Virginia Counselors

(703) 383-8333 

 

Ronda Barney, L.C.S.W., R.D.

Treatment Issues:  Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Family Depression, Sexual Abuse, Women's Issues

Education and Training: Masters of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University.

Background and Experience:  Ronda practiced at George Washington University Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital as a Registered Dietitian.   She is able to incorporate nutritional counseling into therapy for clients who have eating disorders or weight issues.

 

Eleni Boosalis, Psy.D.

Treatment Issues:  Anxiety, Depression, Psychological Testing (Diagnostic and Psychoeducational), Trauma

Education and Training: B.A. in Psychology from George Washington University, 1994.  Doctorate in Psychology from Argosy University, 2004.  Licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in the state of Virginia.


Background and Experience: Dr. Boosalis previously worked in a high school providing group therapy to adolescents, focusing on acculturation issues.  She also provided individual outpatient therapy for adolescents and adults.  Dr. Boosalis has provided psychoeducational assessments for children and psychological consults for medical doctors.  Recently, she provided assessment for forensic patients in a state hospital and testified for release hearings of institutionalized patients.  Dr. Boosalis has lead workshops on stress management and relaxation training. 


Special Interests and Services: Dr. Boosalis prefers to work with adolescents and adults but also works with children for play therapy and psychoeducational testing.  Her counseling style is an integration of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy and she integrates various theories as appropriate.


Additional Information:  Dr. Boosalis wrote her dissertation on Ecstasy and How It Affects the Brain, Behavior, Emotions.

 

Michelle Leonard, L.C.S.W.

Treatment Issues:  Anger Management, Anxiety Disorders, Bereavement, Career Issues, Depression, Eating Disorders, Emotional Abuse, Incest, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Spiritual Concerns, Trauma Recovery, Women's Issues

Education and Training: Masters in Social Work degree from the University of Maryland at Baltimore.  Licensed in the state of Virginia as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Received extensive training on marital issues and is certified in Relationship Enhancement Skills.

Background and Experience: Prior to joining Meier Clinics in 1999, Michelle had extensive previous experience with families, adult and teenage addictions, and behavior problems, including working with multi-disciplinary teams to treat severely mentally ill individuals.  She has experience working in a variety of settings including psychiatric hospitals, shelters, group homes, and day programs.   She also has worked extensively with eating disorders, depression, anxiety, marital problems and addictions recovery.  Michelle has experience in the following group settings:  addiction recovery, anger management, battered women, adolescent behavioral, and sexual abuse recovery.
 

Special Interests and Services: Includes women's issues, family and teen issues, trauma, sexual and incest abuse, physical, emotional and spiritual abuse recovery.  Michelle enjoys working with families and teens.


Additional Information:  Michelle has based her professional training on a foundation centered on Christ.  She believes that many problems arise due to not only mental illness or loss, etc., but also due to ongoing spiritual warfare in the lives of Christians.  Therefore, Michelle also facilitates prayer and the identification of lies in her therapy sessions.  It is her goal to help others learn to discern when spiritual warfare is present and help equip clients to be victorious Christians who live in God's truth and freedom.

 

Ed Lucas, L.P.C., L.M.F.T.

Treatment Issues:  Affective Disorder, Couples Counseling, Faith Issues, Self-Esteem Issues


Education and Training:  Masters of Science in Counseling from East Texas State University.

Background and Experience:  Ed has worked for over fifteen years at Meier Clinics.

 

JoAnn M. Majesky, L.C.S.W.

Treatment Issues:  Dissociative Disorders including Dissociative Identity Disorder, Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Trauma including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P.T.S.D.) and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD),


Education and Training:  Master of Social Work degree from the Catholic University of America.  Post graduate course work at The Clinical Social Work Institute, an affiliate of The Psychoanalytic Institute of Washington, D.C.  Advanced trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR).  She trained with Chris Courtois, Diane Vchuleh, and most recently with Dr. Richard Chefetz, President of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD).

Background and Experience:
JoAnn has been with Meier Clinics since 1995 and has worked as an outpatient trauma therapist since 1997.  She worked previously as an inpatient therapist at the Trauma Center of the Psychiatric Institute of Washington, D.C., and the Springwood Psychiatric Hospital for three years.


Special Interests and Services: JoAnn's primary professional interest is with adult survivors of trauma.  She currently runs a trauma group that has been in existence since 1997.


Additional Information:  In her practice, JoAnn emphasizes to all her clients "the Holy Spirit can heal all wounds at the core."  She has been a guest speaker several times on Mariann Clyde's radio talk show, PTSD and Trauma.

 

Cynthia L. Morris, M.S.W. 

Treatment Issues:  Adjustment Problems, Adoption Issues, Anxiety, Boundaries, Couples Concerns, Depression, Family Issues, Marital Issues, Parenting, Spiritual Issues, Women's Issues.

 

Education and Training:  Bachelor of Social Work from George Mason University, VA, 2004.  Master of Social Work (Clinical) from Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, 2005.

 

Background and Experience:  Cindy has experience working with adults, adolescents, and families.  She is currently working with adults in the Meier Clinics Day Program.  She is educated in interventions for couples, families, adolescents, and adults of all ages.  Her internships included work with adolescents, adoptive parents, the homeless, and adults with severe mental and emotional disorders.  She volunteered for a short time as a court advocate for a local Domestic Violence Program and has training in domestic violence issues.

 

Special Interests and Services:  Cindy works with adolescents as young as 12 years and adults with a wide range of issues.  She describes her therapeutic style as interactive, insight-oriented, and strengths-based.  She uses cognitive, cognitive/behavioral, and expressive therapies, helping clients and their families to understand themselves and challenge unhealthy thoughts and behaviors.  Cindy incorporates psychoeducational components to therapy as well in the areas of communication, boundaries, and Family of Origin influences.

 

Additional Information:  Cindy has been married since 1977 and has three grown children.  She has served in Women's Ministries for over 12 years in various capacities, including facilitation and leading of women's Bible study groups.  She is currently leading a Bible study and an educational/support group, and is also serving as a supervisor for the Lay Counseling ministry at her church. 

 

Nancy Price, L.C.S.W.

Treatment Issues:  Anger Management, Anxiety Disorders, Grief and Loss, Mood Disorders, Parenting, School Adjustment Issues in Children, Sexual Abuse, Young Adulthood Issues


Education and Training: Bachelor of Arts in Religion from St. Andrews Presbyterian College.  Masters of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.  Graduate internship at United Community Ministries in Alexandria, VA, and at the Northwest Center for Community Mental Health in Chantilly, VA with the Youth and Family Team.  Additional child play therapy training by Gary Landreth, Ph.D., and Eliana Gil, Ph.D.

 

Background and Experience:  For three years, Nancy was a Court Appointed Special Advocate (C.A.S.A.), serving as the "eyes and ears" of the Fairfax Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court in child abuse and neglect cases.  She was a therapist at Franconia Family Therapy Center.

Special Interests and Services: Includes mood disorders, sexual addiction, anxiety disorders, depression, women's issues, grief and loss, parenting skills, and play therapy for children ages 3 and up. 

 

Additional Information:  Nancy has been the Director of the Fairfax Meier Clinics since 2005, overseeing the clinical work of the Outpatient and Day Programs.  Prior to entering the graduate program in clinical social work and while raising her children, Nancy volunteered in various helping capacities that became part of the life experience training that she uses today in her counseling practice.  She was a Children's Leader in Bible Study Fellowship for eight years, teaching children 2-5 years of age about God's word.  Active in her church as a Deacon, she organized a job loss seminar and a grief and loss training workshop for Deacons and lay leaders. 

 

Emelina Santos-Ilagan, M.D.

Treatment Issues:  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (A.D.H.D.), Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Spectrum Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (O.C.D.), Panic Disorders, Perimenopause, Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (P.M.S.),
Subtle Hypothyroidism Masquerading as Psychiatric Disorders


Education and Training: Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med from the University of the Philippines. Medical Degree (M.D.) from the University of the Philippines. Attended the International School of Evangelism associated with the Billy Graham Ministry.

Background and Experience:  1) Clinical Faculty, Georgetown University Medical Center (1993-1994); 2) Fellow in Geriatric Psychiatry (1992-1993); 3) Resident, (1988-1992)/Chief Resident (1991-1992) In general Psychiatry, SUNY Stoneybrook affiliate-Nassau County Medical Center; 4) Resident in Pathology (1987-1988) Nassau County Medical Center; 5) Physician Assistant to General Surgeon Specializing in Bariatric Surgery, Compton, CA (1982-1985).  She has concentrated her practice in the Christian mental health field since completing her residency training.  She has worked with the Meier Clinics since 1992.

Additional Information:  Dr. Santos-Ilagan is a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Santos-Ilagan has been involved with the Navigators Ministry since 1971. She has volunteered twice as counselor for the Billy Graham Crusade in the Philippines and Long Island, New York and has participated in local church leaders’ orientation, preparation, and follow-up planning for both crusades.

 

Kaisha Taub, M.S.

Treatment Issues:  Adolescent Issues, Anger Management, Anxiety Disorders, Children of Alcoholics, Children Issues, Divorce Recovery, Grief and Loss, Marital Issues, Post-Traumatic Stress


Education and Training:  Master of Science and Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College in Maryland.


Background and Experience:
Kaisha's prior clinical experience includes providing individual and family therapy at a Fairfax County residential substance abuse treatment center for adolescents. Immediately prior to joining Meier Clinics, she was a Staff Counselor at the U.S. Army Chaplain Family Life Ministry and Training Center at Ft. Belvoir, where she counseled adults, adolescents, couples, and families.

Special Interests and Services: Includes ACOA, Adolescent Issues, Anxiety Disorders, Anger Management, Career, Children, Divorce Recovery, Grief and Loss, Post-Traumatic Stress, Spiritual Growth, Stress/Burnout, and Women’s Issues.  In her counseling work, she enjoys integrating expressive therapy techniques and Jungian Analytical Play Therapy.

Additional Information:  Kaisha is a Commissioned Minister of the Church of God, Anderson, IN.  She served for seven years as an associate pastor at Fairfax Community Church, directing their congregational care, support and recovery, lay counseling, and women's ministries.  She was also a member of the national team of Purpose Driven Ministries/Saddleback Church as Virginia’s State Representative for the international Celebrate Recovery Christ-centered Twelve-step Ministry.

 

Janet (Jan) Walker, M.A., N.C.C.

Treatment Issues:  Adult ADD, Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss, Parenting, Relationship Issues, Self-Acceptance, Spiritual Issues, Substance Abuse


Education and Training:  B.A. from Vanderbilt University.  M.A. in Counseling from Regent University.  Certified as a National Certified Counselor.  Residency in Pastoral Counseling 2005-2007.


Background and Experience:  Prior to joining Meier Clinics' Day Treatment Program, Jan worked with adolescents and adults on a range of issues including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, personality disorders, substance abuse, and grief and loss.  Jan interned with the City of Alexandria's and Fairfax County's alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs.  In addition to her work at Meier Clinics, Jan co-leads a skills-based marriage education workshop.

 

Additional Information:  Since 1991, Jan has been involved with the inner healing prayer ministries at several Northern Virginia churches.  She was married in 1984 and has three children.