William “Bill” Catus, MA, LPC

William A. Catus is the Clinical Director for Life Strategies and a Licensed Professional Counselor. He is licensed by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling. He has a BS from Concord University and a MA in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.

William’s background includes working with people who have addictions. He enjoys working with a variety of issues. William is also a veteran of the US Military, has a special interest in working with client who have PTSD. William is also a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and Multicultural Counseling.  William resides with his wife in the Beckley area and attends Heart of God Ministries.

 

 

Nancy Carlson, MSW, LGSW

Nancy’s specialties include marriage counseling, women’s issues, and complex PTSD.
Nancy was previously director of Wilderness Challenge School, a treatment program for court referred teens in Norfolk, Virginia, and has also worked as a therapist in community mental health.
She has degrees from West Virginia University and Old Dominion University and is a licensed graduate social worker.
Nancy and her husband have four children, both biological and adopted. She loves reading, animals, homemaking, and outdoor activities.

 

 

 

 

Jason Moore, MSW, LICSW

Jason Moore is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, and a Masters of Social Work, both from Concord University. He is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers, and has an extensive history is service and networking in the Southern West Virginia region. He has enjoyed twenty plus years of ministering and serving in this area of the state.

Jason has a passion and heart to equip and serve individuals, couples, and families in our area to make the most of the opportunities to grow and change that they encounter. He offers dynamic counsel and therapy in all these categories to help insure the challenges can be met and overcome in all the lives he engages. With a strong emphasis on mind and heart change, Jason seeks to draw on the clients’ current life situation to help them meet the needs of the moment, while also preparing for future challenges.

Jason has a background in leadership, training, and group dynamics after over 25 years in the workforce. His skillset has served him well as he has served his clients in clinical social work. He lives with his wife and children in Raleigh County.

 

 

Savanna Babcock, MSW, LCSW

Savanna is a Licensed Certified Social Worker who graduated from Marshall University with her Masters in Social Work. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Marshall University. During her education at Marshall University, Savanna completed internships with KISRA’s Pathways to Responsible Fatherhood Program in Huntington, Cabell Huntington Hospital and Marshall Health’s Student Health program in Huntington, the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center in Huntington, and Life Strategies Counseling Services in Beckley.

Savanna is licensed by the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners and her previous work includes working with adolescents in Residential Group Treatment, as she has special interest in working with children and adolescents.

Savanna lives in Fayette County with her family. She enjoys playing soccer, coaching soccer, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends.

 

 

Kerri White, MSW, LICSW

Kerri White joined Life Strategies in 2006 and has experience with substance abuse, women’s issues, depression and anxiety in all age groups. Kerri also works as a mental health therapist in the Fayette county school system.

Kerri received her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Georgetown College, Kentucky. She completed her Masters of Social Work at West Virginia University. Kerri is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, licensed by the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners. She is also a member in good standing of the National Association of Social Workers.

Kerri, a lifelong native of Oak Hill, is an active member of her church. Most recently she has been a part of a team of people who work with both children and adolescents. She enjoys music as both a vocalist and pianist.

 

 

Amy Bush, MA, NCC

Amy Bush is a Nationally Certified Counselor and is licensed by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling with a provisional license.

She has a Bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute of Chicago and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Marshall University.

Amy’s personal philosophy of counseling centers around an enduring belief that change is both possible and necessary to reach wholeness as an individual. Amy enjoys working with couples, adults, adolescents, and children.

Amy lives in Beckley with her husband and their collie dog, Hemingway. Amy serves alongside her husband in local church ministry. She enjoys reading, gardening, and welcoming people into her home.

 

 

Amity Bobblits, MSW, LICSW

Amity Boblits, MSW, LICSW received her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work with a Specialization in Families and Children.  She has been licensed in West Virginia since 2000 as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker.  Throughout her education, she has received academic, character, and leadership awards.  She was also awarded professionally by the United States Department of Justice for Public Service. Amity serves children and families in school-based health as a mental health therapist.  She has experience with childhood behavioral disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, abuse issues, and various other mental health challenges.  She is skilled in individual, family, and group psychotherapy. She has a strengths-based approach, focuses on individualized goals, and incorporates skill-teaching/education to empower those she serves.

 

 

Lori Cook, M.Ed., NCC, LPC, ALPS, RPT

Lori Cook received a Master of Education degree from Lindsay Wilson College in Columbia, KY., and holds degrees from Concord University and Marshall University in West Virginia.  Lori is a Nationally Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and an Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor.  She is a Registered Play Therapist and attended seminars and trainings under Garry Landreth and Eliana Gill, who is the founder and current leader of Play Therapy.  She is skilled in childhood trauma, abuse issues and various other mental health challenges for adults and children, including individual, family, and group psychotherapy.

Lori and her husband are life-long residents of southern West Virginia.  They share 5 children and 2 dogs.  Lori is active in her church where she leads a thriving women’s ministry.

 

 

Sarah Lee

Sarah Lee Smith joins us with a BA in Elementary Education. Currently she teaches during the day, and works as a receptionist at Life Strategies in the evenings. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, reading, music, and time spent with friends.

 

 

 

Stephanie Todd

Stephanie holds a MA of Professional Counseling from Liberty University. She enjoys working with all populations including adults, couples, adolescents, and children. She is particularly focused on specializing in women’s issues and bereavement.

Stephanie has a heart for the hurting and a deep desire to help individuals not only overcome life’s many obstacles, but to experience personal growth, accomplishment, and inner transformation. Stephanie and her husband are lifelong residents of the Mountain State and have two children. She enjoys camping, kayaking, reading, and photography.

 

Megan Wheeler

I am currently a student at Bluefield State College, with a graduation date of 2019. I’ve spent most of my life caring for and nurturing my four children. My hobbies include, adventures with my kids, hiking, gardening, fishing, and reading.

 

 

 

 

Kim Harrison, MA, LSW, PLC

Kim Harrison joined Life Strategies in March 2019. She has a worked in the behavioral health field for than 22 years Graduated from Marshall University 2004 with Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology and recently completed Marshall’s Counseling program for professional development. Kim is a Licensed Social Worker by West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners and Provisionally Licensed Counselor by West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling. Identifying a passion to help children, youth, families and couples with difficult life situations, past trauma, depression, anger, anxiety and substance abuse conditions. Kim also works as a Program Manager for the Bureau for Behavioral Health.

Kim, a lifelong native of the Charleston area, is an active in her church. Kim has served in children and youth ministries for more than 10 years and is a regular camp counselor for WV “Camp Cowen”. She enjoys camping, concerts, and spending time with her friends and her numerous nieces and nephews.

 

 

 

 

Lisa Kuhn

Lisa Kuhn joined Life Strategies in 2014 to work with the insurance billing. As she showed great adeptness, her job quickly evolved into oversight the financial management of the organization, and eventually included being in charge of the support staff. Lisa’s educational background includes bookkeeping, medical coding and billing. Her previous work includes 10 years in financial institutions. Lisa resides with her family in the Raleigh county area.

 

 

 

Shameka Mitchell, MSW, SW

Shameka Mitchell received a Social Services degree from New River Community and Technical College and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Concord University in 2018. She is licensed by the West Virginia Board of Social Work Examiners.

Shameka has worked as Youth Service Worker for Burlington United Methodist Family Services/DHHR. In addition to Life Strategies, she is working as a Youth Service Supervisor for Raleigh and Fayette County as an expert in severe behavioral issues with adolescents and their families. Shameka’s passion is: women’s issues, anxiety, and depression. Available for individual and family therapy, She believes utilizing inner strength can help get through tough times.

Shameka is a Raleigh County native. She enjoys spending free time with her 3 children and family. As a member of Heart of God, she enjoys God’s word. In her free time you’ll find her spending time with her friends, music, reading, and traveling.

 

 

Lauren Smith

Lauren joined Life Strategies the summer of 2018 as a receptionist. She is majoring in Accounting with plans to receive a master’s degree and CPA certification. In her free time she loves to hike, read, and hang out with friends.

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel Miley, MA, LPC, CCTP

Rachel is a Licensed Professional Counselor whose professional experiences include treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, relationship difficulties, and caregiver stressors.  She has worked in a variety of settings that include private practice, community-agency, a crisis stabilization unit, and the outpatient portion of a behavioral health hospital. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and has a particularly avid interest in the treatment of abuse-related trauma.

Rachel is a native of southern West Virginia and possesses a love for and interest in the culture of our area.  She lives with her husband in Princeton, WV, and is active in her local church.  Her favorite activities are Bible study and spending time with her family.

 

 

 

Deborah Brown, MA, LPC

Deborah M Brown is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a BA Degree in Behavioral Science from Bluefield College in Bluefield, VA and an MA Degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.  Deborah is licensed by the WV Board of Examiners in Counseling, and she has worked in a variety of settings including DHHR, community mental health agencies, private practices, a community hospital, a Behavioral Health Hospital and a University Counseling Center.

Her professional experiences have included work with all age groups and focus on a wide variety of issues including mood disorders, relationship problems, abuse/trauma, stress reduction, grief/loss and women’s issues. She integrates a holistic approach into her counseling as she feels it is important to understand persons from a whole perspective in terms of mental/emotional, physical and spiritual functioning.  Deborah considers it to be a privilege to “come along beside” other persons at a time when help is needed and to provide encouragement, promotion of positive coping skills and support in determining healthy life directions and decisions that hopefully lead them to a more positive place in their lives.

Deborah is a native of Virginia but she has lived in WV for so many years that she thinks if it as home, and she really loves the state.  She lives in the Bluefield area with her husband and two dogs.  She enjoys church, time with grandchildren, her dogs, walking/exercising, reading cooking magazines, and she aspires to play tennis again. Deborah is a long standing member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.