Dina Jones is a resident counselor at Light Counseling. She is also an adjunct instructor for Liberty University’s College of Arts and Sciences with 10 years of teaching experience. Dina has a background in nonprofit management, leading organizations to serve populations who have experienced trauma and loss. She currently works as the editor of Christian Coaching Today and is the coauthor of Be Fearless. She has previously served as the Director of Professional and Public Relations for the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Dina uses a strength-based approach with clients. She helps them to use the safety of the counseling relationship to identify their needs, increase stability, and move forward towards their goals. She is wife to Jesse and mom to Mackenzie, Madison, and Alex. Dina serves her community as President of the New London Academy PTA and as a Girl Scout troop leader.

Dr. Doris DeMato brings over twenty years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor to Light Counseling. She earned her doctoral degree in counseling from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA.

She has extensive experience working with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Many of Dr. DeMato’s clients navigate feelings of stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, phase of life problems, interpersonal conflicts, and family of origin concerns that have become overwhelming and are impacting work and relationships. Together, she and her clients co-create practical strategies and coping skills that are tailored to each one’s life journey. Dr. DeMato works with adults of all ages across the life-span.

The first priority Dr. DeMato has in starting with new clients is to ensure that they feel safe, heard, and like an equal partner in the therapeutic process. As a seasoned telehealth provider, she also offers the convenience of remote sessions to help make therapy a core component of one’s self-care calendar. The therapeutic approach Dr. DeMato takes with her clients is rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This is a proven approach to changing thinking patterns and behaviors in a limited number of sessions.

An experienced clinician, Dr. DeMato also is a counselor educator. In a recent interview, she was invited to share her approach to treating women with anxiety that will be included in a video to accompany a college textbook. She also holds a Postgraduate Professional License in Virginia as a school counselor. Dr. DeMato has had articles published in both the Professional School Counseling journal and the Virginia Counselors journal. Some of her interests outside of work include visiting historical sites, watching archeological digs near where she lives, reading mystery novels and biographies, growing hydroponic herbs and vegetables, cooking, and walking. Dr. DeMato is very active in her church which has a homeless shelter, food program, and an emergency relief program.

Dr. DeMato believes that healing and growth occur within a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship. Taking the first step to come for counseling is a step of strength and courage. Dr. DeMato looks forward to meeting you and working together to help you resolve whatever you may be facing in your life at this time.

Dustin is a Licensed Resident in Counseling who has worked with adults, adolescents, and couples in outpatient and residential settings on issues including sexual addiction, marriage and relationship issues, anxiety, depression, and trauma. He earned his B.S. in Religious Studies and M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University.

Before entering the mental health field, Dustin worked as a professional musician and United States Marine. He has enjoyed a decade of marriage to his high school sweetheart, and these days their three young kids keep them happily busy.

Hello. My name is Goldie Marker Oakes, Licensed Professional Counselor. My professional clinical career began in 2006 as a clinical case manager. Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege to provide professional mental health services via counseling, intensive in-home, crisis intervention, crisis stabilization, and substance abuse therapy. This has allowed me to work with clients of all ages and backgrounds in both individual and group settings. 

My primary therapeutic modality includes a strong but eclectic therapeutic modality that incorporates a strong Christian perspective and clinical perspective using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. In addition, I often utilize a holistic approach that incorporates a homeopathic path to wellness, Mindfulness and Relaxation Therapy, prayer and scripture.

My professional experience includes a clinical approach with a Christian mindset and perspective that includes:

• treating clinical concerns such as anxiety, social anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, and other clinical concerns.

• relationships

• self-image, self-esteem, and efficacy

• addiction

•anger management

• and self-harm behaviors and impulse control.

My therapeutic approach often incorporates homework such as reading Christian literature or specific scripture, journal and self-reflective writing, and practice of specific CBT strategies outside the clinical setting, at home, and in the community, all of which support your growth and progress.

My goal as your therapist is to help you find peace, joy, and happiness in life. My job is to help you learn how to overcome your life events, emotions, and experiences that have caused you problems functioning normally, relating to others, or even finding the motivation to continue on your life’s path. Your goal is for your growth to be internal as you move towards defining or redefining your relationship with Christ. This means a great deal of your progress requires your need to periodically evaluate your own progress through self-evaluation and self-reflection, in addition to my own clinical assessments of your progress. This path is not always an easy one; however, God promises us that we never have to travel that path alone.

Justin is a Licensed Resident in Counseling with over 10 years of experience working in various roles in the mental health field.

He completed a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University. He has experience in working with children and adults with Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, and Bipolar Disorders. He has also spent a great deal of his career working as a crisis counselor.

Justin is a proponent of a holistic approach to well-being. He engages in person-centered therapy and utilizes cognitive-behavioral techniques to help his clients. He has a passion for helping people make positive decisions and helping them find their purpose in their life journey.
In his free time, you’ll find Justin outside training for Spartan Obstacle Course races, hiking, fishing, and cooking.

Kecia received her pre and post-graduate education from Liberty University. She is a wife and mother of five. Kecia has previously served as a Preschool Teacher, a Healthcare Office Administrator, a Foster Parent, a Stay-at-Home Mom, a Therapeutic Day Specialist with children in the schools, a Mental Health Skill Building Clinician with adults and an Outpatient Therapist, serving all ages. She is a Licensed Resident in Counseling as well as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and pursues continuing education and supervision in these areas.

Kecia utilizes a person-centered, strength-based approach to therapy and enjoys incorporating aspects of art therapy, play therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and other modalities as appropriate to the needs of the client.

Kecia has come alongside those struggling with issues such as abuse, ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief, loss, life transitions, adjusting to change, stress management, trauma, adoption issues, foster care issues, aging and geriatric issues, agoraphobia, anger, attachment issues, body image, caregiver issues, child and adolescent issues, domestic violence, fertility issues, pregnancy and childbirth, pregnancy loss, loss of a child, perinatal depression and anxiety, health issues, hoarding, impulsivity, seasonal affective disorder, self-care issues, spiritual concerns and feelings of worthlessness.

Kecia acknowledges the courage it takes to reach out when you are hurting. Those first steps to wellness can feel lonely and overwhelming. You no longer have to feel alone, reach out! Clients have mentioned to Kecia that it is an amazing sense of relief to finally be able to talk to someone who will hold space for them and listen. Kecia offers a genuine desire to create a compassionate, safe space where her clients feel heard, validated and encouraged during their healing process. Kecia is ready to come alongside you in your journey to finding restored hope, healing and a sound mind.

Lynnette has worked at Light Counseling since March 1999 where she served as the Executive Director until she and her husband moved to Lexington Kentucky. She continues to work full-time for Light Counseling by providing telehealth services and considers this “the best of both worlds” since she can live near family and still work for the counseling practice that she loves! 

Her clinical areas of practice include adults, adolescents, and college-age individuals. Her main focus is on women’s issues, codependency issues, marriage counseling, and family conflict resolution. She treats a wide variety of clinical problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders, grief, and phase of life issues. Her therapeutic approach is insight-oriented, cognitive-behavioral, along with family systems, with a biblical perspective. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 Lynnette was voted number one Counselor in Lynchburg in Our Health magazine’s “Best Bedside Manner” edition, which she counts among the greatest honors of her career.  

As a former basketball player at the University of Kentucky, she and her husband are now season ticket holders and enjoy attending the games at her beloved alma mater. She also has one cat and one dog and is a big animal lover!  

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I have had the opportunity to work with many different populations such as children, teens, adults, and families. My experience has enhanced my therapeutic approaches in Trauma Resolution, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing. Through an eclectic approach, therapy will include multiple modalities that are tailored for the client’s distinct needs. The therapeutic relationship is best achieved through client driven, nonjudgmental, and strength-based approaches. Therapeutic services will build from the strengths you already possess while developing additional skill-sets and incorporating Faith based principles to help manage life more effectively.

Noel Mayes, M.A. (Marriage and Family Counseling) is a resident counselor with Light Counseling. Noel provides services via telehealth and loves the flexibility this affords both him and his clients as it removes many barriers people have to attend counseling.

Noel is working towards dual licensure as both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. While his master’s degree is in Counseling, he also holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and was ACSM certified as an exercise physiologist. This background allows Noel to take an integrated and holistic view of mental health and the mind-body connection.

Noel believes it is important to consider all aspects of an individual’s being including body, mind, and social and spiritual contexts, and utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people become more aware of their personal values and then create and live a life they find meaningful. Additionally, Noel believes in taking an integrative approach to counseling as well as tailoring treatment to meet the needs of the individual, peoples, and families he works with. Along with ACT, Noel integrates contextual schema therapy, EMDR, and geek therapy into his practice to help people of all ages and backgrounds to overcome any challenges they are facing.

Skyler is a Supervisee in Clinical Social Work who is passionate about creating a safe space to facilitate healing. Skyler grew up on the mission field and quickly gained a heart for loving people and meeting individuals where they are at. This led Skyler to pursue her Masters in Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. Skyler has a wide variety of experience including play therapy, Trust-Based-Relational Intervention, anger-management counseling, and working with those who have experienced sexual assault. She also has experience working with a home visiting program that sought to support expecting mothers and connect individuals to resources.

When she is not working, Skyler loves spending time with her fiancé, family, and friends. Skyler also enjoys doing anything outdoors, such as hiking, kayaking, or running.

Tera is a Licensed Resident in Counseling who received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Trinity International University. She has previously served in the U.S. Navy as a nurse specializing in women’s wellness.

Tera has experience counseling women across the lifespan through the various stages and issues that today’s women face. Treating the whole person, adolescence through the golden years, with a foundation of clinical expertise and Biblical faithfulness, Tera will walk beside you in your healing journey providing hope, compassion, and helpful strategies and tools.  Tera has experience with grief, bereavement, and loss, pregnancy and mood disorders, sexual integrity and wholeness, career counseling, counseling individuals and family members affected by disability, chronic or terminal illness, counseling those entering ministry and ministry spouses, military and family members, healthcare workers, law enforcement and first responders, moral injury, abandonment, and social anxiety. 

Tera is married and has four children. When she isn’t counseling, she enjoys spending time with her family. She loves the outdoors, kayaking, hiking, and camping.

Zach Clinton, M.A. (Clinical Mental Health Counseling) is a resident counselor here at Light Counseling. He is also a doctoral student in Counselor Education & Supervision at Liberty University. A former Division 1 college baseball player and now chaplain of the Liberty University Baseball team, Zach is recognized as a growing authority and voice on performance and mental health for today’s generations. He also currently works and serves at the American Association of Christian Counselors, Host of the Built Different Podcast, and President & Host of the Ignite Men’s Ministry.

Zach loves working with and speaking into the lives of the next generation as he has a passion for helping them build self-esteem, emotion regulation, leadership qualities, and perspective shifts. He has dedicated his life to reminding people that no matter how dark, difficult, or painful life can be, they are never out of the fight! Zach is also thrilled to have recently married his wife, Evelyn Jane!