Meet Our Team

LCSW

Brittany Graham

Brittany believes in the intrinsic power of each individual and strives to support the client with their unique hopes, desires, and or needs. Working through a strengths-based lens, Brittany empowers clients to recognize, manifest, and affect change or create more functional thoughts, behaviors, coping skills, or patterns. Brittany partners with each client to create a non-judgmental and safe therapeutic environment that fosters expansion, growth, understanding, and release.

As a licensed clinical social worker and a registered yoga teacher, Brittany recognizes the importance of honoring and understanding the mind-body connection, thus incorporating more traditional psychotherapy with somatic and mindfulness-based therapeutic interventions. Brittany utilizes various modalities to meet each client’s unique needs, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, trauma-informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and coping methods from within the EMDR model. Brittany also has extensive training and experience using the EcoSystemic Structural Family Therapy model and is Triple P Parent Training certified.

Brittany has experience supporting individuals at all levels of care experiencing acute and persistent distress, disease, discomfort, and trauma. Brittany works with children of all ages experiencing anxiety, stress, or who have been impacted by trauma. In addition to working with children and adolescents individually, Brittany believes the partnership between parent(s) or caregiver(s) and herself is imperative to provide the best therapeutic interventions.

Brittany strives to continue educating herself regarding the best and culturally competent therapeutic interventions to support diverse populations. Brittany is committed to her role as an ally to, and advocate for, people of color, members of the LGBTQIA community, immigrants, and folks with disabilities.

MA, LCMHCA

Sarah Thomas

Sarah has a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate. She has experience working with adults who have a wide range of mental health concerns, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, mood disorders, anxiety, maintaining sobriety, difficult life transitions and experiences, low self-esteem, and stress management. Sarah’s culturally responsive approach to therapy is holistic, person-centered, and based on the strengths and goals of the individual client. Her therapeutic modalities include an eclectic mix of humanistic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, grounding techniques, and creative arts therapy. Through her background as a nurse and musician, Sarah has cultivated an immense appreciation for the mind-body connection and the healing power of creative expression.

Sarah believes it is important to critically examine larger societal issues that may influence a person’s mental health. She is an ally to the LGBTQIAA+ community, people of color, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, and people of all faiths.

Sarah understands that seeking therapy can sometimes be an intimidating and challenging experience. Therefore, she strives to build a trusting, supportive, and authentic relationship with her clients. By approaching her clients with unconditional positive regard and warmth, Sarah seeks to create a safe, non-judgmental environment where clients feel comfortable processing their thoughts, experiences, and emotions. Sarah collaborates with her clients to help them identify their goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

MSW, LCSW

Miranda Saling Aultman

Miranda Saling Aultman, MSW, LCSW, is a mental health therapist providing treatment for children, adolescents, and adults desiring support for anxiety, depression, stress, or trauma recovery. Miranda uses various evidence-based treatment modalities to enhance the therapeutic experience for each individual based on their distinct needs and goals.

Miranda earned her Master of Social Work from Arizona State University, as well as a graduate certificate in Military Behavioral Health from Fayetteville State University. Miranda is currently a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-I), and trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), among others.

Miranda has spent her career supporting children, youth and families in both civilian and military communities throughout the Midwest and Southeastern United States as a part of the public school system, social services, faith-based groups, mental health services, and non-profit organizations.

Miranda desires for everyone to inhabit all spaces as their full and authentic selves and strives to provide an environment that is safe and welcoming. She values the diversity and uniqueness of all persons, and practices as an advocate and ally for people of color, LGBTQIA+ persons, those of all faith backgrounds, immigrants and refugees, and people living with disabilities.

MSW, LCSW-A

Dorothy Allen Cooke

Dorothy Allen Cooke MSW, LCSW-A, is an associate trauma therapist providing treatment for adults who are dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety or grief.

Dorothy respects the agency and unique life experiences of every client and believes in meeting clients where they are. She hopes to be a source of support, compassion and clarity for clients as they towards their goals for healing.

Dorothy earned her MSW from Rutgers University and she has worked with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse for several years.

Dorothy has also worked with clients in nursing homes, faith communities and non-profit settings.
Dorothy brings an integrative approach to working with clients, drawing from different modalities to serve the client in the most responsive and empowering way possible.

LCMHCA

Robyn Alston

Hello, my name is Robyn Alston (she/her), and I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate. I have my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and have provided individual and group therapeutic services in a variety of settings such as community mental health, university/public school settings, and in a detention center.

As both a mental health clinician and advocate, I am deeply passionate about cultivating an inclusive and non-judgmental space for all clients to receive support and engage with vulnerability. Utilizing trauma-informed, social justice, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and multicultural counseling frameworks in my therapeutic approach. I draw from a variety of modalities such as strength-based therapy, ACT, CBT, family systems therapy, somatic-based practices, DBT, and solution-focused therapy. My clinical interests encompass anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, complex PTSD, identity exploration, interpersonal relationships, and navigating life transitions.

I do not take for granted when my clients trust me with their authentic selves, dedicated to helping people thrive in who they are, including their various ways of thinking, ways of doing, and ways of being. My hope is to assist you in cultivating acceptance, belonging, and safety. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to healing and liberation.

Clinical Executive Director

Margaret Anixter

Maggie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s and master’s in social work. Maggie is a North Carolina native and has served the triangle area for the last three years.

Maggie has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults and pulls from therapeutic models, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, Eco-Systemic Family Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Maggie strives to work with individuals to recognize their current strengths and support them in developing adaptive tools that can be used across settings and support them in achieving their personal goals. Maggie works directly from a person-centered and empowerment approach and serves in a supportive role to help an individual or family meet their own goals. Her areas of work include those experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, relationship issues, career transitions, self-care, domestic violence, communication issues, parenting support, low self-esteem, and trauma work. Maggie prioritizes a hands-on approach in her interventions with clients and loves utilizing play therapy with children.

When Maggie is not helping clients, she loves to care for plants, bake, be outside, travel, and spend time with her pets and family.

Administrative Assistant

Matthew Arthurs

Matthew is a native North Carolinian and has been working for our office for several years. In college, Matthew studied Business and Psychology and enjoys applying that education to his work. When Matthew is away from the office, he enjoys antiquing, meeting friends for dinner, and going on nature walks.

Site Leader

Claire Taylor, LCSW

Claire has a master’s in social work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She uses a strengths-based, wholistic approach in her work with children and adults with a particular focus on grief and trauma, but also includes mood disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD, parenting concerns, relationship issues, and supporting clients through all kinds of life stressors and circumstances. Her background as a journalist serves her work as a therapist with the idea that we all have a story to tell, and there are always opportunities to write new chapters. To that end, Claire believes that creating a safe space of radical acceptance empowers clients to heal, change, and grow in the way they choose, attending in the process to clients’ unique mind, body and spirit.

Claire integrates her lifelong admiration for the healing power of the mind/body connection throughout her therapeutic practice. She is trained in body-based Relational EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). To meet clients’ specific needs, she also draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, and arts-based interventions.

Having worked for years on crisis lines, Claire is comfortable meeting people where they are, however they show up. She affirms value in diversity and difference in her relationships, and practices as an ally to people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA +, and to people living with disabilities.

In her free time, Claire runs around outside as much as possible and practices martial arts. She also loves to spend time with her kids, friends, and many pets.

LCMHC, R-DMT

Cynthia St. Clair

Cynthia earned her master’s degree in Somatic Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in Dance/Movement Therapy, and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, as well as a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist. She is also certified in Hatha, Prenatal, and Women’s Yoga, and has trained as a birth doula. Cynthia utilizes a trauma-informed, embodied approach, as she focuses her clinical work around cyclical mood disorders, high sensitivity, and overcoming perfectionism; yet also loves to support people struggling with anxiety and depression, big life shifts, disenfranchised grief, infertility, body image concerns/disordered eating, sexual traumas, and complex-PTSD. Her history as a professional dancer serves her work as a therapist in that she views the healing journey as an artform, one in which we grow the capacity to make decisions from our own sense of truth (rather than the external influences that tend to keep us stuck, such as society, other people, and patterns that no longer serve). Cynthia knows for sure that empowering a feeling of security in the therapeutic relationship sets the stage for trauma to be resolved, so that you can move forward whole, and healthy.

Especially interested in the intersectionality of trauma, hormone changes, and mood, Cynthia uses a three-pronged healing model of Lifestyle Coaching, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Somatic Trauma Healing to support wellness in her clients. She also has extensive experience and training in meditation, Jungian Dreamwork, and intergenerational resiliency. Cynthia has been involved in treating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), and developed a unique treatment model for PMDD over the past six years for which she is sought out both nationally, and internationally.

Cynthia acknowledges the importance of honoring a client’s experience and identity through a cultural lens, which holds that we are always impacted by the multi-layered systems in which we are inextricably embedded. She strives for allyship with all people experiencing marginalization – most especially women, people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with disabilities (both visible and invisible).

A client once described Cynthia as, “smart and compassionate, with a great sense of humor – the perfect combination in a therapist”. When you work together, she will challenge you in the most loving of ways, and hopefully you’ll have some laughs along the way too – because if we’re not having fun, then what are we doing? Cynthia offers individual and group psychotherapy, as well as classes and workshops with NCCR.

LCMHC

Jo Aparicio

Jo Aparicio – LCMHC is a Miami-born-and-raised Psychotherapist specializing in Mindfulness-based CBT. Jo received her degree from Nova Southeastern University’s College of Psychology. Jo uses her extensive knowledge of yogic philosophy and practice to help clients reach acceptance and healing.

Before joining the Improving Lives team, Jo worked closely with those suffering from trauma and addiction. Jo is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) who is dedicated to helping others achieve mental health wellness in order to achieve their fullest potential.

LCSW-A

Olga Stewart

Olga Stewart – LCSW-A was born in Kazakhstan and moved to Wester North Carolina in 2004. Olga earned her MSW at Simmons University and her B.S. in Psychology at the University of North Carolina Asheville. She approaches her clinical work from a multi-disciplinary lens. While having studied many therapeutic modalities, Olga is working on her certification in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). To meet clients’ specific needs, she also draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

Before joining the NCCR team, Olga worked in the community mental health space working closely with children, adolescents, and adults suffering from trauma, severe and persistent mental health issues (SPMI), and addiction. She is dedicated to helping others achieve mental health wellness to achieve their fullest potential. She affirms the value of diversity and difference in her professional relationships, and practices as an ally to BIPOC, and LGBTQIA + individuals.

Administrative Assistant

Karlene Marino

Karlene is new to Asheville and has really enjoyed experiencing the four seasons as opposed to the hot Florida weather year-round. Her and her husband love visiting the Biltmore, as well as all the beautiful waterfalls and scenery here in North Carolina. She loves most outdoor activities, as well as cooking and baking.

Clinical Executive Director

Margaret Anixter

Maggie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s and master’s in social work. Maggie is a North Carolina native and has served the triangle area for the last three years.

Maggie has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults and pulls from therapeutic models, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, Eco-Systemic Family Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Maggie strives to work with individuals to recognize their current strengths and support them in developing adaptive tools that can be used across settings and support them in achieving their personal goals. Maggie works directly from a person-centered and empowerment approach and serves in a supportive role to help an individual or family meet their own goals. Her areas of work include those experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, relationship issues, career transitions, self-care, domestic violence, communication issues, parenting support, low self-esteem, and trauma work. Maggie prioritizes a hands-on approach in her interventions with clients and loves utilizing play therapy with children.

When Maggie is not helping clients, she loves to care for plants, bake, be outside, travel, and spend time with her pets and family.