Being able to help others has always been my dream, but it wasn’t until working in this field that I truly found my passion. My passion is advocating for children without a voice, helping families find courage to face life’s difficulties when they are exhausted and encouraging others to continue to write their story no matter the circumstances. I am driven by the experiences that I have faced and my own story that I continue to write.

I have over 12 years of experience in the mental health field. I started working in the field in 2011 providing community support services for an intensive in-home service provider and quickly moved into the role of the Program Director. In 2016, I became a volunteer for a state non-profit as a Support Network Facilitator and in 2018, I transitioned to sit on the Board of Directors. In 2018, I graduated from The University of South Carolina Beaufort with a Bachelor of Science in Human Services. I am trained in Mental Health First Aid and The Alert Program Model.

After many years in this field and wanting to pursue different avenues of the mental health field, I decided to take a leap of faith and open Peace From Pieces. My hope is to help others pick up the many pieces of their lives and begin to piece them back together to find peace within.

My name is Nicole McKinney, and I hold a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Grand Cannon University in Arizona. I have over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. I originally started working in the field providing services in a group home for sexually traumatized females. Followed by my work as an addiction specialist in a detoxification center and later providing direct care services as a Case Manager for an intensive in-home service provider before earning my Master of Science in Counseling. I am a member of the National Association of Forensic Counselors, I am a Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist, and I am trained to complete AASI Adult and Adolescent Psychosexual Risk Assessments. I am a Rostered TF-CBT Broker and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and have been trained in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy. I enjoy working with adolescents, adults and families impacted by dual diagnosis, such as ADHD, ODD, depression and anxiety as well as maladaptive sexual behavior patterns. I have extensive knowledge and training in working with adolescents and adults that have experienced severe trauma. My professional orientation is grounded in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy; however, other theories are incorporated to meet the needs of the client served.

Nicole takes the following insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare/Optum, Aetna, Select Health Medicaid, Molina Medicaid, Absolute Total Care Medicaid, Healthy Blue Medicaid, Humana Medicaid and Fee For Service Medicaid. She is also cash pay for insurances in which she is not in network.

My name is Lori Kallio, and I hold a Master of Education in Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. I have spent the last 20 years providing mental health services to children and families. I have experience working with children and adolescents that have a history of abuse and neglect, children and adolescents in foster care and children who have a history of inpatient or residential care. I have extensive knowledge and experience of working with individuals and families of substance abuse and severe trauma. I enjoy using directive and non-directive play therapy interventions to teach children and adolescents social and emotional skills to assist them on their journey in life. I have a passion for working with children and families that have experienced trauma, attachment issues and developmental delays. My professional orientation is grounded in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy and various methods to meet the needs of the client I am serving.

Lori takes the following insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare/Optum, Aetna, Select Health Medicaid, Molina Medicaid, Absolute Total Care Medicaid, Healthy Blue Medicaid, Humana Medicaid and Fee For Service Medicaid. She is also cash pay for insurances in which she is not in network.

My name is Cotalaina “Coco” Cunningham-Hill, and I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia. I have been in the mental health field for the last 6 years, where I have extensive knowledge of working with children and families who have experienced significant trauma. I have experience working with children and adolescents that have a history of abuse, neglect and the foster care system. I enjoy working with all individuals and their families to overcome conflict and increase healthy communication. I specialize in working with individuals with mood disorders, ADHD, anxiety, depression and trauma. I am trained in Trauma Focused CBT and I specialize in supporting individuals with eating disorders. Upon request, I offer faith-based counseling rooted in Christian values, helping clients heal and grow through a Christ-centered lens. My professional orientation is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other various methods in order to meet my client where they are in the treatment process.

Cotaliana currently takes the following insurance: takes the following insurance: Aetna, Ambetter, Select Health Medicaid, Molina Medicaid, Absolute Total Care Medicaid, Healthy Blue Medicaid, Humana Medicaid and Fee For Service Medicaid. She is also cash pay for insurances in which she is not in network.

My name is Sylver Samuel, and I hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. I am trained and certified in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). I have knowledge of trauma and the impact of trauma on daily life situations, neurodiversity and how to separate autism from other co-occurring mental health diagnosis. I enjoy working with children, adolescents and adults impacted by dual diagnoses to overcome family conflict. I think it is necessary to provide psychoeducation to clients and their families in order implement the necessary skills for family wholeness. I have a passion for utilizing play in a therapeutic setting for children and adolescents who are experiencing difficult life situations or struggling to overcome daily life stressors that struggle to process or engage in traditional therapy. My professional orientation is grounded in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy and various approaches to other theories to meet the client where they are.

Adonis - Adonis is a registered ABKC and UKC American Bully. He is a service dog in training and is with Sylver during all sessions.

Sylver takes the following insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Multiplan, Ambetter, Select Health Medicaid, Molina Medicaid, Absolute Total Care Medicaid, Healthy Blue Medicaid, Humana Medicaid and Fee For Service Medicaid. She is also cash pay for insurances in which she is not in network.

Adonis - Adonis is a registered ABKC and UKC American Bully. He is a service dog in training and is with Sylver during all sessions.

My name is Elizabeth Emery and I hold a Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and families in outpatient and psychiatric residential treatment facilities that may have experienced trauma, foster care, or have been impacted by dual diagnoses, such as ADHD, depression, and anxiety. I often engage kids in therapeutic play interventions to further explore their perspective of their world and teach them ways to cope with life’s many stressors. I also have a passion in working with adults that have experienced relational trauma. My healing philosophy is rooted in commitment to build upon existing strengths within each individual and family. My professional orientation is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy, and various methods to meet clients where they are.

Elizabeth takes the following insurance: Aetna, Ambetter, Select Health Medicaid, Molina Medicaid, Absolute Total Care Medicaid, Healthy Blue Medicaid, Humana Medicaid and Fee For Service Medicaid. She is also cash pay for insurances in which she is not in network.

My name is Teshia Alston, and I am a clinical graduate intern working towards obtaining a Master of Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University and I am currently under the supervision of Lori Kallio, MEd, LPCS. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from ECPI in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I have many years of experience working with adolescents as a behavioral modification specialist. I enjoy working with teenagers and adults in assisting them with learning life skills and relationship skills to improve their quality of life. I have worked with individuals who have dealt with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and BPD. My areas of specialization include depression, anxiety, ADHD, mood disorders and dual diagnosis. My professional orientation is grounded in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person Centered Therapy and utilizing Dialectical Behavioral Therapy techniques to meet the needs of each individual in which I am serving.