Our Staff

Kimberly S. Gorman: Ph.D, HSP-P, Director/Psychologist (she/her/hers)

Dr. Gorman is a licensed psychologist and earned her Master's and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky. Kim has a special interest in working with women's issues and, specifically, eating disorders, however, has experience working with clients with a variety of mental health issues. She has been involved more recently in research around mental health stigma and utilization of services at college counseling centers. She works from a feminist, interpersonal approach in therapy. Another interest for her is in the area of training and professional development. She has been involved in the training of masters and doctoral level students for nearly two decades.

She is involved nationally with the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors organization and is a Board Member as the Survey Coordinator, which entails collecting data for the national survey. She also is a site visitor for the  International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS). Furthermore, she works with the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards as an exam item writer for the EPPP-2.

Finally, she maintains her strong connections with family and friends and enjoys spending time sitting on the porch, reading a book and looking at the mountains. She also enjoys being active and watching her beloved basketball team in action.

M. Jay Manalo: Ph.D, HSP-P, NCC, Associate Director/Training Director/Psychologist (he/him/his)

Dr. Manalo is a licensed psychologist.  He holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He previously worked in IT consulting, then changed careers by obtaining both his M.Ed. in School Counseling and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from The University of Georgia. He conducted his doctoral internship at WCU CAPS from 2010 – 2011 and his postdoctoral training and subsequent work experiences with children, adolescents, and adults in private practice settings in Georgia prior to returning to WCU CAPS in 2013.  He is a National Certified Counselor and a member of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.  He serves as a board member of the Association for Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA) and is a site visitor for the American Psychological Association’s Commission on Accreditation.

His counseling interests include depression, anxiety, stress, life transitions, AD/HD, LGBTQ identity, multicultural psychology, social skills concerns, and developmental disabilities. His approach to counseling is primarily Person-Centered integrated with aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. He also enjoys providing supervision and training for emerging mental health professionals. At WCU, he completed Safe Zone, Green Zone, and National Coalition Building Institute training and for the past several years has served as a Safe Zone trainer for WCU.

Outside of work, Jay enjoys whitewater kayaking and is a Wilderness First Responder. He also enjoys spending time with his family, his dogs, and other loved ones.

Caroline Engler: Ph.D.,HSP-P, Psychologist (she/her/hers)

Dr. Engler is a licensed psychologist who earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. Caroline has a special interest in working with students with minoritized identities and enjoys providing individual, group, and outreach services. She utilizes a feminist-based, person-centered approach to therapy and integrates a variety of treatment modalities including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, and Motivational Interviewing. Her clinical training has focused on trauma, depression, anxiety, behavioral health, and LGBTQ+ concerns. Caroline also enjoys providing supervision and facilitating trainee learning experiences.

In her free time, Caroline enjoys a regular yoga practice, swimming, playing video games, and spending time with family, friends, and fur babies.

Paula A. Demonet: LCMHCS, NCC, Counselor (she/her/hers)

Paula has worked with individuals and groups in a variety of settings. She utilizes a person-centered approach to counseling with the goal of improving the lives of those she serves. She uses approaches such as Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavio Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and EMDR. 

She holds a B.S. degree in Recreational Therapy and an M.S. degree in Community Counseling from Western Carolina University. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of North Carolina and Certificated by the National Board of Certified Counselors. She has completed her advanced certification in EMDR. Paula has worked as a mental health therapist and supervisor for local not for profit and state agencies gaining experience working with clients with a variety of mental health issues. Paula has a talent for utilizing experiential modalities to bring about learning opportunities for clients.

When not working Paula enjoys hanging out with her four children and sharing the wonders of the outdoors with them and her husband.

Sheree King Ash: Psy.D., Psychology Resident (she/her/hers)

Dr. Ash is a Christian, wife, mother, and first-generation college graduate who earned her Psy.D in Clinical Psychology from Mercer University and is actively pursuing licensure in the state of North Carolina.

She believes that the spaces and places we have been in throughout our life can impact who we are and who we are striving to become. Therefore, she aspires to create a space were individuals, especially college students, can come to relate, relax, and reclaim their life. She has special clinical interest in working with spirituality concerns, chronic health concerns, anxiety, grief, body image, eating and trauma. She has a trauma informed framework and uses additional integrative perspectives including somatically-oriented therapies, cognitive behavioral therapies, and feminist approaches. She believes in working with you to help restore you. She also believes that applied knowledge is power. She will help support you in understanding new knowledge, and personalizing skills so that you can OWN your life.

Outside of her clinical work, Sheree enjoys family time, quick -but quality -meals, and finding a great shopping deal.

Calista Colbert: LCMHC-A, Counselor (she/her/hers)

Calista completed her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Appalachian State University in August 2021 and is actively pursuing licensure as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the state of North Carolina. She is certified in Expressive Arts Therapy and enjoys incorporating the arts into her personal and professional life.

Calista loves supporting clients who feel stuck in the “in betweens” of life. College students are in the midst of so many transitions and it can be challenging to adjust to the social, environmental, intellectual, physical, emotional, occupational, and spiritual shifts that occur during this time. Calista utilizes a person-centered, strengths-based approach to support her clients during these shifts and emphasizes collaboration and client choice. In every interaction she has with clients, Calista is passionate about creating a brave space for their intersecting identities to speak. As a Native American* woman, she recognizes the continued need for social justice and advocacy and appreciates the counseling field as an opportunity to create change on personal, relational, and communal levels. Calista enjoys meeting with clients in individual and group settings and building relationships with students through outreach opportunities.

When not at WCU, you can find Calista painting, quilting, snuggling with her dogs, singing, or playing board games with her partner.

*Tribal Member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians

Amber Ellington: LCMHC-A, Counselor (she/her)

Amber completed her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Appalachian State University in August 2022 and is a provisionally Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor.

She is passionate about helping college students create a solid foundation for personal wellness and believes that wellness should be viewed in a holistic manner. She knows that achieving personal wellness is different for every person, and she enjoys exploring both the challenges and the joys of the intersection between wellness and identity. Amber utilizes a person-centered approach that often involves elements of reality therapy, Adlerian therapy, and motivational interviewing. 

In her free time, Amber enjoys bullet journaling, spending time outside, knitting, and spending time in the community.

Heather Lloyd: LCMHC, Counselor (she/her/hers)

Heather is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in North Carolina who earned her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Webster University and B.S. in Exercise Physiology from the College of Charleston. Heather has experience in working with adults in inpatient, outpatient, rural and community-based settings with a variety of mental health concerns. Heather’s counseling interest include providing services to LGBTQ+, student-athletes, health care providers and first responders.  She utilizes a person-centered, humanistic approach to therapy through collaboration and choice.  

Outside of clinical work, Heather enjoys camping, hiking, woodworking, cooking, beach trips and attending local community events.  

Joy Mischley: MSW, LCSW, Counselor (she/her/hers) 

Joy believes in the capacity of each person to learn, grow, and find what works for them. She loves guiding and supporting people to build confidence in who they are and to develop options for navigating what life brings. Joy has worked in a variety of roles from the West Coast to India to North Carolina, serving in non-profits, universities, and social enterprises. She most often uses counseling approaches based on a holistic view, Satir theory, and experiential methods. Joy is accepting, humorous, and consistent. 

Joy holds a bachelor of arts degree in Comparative Areas Studies (Latin American and North America) from Duke University and a master of social work degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Joy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the State of North Carolina and a certified experiential therapist. 

When not at work, Joy finds pleasure in redecorating her home and terrace, stand up paddling boarding on the lakes in WNC, and spending time with family and friends. 

Megan Smith: Ph.D. Psychology Resident (she/her/hers)

Dr. Smith is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Dakota. She is actively pursuing licensure in the state of North Carolina. Megan has a special interest in working with students with minoritized identities and enjoys doing individual work. Her clinical interests include mood concerns, anxiety, adjustments/transitions, BIPOC concerns, Native American mental health issues and cultural identity development. Megan uses an integration of insight-oriented paradigms, liberation psychology (examining oppressive structures that have influenced the concept of self and their communities), and cognitive behavioral techniques in her work with students.

Outside of the office, Megan enjoys watching reality tv, going to concerts, reading, and spending time with family, friends, and community.

Myranda Warfield: LCMHC-A, Counselor In Residence (they/them)

Myranda is a provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of North Carolina and a National Certified Counselor. They graduated from Ohio University with a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health/Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and is currently completing a Doctorate in Counselor Education at the University of Florida. Their passion for working with college students had led to working in a variety of roles within the university setting, including previous training and clinical experience at two university counseling centers and teaching undergraduate courses on stress and anxiety, mindful living, and interpersonal communication.

Myranda uses an integrated Relational-Cultural and Mindfulness approach when working with students, believing that wellness can be viewed through a holistic lens and that people are the expert of their own lives. Their counseling interests include providing services to LGBTQ+, student-athlete, BIPOC, international student populations, and the impacts of social injustice within marginalized communities. Myranda has also worked with students experiencing adjustment issues, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship concerns, identity development, and perfectionism. Their utilization of talk therapy and creative approaches has led to using pop culture, music, design, and other creative forms of expression in counseling.

In their free time, Myranda enjoys cooking/baking, playing video and tabletop games, and embracing their sense of adventure in outdoor activities and pursuits.

Luke Carswell: BSW, Case Manager (he/they)

Luke graduated from Western Carolina University in December 2021 with their bachelor of Social Work. Luke started working at Counseling & Psychological Services as a Case Manager as part of a grant funded by the UNC System Office. Luke hopes to go on to get their MSW with a concentration in communities and socail systems, as well as non-profit management. 

Luke uses a person-centered approach with a trauma informed framework when working with students. They believe that each person is the expert into their own needs and experiences.  Luke states that “true healing begins when one is connected to their community and the community in turn lifts them up and celebrates them.”

When not at CAPS, you can catch Luke listening to kpop, reading books on social justice, watching anime, going to drag shows, and taking long naps in the grass.

Luke’s Life Quote: “Radical simply means grasping things at the root.” -Angela Davis

Alyssa Raggio: M.A. Psychology Intern (she/her)

Alyssa obtained her B.S. in Psychology from Arkansas Tech University and her M.A. in Psychology from Western Carolina University. She is currently completing her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Western Carolina University. 

Alyssa treats a variety of mental health concerns using a person-centered, feminist approach and a variety of treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She believes that each client is unique and deserves an individualized approach to therapy. 

Alyssa has experience in working with adults in inpatient, outpatient, and community settings facing a variety of struggles including, but not limited to, anxiety, trauma, interpersonal difficulties, phobias, and depression. She enjoys working with individuals from rural backgrounds, as well as first responders and veterans. Alyssa strives to meet her clients where they are and form a collaborative, therapeutic relationship that empowers the client. Alyssa believes that a nonjudgmental, safe space is imperative for a successful therapy experience. 

When she’s not working, Alyssa enjoys hiking, gardening, spending time with friends and family, and reading.  

Charlotte Dawson: M.S. Psychology Intern (she/her)

Charlotte is a doctoral psychology intern, currently working towards the completion of her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology (Norfolk, VA). She obtained her master's degree in psychology from Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA) and her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA). Charlotte's clinical interests include, but are not limited to, interpersonal concerns, identity development, family distress, and women's issues. She works from a Relational-Cultural framework, incorporating interpersonal process, cognitive-behavioral, and person-centered approaches into her work.

In her free time, Charlotte enjoys spending time outside, watching reality tv and documentaries, and cooking/baking and trying new restaurants. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, Henry, and traveling to visit loved ones.

Nina Cook: M.A. Psychology Intern (she/her)

Nina obtained her B.S. in Human Services from Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. Nina completed her first M.A. in Military Psychology at Adler University in Chicago, Illinois. Nina completed her second M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Adler University in Chicago, Illinois. She is currently completing her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at Adler University, Chicago, Illinois.  

Nina likes to utilize Adlerian Theory in her approach to therapy along with blending in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Humanistic Existentialism. Nina has trained at Access Behavioral Health Chicago, Diamond Headache Chicago, Lovell Veterans Affairs Chicago, Adventure Camp Chicago, and Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, Illinois.  

When Nina is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, family and friends. Nina is not someone you would find doing outdoor activities in the spring or summer, but likely to find her outside in the winter. Nina loves going to visit Ice Caves, Ice Castles, Ice Skating, and Snow Tubing.  

Jane Argodale: B.A. Social Work Trainee (they/them)

Jane is a master's trainee who received their BA in English and Slavic Studies from Brown University. They are currently pursuing their MSW at WCU. 

Jane's counseling interests include substance use concerns, LGBTQ+ issues, and supporting students pursuing social justice in their communities. Their approach is person-centered, strengths-based, and inclusive of harm reduction philosophies. They hope to create a supportive and collaborative space for students to create their own goals and work towards them.

Outside of CAPS, you can find Jane on hikes with their dog Nestor, cooking elaborate meals with their partner, or perusing the shelves at their favorite bookstore.

Erin Kelley: B.A. Social Work Trainee (she/her)

Erin is a master’s trainee who received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in the Study of Alternative Healing at the University of Vermont.  She is on the path to finishing her MSW at WCU come the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

Erin practices with a person-centered approach that incorporates elements of attachment theory, somatic experiencing, and harm-reduction. Her goal is to provide a safe space where we can work together in an individualized manner to meet your needs. 

In her free time, Erin enjoys spending time in her garden, going for walks with her dog Tato, practicing yoga, being in nature, and spending time with her partner and friends. 

Sophie Williams: B.A. Counseling Trainee (she/her)

Sophie graduated from the University of North Carolina in Asheville with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Teaching License in Elementary Education. She taught for Asheville City Schools for six years in a first-grade classroom and loved being a part of the community. During her time teaching, she realized that she has a passion for mental health and became very involved in the mental health program at her school. She is currently working on her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Western Carolina University.

She views college as such a transitional and impactful time in a person’s life, and she is honored to be a point of support for the students at Western. She uses a person-centered, solution-focused approach, and believes that each person has everything they need inside of them.

Outside of grad school and CAPS, Sophie loves cooking and trying new restaurants, hiking with her husband, practicing yoga, going to concerts, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Lee Anne Burrell, Administrative Support Specialist (she/her)

Lee Anne has been in the medical field for over 35 years with the majority of her career  in the hospital setting.  She has a love for children and young people.  Her greatest joy is seeing today's youth succeed.  She joined WCU in 2014, a native to Western North Carolina, attending local high school and Southewestern Community College.

When she is not working you will find her enjoying the lake and camping life with her family and the absolute loves of her life; her two grandsons, along with her two yorkies.

Denise Stephens, Administrative Support Specialist (she/her)

Denise has worked in a medical office setting for over 20 years.  She is a native of western North Carolina and joined WCU in 2015.  When she is not working you will find her enjoying time with her children, often at the lake, river, or local hiking trails.