Email: PerezLopezM@uncw.edu
Dr. Perez-Lopez is responsible for overseeing the general administration of the Counseling Center and University Testing Services.
He received a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arkansas. His theoretical orientation is primarily cognitive behavioral, and his treatment methods are guided by principles of interpersonal process and multicultural competence.
Dr. Perez-Lopez serves as a site visitor for several professional organizations and provides guidance about accreditation standards for training programs in psychology.
Main area of clinical specialization: Eating disorders
Other specializations and interests: working with first responders; risk and threat assessment; and supervision and training
Presentation topics: How to help a distressed student; crisis response and risk assessment; trends in college mental health; eating disorders
Email: HelmsL@uncw.edu
Dr. Helms is responsible for coordinating clinical services and assisting the Counseling Center director in administrative duties.
She earned her master's degree in counseling from California State University Sacramento, Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Texas A&M University and completed her doctoral internship at University of Oregon. She conceptualizes clients principally from the Multimodal Therapy perspective, and her therapeutic interventions are eclectic, but predominately cognitive behavioral.
Specializations and interests: Resiliency and wellness; identity development; anger, anxiety, and stress management; mindfulness; emotion regulation; relationships; therapist training and supervision; program development
Email:mckeann@uncw.edu
Dr. McKean is responsible for directing the training programs at the Counseling Center and assisting the center’s director in administrative duties.
She earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from Indiana University-Bloomington and completed her pre-doctoral internship at UNC-Chapel Hill Counseling & Psychological Services.
Dr. McKean takes a relational, collaborative approach to therapy that prioritizes the development of a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship. Dr. McKean integrates psychodynamic, feminist, cognitive-behavioral, and acceptance-based approaches tailored to each individual client. She strives to help clients gain insight into the ways that cultural factors and interpersonal relationships shape individual experiences and worldviews.
Specializations and interests: Training and supervision; group therapy; relational concerns; sexual concerns; family-of-origin concerns; LGBTQ+ identity development; victim-survivors of sexual assault.
Email: couchc@uncw.edu
Dr. Couch provides counseling to individuals and groups.
Dr. Couch obtained her doctoral degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Tennessee Student Counseling Center.
Dr. Couch’s approach to therapy blends approaches from Interpersonal Psychotherapy, Humanistic and Feminist theories. Dr. Couch strives to create a trusting and collaborative therapeutic space where clients develop insight to their concerns and feel empowered to create change in their lives. He considers how one’s unique cultural context and lived experiences shape mental well-being, particularly family dynamics, relationships, and sociocultural factors.
Specializations and interests: Identity development; LGBTQ+ concerns; relational concerns; depression; body image; self-compassion; existential/spiritual concerns
Email: deinishm@uncw.edu
Ms. Deinish provides counseling to individuals, groups, and couples. She also coordinates the Counseling Center's In Harmony Programs—workshops and programs that emphasize the importance of balancing the mind, body, and spirit.
Ms. Deinish obtained her master's degree in pastoral counseling from Loyola University in Maryland.
Specializations and interests: Mind-body-spirit initiatives; stress and anxiety management; mindfulness; meditation; assisting students with living a balanced, passionate, and meaningful life
Presentation topics: Mindfulness and meditation; heart-centered breathing; getting a good night's sleep; managing your emotions; self-esteem; distress tolerance; progressive relaxation; life in balance; stress and anxiety management; Counseling Center services
Email: SimpsonE@uncw.edu
Mrs. McCullough-Simpson provides counseling and consultation services to individual students. In addition, she is responsible for connecting students with off-campus referrals and coordinating community resources.
She obtained her master's degree in clinical and community psychology from UNC Charlotte.
Specializations and interests: Trauma; anxiety and stress; depression; self-esteem
Email: dienerolearyj@uncw.edu
Dr. Diener O'Leary provides counseling and consultation services to individual students and groups.
She earned her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Vanderbilt University Counseling Center.
Dr. Diener O'Leary takes a person-centered and feminist approach that incorporates mindfulness, self-compassion, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. Dr. Diener O'Leary strives to create a safe and collaborative space for clients to explore individual, systemic, and contextual factors related to their concerns and to build skills to make meaningful change in their lives.
Specializations and interests: Trauma and sexual and interpersonal violence; anxiety-related concerns; social justice; identity development and exploration; body image and eating
Email: GallowayR@uncw.edu
Mr. Galloway provides counseling and consultation services to individual students.
Mr. Galloway uses an eclectic approach to therapy, using solution-focused techniques, as well as cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavioral informed therapeutic approaches. He enjoys working with the college population.
Specializations and interests: Anxiety; depression; relationship concerns; multicultural issues; problem-solving skills; career guidance
Email: StraughterA@uncw.edu
Ms. Straughter provides counseling and consultation services to individual students.
She received her master's degree in clinical social work from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Ms. Straughter works primarily from the models of strengths-based solution focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. She loves to incorporate art activities and relaxation strategies into treatment.
Specializations and interests: Empowering clients; relationships; anxiety; managing life's everyday stressors
Email: haragat@uncw.edu
Ms. Haraga is the office manager for the Counseling Center.
Her primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monthly budget reports, processing office travel requests, outreach advertising, website maintenance, and bank statement reconciliation. She has been a UNCW employee since 2000.
Ms. Butler provides counseling and consultation services to individual students.
She received her master's degree in psychological science and is currently working towards her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Ms. Butler works primarily from the model of cognitive behavioral therapy. She works collaboratively with clients towards their individual goals, aiming to create a trusting space for clients to explore themselves and their values.
Specializations and interests: Anxiety and stress management; self-compassion; body image; depression
Samsara Soto, Ph.D. is a postdoctoral psychology fellow. Samsara earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Akron. She completed her APA accredited internship at the W.G. Bill Hefner VA Medical Center.
Her therapy approach integrates a cognitive-behavioral and feminist approach that incorporates mindfulness, humanistic, DBT, emotion-focused, interpersonal, and strength-based interventions. She favors an individualized approach based on working with clients collaboratively to build a safe and trusting therapeutic environment, explore their concerns, build skills, and create change in their lives.
Specializations and interests: anxiety and stress management; depression; mindfulness-based interventions; holistic health and wellness; and social justice.
Ms. Smith is the front desk Administrative Associate. Her primary responsibilities include greeting clients and processing necessary paperwork, scheduling appointments, responding to phone calls and emails, and providing support to the department.
Conally provides counseling and consultation services to both individuals and groups. His professional interests include phase of life concerns (transitions), men’s issues, grief, and anxiety. Conally works primarily from the models of strengths-based solution focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. He loves to incorporate self-compassion and mindfulness work into treatment. Conally received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Duke University and his Master of Social Work from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He completed a Post-MSW Fellowship at UNC-Chapel Hill's counseling center.
Office hours:
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m..-5 p.m..
Summer Hours (usually starts the Monday after graduation and ends the Friday before the fall semester starts):
Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m..-5:00 p.m.
Friday 7:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m..
Crises/Emergency hours:
Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m..