Meet Our Staff
Dr. VERNITA MARSH
“Live your life on purpose.” For Dr. Vernita Marsh, this is more than just a philosophy, it describes her life’s path and her vision for the future. From an early age, she knew what she wanted, laid out a plan, and set off to achieve her goal. Helping clients in need, training and supervising up-and-coming therapists, and managing her own business, for Vernita Marsh, this is exactly where she was meant to be.
DEMITRA BARNES, LMFT
One of my favorite quotes is by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” Often times we may not have a clear vision of what’s ahead of us and we may not see the end that we desire, but we still have to make a start. As we take one step at a time, each step reveals the next step, no matter how big or how small. This perspective has inspired me on numerous occasions throughout my life, and during the process, I have learned to be kind, patient, and loving to myself, while standing in faith.
RAYMOND CARRAWAY, LCSW
Upon meeting Raymond, you’ll notice almost immediately his calm demeanor, which puts everyone around him at ease. His peers, colleagues, and clients report that there is nothing that easily frazzles him. His love of people is apparent in his engaging demeanor and posture. Raymond, described early on in life, he was the “go to” person, that his friends and even strangers would feel comfortable sharing anything with him. He found himself being a good listener while offering support.
KAREN JAMES, Psy.D.
Growing up in a big city has allowed Karen to appreciate each person for his or her own unique qualities. Diversity, as she sees it, is not just race/ ethnicity, but a way of speaking; a way of dressing, exotic foods, and the community you come from. As a clinician, she takes into consideration the diversity of values, interaction styles, and cultural expectations. Karen’s style integrates several different perspectives to form a cohesive approach; working from a foundation that primarily consists of the theory that many of our childhood experiences leading up to adulthood shapes our personalities.
MARGARITA SELEY, Psy.D.
Down to Earth and Caribbean Influenced Styles
Being raised in the Midwest has given Margarita a sense of being down to earth, with a warm and caring personality. As an adoptee and previous adoption social worker, Margarita has a good instinct about how it feels to be different, and the feeling of not fitting in at times. Having been born in the beautiful Dominican Republic, Margarita has a natural attraction to nature; the calmness of ocean breezes, the warm greenness of the forest, the liveliness of Caribbean music. She has always had an eclectic approach to therapy, discovering each individual’s unique pattern of thinking and functioning, then adapting to these patterns. Faith and spirituality is very important to Margarita, and is mirrored by her favorite Bob Marley song lyrics, “Don’t worry about a thing, ‘cause every little thing gonna be alright”.
NIA JOHNSON, AMFT, APCC
Nia’s mantra is “A Healed Mind is a Whole Mind.”
You can’t but to notice Nia’s very calm and welcoming style. She enjoys working with her clients collaboratively, but she is also actively focused on helping her clients get results. Clients from a variety walks of life, ages, genders, and races report being put easily at ease with Ms. Johnson. In your therapy with her, you’ll find her exploring your history as well as any unwanted patterns that has resulted in your pain. She will assist you in discovering how your history has impacted you today and helping you to change your script for a healthier you! Her clinical experience ranges from working with at- risk youth, working with inmates who have had a variety of mental disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma, and various addictions. Additionally, she enjoys working with children, couples, and families. Her accompanied style of working collaboratively allows you as the client to grow and change without judgment or shame. With Ms. Johnson’s direction and support, she’ll help you towards a roadmap of wellness and wholeness, as she believes “A Healed mind is a Whole mind.” Ms. Johnson looks forward to working with you and facilitating a better you!
TEMEKA BURNETT, AMFT
Temeka is described as a compassionate, dedicated, insightful and thoughtful clinician. She likes to get to the heart of the matter but with gracefulness with her clients. Many of her clients have been enamored by her relatability and her engaging style. More importantly, clients have reported feeling heard and that their healing process was supportive with Temeka in the mix. As a therapist with a wealth of both clinical and worldly experience, Ms. Burnett has had the privilege of working in both community-based and private practice settings. Throughout her career, she has treated individuals, couples, families, teens, and parents navigating through the struggles of caring for children with mental and behavioral challenges. Her clinical experiences presented her opportunities to work with a diverse population, providing insight into various forms of trauma and the profound impact that unresolved issues can have on relationships with others as well as with oneself.