COUNSELORS
MARY ANN ABEL, LCSW-BACS
FOCUS: YOUTH, ADULTS, INFERTILITY
Mary Ann Abel, LCSW-BACS, is a graduate of LSU School of Social Work. Over 25 years, she has amassed a wealth of experience in hospice social work. She specializes in adoption, infertility, life transitions, divorce and loss. Mary Ann is also a former first grade and preschool teacher. She knows the effects grief has on a person and understands that not every one handles loss in the same way. Every person who shares his or her story with Mary Ann inspires her.
GRETCHEN BANKSTON, LCSW
FOCUS: YOUTH, ADULTS, COUPLES
Gretchen specializes in the treatment of mood dysfunction, substance abuse issues (food, drug and alcohol addictions); individual, family and couples therapy, grief and other life change issues. She has personal experience with grief and loss: she lost her 8-year-old son to cancer and is widowed following a 41-year marriage. Gretchen is semi-retired, but chooses to continue counseling because she wants to pass on the hope that anyone can successfully navigate the journey of grief and change. Watching her clients successfully live through difficult life stages inspires her every day. To Gretchen, her clients are wonderful and heroic and she would never want to miss out on that experience with the people she serves.
CARRIE DAVIDSON, NCC, LPC
Ms. Carrie S. Davidson, NCC, LPC, is a graduate of Louisiana State University, and Southern University, A&M. For the past 12 years, Ms. Davidson has been working with children, teens, and adults as it relates to various mental health issues and substance abuse issues through the Juvenile Justice System and Mental Health Rehabilitation Services. Her area of expertise are grief issues that affect children, teens, and adults at various levels of the grieving process and/or stages. She also has experience in working with children, teens, and adults that have experienced significant changes in life such as loss of a loved one, relocation, loss of a job, divorce, and trauma related issues such as PTSD, and other trauma related issues. Ms. Davidson believes she is a compassionate vessel that is motivated to educating her clients, is inspired to encourage her clients, and rooted in encouraging her clients in the healing process or the changing of behaviors by using an eclectic cognitive-behavioral approach to the counseling process.
MICHELE GUIDRY, LMSW
FOCUS: ADOLESCENTS 12+, ADULTS, SUBSTANCE USE, OLDER ADULTS, MENTAL HEALTH
Michele Guidry is a graduate of the Tulane School of Social Work. Her practice is focused on mental health and substance abuse. She also has experience in hospice social work. Her specialty is working with clients with substance abuse as she has experience with 12 step fellowships. Through her work, she is committed to helping others overcome alcohol and drug addictions, disordered eating, depression and anxiety that affect all of us in our lives.
VANESSA LADNIER, MS-PLPC
FOCUS: KIDS, YOUNG ADULT WOMEN, ADULTS, FAITH-BASED, COUPLES, TRAUMA
Vanessa Ladnier, M.S., PLPC is a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University and earned a Masters in Clinical Mental Health from Walden University. In addition, she received her Certification as a Professional Life and Wellness Coach with the Expert Training Institute in 2016 and has served poverty stricken communities in the role of investigator for elderly protective services, MST Therapist for juveniles and troubled youth, and Family support coordinator. As a trauma specialist and provisional licensed professional counselor for Grief Recovery Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Vanessa conducts weekly psychotherapy with both individuals and large groups. She also conducts workshops in mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and reality discipline for parenting skills. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Vanessa served as a trauma recovery specialist for the greater New Orleans area and now manages Lipstick Jungle, a women’s community empowerment group. Vanessa believes in creating an open and safe space for you to clarify intentions, explore possibilities and clear obstacles to make “impossible” dreams a reality. Her coaching sessions are often described as inspiring, energetic and transformative. Life coaching along with psychotherapy fulfills Vanessa’s purpose – to help others become empowered in their lives, to see their own radiance and hear their own inner guidance.
DOUG LEYDA, LCSW-BACS
FOCUS: KIDS, MALES, COUPLES, COMPLICATED GRIEF
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (since 2003), seasoned in counseling children, adolescents, adults, and couples. I help people find their way through difficult times regarding relationship conflicts, intimacy and sexuality issues, work/school concerns, and parenting/family issues.My goal as your therapist will be to provide an open and accepting place where you can progressively build on your strengths and overcome that which holds you back. I am experienced in working with clients of diverse backgrounds. If you have experienced recent or past trauma, I can assist you through the distressful emotions and physical responses, and provide you with enhanced coping techniques.
KATHIE MOISE, LCSW
FOCUS: ADULTS
Kathie Moise, LCSW is a graduate of LSU School of Social Work. She was employed for the state of Louisiana for 33 years with over 28 years in the area of social work. Her expertise is in psychiatric social work having worked for ELMHS- East/Forensic Divisions and Baton Rouge Mental Health Center. She is currently employed for the Grief Recovery Center working with adult clientele experiencing grief/loss. She enjoys volunteering her time and is a member of Our Lady of Mercy St. Vincent de Paul Conference.
ESTHER SACHSE, LCSW-BACS, OSW-C, CT
FOCUS: CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS, COUPLES, FAMILIES, GRIEF & COMPLICATED GRIEF, SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Esther Sachse, LCSW-BACS, OSW-C, CT, a graduate of LSU School of Social Work, has twenty years of experience in Medical Social Work. Her expertise is in the areas of Grief, Life Transition, Coping with Illness, working with Disabled Children and their families, Depression/Anxiety, Her practice focuses on children starting at the age of 4, teenagers & adults who have experienced loss and/or life transitions resulting in grief. Grief can challenge people emotionally, socially, intellectually, spiritually and physically. She views walking along side a client on his/her own personal grief journey as an honor and privilege. Esther Sachse holds a Certification in Thanatology (grief work) from the Association of Death Education and Counseling and is a Certifed Oncology Social Worker.
JENNIFER TEWELL, MSW, CSW
FOCUS: CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS, COUPLES, FAMILIES, GRIEF & COMPLICATED GRIEF, TRAUMA, LGBTQI+, SURVIVORS
Jennifer Tewell, MSW, CSW, earned a Master of Social Work from Louisiana State University, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communications, and an Associate of Arts in early-childhood education. She is passionate about helping individuals and families. Fourteen years ago, she began her journey in the non-profit and small business sectors primarily in social services. Jennifer has experience in a variety of areas, including survivors of sexual assault, children/teens (ADHD, IEP, 504, neurodivergence), families, mild to chronic severe mental illness, trauma, crisis intervention, and prevention. She is a Certified Social Worker, certified Stewards of Children facilitator, Sexual Assault Survivors advocate, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) certified, Crisis Prevention Intervention certified, and a former Fragile Families facilitator. She works with a wide range of individuals. This includes persons of all shapes and sizes, cultures and religions, abilities and disabilities, ages and races, sexual orientations (LGBTQI+, kink, poly, asexual), socioeconomic status and occupational status.
ROBYN CANADY, LPC
FOCUS: ADULTS, GRIEF, MENTAL HEALTH, TRAUMA, SUBSTANCE USE
SHARON VALENCIA, LCSW
FOCUS: ADULTS, COUPLES, SEX COUNSELING
SARAH BANIAHMAD, LMSW
FOCUS: YOUTH, ADULTS, SEXUAL ASSAULT
Current Therapists with GRCBR:
Mary Ann Abel, LCSW-BACS
LICENSE #: 5154
Sarah Baniahmad, LMSW
LICENSE #: 14873
Gretchen Bankston, LCSW
LICENSE #: 2661
Robyn Canady, LPC
LICENSE#: PLC
Carrie Davidson, LCSW
LICENSE #: 6503
Michele Guidry, LMSW
LICENSE #: 8431
Vanessa Ladnier, MS-PLPC
LICENSE #: PLC 7860
Doug Leyda, LCSW-BACS
LICENSE #: 5330
Kathie Moise, LCSW
LICENSE #: 1983
Esther Sachse, LCSW-BACS
LICENSE #: 5406
Jennifer Tewell, CSW
LICENSE #: 15865
Sharon Valencia, LCSW
LICENSE #: 1630
Address: 4939 Jamestown Ave, Ste. 101, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Phone: (225) 924-6621
La State Board of Social Work Examiners - 225-756-3470
La LPC Board - (225) 765-2515
Call (225) 924-6621 to schedule an individual, couple, or family session with one of our experienced licensed clinical social workers or licensed professional counselors. Insurance is accepted. Free sessions are available for those who qualify.