Our Team
Katie Allen, LPC
Pro Bono Therapist
Katie (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor originally from Charlottesville. After obtaining her undergraduate degree at William & Mary and master's in counseling at Boston University, she lived for four years in Pittsburgh, PA, working in community mental health. Back in Charlottesville with her young family, Katie utilizes a combination of dialectical behavior therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other strengths-based approaches to support clients' needs at local outpatient practice.
Varinia Garcia Anderson, M.Ed., LPC
Bilingual Therapist
Varinia (she/her/ella) received a BA in psychology from Roanoke College and an M.Ed in counseling from VCU. She has focused on providing mental health services primarily to the local Hispanic population. Varinia is trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, EMDR, play therapy, family therapy, and mindfulness. She is a strong advocate for our immigrant population, who inspire her to provide healing to those who need encouragement and strength.
Judith Curry-El, PhD
Therapist
Judith (she/her) obtained her PhD degree from the University of Virginia in 1996, where she also completed her residency and post-doctoral neuropsychology fellowship. She has worked at Western State Hospital and as the mental health director at Greensville Correctional Center. Judith is passionate about helping all women have access to mental health services. Her interests include insight-oriented and mindfulness-based therapies.
Debi Daniel, MFT
Pro Bono Therapist
Debi (she/her) received her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from Touro University. She enjoys working with her clients through trauma-informed, internal family systems, dialectical behavior therapy, and emotion-focused therapy lenses. Debi believes communication is key and feels that most problems can be explored and resolved with partnership and collaboration. She brings a multicultural perspective from her African upbringing and is particularly interested in working with multicultural communities.
Shelley Faulkner, MA, Ed.S. 🏳️🌈
Therapist
Shelley (she/her) highly values trust and connection for humans to heal, and brings her authentic self and transparency into session to give clients the ability to be fully themselves. She believes through compassion and connection that corrective emotional experiences can occur. Shelley works from an attachment-based, person-centered approach to therapy for people from all walks of life who have experienced trauma, anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and interpersonal problems.
Juanika Howard, LPC
Therapist and Yoga Instructor
Juanika (she/her) received her BS from ODU in psychology and counseling and her MS in mental health counseling from Longwood. She utilizes eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, cognitive behavioral therapy, expressive art therapy interventions, and mindfulness in sessions. Juanika walks alongside community members on their journeys to increase supportive and creative resources that meet their needs, and is passionate about normalizing mental health and being in community with others.
Rachael LeMasters, LMSW
Pro Bono Therapist
Rachael LeMasters (she/her) graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Social Work degree and received a certificate in family systems theory from the Tavistock and Portman Trust. She has experience working with diverse populations, including families with complex needs and refugees. Using a strengths perspective, Rachael builds an empathic connection with each client. Additionally, she is particularly interested in how systems and relationships interact with individual goals.
Kris Shafer, MA
Pro Bono Therapist
Kris (she/her) is passionate about women empowerment and equity as well as honoring each person's unique perspective and background. She uses a person-centered and trauma informed approach to create connection with and safety for clients. She received her master's degree in counseling from Messiah University and bachelor's in psychology from the University of Virginia. Prior to a career in counseling, Kris served in the military for 21 years.
Elise Van Der Loo
Intern
Elise (she/her) attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington where she earned her bachelor's degree in social work with a minor in criminology. She is currently a student at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she is working to obtain a master's degree in social work. Her clinical approach is based in empowerment theory and an appreciate for each individual's innate strengths.
Diana Ward
Bilingual Intern
Diana (she/her/ella) is a Mexican-American Latina and graduate counseling student at William & Mary, dedicated to supporting the Latine and immigrant community. With a BA in Environmental Science from Eastern Mennonite University, she offers a unique perspective on mental health and wellness. Diana uses a strength-based, trauma-informed approach, utilizing SFT, MI, and CBT. Her passion is promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma in the Latine community.
Maren Ward, LCSW
Pro Bono Therapist
Maren (she/her) has worked in the counseling field for over 20 years, spending the past 15 years focusing on crisis counseling and assessments. At The Women’s Initiative, Maren works to create a therapeutic connection between herself and the client that allows for a safe exploration of the client's challenges as well as current and past relationships while accessing and processing emotions to allow for relief, healing, insight, and growth.