“Hello from Minnesota! My name is Tiffany, and I’m so delighted you’re here! Personally, I live in the great, northern Minnesota with my husband, two cats and one dog! My story of how I got to where I am dates to when I was just a little girl. I have had many obstacles, faced numerous health challenges from a skin condition that required consistent doctor appointments and out of 80-90 doctors, no one knew what skin condition I was facing. Each one gave a different diagnosis, which resulted in different medication, only to make my symptoms worse. Along with skin challenges, I’ve also underwent a period of abdominal issues and faced other emotional/mental health challenges over the years that came from these experiences. Despite all these challenges, my parents tried many things to help and provide the care I needed, but they never allowed me to use those struggles to miss out on life. They taught me in various ways to rise above and how to preserve when life gets tough. I remember vividly, my mom would always tell me, “Tiffany, you have a sermon within you that the Lord is preparing, that one day you’ll be able to share.” In my early twenties, this was the onset of a decade long battle between me and God, as I wrestled with him, in the lies that I once believed regarding my self-worth, my self-esteem, my beauty, my desire to be married but struggled with singleness. This was a full decade of sorting out all the lies I had once believed to receiving the truth that God was writing on my heart. The truth of seeing myself as he saw me, through his eyes, as an image barrier and creation by His hands, for His purpose. I had a small idea of who God was then but would later understand it in a much deeper way, as during this decade, while wrestling with God, I got to know him more, on a deeper level. He is a God who cares so deeply, and who is so faithful. One who’ll meet us in our mess, and ready to help us mend those broken pieces back together. Given my story, and the challenges that I have faced, but the perseverance that came from it all, God created my heart to love after people, wherever they’re at and for who He has created them to be.
In college, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Since then, I have had numerous careers that rallied around people of all walks of life, from a direct support professional working with youth to build social, emotional and behavioral skills; to being a vocational coordinator (job coach/developer) working with individuals with disabilities/mental health to seek and retain employment; to case management for a managed care organization in WI, where I worked with individuals with physical disabilities, development/intellectual disabilities and frail elders; to working in a care management role for a counseling agency in International Falls, MN. In the spring of 2023, I enrolled into Center for Christian Coaching, where I spent six months being trained as a Christian Life Coach, receiving that certification in late fall of 2023. Most recently, I am currently working on being board certified as a mental health coach through American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).
My heart and passion are to Love God and Love people. God is marvelous and wondrously faithful. He sees you; He hears you and He knows you. As your coach, I would be honored to come along side you, explore the possibilities of what God is doing in your life, and where he’s taking you on this journey of life.”
Find Providers Specializing in:
Attachment Issues
Zach Clinton, PhD, Resident in Counseling
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!
Victoria Jacob, MA, Resident in Counseling
Victoria Jacob is grateful that all the seemingly random paths in her life have led her to pursue counseling full-time. With all that she has learned as a foundation, Victoria looks forward to teaching others about some of the amazing therapeutic tools that exist to heal from pain and experience holistic health. Victoria knows being a human is hard, messy, and sometimes painful. Brokenness can make Jesus’ promises of things like abundant life (John 10:10) and overwhelming peace (Philippians 4:7) seem almost laughable at times. Yet she believes there must be a way to reconcile the harshness of the world, and the promises found in Scripture. Victoria has found healing often begins with bravely entering the brokenness of our lives and grappling with the heartbreak of could have been. She wants her clients to know the Lord has been there the whole time, and He goes before them. She believes when people need a little help along the way, a counselor can be a phenomenal companion. Wherever your journey takes you and whether our paths ever cross, Victoria hopes you discover enough healing to experience the truth of God’s promises within your unique story.
Destini Gray, MA, Resident in Counseling
Destini Gray is a Licensed Resident at Light Counseling who received her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. She meets clients where they are by providing different therapeutic models in her sessions. Destini is also a certified Saving...
Maddie Kiel, MA, Resident in Marriage & Family Therapy
Maddie is a compassionate and dedicated Resident in Counseling committed to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s challenges while fostering meaningful and lasting change. Rooted in evidence-based therapeutic approaches, Maddie partners with...
Libby Geddes, M.Ed., NCC, LPC
Libby is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with NCC credentials in Virginia and South Carolina. She specializes in working with clients of all ages on issues such as depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and spiritual concerns. Certified in premarital/remarital...
Amarachi Nnadozie, MA, Resident in Counseling
Amarachi Nnadozie is a licensed resident therapist passionate about holistic care and supporting others through life’s challenges. She received her undergraduate degree in Music and Worship with a concentration in Pastoral Leadership from Liberty University, which...
Phylicia Jemmott, MA, Resident in Counseling
Phylicia Jemmott is a dedicated Resident in Counseling, holding an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a BS in Psychology from Fort Hays State University. With a rich background in clinical practice, including an internship at Christian Counseling Associates, Phylicia provides compassionate care under the guidance of Virginia-Board-of-Counseling-approved supervision. She specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults, offering support for challenges such as depression, anxiety, OCD, negative self-talk, and emotional regulation. Phylicia is a military brat with experience in working with military families, both active and retired. She aspires to be a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) and a Certified Depression & Mood Disorder Treatment Professional (CDMDTP) in the future. She assists her clients with a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT). Phylicia is available virtually and in person at Glen Allen or Chesterfield.
Skyler Heston, LCSW
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 master’s 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 husband, family, and friends. Skyler also enjoys doing anything outdoors, such as hiking, kayaking, or running.
Sondra Doty, BCMHC
As a life and mental health coach, Sondra strives to improve her clients’ lives by providing emotional, physical, and spiritual support. Sondra jokingly calls herself an emotion coach or detective. She desires to get to the root cause, pattern, and/or habit of what is hindering people’s lives. She brings truth, hope, and encouragement with a faith-based understanding.
Sondra is a board-certified master mental health coach through the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) with a focus on professional life coaching. (IBCC Certified).
Sondra has coached others in many different aspects of life for over 14 years. Key areas of coaching have been women’s health, birth, postpartum, motherhood/parenting, emotional well-being, career, chronic illness, habits, and faith challenges.
Johnny Dixon, BCMMC
Johnny Dixon is a dedicated, certified master mental health coach specializing in marriage and family services. Johnny has been helping individuals and families in crisis for twenty-six years. He has an academic background in Human Development and Family Studies with an Emphasis on children, youth, and families from Penn State University. He received diplomas in Master Mental Health Coach and Biblical Counseling from Light University. Johnny is certified by the International Board of Christian Care Board of Mental Health and is passionate about helping others heal holistically. Johnny believes life can be different.
Jonathan Durst, LMHC, LPC
Jonathan Durst has more than 20 years of experience as a people helper focusing on serving individuals, families, and organizations. He received his formal education from St. John’s University in Psychology and from Ashland Theological Seminary in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. He is currently licensed in New York as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (L.M.H.C.) and in Virginia as a Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.). Jonathan has served his local church as a youth and an associate pastor prior to his profession in counseling. Early in his career, he had experiences working in several capacities of community mental healthcare in a wide variety of settings. He developed his outpatient counseling experience working at EMERGE Ministries in Akron, Ohio. Jonathan has since worked as a supervisor, clinical director, developed satellite counseling centers, partnered and consulted with churches and organizations, helped train future Christian counselors as an adjunct instructor, provided leadership and mental health training internationally, and has served on a few national mental healthcare committees. Most recently, before coming to Light Counseling, Jonathan was the founder and CEO of Bedrock Counseling Ministries, a Christian outpatient counseling clinic located in Syracuse, New York. It was out of his faith and obedience to God that Jonathan and his family relocated to Virginia for this next chapter of serving others.
Jonathan’s number one ministry is to his family. He strives to love God with all of his heart and is continually broken by both God’s goodness and His direction. He is blessed and honored to be married to Carmen and they have 3 children; Alicia, Matthew, and Gabriela.
Lauren Burns, MA, Resident in Counseling
Lauren Burns is a Resident Counselor at Light Counseling who received her master’s degree in counseling from Virgina Teach. She has extensive experience working with middle schoolers and adults. She focuses on helping her clients work through anxiety, depression, trauma, difficult relationships, and more. Lauren strives to create an environment that allows her clients to find their strengths and help them process and grow through any circumstance life may have.
Lauren Rowell, MA, Resident in Counseling
Lauren is a Resident Counselor at Light Counseling. She graduated in 2020 from Liberty University. She is married with one child and enjoys volunteering with her church’s praise and worship team. She works with individuals 15-years-old and older. Lauren has a heart and a calling to help people in their journey towards healing from life’s hard circumstances.
Jessica Hauser, MA, Resident in Counseling
Jessica earned a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Virginia Tech and a Master of Arts in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults and has a background in treating anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, psychosis, autism, applied behavioral analysis, solution-focused therapies, and trauma incident reduction. Jessica is TIR trained and a member of the Trauma Incident Reduction Association. Jessica is consistent in gaining more insight and increasing her competency and knowledge to ensure her clients are getting the most up to date and valid treatment strategies. She utilizes TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, TIR, and LSR strategies to help her clients with their individual struggles.
Jessica’s approach is person-centered and she leads from a nonjudgmental, compassionate standpoint. She finds fulfillment and passion in helping individuals gain control over their mind by implementing evidence-based treatments and spreading awareness of the importance of mental health. Her goals of therapy include the implementation of these evidence-based interventions to aid in her clients’ ability to build resilience and increase their confidence so that they may tackle anything that life may throw at them.
In Jessica’s free time she enjoys spending time outdoors, doing yoga, meditation, and playing with her two miniature schnauzers.
Brenda Whitfield, LPC
Brenda enjoys working with clients of any age. She is trained to work with couples and relationship issues regarding marriage, parenting and issues affecting family life. Some of the topics she is has many years of experience in is depression, anxiety, grief/loss...
Henry Liscio, MA, Resident in Counseling
Henry Liscio is a Licensed Resident at Light Counseling. He earned a M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Liberty University after studying psychology, philosophy, and music at the University of Missouri. Pursuing counseling as a vocation was a given for Henry. He has always been the ‘go-to’ confidant for his friends and family as he was known as a great listener as well as honest, insightful, and robust with any feedback. In addition, Henry has always had an interest in people, the mind, relationships, personality, mindfulness, building a good life, and developing new ways of seeing the world and oneself within it. Henry’s goal for his clients is to make them feel seen, heard, and supported. In his free time, Henry enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing basketball, whittling, or playing in his band.
Jeanetta Henderson, LPC
I have had the pleasure of spending my life living, working, and mentoring in multi-cultural environments in the US, Europe, Africa, and Asia . My counseling experience expands 40 years and includes: marriage reconciliation; Women’s Boundaries groups; Divorce Care Recovery groups; Grief Care Groups; Interpersonal relationships; working with Teens; and working with parents with special needs children.
I received my Bachelors and Masters of Art degree from Dallas Baptist University. I am a Licensed Professional Counsel and have completed 50 hours of Trauma training and 40 hours of Certified First Responder Counselor Training certificate programs.
My approach to counseling is a combination of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused, and proven Biblical principles.
Karina Blest, MA, Resident in Counseling
Karina is a Licensed Resident in Counseling with a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. With a strong foundation in addressing diverse mental health challenges, she specializes in supporting clients through substance use disorders, life transitions, anxiety, depression, and relational concerns. Karina’s therapeutic approach integrates emotion-focused therapy with a holistic perspective, emphasizing the importance of understanding each client’s unique experiences. This personalized methodology allows her to develop tailored interventions, fostering a compassionate and effective environment for growth and healing. Beyond her clinical practice, Karina enjoys creative pursuits such as painting and sculpting and stays active through hiking on weekends. She is deeply committed to the principles of holistic wellness, striving to embody this philosophy both personally and professionally.
Cindy Stafford, MA, Resident in Counseling
Cindy Stafford is a licensed resident at Light Counseling. She received her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in May of 2023. She has worked with individuals in the past coming out of psychiatric hospitalization in the hopes of preventing clients from cycling back into crisis. She has previously worked in foster care and adoption with the Department of Social Services. In her free time, she loves serving the local church alongside her husband of over 30 years and spending time with her adult children. Cindy says she has a special place in her heart for providing support to care givers of those dealing with long-term mental illnesses.
Courtney Murden, MA, Supervisee in Clinical Social Work
My name is Courtney Murden, and I am a supervisee in social work. I graduated from Liberty University with my Bachelor’s in Social Work, and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with my Master’s in Social Work. I have experience in working with children through adults in the intensive in-home setting. I have assisted these age groups with anxiety, depression, sense of loss/hopelessness, life-transitions, self-esteem issues, trauma, and more. My goal is to come alongside you and meet you where you are at. I believe that everyone has God-given strengths and talents and are called to use them in their lives.
Donna Westcott, LPC
Donna Westcott is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years of counseling experience. She studied Religion at Carson Newman University, and she has a graduate degree in education from Virginia Commonwealth University. Donna has also done additional graduate work in counseling from Liberty University. She is passionate about providing a safe environment to share their struggles with transparency and without judgement. Donna uses talk therapy, along with expressive therapies, such as art, music, or writing, to help her clients grow. Donna has a variety of experiences in counseling, but she specifically has focused on restoring marriages broken by infidelity, as well as supporting women in abusive marriages.
Douglas Kowieski
Dr. Doug Kowieski serves as the Director of Care & Counseling at a church in N.E. Florida. He is married to his beautiful wife of 30 years. Doug earned his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and is a certified Master Mental Health Coach and Pastoral Counselor by the International board of Christian Care. They have four children ranging in age from 16-25 years of age. They also have four dogs that keep them pretty occupied. Doug has a 27 year career in law enforcement and retired from the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. In his spare time he likes to read, go to the beach, play with his dogs, and spend time with his family. Doug has a heart for helping foster and adoptive parents.






















