Our Therapists
David Banner, LPC, LMFT
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
I have over 25 years of experience counseling adults, adolescents and children. Currently I work
almost exclusively with adults and am the Director of our practice. My style is interactive and
I work collaboratively with patients to understand patterns in their lives to help them not only
evolve strategies, but to strengthen their skills for making change.
My areas of expertise include working with people who struggle with Anxiety Disorders, (including
Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Agoraphobia and Generalized Anxiety in everyday life);
Men’s Issues (including coping with life changing events and exploring decisions and directions in
the roles they handle in their personal or career life); Working with both men and women as they
struggle with adjustment disorders (including “mid-life crises,” handling loss or potential loss of
relationships, and personal or work related stressors); Communications skills for either individuals
or couples (including GLBT); and working with individuals who struggle with feelings of depression
and isolation.
Treatment preferences: While eclectic in nature, my style includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,
Existentialism, Solution Focused Therapy, Interactive Dialoguing and Strategizing, and Humanistic
theoretic emphasis and influences.
E. Neil Heflin-Wells, LPC, NCC, FT
Licensed Professional Counselor
Nationally Certified Counselor
Fellow in Thanatology
Grounded in Clinical and Counseling Psychology, I am a Cognitive Behavioral therapist with a
flexible, adaptive approach. I utilize a wide range of therapeutic interventions based upon the
unique situation and needs of each client. The qualities of collaboration, interaction and trust
are primary to my approach to counseling relationships.
I have a broad-based clinical practice, working with adolescents and adults in areas including
Adjustment Disorders, Anxiety, Depression and Mood Disorders, Relationships and Women’s issues.
Since 1978, I have expanded a clinical expertise in the area of Dying, Death and Bereavement. I
have extensive experience working with life threatening illnesses, loss, grief and mourning,
trauma and critical incidents, including substantial work with firefighters, rescue and public
safety personnel.
William F. Wilson, M.A., LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
National Certified Counselor
With over 25 years of professional experience in private, public, and employee assistance areas
of counseling and psychotherapy, I utilize a number of treatment strategies specific to the
presenting problem. My style of counseling centers on a strong interactive and collaborative
relationship with the patient. The development of trust and comfort is critical to effective
resolution of problems.
Most recently following the 9/11 tragedy, I have been utilizing my training, experience, and
expertise in Trauma and Recovery Focused and Post Traumatic Stress models of counseling, in
assisting survivors and families. As a military veteran myself I use my professional and personal
experiences in treating veterans and families from the Vietnam, Beirut, Afghanistan and Iraq
theatres of war and combat.
In working with adults, teens, children, couples, and families, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral,
Brief and Solution Focused, Play Therapy, and short term psychodynamic models of therapy. Issues
and problems that I specialize in are Mood Disorders, Depression, Anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder,
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), cutting and self mutilation, school relationship issues, grief and loss, divorce
and blended family issues, and marital and relationship issues.
Brian Jennings, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I have been in the counseling profession for over 14 years. In addition to my
private practice work, I have provided services in an Employee Assistance
Program (EAP) setting, taught as an Adjunct Professor at George Masson
University, been a Program and Case Manager for a health clinic devoted to
HIV/AIDS patients and their families, and worked as a counselor for an
adolescent group home. Through these experiences, I have come to
appreciate the diverse histories that people bring with them when seeking
therapy.
My work as a therapist has been with a broad base spectrum of individuals.
I have experience in working in the areas of depression, relationship counseling,
parenting issues, school related issues, work-related issues, adjustment
disorders, anger management, communication skills, coping with stress, and
with individuals displaying cutting/self-mutilation behaviors.
I use a variety of skills and techniques to establish a trusting relationship
which are based in Client-Centered, Cognitive and Existential models of
therapy. I engage individuals through interactive dialogues for exploring
issues presented in a safe and therapeutic setting.
Beryl Farwell-Ash, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I am a Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years experience in
the mental health field. In addition to over 15 years in private
practice, I have worked for university teaching hospitals in
emergency and psychiatry departments providing assessment, treatment,
and crisis intervention as well as serving as a primary therapist
and/or director in outpatient departments.
Current areas of expertise include working with Blended Families,
Women's Issues, Adolescent Adjustment Disorders, Eating Disorders,
Divorce, and Loss and Mood Disorders (including Bipolar disorder).
Addressing issues of past trauma as well as current crisis intervention
are among my interests. My focus is always on helping my clients
process and understand their primary stressors in order to help
them make appropriate changes towards living happier, healthier lives.
Michael Monahan, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I have over 10 years of professional experience in helping
individuals, couples and families to move toward positive changes.
I have a broad range of experience working with children, adolescents,
and adults with mental health concerns. Areas of specialty include
healing childhood trauma, mood disorders, adoption issues,
couples/relationship issues, and parent-child conflict. I
combine traditional talk therapy with cognitive behavioral,
insight oriented, solution focused and family systems therapy
to help empower people toward the life they want. I am comfortable
working with individuals as well as couples and families and have
extensive experience working in juvenile justice and domestic violence.
Donna McAllister, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I have a Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and am licensed in
Clinical Social Work by the Commonwealth of Virginia. I am also certified in Case
Management.
I enjoy working with various age groups from adolescents through senior adults. I provide
individual and family counseling and crisis intervention and short or long term support.
I have extensive experience working with clients adapting to illness, struggling with life
transitions, and suffering from grief and loss. My area of expertise also includes working
with people who labor through anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
I collaborate with each client to determine the most effective techniques and
interventions for strengthening their understanding and skills. My clinical styles
include a blending of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Existential Approach, Strengths
Enhancing and Solution-focused Interventions.
Pamela J. Dixon-Predmore, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
I work with persons ages 14 and up to address life challenges. These may include: behavior
regulation, depression, anxiety, emotional trauma, identity issues, Autism, eating
disorders, domestic violence, anger management, and medical issues. I believe everyone
is capable of growth and change utilizing an individualized, strength-based approach.
Office Manager
Shelby Warnell
Office Manager
I have been with Counseling Associates since April 1993. Our office is set up somewhat
differently than other medical offices in that each therapist sets his or her own schedule,
greets their own appointments when they arrive and collects the co pay (if any) at time of
service. My duties primarily consist in helping patients through the sometimes confusing
labyrinth of their insurance company. I do a majority of the Insurance Verifications prior
to a patient’s first visit so that the patient can be made aware at that time of their copay
or other insurance issues that may need to be addressed such as obtaining or verifying
referrals that may be needed. I am also responsible for the billing to insurance companies
and follow-up with them when payment is not processed correctly or in a timely manner. We
do not send monthly statements; however, there are times when a bill needs to be sent for
cases with unpaid copays, deductibles not fully met, etc. So while you may not see my
gorgeous smiling face when you enter, I am behind the scenes monitoring the action.