Counselors

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douglas M. Thorpe, Ph.d.,m.div

executive director & director of clinical service

Email: dthorpe@vipcare.org

  • Licensed Professional Counselor

  • Certified Gottman Method Couples Counselor

  • Psychotherapist, ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education

  • Ph.D. Princeton Theological Seminary, M.Div. Princeton Theological Seminary, B.A. North Park College

  • Ordained Evangelical Covenant Church Minister

  • Enjoys singing, cycling, travel

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charles f. LEDLUM-bates, PH.D.,m.div.

  • Certified Pastoral Counselor, American Association of Pastoral Counselors

  • Member, American Counseling Association

  • Member, American Psychological Association

  • Ordained United Methodist Church Minister

  • Ph. D. Psychology, Capella University, M.S. Clinical Pastoral Counseling, Loyola University, Maryland, M.Div. Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University, B.A. Religious Studies, VCU, B.S. College of West Africa (Liberia)

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christopher c. bowers, m.div

substance abuse specialiST

  • Certified Member, American Association of Pastoral Counselors

  • 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

  • M.Div. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, B.S. University of Maryland

  • Ordained Baptist Minister

  • Enjoys photography and astronomy

She’ron Fields

Resident in Counseling

Email: sfields@vipcare.org

  • M.Ed. School Counseling, Liberty University

  • M.Div. Samuel D. Proctor School of Theology-Virginia Union University

  • M.A.C.E. Union Theological Seminary-PSCE

  • Ordained Baptist Minister

  • Certified Member of National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

  • Enjoys sewing, crafting and puzzling

Kristin Long Francisco, M.Div., LCSW

EMAIL: Kfrancisco@vipcare.org

  • Certified Member, American Association of Pastoral Counseling

  • Member of Postpartum Support Virginia's Professional Membership Program

  • M.S.W. Virginia Commonwealth University, M.Div. Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, B.A. College of William and Mary

  • Ordained Baptist Minister

  • Enjoys the outdoors

w. victor maloy, d.min.

  • Certified Diplomate, American Association of Pastoral Counselors

  • Certified, Approved Clinical Supervisor

  • Licensed Professional Counselor

  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

  • Certified, American Group Psychotherapy Association

  • D.Min Vanderbilt Divinity School, M.Div. Candler School of Theology Emory University, B.A. Florida State University

  • Ordained United Methodist Minister

  • Author, Reflections on the Journey and Night Musings

  • Enjoys traveling, jogging and finding homes for retired racing greyhounds

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david r. mucha, m.div.

  • Certified Member, American Association of Pastoral Counselors

  • M.Div. Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, B.A. Randolph-Macon College

  • Ordained United Methodist Minister

  • Enjoys woodworking, handcrafts, golf and football tailgating

Peggy Newman, LCSW

Licensed clinical social worker

  • B.S. in Education from the University of Georgia, an M.A. in counseling from Bowie State University (focus on Adlerian psychology), and an M.S.W. from Norfolk State University

  • 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, Va.

  • Ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church (most recently in the Diocese of Southern Virginia)

  • Counseling focus includes work with depression, anxiety, trauma history, crisis, hospice and substance abuse

  • Works with individuals only

paul w. simrell, m.div.

email: psimrell@vipcare.org

  • 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)

  • Specializing in Mental Health, 12-Step Recovery, Relationship, Clergy, and Executive Coaching

  • Enjoys playing the piano and drawing

Margie Chrichlow Smith, Ph.D., DMin., LPC, CSAC

Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

EmaiL: msmith@vipcare.org

  • Psychotherapist, ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education

  • Member, Virginia Counseling Association (VCA)

  • Approved Supervisor for Counseling (Virginia Board of Counseling)

  • Ph.D. Regent University- Counseling and Psychological Studies; DMin. -Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; MDiv.-Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; M. Ed.- Virginia State University; BS- Virginia Union University

  • Counseling specialties: substance abuse, grief/loss issues, depression

  • Licensed and Ordained Baptist Minister

  • Alumna: Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR)

  • Charter Member, REO Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

  • Enjoys spending time with grands/family/friends, traveling

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Meredith southwell, LSCW

Licensed clinical social worker

EMAIL: msouthwell@vipcare.org

  • Completed pyschotherapy and spirituality residency program from Wake Forest Baptist Health, 2016.

  • M.S.W. North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University & The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2013, JMSW program.

  • B.S., University of Mary Washington, 2009.

  • Trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) and Prepare/Enrich (marriage and couples program)

  • Enjoys the beach, family and friends, jogging around Richmond, and listening to music.

larry wholley, m.div.

  • Certified Fellow, American Association of Pastoral Counselors

  • M.Div. Andover Newton Theological School

  • Ordained United Church of Christ Minister

  • Enjoys pets, jogging, sports and history

Anna williams, M.A., LPC

EMAIL: AWILLIAMS@VIPCARE.ORG

  • Licensed Professional Counselor

  • M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Regent University, and B.A., Double Major in Psychology and Equine General Studies, Williams Woods University, Fulton, Missouri

  • Certified as a 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

  • Counseling approach includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR, Mindfulness, Spiritual Meditation, and prayer

  • Enjoys exploring local parks, working horses, and writing poetry

  • 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

  • Note: Ms. Williams has a service dog in the office during appointments

Seung Hae (Sophia) Yoo-Hess, Th.D., M.A.T.S., M.Div.

  • Th.D., Pastoral Care and Counseling, Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA; M.A.T.S., Pastoral Care and Counseling, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, CA; M. Div., Chong-shin Theological Seminary, Chong-shin University, Seoul, Korea.

  • Pastoral counselor and ordained mnister, 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.

  • Counseling focus includes anxiety, personality disorders, grief and loss, spiritual guidance, and immigrants’ difficulties

  • Works with individuals, couples, families and children

  • Enjoys the mountains and the beach, local coffee and ice cream, jogging, and watching movies

jabriel malik hasan, m.div., clinical intern

jmhasan@vipcare.org

  • M.Ed., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, The College of William & Mary, 2024 (expected) M.Div., Union Presbyterian Seminary, 2022

  • B.A., Communication, Marymount University, 2015

  • Certified Trauma Professional

  • Ordained Interfaith Minister, Inayatiyya 

  • Former Richmond Hill Urban Service Corps Intern

  • Returned Peace Corps Volunteer