Annella Petkovich-Dixon, LMHC
Annella Petkovich-Dixon is a Christian licensed mental health counselor who has been practicing for over 25 years working with all ages, from school children and most recently older adults in private practice. Annella works primarily with adults who are struggling with isolation and loneliness, depression and anxiety, changes in life such as retirement or bereavement, or physical illness such as recovery from stroke or heart attack. She understands that depression is a common mental health problem, it can be difficult to manage alone, and believes everyone needs someone to talk with. Annella values an individual’s right to self-determination and is a supportive, experienced, and direct-communicating therapist. She serves her clients through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered and Solution-Focused Therapies. Annella earned her BA degree from Ball State University and M.Ed. from Bowling Green State University. In her personal time, Annella enjoys fixing things, building pallets, singing tenor at Church, riding her bike on the trails, ASL interpreting for the deaf, and is an avid golfer.
Bill Betts, Ph.D., HSPP
Dr. Bill Betts has spent more than 25 years in behavioral health working with children, families, and adults in a variety of settings. Bill received his MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from DePaul University. He then went on to complete a post-doctoral fellowship in Program Evaluation and Administration at the University of Colorado. Prior to moving to Indiana, Bill was at the University of Colorado where he was an assistant professor and the Associate Director for Mental Health at the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. Bill works with clients ages 5 years and up. When working with young children, Bill uses a family systems approach. This means that he works with the child to develop skills that help them cope, but he also works with the family so they can provide the support the child needs to be successful. When working with older adolescents and adults, Bill uses a variety of techniques based in cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, supportive psychotherapy, and others that research has shown to help people to feel better and get back to living a full life. When not in the office, Bill enjoys spending time with his family and hiking with his dog Aspen.
Brian Hart, LMHC
Brian is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with experience serving clients in inpatient, residential, and intensive outpatient settings. He has worked extensively with adolescents, adults, and families affected by addiction and trauma problems. His areas of expertise include sex and relationships, addiction, complex trauma, and adolescent care. Brian is a supportive, optimistic, and direct-communicating therapist, and serves his clients mainly through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Existential Therapy, Gottman Method Relationship Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Christian Ministries, and Philosophy at Anderson University and a dual Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Social Psychology at Ball State University. Brian believes that each client has tenacity and resiliency within them, and enjoys helping clients use these strengths to solve life problems. Brian loves his family, outdoor adventures, dogs, cooking, and spending too much money on fixing his old house.
Britni Swartz, LMSW
Britni is a Licensed Social Worker with 8 years of experience working with families, children and adults in a variety of settings. Britni received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Anderson University and went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Indiana Wesleyan University. Throughout her career, Britni has worked with individuals dealing with an abundance of struggles including domestic violence, substance use, anger management, and trauma. Additionally, Britni has her Perinatal Mental Health Certification and specializes in aiding those in distress related to infertility/perinatal/pregnancy/postpartum. In her work, Britni primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Multisystemic Therapy. She has a warm, person-centered and strengths-based approach and is intentional about utilizing a client’s natural supports. Britni’s overall goal is to create a safe and welcoming environment for clients where they feel free from judgement. Outside of work, Britni enjoys baking, puzzle games, spending time with her dogs and husband, and being a foster mom.
Brittany Kiger, LMHC-A
Brittany is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate with experience serving clients in intensive outpatient settings. Brittany received both her Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Mental Health Counseling from Indiana University. She enjoys working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Brittany has clinical experience with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and mood disorders. Brittany utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Techniques, and Cognitive-Processing Therapy. Brittany’s main goal as a clinician is to create a safe space for her clients to be vulnerable so that they are able to process and heal. Brittany will challenge her clients to grow, but is truly able to do so while continuing to offer empathy, support, and warmth. In her free time, you can find Brittany at home cooking for her family. Brittany also loves German Shepherds and believes that animals are the best antidepressant.
Brooke Slagle, LMHC-A
Brooke is a Master’s level therapist who enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults. She is a seasoned teacher, counselor, advocate, and behavioral consultant offering over 25 years of experience working with diverse populations in both one-on-one and group settings. Brooke holds Masters degrees in both Counseling and Special Education and consistently advocates for individuals to build support networks and obtain necessary resources to live their best lives. Brooke is insightful, has strong communication skills, and finds that her warmth and humor allow her to create meaningful and authentic connections with clients and families. Brooke primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Brooke’s specialties include youth with behavioral difficulties, trauma, anxiety, autism, depression, and self-harm. She also has extensive experience working with youth and adults with disabilities. Brooke is passionate about helping other people and strives to create a warm, safe, and authentic therapy environment for all clients. Brooke loves traveling with her husband, spending time with family, serving at church, and relaxing with her dog and a good book.
Cassandra Reidt, LMFT-A
Cassandra is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate with a passion for helping couples, youth, and families create fulfilling relationships and healthy connections within the marital and family system. Cassandra earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a Christian Counseling minor, and Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy both from Liberty University. Her clinical areas of focus include interpersonal issues, behavioral issues, and difficulties within the family unit. Cassandra also works with those who struggle with issues related to spirituality, depression, trauma, anxiety, and grief/loss. She has a person-centered approach and is intentional about collaborating with her clients to provide them a supportive therapeutic environment that promotes growth and healing. She has a gentle, yet direct communication style, and mainly utilizes techniques from CBT, Psychodynamic, and EFT. Additionally, Cassandra’s integrative style allows her to use her creativity to design a treatment plan that is specifically suited to the individual, couple, or family that she is working with. Cassandra’s sense of humor and friendly, energetic, and genuine personality often naturally create a comfortable environment for her clients.
Daren McDaniel, LMSW
Daren is a licensed master social worker who earned his degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and is in the process of working towards licensure as a clinical social worker. He has worked with individuals in residential, outpatient, hospital, school, and community settings. Daren works with children and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma. He values the power of the therapeutic relationship and self-determination in creating a safe and welcoming environment for individuals to become the author and narrator of their own story. Daren utilizes Cognitive Behavioral and Solution-Focused Therapies, as well as Relational, Person-Centered, and Narrative approaches. Additionally, he is currently obtaining training in EMDR. Daren also enjoys integrating elements of Expressive Therapies into his approach through art and play. In his personal time, Daren enjoys reading, board games, hiking, and spending time with his two dogs and two cats.
Erin Eacret, LMHC-A
Erin is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate who graduated with her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Ball State University. Erin enjoys individual counseling with children, adolescents, and adults. Her areas of clinical focus include grief and loss, depression, anxiety, trauma, and career and academic concerns. Additionally, Erin is especially empathetic to the demands and stressors that college students experience and is passionate about offering them a supportive environment. She has experience in both community mental health and private practice settings. In her work, Erin primarily utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Person-Centered Therapy. Erin describes her approach as warm and gentle, and holds the belief that everyone deserves a space to own and develop without judgment. In her personal time, Erin enjoys baking, crafts, and sewing.
George Gaither, Ph.D., HSPP
George is a Licensed Psychologist who earned his Master’s degree in Psychology and PhD in Clinical Psychology both from the University of North Dakota. Prior to college, George also served in the United States Army. Within the counseling environment, George tends to take a client-centered, supportive, and insight-oriented approach to working with people to help them understand themselves and the problems they are experiencing. Working together, George believes that he can use his extensive clinical experience and understanding of psychological principles and techniques to help people solve problems, achieve goals, and find a place of peace in their lives. He uses an integrative approach wherein he considers psychological, behavioral, and personality factors together with family dynamics, interpersonal, sociocultural, and environmental factors to understand and resolve problems in thoughts, feelings, and behavior. George’s areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, sexuality, relationship, and gender related issues, and phase of life problems. He also specializes in couples counseling, specifically aiding partners in resolving sexual desire and functioning concerns. Additionally, George is supportive of all forms of consensual sexuality, relationship configurations, and gender identities. He is also passionate about providing individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community a safe and supportive therapeutic space. Since 2006, George has been an Associate Professor in the department of Psychological Science at Ball State University. In his personal time, George enjoys landscaping, gardening, spending time with family, watching the Colts and Pacers, and playing PokemonGo.
Gina Bradburn, LMSW
Gina is a Licensed Social Worker who earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from Indiana Wesleyan University and Bachelor’s from Ball State University. Gina also has her certification as a Yoga instructor and recently achieved certification to provide Trauma-informed Yoga. Empathetic, genuine, and curious, she actively listens and observes to understand each individual’s needs and in collaboration with them, affect positive changes holistically. She feels it is an honor and privilege to serve and help others live their best lives. Gina’s areas of interest include PTSD and trauma-informed therapies, grief/loss, anxiety, depression, interpersonal relations, mood disorders, substance misuse, life adjustments, and women’s issues. Gina often utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. Gina enjoys traveling and making memories with her two children – her greatest achievement, extended family, dear friends, and husband of 25 years. Gina is a grateful Leukemia “surthrivor” (thriving survivor) and as such, she especially values self-care and mindfulness practices. She believes that grace, grit, and a good sense of humor go a long way in navigating this beautifully imperfect and challenging thing called life.
Jennifer Oetting, LCSW
Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds her Master’s Degree from the University of Southern California, with a specific focus on children and families. Jennifer has experience providing individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults. She has worked with children in residential, classroom, foster care, and outpatient settings. Jennifer’s specialties include trauma, abuse/neglect, grief/loss, foster care, juvenile justice, adjustment disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, mood disorder, ADHD, depression, anxiety, anger management, and life skills. Additionally, Jennifer has extensive experience with brief strategic and crisis-focused work. Jennifer is formally trained in EMDR, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, 7-Challenges, and Alternatives for Families Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. One of Jennifer’s greatest strengths as a therapist is her understanding of how life experiences, especially trauma, can have a profound impact on thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Jennifer’s therapeutic approach involves direct communication while providing each individual support, encouragement, and interactive feedback to help address current challenges. Jennifer also strongly believes that clients innate strengths can be used for remarkable growth and healing.
Katie Dickey, LCSW
Katie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 13 years of experience in various social work settings. Katie has worked in community and home-based settings with children and families; also in residential settings for adolescents with behavioral and substance use issues, and women with substance use disorder. Katie values transparency and creates a therapeutic environment that is safe and authentic. Supportive, challenging, empathetic, and curious, Katie utilizes a balance of eclectic styles to serve others to best meet their needs. Katie works from a variety of treatment models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Attachment Therapy, and Motivational Enhancement Therapy. Her areas of clinical focus include women’s issues, trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance use, relational issues, and family dynamic concerns. Katie believes that every person is created for a purpose and worthy of a beautiful life. In her personal time, Katie loves to travel with her husband, read or listen to books and podcasts, bake all kinds of food, watch the sunrise or sunset any chance she gets, and make a good cup of coffee.
Kayla Myers, Clinical Mental Health Intern
Kayla is an intern from Ball State University in the dual Master’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Sport/Exercise Psychology program. She obtained her Bachelor of Science at Temple University in Philadelphia and has experience working with diverse populations. Kayla enjoys working with clients of all backgrounds, but is particularly interested in working with adolescents, adults, couples, families, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. She has clinical experience with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and interpersonal relationship issues. Kayla primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness-based interventions, and Humanistic therapy. Kayla’s ultimate goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental, and empowering space for all clients. Outside of work, Kayla loves to chase waterfalls as she explores nature and is a major foodie in search of the best restaurants.
Madison Pavone, Clinical Mental Health Intern
Madison is an intern from Ball State University pursing a dual Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Social Psychology. She obtained her Bachelor of Science at Baldwin Wallace University where she conducted research on race-related stress, objectification, and coping. Madison has seen clients through the Ball State Counseling Practicum Clinic as well as worked with victims of Domestic Violence in Anderson, Indiana. Her areas of clinical interest include trauma/abuse, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, and issues coping with prejudice. Madison enjoys working with adolescents and adults; she believes a strong, trusting therapeutic relationship is essential to treatment. She tends to take a multicultural and humanistic approach to therapy, but implements different therapeutic techniques including CBT, DBT, EFT, Empowerment, and Gestalt tools. Madison believes that all individuals deserve a safe, affirming, and culturally sensitive environment to grow within.
Mercedes Carr, Social Work Intern
Mercedes Carr is a Ball State University graduate who earned her Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Counseling Psychology. She is currently an intern through Indiana Wesleyan University pursuing her Master’s in Social Work. In her career, Mercedes has mentored, nurtured, and advocated for survivors of domestic violence. She trains and coaches them in goal management, emotional wellness, life skills, healthy relationship skills, and family development skills, while also leading support groups in these areas. Mercedes is a certified call handler on the National Suicide Hotline for those who are depressed, suicidal, and emotionally distressed. She leads from a strengths-based approach and believes that everyone has the potential to be the best version of themselves. She is passionate about seeing individuals, couples, families, and communities whole and thriving. Mercedes is a certified life and purpose coach. Her counseling interests include domestic violence, trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, personal development, health and wellness, and interpersonal relations. Mercedes loves traveling, good food, and dogs.
Administrative Team
Carmeka Jackson
Hannah Smith
