Ashley McGurkin
Amy Gregor
Ellen Herbert
Lauren Moore
Austin Raines
Mary York
Brittany Collins
Kristen Holifield
Callie
Ashley McGurkin, LCSW
Owner/Therapist
Ashley is co-owner of Queen City Counseling & Consulting, PLLC. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been practicing in the field for 13 years with a focus in adolescent and young adults and a special interest in offering support to the whole family as they navigate the wellness of each individual.
Ashley received a BS in Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2006 and her MSW from Winthrop University in 2011. She began her career working for social services assessing safety and risk factors for youth, and assisting parents with finding their inner strengths. After relocating to Charlotte, Ashley worked at a local maternity home for youth and adults who were either pregnant or transitioning out of foster care. She then transferred to healthcare and worked in multiple settings focused on adolescents including the emergency room, developmental pediatrics, and adolescent partial hospitalization.
Ashley has experience in program development including NeighborCare, a community program aimed at providing childcare to children of hospitalized caregivers, as well as an independent living program for ages 18 -21. These programs provided her with the passion and experience she brings to Queen City Counseling & Consulting as well as receiving a Healthcare Innovator of the Year award by the Charlotte Business Journal.
Ashley practices a strengths-based approach and utilizes a variety of techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and trauma treatment models including EMDR and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is a firm believer in the human ability to facilitate change in others and within themselves. Ashley believes that every individual deserves the opportunity to express their feelings and emotions without judgement as well as experience change when they do not feel empowered or encouraged regarding their past or current situation.
Amy Gregor, LCSW
Owner/Therapist
Amy received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from North Carolina State University. She began her career working in mental health and substance use in New York City. With a growing passion for helping others, Amy returned to New York University and received her Masters in Social Work with a concentration in trauma and forensic social work. At NYU, Amy worked with trauma victims navigating the legal system to provide support and trauma therapy as well as working in a community mental health agency. After returning to NC in 2013, Amy continued her career at both an inpatient behavioral health unit and a partial hospitalization program, both of which focused on teen and adolescent populations.
Although Amy has a strong passion for working with adolescents and teens, she recognizes the need for additional support through major early adulthood transitions, particularly transitions to college and preparing to transition from college to a career. As a result, Amy works with clients ages 13 to 21 in individual sessions to address anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues that come with these major life stages. Amy supports and encourages the parent child relationship and the important role parents play in their teens’ recovery. With this in mind, Amy often encourages the incorporation of family meetings and family check-ins throughout the treatment process.
You will likely see Amy’s therapy dog, Callie, around the office and she may even be incorporated into session if or when appropriate.
Ellen Herbert, LCSW
Clinical Director of Intensive Outpatient Program
Amplifying personal strengths and empowering teens to find their voice and live a life consistent with their personal values is Ellen’s favorite part of the therapeutic process. A favorite quote of Ellen’s is, “Whatever you are, be a good one” which speaks to the choice every person has—even in situations where they often feel helpless—of choosing the words, actions and intentions we contribute to our environment. Ellen strives to witness and validate the difficult situations her clients have or are experiencing while moving forward toward wellness by taking control of their responses.
Ellen will be overseeing our Intensive Outpatient Program as well as seeing some individuals for outpatient therapy.
Lauren Moore, LCSW
Therapist
Lauren Moore is a Clinical Therapist with Queen City Counseling & Consulting, PLLC. Lauren received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from North Carolina State University and her Masters in Social Work from Winthrop University. Lauren’s background includes working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings including an adolescent partial hospitalization program, outpatient therapy, and public schools to provide direct therapeutic services to the community.
Lauren practices with a holistic, empowerment-based and trauma-informed approach. Lauren enjoys focusing on strengths and self-love to uncover further opportunities for growth, process challenges, and develop one’s own core beliefs in a secure and validating environment. Lauren utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques, as well as mindfulness-based practices in session. Lauren is also trained in EMDR and Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT). Lauren is passionate about reducing the stigma surrounding mental health, and welcomes the opportunity to provide support and encouragement to clients in outpatient therapy and our Intensive Outpatient Program.
Austin Raines, LCMHCA
Therapist
Austin is a Clinical Therapist with Queen City Counseling & Consulting. Austin is a Charlotte native who loves exploring the city he grew up in. In his free time, Austin is typically watching movies, playing golf, listening to music, or intently focusing on the tv while his favorite teams are playing. Austin attended the University of Mississippi for his undergraduate degree and received his graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling from Liberty University.
Austin focuses on building a trusting rapport with his clients and working together to identify and highlight their strengths. Austin enjoys creating a space for his clients where they can feel heard, accepted, and authentic, while also being appropriately challenged. Austin strongly believes in the power of resiliency and that every individual can learn and grow through life’s various challenges. Austin pulls from aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to best fit each individual client’s unique needs. Austin’s specialties include working with individuals who are struggling with anxiety, depression, life transitions, emotion regulation, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Austin works with adolescents, families, and young adults ages 18 to 25.
Mary York, LCSWA
Therapist
Mary is a Clinical Therapist with Queen City Counseling & Consulting, PLLC. She is a Texas native and received her Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Arkansas and received her Master of Social Work from Florida State University. Mary’s background encompasses working with children, adolescents, and families in a multitude of settings including outpatient therapy, public schools, nonprofits, and child welfare.
Mary incorporates a client-centered and strengths-based approach when working with clients. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques, while also implementing mindfulness-based practices. Mary is passionate about empowering clients to uncover their true potential and grow through challenges they have faced. She strives to provide a safe and secure environment for her clients where they feel heard and accepted. In her free time, Mary enjoys spending time with her dog, Charlie, hiking, traveling, and reading a good book.
Brittany Collins, LCSW, LCAS
Intensive Outpatient Team Lead, Therapist
Brittany is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist with over a decade of experience in the behavioral health field. She has worked with adolescents and their families, as well as adults in a variety of settings including mobile crisis services, community-based supports, outpatient and recovery education centers, and partial hospitalization. In college, she double majored in Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies and received her Bachelor’s degree in 2009 from the University and North Carolina at Greensboro. After working in the field, Brittany was more clear on her passion to support and advocate for others, deciding to further her education and complete her Masters in Social Work in 2014 through the Joint MSW program at UNC-Greensboro and NC A&T State University.
Brittany practices from a person-centered, strengths-based and trauma-informed approach, utilizing aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Positive Psychology, and Motivational Interviewing. She is passionate about empowering others to realize their self-worth and achieve their full potential while building on self-compassion and processing through past and current challenges. At Queen City, Brittany is the lead therapist with the Adolescent Intensive Outpatient Program. She provides counseling services to teens and families, as well as young adults ages 18 to 25.
Kristen Holifield, BA
Practice & Community Relations Manager
Kristen is the Practice and Community Relations Manager at Queen City Counseling and Consulting. Originally from Mississippi, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from Mississippi State University. After completing her undergraduate degree, she moved to Charlotte and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has previously worked in multiple client facing and administrative roles for over 6 years. She enjoys helping others and is dedicated to making mental health care accessible and easy for everyone. Her goal is to make everyone feel welcome and answer any questions that can help someone start their mental health journey. In her free time, Kristen enjoys traveling, writing, drawing, gaming, and exploring the Charlotte area.
Callie, FLOOF
Therapy Dog
Callie is a Black Lab and Tibetan Terrier mix, and we are lucky to have her as our very own in house therapy dog. Callie was rescued from North Meck Animal Rescue as an 8 week old puppy in 2015. Since then Callie and Amy have been working hard, with the assistance of a training company, to advance her skills as a therapy dog. Callie passed her therapy dog test through Therapy Dog International just a few days after her first birthday. Since then she has done over 250 visits with hospice patients, senior living centers, and kids in behavioral health treatment programs and is continuously working towards advancing her status in the therapy dog world. Callie’s favorite population to visit are kids and teens and she loves to show them her tricks or provide snuggles when they’re feeling down. Callie continues her training regularly and is working towards identifying body language that indicates anxiety and/or trauma responses and respond in a way to alert you and provide you comfort. In her free time, she loves to swim and hike and will never turn down a treat. You may see Callie more regularly in the group setting and even time to time in an individual session if and when it is appropriate.