Give us a call:
704-523-5567 ext 5
CLINICIANS
Maria Curran, M.Ed., Ph.D., LCMHCS
Master's-Level Counselor
Lucy,
Maria's co-therapist & official office greeter
Kelsey Cahill,
M. Ed, LCMHCA
Kelsey Cahill, M. Ed, LCMHCA is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in North Carolina. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science and a minor in Applied Youth Development. She went on to earn her master’s degree in Counselor Education at The Citadel in 2017. Kelsey has additional training in trauma-informed practices, play therapy and mindfulness.
Kelsey has experience as a school counselor, working closely with children ages 4 to 14 in individual and group settings around issues of anxiety, family changes, grief and loss, behavioral challenges and social skills. She also has a history of working collaboratively with parents and families to reach their short- and long-term goals. Kelsey worked as a case manager for social services, assisting children and families who experienced abuse and neglect.
Kelsey incorporates a Rogerian approach to therapy and believes each client has unique needs and goals. She often utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, self-regulation and play therapy into sessions.
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Ashley Shaffer,
M.A., LCMCHA
Ashley Shaffer, M.A. is a Master’s level graduate pursuing a Mental Health Counselor Associate License in North Carolina. She received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Georgia Southern University in Savannah, Georgia in 2021. She has earned a Master’s of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South University in Savannah, Georgia in 2024. During her undergraduate degree, she maintained an internship at an adult forensic psychiatric hospital. During this internship, she helped to facilitate various groups for patients with severe psychiatric needs, including art therapy, music therapy, and occupational therapy. During her master’s degree, she maintained an internship at a children and adolescent residential psychiatric treatment center. During this internship, she conducted individual, family, and group therapies with high-risk youth experiencing severe behavioral issues.
Ashley’s therapeutic approach is based in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and incorporates other therapeutic approaches as appropriate for the client’s needs and goals. These modalities include Client-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. Ashley has conducted therapy with individuals and families experiencing a wide range of issues including ADHD, trauma, depression, anxiety, and custody arrangements. The primary clients she counseled ranged from 7 years old to 17 years old and often included their parents in sessions. She often collaborated with a treatment team consisting of doctors, nurses, social workers, and case managers to ensure an effective treatment experience.
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Lianna D'Orazio,
MSW, SSW, LCSWA
Lianna D’Orazio, MSW, SSW, LCSWA is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is an alumna of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, earning a Bachelor of Criminal Justice with a Women and Gender Studies minor in May 2019, as well as obtaining a Master'sof Social Work in May 2021. During her two-year graduate program, Lianna interned with a non-profit and an elementary school. Both of these internships were trauma-focused; ranging from domestic
violence, sexual assault and/or human trafficking victims as well as high-risk/low-income families experiencing chronic homelessness within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System. Working in the school system allowed her to obtain her North Carolina Professional Educator’s License from the North Carolina Board of Education in July 2022. Lianna is also credentialed to provide telehealth services in South Carolina.
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Lianna’s therapeutic approach utilizes various forms of therapy, depending on the client and their personal history. Some modalities include person-centered therapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Lianna has worked with individuals and families that have experienced trauma, anxiety and depression and individuals ranging from 4 to 15 years old. When assisting families, she primarily worked with the head of household. She has collaborated with social workers, parents, school staff and other mental health professionals as she provided case management and additional support for her clients.
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Anaya Davis,
Counseling Intern
Anaya Davis is a masters-level student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is studying clinical mental health counseling with a secondary concentration in play therapy. Anaya graduated from Winston-Salem State University, where she double majored in psychology and art with a minor in sociology. Anaya began her practicum at the Center for Creativity and Healing in January 2024.
During her undergraduate studies, Anaya worked with a cross-institutional research team funded by the National Science Foundation where she studied motivation and identity development. Anaya has also had experiences creating and implementing expressive arts programs with patients and families in a hospital setting. She has spent time working in the field of behavioral health, where she worked with children and teens diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities. Her roles included supporting clients in learning developmentally appropriate tools to enhance social skills, managing behavior through targeted interventions, and promoting positive change for clients experiencing instability in the home environment.
Anaya takes a person-centered, holistic approach, holding the belief that counseling should address the whole person to create effective change. Understanding the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and soul is imperative to promoting overall wellness. As ever-changing and growing people, we sometimes need additional support in our journeys to wellness and healing. Anaya believes that counseling is a tool for learning skills to supplement positive growth.
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Sophie Wells,
Art Therapy Intern
Sophie Wells is an undergraduate level student at Piedmont University in Georgia. She is a student-athlete studying Art Therapy and desires to continue this path into her graduate studies. During her academic career, she has developed a strong passion for using art as a therapeutic tool. Sophie is committed to helping individuals explore their emotions, express themselves creatively, and achieve personal growth through the power of art. She is also excited to learn and gain experience in providing support for clients, facilitating sessions, and promoting mental wellness through creative expression.