PCH - Key Persons

Ashley Patrick is an Outpatient Clinician at Preferred Choice Healthcare. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. Ashley completed her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina and received her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. Ashley has an interest and experience counseling adults, couples, families, and children with anxiety, addiction, grief, relationship issues, work conflict, trauma, PTSD, and low self-esteem. The areas in which she has expended the most research to date include PTSD, anxiety, and grief. Her approach to counseling is integrative and client centered. Ashley enjoys utilizing positive psychotherapy, solution-focused, cognitive and dialectal behavior therapy, seeking safety, mindfulness, and strategic counseling strategies with her clients. Her mission is to help her clients achieve their therapeutic goals and live their best life.

Christine Helton graduated from Liberty University in 2013 with an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is a Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor through the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselors. Before working in mental health, Christine worked with families and children in early preschool education for 25 years. Christine provides person centered, strengths based mental health counseling utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and Solution-Focused techniques. Christine provides empathy, respect, and acceptance to individuals and families from all backgrounds.

Dr. Powell received his Doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling, Counselor Education and Supervision and Substance Abuse Certificate in 2010 from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He received a Master's of Arts Degree in Counseling-School Counseling in 1997 from Gardner Webb University and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1992 from East Carolina University. Dr. Powell provides professional mental health and substance abuse counseling services to individuals and groups of adults and adolescents and holds multiple licenses and credentials in school, mental health, and substance abuse counseling and supervision in these areas. He is licensed in North Carolina as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), #3658 by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (NCBLPC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS) (#1517) and credentialed as a Certified Clinical Supervisor (CSS) by the North Carolina Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board (NCSAPPB). Credentials held by Dr. Powell include the National Board of Certified Counselors' (NBCC) as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) (#50080), a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) (#ACS0080) as well as an EMDRIA trained EMDR clinician. Dr. Powell has several years experience serving various clinical functions in school, mental health, and substance abuse counseling. His areas of specialization include Substance Abuse and Dependence including assessment, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, as well as other core components of substance abuse treatment for adults and adolescents. Mental health counseling services for adults and adolescent include issues of Trauma, ADHD, Educational difficulties, Adjustment Issues, Children of Divorce, Stress Management, Career Planning, Social Skills building, Depression, Grief and Loss as well as Anxiety. Dr. Powell believes that both adults and adolescents can benefit from professional counseling services that include personal growth and self-awareness components in addition to best practice models specific to areas of diagnostic impression.

Job Titles:

• Clinical Director at Preferred Choice Health Care

Sarah J. Horne is the Clinical Director at Preferred Choice Health Care. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and a Clinical Supervisor Intern. Sarah completed her undergraduate studies at Western Carolina University and received her Master's Degree in Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Sarah received her Ph.D in Social Work from Walden University. Dr. Sarah J. Horne joined Preferred Choice Healthcare in 2013, and she serves as the agency's Clinical Director. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and a Certified Clinical Supervisor. Additionally, Dr. Horne is an EMDR Certified Clinician, a Sex Offender Treatment Specialist, and a Certified Criminal Justice (Substance Use) Professional. Dr. Horne completed her undergraduate studies at Western Carolina University and received her Master's Degree in Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Horne received her Ph.D in Social Work from Walden University. Dr. Horne's work is founded upon a holistic approach and person centered, Rogerian principles. Dr. Horne practices from a strengths-based perspective and has experience treating mental health and substance use disorders across the continuum of care. Incorporated into her Rogerian framework are Cognitive Behavioral Theoretical components, behavioral interventions, solution focused counseling, and the cognitive therapy intervention Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Dr. Horne has experience providing therapeutic interventions for children, adolescents, and adults and utilizes evidence-based practices best suited for a client's specific needs. Dr. Horne provides professional mental health and substance use disorder psychotherapy services for adolescents, children, and adults in the individual, family, and group settings. She has many years of experience serving in various clinical roles in community mental health and outpatient counseling. Additionally, Dr. Horne provides clinical supervision for individuals seeking licensure. At Preferred Choice Healthcare, Dr. Horne is responsible for coordinating and overseeing all clinical services, providing clinical supervision, and managing various projects with which the agency is involved. In addition to her work at the agency, Dr. Horne serves as an Adjunct Professor at several universities. Dr. Horne's clinical expertise is primarily centered on severe and persistent mental illness, substance use and addictions, and Bowenian Family Systems work. Finally, Dr. Horne's research interests include phenomenological study, Family Centered Treatment for specific populations, rural clinical social work, the rural experience, and Social Work curriculum.