Our Team-Hickory

Lynn James-Smith, MA, LPA, LCMHC, Partner
Ages 3 and up

Lynn has 25 plus years working with children, adolescents, couples and families. She enjoys working with families, couples and systems, strengthening their successes and relationships. Lynn has a broad experience with most disorders and issues. She has a special interest in faith based/Christian Counseling and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors as well as the American Psychological Association. Lynn has other administrative responsibilities within the company. Both clients and staff alike benefit from her experience as a clinician and manager and her passion for the types of service New Directions Counseling provides. You will be hard pressed to find a harder worker and a more committed therapist.

Hannah Alligood, MSW, LCSW, Partner
Ages 3 and up

  Hannah has significant clinical experience in helping clients work through and resolve trauma experiences. She works with people across the lifespan, but has a secondary specialization in working with children and teens. Hannah believes in teaching clients how trauma is stored in the brain and body. She uses a variety of treatment modalities to reduce symptomology and assist her clients in healing. Hannah also works with children and adults who may have difficulty regulating their mood or managing symptoms of ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders and behavioral problems. She is skilled at educating families, individuals, and groups about trauma, ADHD, stress reduction techniques, child development, effects of abuse on child development, and conflict resolution.  She is also available for case/program-oriented consultations and workshops. Hannah is an adjunct professor at Appalachian State University and has completed EMDRIA certification, practicing EMDR, as needed, with select clients.

Kendra Baker, LCMHC, Partner
Ages 3 and up

Kendra is dedicated to helping children, adolescents, adults, and families. She is trained to use evidence-based therapies and interventions in a professional, non-judgmental, and supportive therapeutic environment. Her eclectic approach typically blends techniques from multiple theories in an attempt to tailor to your individual needs; including but not limited to: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy. Kendra’s specialties include treating various emotional and behavioral concerns. This may include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, anger management, oppositional behavior, social skills, Autism, ADHD, grief, personality disorders, and academic difficulties. Her passion is working with children alongside their parents to support and improve family connections and function. Kendra has a genuine desire for ‘helping people help themselves’ and she works in a collaborating and participatory manner. You’ll get feedback and valuable evidence-based skills in each session. She is dedicated to staying current and providing her clients with superior research-based care. Kendra received her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montreat College. She also offers faith based/Christian Counseling and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and is a certified EMDR therapist.

Kathy Young-Shugar, MSW, LCSW, 
Ages 3 and up

Kathy is an accomplished Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She provides therapy to adults and children individually and in family settings. Kathy is well known in the community for her experience and advocacy with high-risk populations, particularly children that have been physical and sexually abused. Her work with adults continues to expand. She often explains that helping adults to navigate life’s losses and transitions while encouraging mindfulness of the joy still possible is rewarding. Kathy works with her clients to develop the most appropriate treatment plan and supports them through the change process. She has years of experience working in outpatient settings.  Kathy also offers supervision to Masters level social workers who are working towards licensure.

Greg Shugar, MA, LPA
Ages 4 and up

Greg has over 20 years’ experience providing outpatient psychotherapy to children, adults and families exhibiting symptoms of various mental illnesses, behavioral and emotional dysregulation, and in need of structure, coaching and/or conflict resolution. He has treated children as young as 4 years of age and adults across the lifespan. Greg is familiar with the difficulties faced by children and teenagers including learning difficulties, developmental delays and symptoms related to Autism Spectrum Disorders. His knowledge of psychological assessments allows him to truly understand a child’s educational potential. He can also provide psychological assessments for persons from ages 6 to 16. Greg is able to work with persons individually as well as within the context of family treatment.

Brandi Geddings, LCMHC
Ages 3 and up

Brandi provides individual, family, and group therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. She uses eclectic and strength based approaches in her work. Brandi’s specialties include using creative interventions to assist in the treatment of various acute or chronic emotional and behavioral concerns. These may include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, mood dysregulation, grief, oppositional behaviors and personality disorders. She operates from a trauma informed framework and understands the importance of neurodevelopmental interventions when working with all clients. Her passion is to meet the client where they are, and use evidence based interventions to create stability and well-being. She incorporates sensory tools and “hands on” interventions in the therapeutic process that include movement, art, journaling, music, and play. Brandi uses experiential activities to assist clients in building coping skills, strengthening executive functioning skills, and promote self-exploration as well as improve brain integration. She is talented in teaching parents how to access their strengths and in transforming their interactions with their children to be more nurturing and impactful. All therapeutic interventions are tailored to meet the individual needs and preferences of each client. Brandi received her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Montreat College and is a member of the American Counseling Association.

Kansas Heiskell- Cook, LCMHC, ATR-P
Ages 5 and up

Kansas is a passionate therapist providing outpatient services for ages 5 and older. She is a nationally registered art therapist and works with a variety of needs such as, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, mood dysregulation, anger management, difficulty with regulating executive functioning, poor self-esteem, need for improved coping skills, IDD, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, trauma, life transitions, and panic attacks. She works from a person-centered approach, believing in empowering individuals to find tools that work for them. She views therapy as a collaborative process. Kansas and her clients work together develop interventions suited to their specific needs and which will assist her clients in reaching their next place of growth. As an art therapist, Kansas offers additional tools for self-expression & exploration of needs. Using art to assist in emotional regulation, teaching and practicing calming techniques, or in reinforcing coping skills can assist people in effectively reaching their wellness goals. Art therapy offers alternative ways for fostering self-esteem, self-awareness, building resilience, and enhancing personal insight through directed and nondirected uses of art making.

Deborah Yocum, LCMHCA
Ages 5 and up

Deb Yocum is a highly motivated and compassionate therapist dedicated to providing exceptional care for children, adolescents, and adults dealing with mental health concerns. She is committed to creating effective treatment plans for clients and finding solutions to achieve positive change and meet individual goals.  She is experienced counseling those clients struggling with various disorders such as depression and anxiety as well as trauma-based issues and ADHD. She is also a strong advocate for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Theories and techniques used include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy.

Ma Xiong, LCSWA
Ages 5 and up

Ma is a clinician that is both humble and innovative. She has an easy manner that client’s find approachable. She works hard to meet people where they are and in tailoring interventions to assist people in getting the results from therapy that they desire. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. Ma is a trauma informed clinician who uses a variety of theories and techniques to best meet her client’s individual needs. These interventions may include dialectical behavioral skills, play informed interventions, solution focused strategies, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Ma is bilingual, speaking both English and Hmong.

Our Team-Lenoir

Donald LaPlante, MS, LMFT
Ages 6 and up

Donald is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with many years of experience providing individual, child, adult, family, group and couples therapy. Specializing in ADHD, neglect, emotional/sexual/physical abuse, PTSD, trauma, grief and loss, children with Bipolar Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorders, HIV and AIDs issues, gay, lesbian and transgender issues.

Caroline Sigmon, MSW, LCSW
Ages 3 and up

Caroline has worked for over 25 years with children and families of all ages. She enjoys helping people to grow and develop happy and healthy relationships. She is positive and uses a strength-based approach in her counseling practice. Caroline is knowledgeable and skilled in implementing evidenced based treatment modalities to help people achieve and master their goals. Caroline has worked in multiple settings that include public and private mental health, non-profit agencies and the school system. She is able to assist children in regulating their emotions and working through symptoms of ADHD, anxiety and depression. Caroline has significant clinical training and experience in assisting children, families and adults who have experienced trauma in their healing and resiliency. She is EMDR trained and is a North Carolina Child Treatment Program rostered and nationally certified Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) clinician. Caroline is also a rostered Resource Parenting Curriculum Facilitator, which is a workshop developed and endorsed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network designed to assist caregivers of children who have lived through traumatic experiences. She believes in making therapy “fun” for children as well as the education of mind and body connections and use of physical movement for mastery over symptoms.

Jan Carroll, LCMHC, LCAS
Ages 6 and up

Jan Carroll is a native of rural North Carolina and spent 35 years working in healthcare before transitioning to the Mental Health Counseling field.  She attended Montreat College and graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.  She is experienced in treating adults, adolescents, and children who experience trauma, anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, depression, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorders, ADHD, and other mental health challenges.  She employs an eclectic approach which includes but is not limited to CBT, DBT informed techniques, mindfulness, EMDR, Solution-focused, and Motivational Interviewing techniques to assist clients to reach established goals.  She strives to provide empathetic support for both clients and families who are experiencing mental health symptoms, also providing psychoeducation to provide a deeper understanding of their issues.  Jan is also a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist and although does not treat substance disorders as a primary concern at this time, she enjoys working with individuals and families negatively affected by substance use.