Billy Gulley, Behavioral Support and Coaching
Chelsi McDougal, LCSWA
Chelsi obtained her Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from William Peace University. Upon completion of her bachelors, she received her Master of Arts in Social Work from University of North Carolina Pembroke. Chelsi is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate. She has over 15 years of experience working within the field of mental health, substance use, I/DD and Autism. She has worked in various settings including school setting, specialized recreation, in home direct care, day program, community based and outpatient therapy. Chelsi has worked with populations including children, teens and adults. She prioritizes person centered care involving the goals of the individual and utilizing interventions to promote growth. She understands the importance of self-determination. Chelsi utilizes an unique, compassionate and collaborative approach including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Trauma Informed Care (TIC).
Chelsi’s area of expertise include the following:
ADHD
Autism/Aspergers
Anger Management
Anxiety
Behavior Modification
Chronic Illness
Crisis Intervention
Depression
Dual Diagnosis
Emotional regulation
Grief/Loss
Identity Issues
Impulse Control
Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
Low Self-Esteem
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Psychosis
Stress Management
Substance Use
Relationships
Transition to Adulthood
Trauma
As a therapist, she provides diverse experience and background. Chelsi integrates an empathetic approach and compassionate environment to identify purpose, address barriers and support healing.
Madeline "Maddie" Mosier, BA, Tutor, Mentor, Coach
Essential Providers
Leon Monroe, LCSW, ASDCS, CCATP
Leon has over twenty years of clinical experience in the field of Autism. He works with children, teens, adults, families and couples. Leon holds a Masters in Social Work from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelors in Psychology from North Carolina State University. He has had training in the following:
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
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Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
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Adaptive Behavior Treatment (ABT)
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Solution Focused Therapy
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TEACCH methods
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Family Systems Theory
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Insight-Oriented Therapy
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
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Lifespan Integration
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Emotion Focused Therapy
As a former software programmer, Leon understands the demands of the tech industry. He provides an authentic, sincere and non-judgemental approach.
Itala Azzarelli, LCSW, ASDCS
Itala brings 20+ years of experience working in the field of developmental disorders, intellectual disabilities, and comorbid mental health concerns; she enjoys working with individuals, families, and groups. Itala received her undergraduate training in psychology with a specialization in child development and completed her masters degree in Social Work at UNC Chapel Hill in 2007. Prior to graduate school, Itala gained experience as a direct support professional and later as a supervisor in residential settings for individuals with special needs and autism.
During her time at Duke University Medical Center, she received her clinical training in the Department of Social Work and specialized in pediatrics, working with children and families affected by chronic or acute illness. She then went on to work in the outpatient department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences/ Division of Child and Family Health, and the Duke Autism Clinic, where she was able to focus her efforts on providing both short and long-term therapy.
Itala’s approach to working with clients is informed by her training in development over the lifespan, family systems theory, the TEACCH method for structured teaching, Positive Parenting, and other evidence-based and manualized methods such as: CBT, DBT, and ACT. She believes in a holistic approach to care that includes foundations of health and wellness such as sleep, diet, and exercise, and will use this to inform areas for intervention when possible. Itala’s approach is client and family centered. She understands that clients must feel safe and connected to achieve their best outcomes and welcomes learning ways to improve her clients’ experience.
When not working, Itala enjoys listening to music, practicing her bass, taking care of her plants, cooking, hiking with her dog and spending time with her friends and family.
Itala has expertise in the following areas:
Autism/Asperger’s
ADHD/executive function and organizational skills
Anxiety Disorders
Adjustment to life event
Behavior modification
Chronic Illness
Depression
Emotional regulation/impulse control
Gender dysphoria
Grief and loss
Identity issues
Interpersonal effectiveness skills
Negative self image
Sexual health
Stress management
Transition to adulthood
Osly Galobardi, LMHC, CRC, ASDCS
Osly received a Master’s in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Carolina with dual specialization in psychiatric conditions and developmental disabilities. Experienced in working with children, teens, and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, she has supported people with mental health issues including:
Anxiety
Depression
Emotional Distress
ADHD
Autism/Aspergers
Transitioning to Adulthood
Low Self-Esteem
Osly believes in providing person-centered care for her clients. She works with individuals using a strength-based approach and empowers them to achieve their goals. After building solid rapport with her clients, she tailors her treatments based on the client’s learning style. Along with a strong foundation in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Osly uses concepts from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to best support her client’s therapeutic needs. As an individual with a multicultural background, Osly is able to confidently work with people of diverse populations.
Stephens Whitehurst, LMHCA, CRC, ASDCS
Stephens received her Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling with a dual concentration in developmental and psychiatric disorders from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Additionally, Stephens earned her Bachelor of Arts from Meredith College with a triple major in psychology, sociology, and criminology. With over six years of experience working with individuals on the autism spectrum, she understands the different ways in which mental health can impact these individuals. Stephens is also experienced in working with individuals with other developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, psychiatric disorders, and co-occurring conditions. Specific areas that Stephens has training and experience in working with clients to make positive change include:
ADHD
Autism/Aspergers
Anger Management
Anxiety
Behavior Modification
Career Transitions and Adjustments
Chronic Illness
Depression
Emotional Regulation
Executive Functioning Skills
Grief and Loss
Identity Issues
Impulse Control
Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills
Low Self-Esteem
Navigating Relationships
Negative Body Image
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Stress Management
Transition to Adulthood
Trauma/PTSD
As a therapist, Stephens understands the importance of creating a warm, safe, and non-judgmental environment in which all clients feels genuinely accepted and respected. Stephens believes that while we all experience ups and downs in our lives, each client brings a unique set of circumstances to therapy which makes them the expert in their own lives. Therefore, Stephens regards building a partnership with the client as essential to creating and achieving the client’s therapeutic goals. Stephens also believes that therapy should use a strengths-based approach to highlight what innate qualities the client possesses as they navigate challenges. Stephens utilizes an integrated approach and draws techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help her clients develop the skills necessary to successfully achieve the goals they set together.
Matt Brown, LCSW, LCASA
Matt is a native of Chapel Hill, NC and obtained his undergraduate degree in Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his Master's of Social Work from North Carolina Central University, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialized-Associate. Matt has extensive experience working with adolescents and adults in both individual and group therapy settings. Matt has experience and training utilizing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), positive psychology, solution focused therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Matt has a very engaged and goal focused therapeutic style and utilizes his empathic and supportive nature to assist his clients in living happier, healthier, and more connected lives.
Matt has assisted his clients in overcoming struggles in the following areas:
-substance and behavioral addictions
-relationships
-life transitions
-autism
-trauma/PTSD
-depression
-anxiety
-grief
-ADHD
-mens issues
-stress/burnout
-parenting
Maddie received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a double major in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies in the School of Education. She has multiple years of experience working with kids and teens of all ages on an academic and organizational level, and has served in both public school and one-on-one settings through her roles as a student teacher and private tutor.
Maddie believes in meeting individuals where they are using a non-judgmental, tailored, and collaborative approach to work with clients in identifying solutions, overcoming challenges, and achieving goals. She aims to boost confidence and self-sufficiency within her clientele and utilizes a realistic step-by-step method to build and strengthen targeted skills.
Billy Gulley, BA, Direct Support, Mentor, Coach
Billy has over twenty-five years of direct support intervention experience specialized in ID/DD and dual diagnoses. He provides in-home support services utilizing Adaptive Behavior Treatments rooted and Mindfulness.
His approach is holistic, humanist, and experiential.
He also provides coaching and support in the areas of independent living, interpersonal effectiveness and emotion regulation.