A Few Veterans Room Therapists.....

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Melissa Birdwell is the daughter of a Navy veteran, the granddaughter of a Marine, the niece of an Army veteran and former Veteran Spouse. “Through therapy we can identify which tools and interventions work best for you, by identifying your  triggers, stressors, and helpful coping skills. We will focus on your personal strengths, restoring  resilience, identifying your relationship with yourself, helping you identify your patterns, how you  connect and communicate with others, and to begin your healing journey”

She is a Licensed Master Social Worker in the State of Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at  Arlington with a Master’s degree in Social Work. She is currently under clinical supervision with a test  date for Licensed Clinical Social Worker this year, 2022. 

She has experience providing individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy, suicide risk  assessment, addressing substance abuse, and addressing self-harming, in the inpatient setting,  residential treatment setting, and via telehealth, working with children/adolescents/families/young  adults, service members and veterans, as well as military families.Her practice concentration is in  working with children and adolescents, young adults, and military families. She enjoys working as a social  worker in clinical case management and mental health. The therapy modalities gravitate toward are  based on client specific therapy needs, to include cognitive behavioral therapy, strengths-based  perspective, internal family systems, dialectical behavioral therapy, person in environment, mindfulness  approaches and strategies.  

She understands the uniqueness of military culture from a personal and professional point of view, to  include deployments, and deployment cycle stressors, suicide risk and awareness, sexual assault  awareness, daily work-related stressors, reintegration to family life and civilian life after deployments,  PTSD, compound effects on service member mental health from traumatic brain injury and subsequently  the impact on family members, co-occurring substance abuse disorder as a coping mechanism for PTSD.  She has worked with service members as a therapist, as well as having the unique experience as a former  Army wife of 15 years, raising children in a military community, and culture, and completing her Bachelor and master’s degrees with peers from the local military community, working as a professional  in the mental health field alongside retired, veteran, reserve/national guard, active-duty service  members and their families. She understands the mental health needs and advocacy our military service  members and their families face. 

Rebecca Garza is a spouse of a retired military Veteran. She began her education by earning a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Psychology from Texas A&M -San Antonio.  She then went on to earn a Master of Science degree with a concentration in Counseling and Mental Health also from TAMSA. She earned her Bachelor’s degree as a single mother of a daughter and working part-time. Rebecca has diverse experience in Individual therapy as well as Group therapies within a variety of health and community settings. She has key experience with Veterans and their families, hospice bereavement, and homeless groups who have experienced crisis, trauma, and abuse. She utilizes solution focus and cognitive behavioral therapy. She has been trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, PTSD and Motivational Interviewing and Grief therapy. Her great passion is to bring healing, peace, and safety to her clients. Her ultimate goal is helping clients find healthy perceptions and reinforcing positive relationship experiences to achieve their goals.  Rebecca’s mission is to create a supportive and collaborative environment that helps her clients to work through their various concerns.

        Jasmine Singleton-Caster, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned dual bachelor's degrees in Social Work and Sociology and obtained her master's degree in Social Work and has over a decade experience working in the mental health field. 

       Jasmine has years of experience working specifically with Veterans providing evidence-based psychotherapy to assist with issues ranging from depression, anxiety, insomnia, adjustment disorders, and posttraumatic stress. She is passionate about helping improve Veterans quality of life due to her being an Army Veteran, her two sisters are retired Army Veterans, and her father served  26 years in the Army, also. So, she has an empathetic perspective on the issues that many Veterans face related to their military and/or combat experience(s). 

          She has received extensive training in evidence based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Jasmine also has experience working with individuals who struggle with addiction and co-occurring disorders. Her experience has ranged from working in residential substance abuse programs, inpatient psychiatric units, and outpatient mental health clinics, in which she would provide mental health counseling services on an individual basis or in group settings. 

        Jasmine's commitment to helping Veterans led her to make the career choice of spending several years working directly for the Department of Veterans Affairs, allowing her to assist Veterans daily with navigating life stressors. She hopes to continue to use her personal military experience and clinical expertise to provide mental health services to Veterans. Jasmine frequently expresses, "Nothing feels better than to be a service to those who have served." 

Linda Pusateri, LCSW-S, is a licensed clinical social worker who provides a nonjudgmental humanistic approach in therapy. With 30 years of clinical experience, she has had the opportunity to serve those who have selflessly served. She has experience working with veterans, military families, and active-duty members: each has had their individual reasons for entering therapy. Areas addressed, but were not limited to, include depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, adjustment issues, bipolar disorder, ADHD, somatic complaints, recurrent pain, insomnia, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, personality disorders, anger management, domestic abuse, and substance use disorders. Linda has extensive training in multiple evidence-based practice interventions. Her therapeutic focus is to assist her client to examine and recognize their unique life obstacles, to improve understanding, and to assist in developing skills. Linda’s therapeutic goals are for her clients to embrace a fulfilling life and to reach their potentials. She looks forward to meeting and to working with you.

Jynelle S. Jefferson, LMSW – Veteran  Jynelle is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She graduated from the University of Denver with a Masters in Clinical Social Work. Her overall professional goal is to obtain my LCSW. She is an Air Force Combat Veteran. She has experience working with domestic violence, substance abuse, adult mental health, crisis intervention, forensic social work, & children & adolescent inpatient. She has experience facilitating group and individual therapy and has experience providing evidence based and trauma informed services to a broad population. My outlook is that each individual has their own individual needs and life experiences that shape how we see life. I am straight forward and honest when working with individuals. I like to meet each individual where they are and see how we can work together to overcome any obstacles that stand in your way of succeeding. 

Jen Cherry, LCMHC is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with a 20-year career in mental health.  She has two master's degrees, one in clinical and one in counseling psychology.  Her Ph.D. is in Clinical Psychology with a double concentration in Neuropsychology and Social Justice & Diversity (2023).  Jen specializes in treating anxiety and trauma through evidence-based cognitive-behavioral modalities and understanding neuropsychology.  She knows how to modify treatment to work with those affected by brain injury.  In addition, she has extensive training in CBT for depression, ADHD, MST, and substance use.  Her approach is patient-centered, with a particular emphasis on individualized care.  Jen enjoys using humor in therapy and innovative approaches to learning new coping skills.  (She also believes swearing is therapeutic.)  Her primary research contributions include intersecting identities and mental health stigma.  She is an LGBTQIA+ affirmative provider and lecturer on inclusion and diversity.  Jen practices cultural humility in session and encourages feedback to understand cultural differences better.    Jen is passionate about serving Veterans.  She has served AFSOC and SOCOM as an embedded therapist.   She has also served wounded warriors medically retiring.  Jen understands the unique complications of seeking mental health care during active duty and at the VA.  In addition to being both a GS employee and DOD contractor, Jen is the proud wife of a 26-year enlisted member.  She lives her life by the military family motto: improvise, adapt, and overcome.  She looks forward to helping you do the same. .

Dr. Shandreka Hall, DSW, LMSW

Dr. Hall is a Licensed Master Social Worker and the spouse of an Army combat veteran. Through her personal and professional experiences in working with veterans, Dr. Hall has witnessed the struggles of mental health that are faced by veterans; as well as the barriers that prevent veterans from obtaining the assistance they need to overcome these struggles. In addition to providing therapy to those in need, these experiences influenced Dr. Hall’s passion in advocating for veterans.

Dr. Hall’s career began in 2013 after she obtained a bachelor's degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With the goal of enhancing her competency as a social work professional, Dr. Hall continued her educational journey. This resulted in her earning a master's, followed by a doctoral degree in social work. She is currently approved to sit for the clinical examination for licensure upgrade. Dr. Hall’s experience includes nearly 10 years of providing supportive guidance and psychotherapy to individuals, families, and groups; including servicing the adolescent and geriatric populations. Dr. Hall has a strong background in servicing clients experiencing grief, trauma, anxiety, and depression. For most of her career, Dr. Hall has worked closely with veterans and their families, providing psychotherapy during end-of-life care. Dr. Hall believes in utilizing a holistic, person-centered approach to therapy. Commonly implemented evidenced-based approaches are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Grief Therapy, and Mindfulness techniques. During their path to innovative living, Dr. Hall will work with veterans to find their inner strengths to develop the coping skills needed to overcome presenting challenges.  

Cindy Bullard, LPC-A, LCDC-Intern daughter of a veteran. Cindy is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Intern. Cindy received her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP accredited program) from University of North Texas at Dallas. Cindy has experience work with a diverse population including individuals, groups, adolescents, couples, family, LGBTQ+. She has experience working with individuals that have experience crisis, trauma, sexual abuse, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, anger management, grief, suicide ideation, physical violence, and co-occurring disorders. Cindy has experience working in IOP, residential, mental hospital and private practice settings (in-person and telehealth). Cindy utilizes an eclectic therapeutic process which include person-centered, CBT, and solution focused therapy to assist clients. Cindy works to create a therapeutic environment that is comfortable and allows individuals to safely explore their vulnerabilities. She believes each individual is different and deserves unique care based on their needs. She believes every individual should be met with non-judgment and a space that allows every part of them to be seen and celebrated.

Helen S Wilson is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPCA) in South Carolina, a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) in Georgia and a Mental Health Counselor Associate (MHCA) in Washington. Helen obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Management and also a Master of Science in Human Resource Management before deciding to focus on the mental health field. She felt a

calling to help others and pursued her degree in counseling from Touro University. Helen has experience

in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Strength-Based Therapy and is certified in Solution Focused Brief

Therapy (SFBT). She believes in approaching each client session as a unique opportunity to connect and

to heal. Helen feels passionately about providing the opportunity for mental health treatment to those

that seek it out.

Helen is a veteran sister, niece, cousin and aunt. Her close relationship to her family has made her very

familiar with the mental health struggles that some members of the military face. Her focus has been on

how individual issues affect family and other personal relationships. Let her help you find your way back

to your loved ones and to contentment.

Angela McCree LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an artist, and published author. She is a disabled Veteran of the United States Navy and she is committed to assisting veterans and their families to re-adjust, re-align, and maintain their resiliency in their relationship with self, family, and others. 

She has an internal heart focus which targets our innate ability to decide upon and enact change within our own lives and to continue to progress and add to the lives we touch daily. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, (which assists with changing unwanted behavior,anxieties and misunderstood thought processes) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, (which assists with thought management, anxiety, depression, and teaches mindfulness and gratitude) and PolyVagal Therapy, (which is an amazing new therapy which introduces our emotions to our neurological systems and helps us to understand how we personally cope and exist in the world). She is also experienced in utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy (Which teaches us our attachment styles and helps us understand how we form bonds and relationships within our communities). 

As a therapist, she believes it is her duty to become a student of her clients. Her approach is very client-centered, however, with gently guided wisdom. She is passionate about serving her fellow battlers, shipmates, and comrades by reminding them that they are not alone. She graduated from Lamar University, out of Beaumont, Texas with a Master of Education in Counseling and Development. She graduated from Lamar University, out of Beaumont, Texas with a Master of Education in Counseling and Development. 

Kelly Stookey, CMHC-A, Veteran Spouse, Active-Duty Mother and Mother-in-law. Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor-Associate. Her undergraduate degree is in Marriage and Family Studies and her master’s degree is in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is Nationally Board Certified (NCC). She has worked with military members and their families in many different areas over the last twenty years. Kelly’s current focus has been trauma disorders, borderline personality and anxiety and depression within the active-duty population. She uses evidence-based practices as she provides assistance to both individuals and groups. She uses cognitive-behavioral modalities to provide assistance for those desiring to change unwanted behaviors (CBT) and focuses on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for those wanting to learn how to stand where they are and accept their surroundings.  She focuses on individual strength and knowledge and desires to help create a sense of resiliency and ability within individuals.  Kelly desires to “walk with” individuals as they learn to recognize their own strengths and stands by to encourage them when the going gets tough. Providing a collaborative relationship with the individual allows for feelings of safety and support without judgment.  

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