Counselors
douglas M. Thorpe, Ph.d.,m.div.
executive director & director of clinical service
Email: dthorpe@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: licensed professional counselor; certified Gottman Method Couples Counselor; psychotherapist, ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education; PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary; MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary; BA, North Park College, ordained Evangelical Covenant Church minister
Areas of clinical interest: couples, relationships, depression, anxiety, men’s issues, spiritual concerns
Therapeutic modalities: Gottman Method Couples Counseling, psychodynamic psychotherapy, emotionally focused therapy, spiritually integrated psychotherapy
Ages served: 18+
Clients served: individuals, couples, families
Forms of payment accepted: private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Therapeutic approach: I start where you are and work to help you be the very best version of yourself you can possibly be.
Areas of personal interest: singing, cycling, travel
Margie Chrichlow Smith, Ph.D., DMin., LPC, CSAC
director of education & Associate staff
EmaiL: msmith@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: psychotherapist, ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education; member, Virginia Counseling Association (VCA); approved supervisor for counseling (Virginia Board of Counseling); PhD, counseling and psychological studies, Regent University; DMin, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; MDiv, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; MEd, Virginia State University; BS, Virginia Union University; licensed and ordained Baptist minister; alumna: Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR); charter member, REO Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Areas of clinical interest: grief and loss, substance abuse, depression
Therapeutic modalities: client-centered
Ages served: 30+
Clients served: individuals
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: spending time with grands/family/friends, traveling
christopher c. bowers, m.div.
Associate Staff
substance abuse specialiST
Credentials and education: certified member, American Association of Pastoral Counselors; MDiv, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; BS, University of Maryland; ordained Baptist minister
Publications: author, Studies in the Twelve Core Competencies for Clergy and Other Pastoral Ministers in Addressing Alcohol and Drug Dependence and the Impact on Family Members; curriculum developer, Spiritual Caregiving to Help Addicted Persons and Families - Pastoral Counselor's Curriculum for the Education of Faith Leaders; developer, The Use, Relapse and Recovery Journey Game
Areas of clinical interest: substance use and abuse, screening and assessments, family consults about a loved one, support for individuals in recovery, individual counseling for substance use
Therapeutic modalities: cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy
Ages served: 13+
Clients served: individuals, couples with substance use concerns, families
Forms of payment accepted: self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: photography and astronomy
She’ron Fields
Resident in Counseling
Email: sfields@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: MEd, school counseling, Liberty University; MDiv, Samuel D. Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; MACE, Union Theological Seminary-PSCE; ordained Baptist minister; certified member of National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Areas of clinical interest: anxiety (children and adults), anger, depression, grief, family concerns
Therapeutic modalities: cognitive behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, solution-focused therapy
Ages served: school aged children through adults
Clients served: individuals, families
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Therapeutic approach: The counseling plan starts with partnership.
Areas of personal interest: sewing, crafting and puzzling
charles f. LEDLUM-bates, PH.D.,m.div.
Associate Staff
Credentials and education: certified pastoral counselor, American Association of Pastoral Counselors; member, American Counseling Association; member, American Psychological Association; ordained United Methodist Church minister; PhD, psychology, Capella University; MS, clinical pastoral counseling, Loyola University, Maryland; MDiv, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; BA, religious studies, VCU; BS, College of West Africa (Liberia)
Therapeutic modalities: psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy
Ages served: 18+
Clients served: individuals, couples, families
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Therapeutic approach: compassionate, transparent, holds clients accountable and helps them move toward change, versatile, values client/counselor relationship, self-aware, inquiring, open-minded, and trustworthy
Kristin Long, M.Div., LCSW
Associate staff
EMAIL: KLONG@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: certified member, American Association of Pastoral Counseling; member, Postpartum Support Virginia's professional membership program; MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University; MDiv, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; BA, College of William and Mary; ordained Baptist minister
Areas of clinical interest: depression, anxiety, women’s issues, life transitions, early adulthood, perinatal maternal health, postpartum families, spiritual concerns
Therapeutic modalities: mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, supportive, interpersonal, psychodynamic
Ages served: 20+
Client served: individuals, couples, groups
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: spending time outdoors
jabriel malik hasan, m.div.
Resident in Counseling
email: jmhasan@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: Resident in Counseling; M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (William & Mary, '24); M.Div. (Union Presbyterian Seminary, '22); B.A. (Marymount University, '15); ordained interfaith minister (Inayatiyya); lay minister (The Episcopal Church)
Areas of clinical interest: Anxiety, Depression, Trauma & PTSD, Life Transitions, Grief, Spirituality, Racial Identity
Therapeutic modalities: Existential Humanistic, ACT, CBT, Mindfulness-Based, Reality Therapy
Ages served: adults
Clients served: individuals, couples, and families
Experience: Former Richmond Hill Urban Service Corps intern, returned Peace Corps volunteer
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: exploring nature, reading, and travel
w. victor maloy, d.min.
Associate Staff
Credentials and education: certified diplomate, American Association of Pastoral Counselors; certified, approved clinical supervisor; licensed professional counselor; licensed marriage and family therapist; certified, American Group Psychotherapy Association; DMin, Vanderbilt Divinity School; MDiv, Candler School of Theology, Emory University; BA, Florida State University, ordained United Methodist minister
Publications: author, Reflections on the Journey and Night Musings
Areas of personal interest: traveling, jogging and finding homes for retired racing greyhounds
david r. mucha, m.div.
Associate Staff
Credentials and education: certified member, American Association of Pastoral Counselors; MDiv, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia; BA, Randolph-Macon College; ordained United Methodist minister
Areas of personal interest: woodworking, handcrafts, golf and football tailgating
Peggy Newman, LCSW
Associate staff
Credentials and education: MSW, Norfolk State University; MA in counseling with focus on Adlerian psychology, Bowie State University; BS, education, University of Georgia; ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church (most recently in the Diocese of Southern Virginia)
Experience: worked in Berlin, Germany, for the Army Community Services and has worked closely with military families since that time; retired from the Community Services Board of Virginia Beach in 2011; previously worked for Tidewater Pastoral Counseling Services in Norfolk, Virginia
Areas of clinical interest: life transitions, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, trauma history, crisis, hospice and substance abuse
Therapeutic modalities: solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, Adlerian therapy
Ages served: adults, especially seniors
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: I have fantastic grandchildren!
paul w. simrell, m.div.
Associate Staff
email: psimrell@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: certified pastoral counselor, AAPC; pastor, Elpis Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary; completed advanced training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky, and at the Children's Medical Center and Parkland Hospital, Dallas, Texas; certified Prepare/Enrich facilitator and facilitator trainer (Prepare-Enrich is a relationship assessment and skills building program); member, American Association of Christian Counselors; member, International Christian Coaching Association; member, International Coaching Federation; chaplain, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Areas of clinical interest: depression, anxiety, substance use disorder, couples counseling, Christian life coaching, spiritual direction, clergy counseling and coaching
Therapeutic modalities: cognitive behavioral therapy, Prepare/Enrich assessments, Gottman Method Couples Counseling, 12-step recovery, Christian life coaching, spiritual direction
Ages served: primarily 45–75
Clients served: individuals, couples
Forms of payment accepted: self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Enjoys playing the piano and drawing
Meredith southwell, LCSW
Associate Staff
EMAIL: msouthwell@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: psychotherapy and spirituality residency program, Wake Forest Baptist Health; MSW, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University & The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, JMSW program; BS, University of Mary Washington,
Areas of clinical interest: stage of life issues, stress, anxiety, depression, relational issues, marriage concerns, trauma, grief, coping with illness, women’s issues, spiritual issues
Therapeutic modalities: internal family systems, existential-humanistic, mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and Prepare/Enrich (marriage and couples program)
Ages served: 14+
Clients served: individuals, couples, families
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: the beach, family and friends, jogging around Richmond, and listening to music
Anna williams, M.A., LPC
Associate Staff
EMAIL: AWILLIAMS@VIPCARE.ORG
Credentials and education: licensed professional counselor; MA, clinical mental health counseling, Regent University; BA, psychology and equine general studies, Williams Woods University, Fulton, Missouri; certified level 1 and level 2 EMDR therapist, EMDRIA; experience working with horses and clients through equine assisted psychotherapy; training in grief/loss, trauma, and living with a disability with personal experience in these areas
Areas of clinical interest: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, aging, emotional support animals and service animals
Therapeutic modalities: cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), talk therapy, workbooks, mindfulness, prayer
Additional services: consults with those in need of a service animal; provides emotional support animal letters and consultations to current, active clients only; consults with providers wanting to learn about writing emotional support animal (ESA) letters
Ages served: 18+
Clients served: individuals
Forms of payment accepted: most major insurance carriers including Medicare and Medicaid, self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: exploring local parks, working horses, and writing poetry
Note: Ms. Williams is currently accepting virtual appointments only
kucirious (Kay) May
RESIDENT IN COUNSELING
email: kmay@vipcare.org
Credentials and education: Counselor-In-Training, Masters Mental Health Counseling (2025)
Areas of clinical interest:Anxiety, depression, family dynamics, couples dynamics, and addiction.
Therapeutic modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Person Centered
Ages served: 18+
Forms of payment accepted: self pay with sliding scale as indicated
Areas of personal interest: avid scrap booker, attending Comic Cons with family, reading superhero comics, loves Star Wars and Star Trek equally
Seung Hae (Sophia) Yoo-Hess, Th.D., M.A.T.S., M.Div.
Associate Staff
Credentials and education: ThD, pastoral care and counseling, Candler School of Theology, Emory University; MATS, pastoral care and counseling, Claremont School of Theology; MDiv, Chong-shin Theological Seminary, Chong-shin University, Seoul; pastoral counselor and ordained minister, United Methodist Church
Past experience: resident pastoral counselor at The Care and Counseling Center of Georgia; pastoral counselor at Rothem Institute for Holistic Healing and Counseling and research member and administrative staff at Korean Institute of Pastoral Counseling
Areas of clinical interest: anxiety, personality disorders, grief and loss, spiritual guidance, and immigrants’ difficulties
Ages served: children and adults
Clients served: individuals, couples, families
Areas of personal interest: the mountains and the beach, local coffee and ice cream, jogging, and watching movies