackson, and Sully, spending time with her family or making crafts.

Education

Cleveland Institute of Dental-Medical Assistants (Mentor, OH) – Medical Secretary Diploma

Chandler serves as Advaita Integrated Medicine’s Wellness Advisor, and also serves at their sister organization, Green Hill Recovery. He is responsible for providing individual coaching that addresses wellness through all facets of life including relationships, nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Chandler works in conjunction with the clinical team to help clients reach their fullest potential.

Chandler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UNC-Chapel Hill. For several years, he was an investment research analyst for a financial advisor. While there, he mentored some newer employees and realized he found more joy in empowering others to maximize their potential. Most recently, he worked at Noom, coaching clients through a variety of behavior changes to build healthier lifestyles.

An Integrative Health Coach certified at Duke Center for Living, his passion is helping others identify and achieve their most fulfilling life. Chandler’s personal mission is two-fold: Improve Lives, Become Better. ‘Improve Lives’ signifies a focus on service to others first and foremost in life. ‘Become Better’ is a daily commitment to practice self-improvement. Having recovered from multiple addictions, he believes living the “One Day at A Time” mantra is critical to success in recovery and life. There is no end to the journey of recovery — continuing to grow mentally, physically and spiritually is the beauty of it.

Chandler lives in Raleigh and spends his free time reading non-fiction, running and volunteering. His favorite reads are Can’t Hurt Me and The Four Agreements. He is currently training for his 10th ultramarathon.

To learn more about Chandler, check out his blog where he reflected on his sobriety anniversary.

Education:

Duke Center for Living (Durham, NC) — B.A.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) — B.A.

Jessica Cashwell, known by the rest of the team as Jessie, serves as Advaita Integrated Medicine’s Practice Manager. She originally joined the team in 2022 and served as a Patient Care Coordinator before being promoted into management. In her role, she provides exceptional support to the entire organization, including providers, the administrative and leadership teams, and patients. Working at various medical offices has allowed her the opportunity to provide assistance to both providers and patients. She has lived in North Carolina in the Benson area most of her life but has resided in Raleigh for the last four years while attending college.

Jessie attended Meredith College where she got a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health with concentration in Social Sciences, along with a minor in Psychology. She plans on attending graduate school in the future to get her Masters in Social Work and become a therapist. In addition to working in the medical field, Jessie also has experience working in retail and in a variety of customer-facing roles. 

She is passionate about social justice and believes in fighting for equal access to safe and quality healthcare. She plans on bringing her passion to Advaita Integrated Medicine by being of service to those seeking help. She holds honesty and transparency as a core value because she sees the integral role they play in personal and professional growth. Jessie’s main desire is to see the people she comes in contact with flourish as individuals by learning more about themselves and the world around them. 

In her free time, Jessie enjoys going on walks, finding new coffee shops, and listening to all different kinds of podcasts (recommendations welcomed!). She would one day love to have her own podcast. 

Education

Meredith College, (Raleigh, NC) — B.S. in Public Health with a concentration in Social Sciences and minor in Psychology.

Antonia “Tony” Wall is our Patient Care Coordinator at AIM. A North Carolina native, Tony brings 20 years of experience in the hospitality and service fields. Tony graduated from Durham Technical College in 1991 where he received a degree in business administration. After witnessing family members and friends struggle with mental health and substance use issues, he felt compelled to help. Tony decided to bring his administrative skills, compassion, and service-oriented mindset to the healthcare field almost a decade ago. As AIM’s Patient Care Coordinator, Tony ensures that patients receive timely, compassionate, well-coordinated care with our multidisciplinary team and our community partners. 

Outside of work, Tony is very involved in his church community. He enjoys serving on the church’s trustee board, participating in the choir, and positively impacting his community through numerous church outreach programs. Tony is a die-hard NC State fan and loves basketball, and would love to chat with you about sports anytime.

Tony joined the AIM team in 2022. He’s always got a smile and can-do attitude when it comes to serving our community members and he’s likely the first person you’ll talk to if you call or come by!

Education

Durham Technical College – A.A.S.

Nayeli Martinez serves as the Patient Services Manager at AIM. Nayeli holds a B.S. in Health Service Management from East Carolina University. In college, she completed an internship as an administrative assistant in the behavioral health department at Vidant Hospital in Greenville, which she found to be a valuable part of her health service management curriculum. Nayeli was also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives during her time in the HSM program at ECU. She is bilingual and is fluent in Spanish.

Having worked in the behavioral health field for 2 years, Nayeli is familiar with behavioral health services such as outpatient therapy, medication management, substance use services, behavioral health urgent care, and more. In her previous role, she worked as part of the business operations team, helping behavioral health professionals with career development and operations workflow management. Nayeli is looking forward to expanding her experiences by serving in this patient-centered role. In her role, Nayeli will dedicate her time to help promote the emotional and physical well being of individuals in our community while cultivating  a safe and respectful environment.

When asked about her role and her hopes for improving healthcare, Nayeli was vibrant and full of passion. “In healthcare, success should be defined by the health and wellness of the people we serve.” she explained. “In my role, I know that positive patient outcomes depend not only on the quality of care delivered by one provider or a single healthcare entity, but also on the collaboration of individuals and organizations working together to share best practices and influence the field. I plan to be proactive by strategically positioning any new projects to effectively navigate the rapidly changing healthcare environment, while also improving performance and care delivery.” Her experiences and drive to improve the landscape of healthcare is such a wonderful addition to our team.

Nayeli was born in New Jersey but has spent her whole life in North Carolina. Having called Raleigh her home for over 18 years, she is very invested in the local community. Outside of AIM, you might find Nayeli going to brunch with friends, trying new restaurants (she is a foodie at heart), spending time with her pup, Luna, and traveling to other countries. 

Education

East Carolina University (Greenville, NC) –  B.S. in Health Management

Maggie is an MSW Intern from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Maggie plans to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist after finishing her Master’s program. Previously, Maggie received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. Maggie has worked as a residential Program Support Tech at a substance abuse treatment center in Chapel Hill called Horizons. Maggie’s first year internship through the School of Social Work was at Benevolence Farm, working with formerly incarcerated women.

Maggie has a professional passion for peer support group work and the unique environment it creates for people with addictions to see their common humanity and feel less isolated. Maggie plans to make and impact at Green Hill Recovery and AIM by encouraging cross talk and openness in the group setting. Maggie also hopes to broaden the scope of external resources for clients to include alternatives to traditional 12 Step groups.

Maggie hopes to see a shift in the way addiction and substance use are addressed in the United States. Historically and currently, people with substance use problems are criminalized, institutionalized, and shrouded in shame and stigma. Maggie would like to change the way we think of people who abuse substances and implement more preventative and holistic care. Maggie has a research interest in Medications for Addiction Treatment and how the field of addiction medicine can save lives.

Education

UC Berkeley, (Berkeley, CA) – BA in Social Welfare

UNC Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) – pursuing Masters in Social Work