Steele Creek Location
Ray Castillo
MA, LMFT, LCASA
Practice Owner
I believe that every person has their own story. I am interested in your story because it matters and I understand how various factors can make us feel unheard and hidden. We all deserve a safe place to land, without judgement
Doerun Stokes
MA, LMFT
Clinical Team Lead
I believe that as humans, we are complex and made up of many beings within: physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental. This is why I see therapy in a holistic way, taking all of these parts into account. I work from a systemic perspective, looking at a person’s societal makeup within their own unique social and familial spheres. I believe that healing is possible for all, and that the therapy process is a journey and not a race. My desire and passion is to see couples and families healed from generational trauma and pain. I primarily work with couples, family units, adolescents, and women, using interventions such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Gottman, and EFT. Additionally, I am interested in the unique relationship between caregivers and children, and helping to foster growth, attachment, and teach tools to help these relationships thrive. I believe every person I sit with is uniquely made with a purpose, and that every life is full of value and worth. By fostering a safe space for vulnerability to take place without shame, I believe people can reconnect with their inherent value and identity, and learn to thrive again. I received my Masters in Counseling, with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. I look forward to coming alongside you on this brave, healing journey.
Hallie Amat
MSW, LCSWA, LCASA
What does it look like for you to be seen, heard, and validated? It would be an incredible honor to sit with you and hold space while you shed away the notion that you are broken; there is no such thing. It takes incredible courage to seek help and that is just one of your many strengths. We frequently go through life feeling lonely which is an isolating experience. Alone with our thoughts, mistakes, past decisions, guilt and shame. When we put down our “masks” and come out of hiding, we see that we are never alone. The reality is that you’ve come this far and you’re surviving with the tools that you have. My therapeutic approach is to work collaboratively with you to help build a more sustainable toolbox. I firmly believe that every person is capable of creating new and enriching chapters in their story. Remember, you are the author. As an Afro-Latina, I also understand cultural expectations that affect our self-esteem and identity. I have had my own struggles and can understand what it’s like to enter the therapeutic relationship. I am grateful to walk alongside you whether you are suffering from trauma, depression, anxiety, overwhelming emotions, strained relationships, or setting boundaries. My approach to therapy is eclectic inspired by Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Therapies, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. However, I will tailor my approach based on your individual needs. I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Associate and a graduate of Liberty University. I am also trained in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders through Postpartum Support International. My experience includes adolescents and adults, with a specialty in maternal mental health. In my free time I enjoy cooking, going to the gym, dancing, or watching a favorite show.
Mallika Rajan
MA, LCMHCA
I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) and professional school counselor. I earned my Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte in 2018. I also hold dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Comparative Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. When I’m not working with students or meeting with clients, you may find me reading a book, baking sweet treats to share, or snuggled up with my animals (2 cats and 2 dogs). Therapy is a partnership. My goal is to work with you to identify your strengths and to give you tools to move through difficult situations. I have been fortunate to work in mental health care for the last 5 years and welcome adolescent and adult clients looking for support. I recognize it can be difficult to trust in the process of therapy, especially if you have never tried it before or hold a history of damaged relationships, trauma, or judgment. I value your decision to trust in our partnership and as your therapist I will be nonjudgmental, provide hope, and encourage you to practice strategies that allow you to accomplish your goals. I believe in the narrative power of the messaging we tell ourselves and consequentially operate from a Cognitive-Behavioral perspective. As a former school counselor, I also recognize the intrinsic importance of relationships and incorporate family-systems and attachment based perspectives into our work when appropriate. In our sessions I will balance unconditional positive regard with accountability because I believe you deserve to live your life fully.
Cassie Horton
MA, LCMHCA
I believe the therapy process is a marathon, not a sprint. Pacing and patience are key to the type of collaborative therapy I offer. In this “marathon”, I am open to discussing what tactics you want to use to create the change you want to see. As a counselor, I use myself as a vehicle for change in the therapeutic process. I bring a warm, personable, and laid-back nature to each session because I believe everyone needs a comfortable space to share their story. I push my clients in the direction of their goals, but I respect the importance of pacing and patience during the therapy “marathon”. I utilize an eclectic approach to meet you where you are. Some of these approaches include Adlerian, Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral and Mindfulness therapies. I have experience working with college students (especially college student-athletes) and I know how difficult it is juggling academics, work, school, sports, and a personal life. But I don’t work with just athletes- I work with anyone who is struggling to handle the pressures of life. I like to work on self-esteem building and identity formation with my clients. We may also look in your past to see how life events and family history may have impacted your present. I invite clients ranging from adolescence to adulthood. If you are looking for someone who will take the role of pushing you to meet your goals while still staying in your corner cheering you on, please feel free to reach out.
Edily Boykins
MA, LCMHCA
What does it look like for you to be seen, heard, and validated? It would be an incredible honor to sit with you and hold space while you shed away the notion that you are broken; there is no such thing. It takes incredible courage to seek help and that is just one of your many strengths. We frequently go through life feeling lonely which is an isolating experience. Alone with our thoughts, mistakes, past decisions, guilt and shame. When we put down our “masks” and come out of hiding, we see that we are never alone. The reality is that you’ve come this far and you’re surviving with the tools that you have. My therapeutic approach is to work collaboratively with you to help build a more sustainable toolbox. I firmly believe that every person is capable of creating new and enriching chapters in their story. Remember, you are the author. As an Afro-Latina, I also understand cultural expectations that affect our self-esteem and identity. I have had my own struggles and can understand what it’s like to enter the therapeutic relationship. I am grateful to walk alongside you whether you are suffering from trauma, depression, anxiety, overwhelming emotions, strained relationships, or setting boundaries. My approach to therapy is eclectic inspired by Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Therapies, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. However, I will tailor my approach based on your individual needs. I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counseling Associate and a graduate of Liberty University. I am also trained in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders through Postpartum Support International. My experience includes adolescents and adults, with a specialty in maternal mental health. In my free time I enjoy cooking, going to the gym, dancing, or watching a favorite show.
Diana Landers
MA, LMFTA
A lonely moment. A slight stressor. A tipping point or crisis. A sense of vulnerability or troubling thoughts. Maybe you are in physical pain. Something has called you to therapy, and you are seeking a guide to walk alongside you. My goal is to provide you both a place of comfort and autonomy, yet ensure we have the flexibility and willingness to go where we must. I am a therapist, and I am also a parent, a spouse, a daughter, and a sibling. I believe that family bonds shape who we become, and I cannot guide you where I haven’t also been myself. Suppose we believe we have the capacity not only for insight but for connection. In that case, the relationship between therapist and client is often the first step towards feeling better, as we explore and make sense of what we may have lost and connect to what we still have. I have a special interest in working with families, with men, and with illness or chronic pain. Some of my background includes working with vulnerable children and parents involved with the Department of Social Services, research in and experience with men’s issues, and an internship at a major hospital. My therapeutic interests lie in experiential, structural, and somatic techniques. I received my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pfeiffer University, where I was a clinic intern at the Pfeiffer Institute for Marriage and Family Therapy and externed at Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center. "The therapist must strive to create a new therapy for each patient... [The] paramount task is to build a relationship together that will itself become the agent of change." Irvin D. Yalom, The Gift of Therapy
Andrea Evans
MA, LCASA
I work primarily with folks experiencing substance use disorders. My aim as a therapist is to be empathetic, compassionate, and grateful in this journey with you and to provide exceptional care/treatment for those with addiction and who are affected by it. I hold great passion to work with individuals, couples, families, and groups to improve mental health and wellness. It is imperative that we create more spaces of healthy support, exceptional care and implementing effective treatment for individuals experiencing addiction.
Jeremy Saunders
MA, LCMHCA
I have a passion for working with clients from many diverse backgrounds. I grew up in a small town where mental health awareness was not always present and children, like myself, who were going through their own unique and individual challenges did not always have support or an outlet for expressing their emotions. I aim to work with clients who are searching for this same type of support environment and positive outcomes through making plans for their growth. This is in connection with using research-based mental/emotional health strategies to achieve goals and create authentic and personal changes in their lives. I have received my Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at NC State University and my LCMHCA counseling license in NC. I am working under the supervision of Ashley Bagwell, LCMHC, of LifeStance Health Inc. of Mooresville, NC to achieve my full license. I have mainly worked with youth, LGBTQ+, and anxiety clients in my experience thus far. I have lived in the Charlotte, NC area for the last 10 years and I am also a middle school ESL teacher currently as well. I received my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from UNC-Charlotte in 2014 and have worked with families and children for many years in my career. I love traveling, music, Spanish culture, and spending time with loved ones.
Steele Creek
11020 S. Tryon St Suite 408
Charlotte, NC 28273
980-236-1660 (Phone)
980-280-1508 (Fax)