Meet Our Team

MA, LCMHCA

Sarah Thomas

I understand that seeking therapy can be intimidating & challenging. Therefore, I strive to build a warm, trusting, supportive, and authentic relationship with my clients. I have experience working with a wide range of mental health topics, including anxiety, depression, trauma, neurodivergence, LGBTQ+ issues, chronic illness, racial and ethnic identity, relationship issues, career burnout, and difficult life transitions.

I have a M.A. in Mental Health Counseling & am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. My trauma-informed therapeutic approach includes a mix of strengths-based, humanistic, and somatic therapies. I also utilize principles of CBT & DBT.

I create a warm and accepting environment where clients feel comfortable processing their thoughts, experiences, and emotions. I enjoy collaborating with clients to help them identify their goals and develop a plan to achieve them.

MSW, LCSW

Miranda Saling Aultman

Miranda Saling Aultman, MSW, LCSW, is a mental health therapist providing treatment for children, adolescents, and adults desiring support for anxiety, depression, stress, or trauma recovery. Miranda uses various evidence-based treatment modalities to enhance the therapeutic experience for each individual based on their distinct needs and goals.

Miranda earned her Master of Social Work from Arizona State University, as well as a graduate certificate in Military Behavioral Health from Fayetteville State University. Miranda is currently a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP-I), and trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR), among others.

Miranda has spent her career supporting children, youth and families in both civilian and military communities throughout the Midwest and Southeastern United States as a part of the public school system, social services, faith-based groups, mental health services, and non-profit organizations.

Miranda desires for everyone to inhabit all spaces as their full and authentic selves and strives to provide an environment that is safe and welcoming. She values the diversity and uniqueness of all persons, and practices as an advocate and ally for people of color, LGBTQIA+ persons, those of all faith backgrounds, immigrants and refugees, and people living with disabilities.

MSW, LCSW-A

Dorothy Allen Cooke

Dorothy Allen Cooke MSW, LCSW-A, is an associate trauma therapist providing treatment for adults who are dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety or grief.

Dorothy respects the agency and unique life experiences of every client and believes in meeting clients where they are. She hopes to be a source of support, compassion and clarity for clients as they towards their goals for healing.

Dorothy earned her MSW from Rutgers University and she has worked with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse for several years.

Dorothy has also worked with clients in nursing homes, faith communities and non-profit settings.
Dorothy brings an integrative approach to working with clients, drawing from different modalities to serve the client in the most responsive and empowering way possible.

LCMHCA

Robyn Alston

Hello, my name is Robyn Alston (she/her), and I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate. I have my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and have provided individual and group therapeutic services in a variety of settings such as community mental health, university/public school settings, and in a detention center.

As both a mental health clinician and advocate, I am deeply passionate about cultivating an inclusive and non-judgmental space for all clients to receive support and engage with vulnerability. Utilizing trauma-informed, social justice, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and multicultural counseling frameworks in my therapeutic approach. I draw from a variety of modalities such as strength-based therapy, ACT, CBT, family systems therapy, somatic-based practices, DBT, and solution-focused therapy. My clinical interests encompass anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, complex PTSD, identity exploration, interpersonal relationships, and navigating life transitions.

I do not take for granted when my clients trust me with their authentic selves, dedicated to helping people thrive in who they are, including their various ways of thinking, ways of doing, and ways of being. My hope is to assist you in cultivating acceptance, belonging, and safety. I look forward to supporting you on your journey to healing and liberation.

Clinical Executive Director

Margaret Anixter

Maggie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s and master’s in social work. Maggie is a North Carolina native and has served the triangle area for the last three years.

Maggie has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults and pulls from therapeutic models, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, Eco-Systemic Family Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Maggie strives to work with individuals to recognize their current strengths and support them in developing adaptive tools that can be used across settings and support them in achieving their personal goals. Maggie works directly from a person-centered and empowerment approach and serves in a supportive role to help an individual or family meet their own goals. Her areas of work include those experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, relationship issues, career transitions, self-care, domestic violence, communication issues, parenting support, low self-esteem, and trauma work. Maggie prioritizes a hands-on approach in her interventions with clients and loves utilizing play therapy with children.

When Maggie is not helping clients, she loves to care for plants, bake, be outside, travel, and spend time with her pets and family.

Administrative Assistant

Matthew Arthurs

Matthew is a native North Carolinian and has been working for our office for several years. In college, Matthew studied Business and Psychology and enjoys applying that education to his work. When Matthew is away from the office, he enjoys antiquing, meeting friends for dinner, and going on nature walks.

LCSW

Claire Taylor

Claire has a master’s in social work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She uses a strengths-based, wholistic approach in her work with children and adults with a particular focus on grief and trauma, but also includes mood disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, ASD, parenting concerns, relationship issues, and supporting clients through all kinds of life stressors and circumstances. Her background as a journalist serves her work as a therapist with the idea that we all have a story to tell, and there are always opportunities to write new chapters. To that end, Claire believes that creating a safe space of radical acceptance empowers clients to heal, change, and grow in the way they choose, attending in the process to clients’ unique mind, body and spirit.

Claire integrates her lifelong admiration for the healing power of the mind/body connection throughout her therapeutic practice. She is trained in body-based Relational EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction). To meet clients’ specific needs, she also draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, and arts-based interventions.

Having worked for years on crisis lines, Claire is comfortable meeting people where they are, however they show up. She affirms value in diversity and difference in her relationships, and practices as an ally to people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA +, and to people living with disabilities.

In her free time, Claire runs around outside as much as possible and practices martial arts. She also loves to spend time with her kids, friends, and many pets.

Administrative Assistant

Karlene Marino

Karlene is new to Asheville and has really enjoyed experiencing the four seasons as opposed to the hot Florida weather year-round. Her and her husband love visiting the Biltmore, as well as all the beautiful waterfalls and scenery here in North Carolina. She loves most outdoor activities, as well as cooking and baking.

Clinical Executive Director

Margaret Anixter

Maggie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Executive Director. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s and master’s in social work. Maggie is a North Carolina native and has served the triangle area for the last three years.

Maggie has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults and pulls from therapeutic models, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Collaborative Problem Solving, Eco-Systemic Family Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Maggie strives to work with individuals to recognize their current strengths and support them in developing adaptive tools that can be used across settings and support them in achieving their personal goals. Maggie works directly from a person-centered and empowerment approach and serves in a supportive role to help an individual or family meet their own goals. Her areas of work include those experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, relationship issues, career transitions, self-care, domestic violence, communication issues, parenting support, low self-esteem, and trauma work. Maggie prioritizes a hands-on approach in her interventions with clients and loves utilizing play therapy with children.

When Maggie is not helping clients, she loves to care for plants, bake, be outside, travel, and spend time with her pets and family.