Mary M. Godin, MA, LPA, LPC is the Clinical Director and founder of Anchor Psychological & Counseling Services, PLLC.  She has worked in outpatient mental health for more than 12 years with a variety of mental disorders including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, attachment disorders, autistic spectrum disorders, ADHD and other childhood behavioral disorders.

She works with children, adolescents, and adults utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy and cognitive interpersonal therapy. She strives to develop a trusting and nonjudgmental atmosphere in which clients can grow to reach their potential and work through difficult times. She works extensively with children with autistic spectrum disorders teaching social skills and taking a team approach to help develop behavior plans for the children to allow for success and growth in the school and home environment. In addition, Mrs. Godin is a clinician for the North Carolina Child Treatment Program which is a program that treats children with trauma utilizing Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This is an evidenced based therapy proven to be effective for treating trauma victims.

Mrs. Godin received her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and completed her undergraduate training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a Clinical Psychologist dually licensed as a Licensed Psychological Associate and Licensed Professional Counselor and certified as a Health Service Provider.

Kim R. Bolen, MA, LPA is a Licensed Psychological Associate and certified as a Health Services Provider-PA.  She received her master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, with an emphasis in substance abuse treatment. Ms. Bolen has experience working in outpatient mental health settings and community outreach programs.  She provides psychotherapy services to individuals with various emotional and behavioral concerns, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, personality disorders, substance use disorders and relationship issues. 

Ms. Bolen collaborates with clients to reach their goals, while providing empathy and respect as the foundations of treatment.  Her approach includes the use of cognitive-behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapies.  She also has specialized training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which is an effective treatment for people who experience intense emotional distress and interpersonal problems.  DBT teaches four critically important coping skills:  mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.  Ms. Bolen leads group skills training sessions and provides individual DBT psychotherapy for adolescents and adults.  

Jennifer Schwarz, MSW, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her master’s degree from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Ms. Schwarz works with clients to create a safe therapeutic environment in which they may build on their strengths, develop goals that will assist them in facing current challenges with confidence, and learn strategies that help resolve areas of concern or distress. Ms. Schwarz’s primary therapeutic orientation is cognitive-behavioral therapy. Play therapy, solution- focused brief therapy, and parent coaching are also utilized in individual, family, or couple’s sessions when appropriate. 
Ms. Schwarz’s experience includes working with children, adolescents, and adults to assist in managing symptoms of emotional and behavioral disorders. Her specialized clinical interests include depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, attachment disorders, relationship issues, behavior modification, and effective parenting. Ms. Schwarz has received specialized training through the North Carolina Child Treatment Program in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), an evidenced based treatment model designed to help children, adolescents, and their parents overcome the impact of traumatic events. Treatment results in improvements in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms as well as in depression, anxiety, behavior problems, sexualized behaviors, trauma-related shame, interpersonal trust, and social competence.  

Shawn Morton, M. Ed., NCC, LPC, RPT is a Licensed Professional Counselor who received his master’s degree in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi.  Mr. Morton has worked for the past five years at an inpatient psychiatric hospital providing individual, group, and family therapy to clients struggling with mood instability, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anger management, bipolar disorder, ADHD, relationship issues, and a variety of other issues and diagnoses.  This background has provided Mr. Morton with a wide breadth of knowledge and personal experience that he draws from to help his clients achieve real, positive change in their lives.  Mr. Morton employs both Cognitive Behavioral and Reality Therapy approaches with individuals of all ages to challenge irrational thoughts and reduce negative behavior.  Mr. Morton is also a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).  Play is a child's natural language, and Play Therapists use specialized techniques to allow children to express themselves through the play process.

Mr. Morton believes that working with a therapist should be an experience that not only assists individuals in regaining control of their own lives but also empowers them to be the person that they want to be.  Mr. Morton strives to create a caring, therapeutic environment where new strategies can be learned, difficult issues can be addressed, distress can be reduced, and self-worth can grow and flourish.

Jennifer Leigh, LPC, LCAS, CRC, MAC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist.  She also holds national credentials as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Master Addictions Counselor.  Her dual certification in substance abuse and mental health allows her to more effectively treat dual diagnoses and address issues in the family caused by both addiction and emotional/behavioral disorders.  She has worked extensively with older children, adolescents, and adults struggling with a wide range of emotional/behavioral and addiction issues. She has over ten years’ experience working with individuals, families, couples and groups.  She utilizes cognitive behavioral techniques and a solution focused approach to assist clients with meeting their goals.  In addition to her substance abuse specialty, her areas of clinical interest include bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, improving self-esteem, PTSD, increasing assertiveness, stress management, anger management and reducing non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors.

Jennifer received her master’s degree in Rehabilitation Studies from East Carolina University, and completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at North Carolina University.

Alisa Valente, Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist with 7 years of experience in outpatient, inpatient and forensic settings.  Dr. Valente received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and she completed her undergraduate studies at Penn State, University Park Campus.  She works with children, adolescents and adults to provide psychological testing, individual and family therapy, and parent training.

Psychological testing can provide a wealth of information to clarify diagnoses, guide treatment, and benefit educational functioning.  Dr. Valente provides testing for ADHD, Learning Disorders, Mental Retardation, Developmental Disabilities, school/admissions testing, personality disorders or other psychopathology, psychosis and malingering.   

Dr. Valente’s therapy approach is Cognitive-Behavioral and integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.  She believes in a collaborative strength-based approach, in which the client is able to participate actively in their own care and provide valuable input into planning their treatment.  Dr. Valente has worked with a wide range of clients and presenting concerns, ranging from adjustment issues to serious mental illness.  Specialties include depression, anxiety (including panic attacks and phobias), trauma, suicide, personality disorders and oppositional/conduct disorders.