Dr. Gabriele Jones
Training and Credentials
Dr. Gabriele Jones is a Clinical Psychologist, licensed in the State of North Carolina. She has been practicing in North Carolina since 2001, and in Wilmington since 2019. Dr. Jones earned her Master's Degree in Psychology from James Madison University and earned her Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi. She trained in child, adolescent, and adult areas of Clinical Psychology in her pre-doctoral internship at Tulane University Medical School, and furthered her training in a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Pediatric Psychology at UNC School of Medicine. In 2007, Dr. Jones also underwent training in EMDR therapy, which is used to help treat individuals dealing with various forms of trauma. Dr. Jones is a member of the American Psychological Association, the North Carolina Psychological Association, Cape Fear Psychological Association, and the EMDR International Association.
Areas of Clinical Interest
Dr. Jones's practice focuses on the evaluation, assessment, and treatment of children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Jones provides behavioral assessments and therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, psychological and psychoeducational assessments, and EMDR therapy. Dr. Jones performs assessments for ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disorders, Giftedness, and Early Kindergarten Admission. She also conducts personality and diagnostic testing as part of consultative work with pediatricians, therapists, and psychiatrists. Having accurate diagnoses can significantly help guide treatment planning and medication decisions.
Dr. Jones conducts psychological evaluations that are very comprehensive, and typically include an intelligence test, academic testing, a thorough clinical interview, emotional/behavioral/personality assessments, and various self-report and/or parent/teacher report rating scales. Dr. Jones believes thorough feedback sessions (e.g., with parents) are an essential part of the assessment process.
Dr. Jones is also passionate about her work with Veterans. She conducts Compensation and Pension evaluations for veterans, and also works with veterans and their families on many therapeutic issues.
In terms of therapy, Dr. Jones believes that people seek help for many different reasons. Her therapeutic approach is primarily client-centered, meaning she believes that individuals have an innate ability to heal and to achieve personal growth. Emphasis is placed on the relationship in therapy, and on encouraging individuals to recognize that they can help themselves, and can change maladaptive thinking patterns. Cognitive-Behavioral techniques are used to help clients recognize irrational core beliefs and to develop healthier ways of thinking and conceptualizing the world around them. Dr. Jones strongly believes concepts of Positive Psychology should also be utilized throughout the therapeutic process to help individuals recognize their strengths, and to help them learn strategies to have hopeful and optimistic outlooks on life. Dr. Jones uses therapy to help people with many different kinds of problems including depression, anxiety, phobias, ADHD, PTSD, adjustment disorders, and grief. Dr. Jones believes that individuals who commit to therapy display great strength and discourages the viewpoint that seeking psychological help is stigmatizing. "Everyone should have a good therapist." In 2007 Dr. Jones took the exciting step of becoming trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a form of psychotherapy somewhat different from traditional "talk" therapy. EMDR's effectiveness, particularly for PTSD, is supported by a broad base of research. The therapy includes mild bilateral stimulation of the brain that can help dissipate negative thoughts and feelings associated with past traumatic experiences. This encourages "adaptive information processing" which helps the brain to reprocess negative events and maladaptive core beliefs. EMDR is a complex, integrative approach to therapy and Dr. Jones uses it to treat individuals of all ages with specific phobias, generalized anxiety, PTSD, depression, grief, and even worries about future events (e.g. plane trips, scheduled surgeries, speeches, tests). Dr. Jones also uses EMDR to enhance the performance of athletes and business executives.
Heather Thigpen, M.Ed., NCC, LCMHC
Heather Thigpen is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor who obtained her bachelor of science degree in psychology and master’s in education from Campbell University. She has five years of post-graduate experience. Mrs. Thigpen works with children, adolescents, young adults, and families to help them with emotional and behavioral disorders. She primarily utilizes person-centered and solution-focused therapy techniques along with a variety of interactive therapies. Person-centered therapists strongly believe that in order for a client’s condition to improve therapists should be warm, genuine, and understanding. She uses games and toys to help clients feel more at ease during sessions. Mrs. Thigpen also uses the family systems model to assist families with problems and help teach them new skills to achieve positive and sustaining change. She enjoys helping children, adolescents, young adults and families use therapy as a tool to help them succeed.
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Evernorth, Humana, Multiplan, Magellan, MedCost, Tricare, UHC, UMR
Amee Little MSW, LCSW, LCASA
Amee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate who obtained her Masters of Social Work from East Carolina University. She believes in a providing a holistic approach and works to create a safe, non-judgmental environment needed to encourage the growth of every individual. She believes each person is unique in their needs and life experiences, and ensures a custom plan of treatment by utilizing Mindfulness Techniques, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques such as strengths based perspective, solutions focused therapy, and prolonged exposure. She also enjoys incorporating creative modalities such as Art Therapy into treatment. She has a passion for working with mood disorders, addiction, life transitions and adjustments, relationship conflicts, self-worth concerns, body dysmorphia, self-harm, overcoming trauma, and LGBTQIA+ populations. Amee recognizes the courage taking this step requires, and strongly believes each person possesses the strength to grow in confidence and reshape their life.
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Evernorth, Humana, Humana Medicare, MedCost, Medicare, Multiplan, Magellan, Tricare, UHC, UMR
Margaret Vester, MSW, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Margaret is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who obtained her Masters of Social Work from East Carolina University. Margaret has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults and adults in a community based and outpatient settings. She believes in a providing a safe, non-judgmental environment for every individual. She helps clients work on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, trauma/PTSD, life transitions, suicidal ideation and self-harm.
Margaret is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and specializes in working with individuals with trauma. Her approach to therapy involves utilizing EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques including mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation. Margaret believes together you can process your pain and move forward with your life trauma, you have the strength to overcome what is holding you back and your past and your pain do not have to define you.
Insurances Accepted: BCBS, Cigna, Evernorth, Magellan, Medicare, Tricare, UHC
Olivia Hess, MSW, LCSW-A
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate
Olivia Hess is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, who obtained her Masters of Social Work from University of North Carolina Wilmington. Olivia has experience working with children and adolescents ranging from ages 5-18 in a community based and outpatient setting. She believes in providing a safe, empathetic space for clients to explore their thoughts and emotions. She is knowledgeable in various therapeutic modalities including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused. She is dedicated to client's growth by facilitating positive change by developing treatment plans to meet each client's individual needs. She helps clients work on anxiety, depression, life transitions, adjustment, grief, gender identity, emotional regulation and anger management. Olivia enjoys incorporating play and art therapy into sessions and often uses those techniques with younger clientele to explore anxiety, grief, and depression symptoms
Insurances accepted: BCBS, Aetna
Rachel Arledge M.Ed, LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Rachel is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor with over 10 years of experience working with children, teens, families, and emerging adults. Rachel has extensive experience working with the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals in transition, people living with trauma, family relational issues, and folks struggling with suicidality. Rachel received her Masters of Counseling from The University of Montevallo and is licensed in NC, PA, and NJ.
Rachel’s approach to therapy is collaborative and goal oriented. The therapeutic relationship is one without judgement and is meant to assist you in reaching wellness. It can be challenging opening up and asking for help. Rachel’s purpose is to meet you where you are at and be on your journey with you so you can live your life to the fullest.
Rachel is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Rachel utilizes mindfulness, creative and expressive arts, and problem-solving interventions to help clients achieve their goals.
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Magellan, Tricare, Medcost
Brandon Caulder, MSW, LCSW-A, LCAS-A
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist 
Brandon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate, and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist who obtained his Masters of Social Work from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Brandon has experience working with adolescents and adults ranging from ages 16 - 65 in a community based, intensive outpatient, and outpatient setting. Brandon’s prowess is in cultivating a calm, accepting, nonjudgmental, and understanding environment in which clients can feel comfortable initiating the process of emotional vulnerability and change.
Brandon is passionate about working with individuals living with trauma and PTSD, struggling with addiction, OCD, depression, anxiety, and self-harm ideation. He is also skilled in assisting individuals with anger management, grief processing, and life transitions.
Brandon is knowledgeable in various therapeutic modalities including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), all from a strengths-based and solution-focused stance.
Brandon understands that everyone struggles with something and that everyone’s experiences are unique and personal to them. Brandon also understands the tremendous courage involved in asking for help, and whole-heartedly believes that all individuals are capable of achieving the change and personal growth they wish for themselves.
Insurances accepted: BCBS & Aetna
LeeAnn W. Kennedy, MA, LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
LeeAnn Kennedy holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, has a master’s degree in agency counseling and has been a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor since 1999. LeeAnn has over 20 years of experience in the field.
She started out working in nursing home facilities with the elderly during undergraduate and became an activities director out of college. She then went on to graduate school and did her internship in a psychiatric hospital with elder adults, adolescents, substance abuse population and with patience who suffered with severe mental illness. She worked in Emergency Services with the criminal population and severe mentally ill patients admitting individuals for involuntary commitments into hospitals.
She then worked for a substance abuse center with adults providing individual therapy and running psycho-educational groups. Next, LeeAnn worked for a private company providing home therapy to children of all ages. Next, she began working with children and adults for a mental health facility with the intensive reunification program, reuniting families with their children. She then took a position providing mental health therapy in the school system.
Her therapeutic style is transtheoretical utilizing client-centered theory, cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, reality therapy, and psycho-educational approaches. She works with young adults and older adult populations.
Her overall focus is working with depression, anxiety, anger management, relationship conflicts, personality conflicts, parental conflicts, substance abuse, adult ADHD, adults on the spectrum, individuals dealing with chronic pain, people dealing with grief and lose, and people facing divorce related issues. Mrs. Kennedy believes in confrontation and learning to set boundaries. She believes in assigning personal work in between sessions and providing education.
Therapy is a process which involves a therapeutic commitment to work together to invest in personal change and growth. It takes courage to make personal changes and to face life challenges towards self-growth and self-actualization.
Insurances accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Magellan, Medcost, and Tricare
Mary M. Godin, MA, LPA, LCMHC
Clinical Director and Founder of Anchor Psychological & Counseling Services, PLLC
Mary M. Godin, MA, LPA, LCMHC is the clinical director and founder of Anchor Psychological & Counseling Services, PLLC. She has worked in outpatient mental health for more than 23 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 using 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. Mrs. Godin has worked extensively with active duty and military dependents with concerns surrounding deployments, PTSD and adjustment disorders. In addition, Mrs. Godin is a clinician for the North Carolina Child Treatment Program, which is a program that treats children with trauma using trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. This evidenced-based therapy is proven to be effective for treating trauma victims. She is also a certified provider for Cognitive Processing Therapy which is utilized to treat adults with PTSD. Mrs. Godin conducts psychological testing for ADHD, depression, bipolar, PTSD, anxiety and personality disorders.
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.
Insurances Accepted: Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, Evernorth, Humana, Military One Source, Medcost, Multiplan, Magellan, Tricare, UHC, UMR