COUNSELORS

MARY ANN ABEL, LCSW

FOCUS: YOUTH, ADULTS, INFERTILITY

Mary Ann Abel, LCSW, 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.

SARAH BANIAHMAD, LMSW

FOCUS: YOUTH, ADULTS, SEXUAL ASSAULT

GRETCHEN BANKSTON, LCSW

FOCUS: YOUTH, ADULTS, COUPLES

Background:

Master of Social Work, Louisiana State University

Louisiana State Board Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Substance abuse counselor training certification by the Louisiana State University/Chemical Dependency Unit Certification Program.

24 years as an individual and group psychotherapist at Baton Rouge Mental Health Center (now renamed Capital Area Human Services District), five years of which as Director of the Crisis Care Unit a multidisciplinary unit designed to prevent hospitalization.
The past 6 years in individual psychotherapy at Grief Recovery Center Baton Rouge.

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.

ADAM CLESI, LCSW

FOCUS: ADULTS

Adam Clesi, LCSW, is a graduate of the LSU School of Social Work. He has experience working with clients of all ages, races, genders, religions, and socioeconomic statuses as a social worker in the hospital psychiatric and chemical dependency setting. His passion for grief work began as an intern working with clients at a hematology/oncology clinic and this passion has never subsided. He understands that grief comes in many shapes and sizes and loves being able to help clients through their grief journey.

CARRIE DAVIDSON, PLPC

Ms. Carrie S. Davidson, PLPC, 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.

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, CT, OSW-C

FOCUS: CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS

Esther Sachse, LCSW, 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.

LISA MEYERER, LCSW

FOCUS: CHILDREN, YOUTH, ADULTS

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.