Licensed Professional Counselor

Cynthia Kilgore Shaikh, Resident in Counseling

Cynthia (pronouns she/her/hers) is a Resident in Counseling with extensive experience working with mental health, substance abuse and adjustment concerns. She has a Bachelor od science degree in Psychology from Longwood University and a Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from MCV/Virginia Commonwealth University. She is supervised by Lauren Anderson (License # 0701008795)

During her career, she worked in several community settings, a university counseling center and the non-profit sector. Her areas of interest include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, mindfulness, grief/loss and adjustment issues as well as the neuroscience of mental health concerns. Cynthia believes that fostering the therapeutic relationship is the most important factor in providing therapy and is committed to meeting a client where he, she or they are in setting goals for therapy. She utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness based interventions. Additionally, Cynthia works from a trauma informed care perspective with her clients. She has a strong passion for social justice and operates from a place of cultural humility.

Bianca Klein-Breteler, Resident in Counseling

Bianca is a Resident in Counseling and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. She is supervised by Lauren Anderson (License # 0701008795). She obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from the University of Virginia and Master’s degree in Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Bianca’s wide range of interests and professional experiences have led her to work in various roles and settings, and she enjoys bringing this diverse perspective to her work as a counselor. For the last three years, she has provided individual and family counseling services, crisis counseling, and rehabilitation counseling in North Carolina and Virginia. Her approach incorporates trauma informed, integrative, and holistic approaches that are tailored individually to help clients reach their personal goals.

Rebecca ‘Becky’ Jones, LPC

Hello! My name is Rebecca ‘Becky’ Jones, and I am working towards my LPC license in Virginia. I earned my Bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of North Florida, taught for two years, then earned my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University in 2020. I have experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and the geriatric population over the past 4 years in the mental health field doing intensive in-home services, outpatient counseling, and equine-assisted psychotherapy

My clients would describe me as personable, empathetic, compassionate, sweet, reliable, and supportive. My therapeutic framework is integrative but with an emphasis on person-centered, faith-based, solution-focused, psychodynamic, and strengths-based modalities. I enjoy collaborating with my clients and genuinely care and want the best for them. I enjoy having a variety of interventions such as art, play, games, assessments, worksheets, psychoeducation, and active listening. I like to meet my clients where they are at, and help them create goals, identify negative thinking patterns and beliefs, and offer practical insight and problem-solving along the way!

I look forward to meeting you and being part of your healing journey!

Nicole Bustillos, Clinical Mental Health Intern

Nicole (she/her) is a counselor-in-training pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Wake Forest University. Nicole strives to create a comforting and inviting space for collaboration and communication during sessions using an eclectic approach. She strongly believes in cultivating a trusting and nonjudgmental space to allow for true exploration and healing for clients. Nicole aims to help clients with relationship-building, empowerment, and finding tools that emphasize her client’s strengths. At this time, she is offering telehealth and in person services in the greater Richmond area under the supervision of Lauren Anderson, LPC (License #0701008795). 

Yolanda Bowden, Practice Manager

Monday to Thursday 9am to 12pm

Hello, I am Yolanda.  I am a retiree from the Federal Government after 34 years of service including four years active duty in the U.S. Army.  My husband spent over 20 years in the military in which we moved a lot, thus me changing jobs.  I have worked for the department of the Army, the department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration and finalized my career with 17 years with the Defense Commissary Agency.  So, you would say I know a little about a lot.  The Defense Commissary Agency operates 236 commissaries (grocery stores) worldwide to sell food and related household items to active, Reserve, and Guard members of the Uniformed Services, retirees, family members, and other authorized patrons.  So, what did I do?  I was the supervisor for everything customer facing “Patron Awareness.”  I supervised the Consumer Advocate, Social Media, and Customer Comments.  I publish the Commissary Newsletters, and Sales Flyers.  The best part of that job was talking to the old veterans that would call to complain about services that they received and by the end of the conversation I would know when they served, why they served and a lot more.  They were so happy to have an open ear that sometimes they would just drop the complaint all together.   Patience, Time, Recognition and an open ear was all it took.

My passion has always been strong with the military, however my family tops all of that.  I have been a proud wife of 30 years, a mother of three lovely women and a grandmother of two.  I have a lionhead rabbit named J-Coal, a gorgeous long haired guinea pig named Caramel Macchiato and the newest addition to the family is Blaze, a havanese puppy.

I obtained a bachelorette degree and a master’s degree.  I had a great career with the government, so now what?  My life is all about giving back.  Helping the young people and their dreams of opening business and providing help and guidance as needed.  That is why I am here and I am so grateful that they have allowed me to learn new skills and to provide my expertise when I can as the new Practice Manager.