Staff

Cherie G. Nuckols, MSW, LCSW
Executive Director

Cherie NuckolsCherie Nuckols is the Executive Director and founder of Footsteps Counseling Center and has been practicing as a licensed mental health therapist since 1998.

Prior to feeling God’s call in her life to begin a professional Christian counseling center, she has served the community through inpatient treatment, outpatient therapy, and in the public mental health capacity. Her specialties include childhood physical, sexual and emotional abuse, women’s issues, depression, co-dependency, and spiritual formation.

Cherie’s passion is helping people find happiness and wholeness, despite their circumstance. One of her favorite quotes is by Corrie Ten Bloom, a holocaust survivor: “There is no pit so deep that God is not greater still” (The Hiding Place, 1996).

Cherie received her Master’s Degree in clinical social work from Virginia Commonwealth University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Taresa Steele, MA, LPC

Taresa SteeleTaresa Steele, MA, LPC has been working with individuals who struggle with addictive behaviors, trauma, mental health issues, anger management, codependency, and self-defeating behaviors for more than 14 years. She has experience working in outpatient settings, residential treatment, and criminal justice systems.

Kristie Winkler, MSW, LCSW, CEDS

Kristie_WinklerKristie is a certified eating disorder specialist and has been providing counseling since 2005 for a variety of issues including: eating disorder issues and body image issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, and abuse to adolescents and adults.

Tina Murphy, LPC

Tina MurphyTina Murphy is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in seeing adults. She received her graduate training at Regent University and became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2005. Her areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, PTSD, life transitions, relationship issues, work stress, and ADHD. She has worked in multiple settings including a military mental health outpatient clinic, outpatient community mental health, and inpatient. Military life and deployment related issues are of special interest to her as she is the wife of a combat Veteran. Tina is a certified Prepare-Enrich Facilitator. She focuses on creating a safe place to address issues and a personalized approach to treatment. Outside work she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and time with family.

Tina M. Rhodes, MA, LPC

Tina RhodesTina Rhodes is a compassionate and well-trained therapist who has experienced with a variety of different counseling issues. She obtained her degrees which integrated sound clinical practice with Biblical training in both her undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University and her Master’s Degree from Regent University. She has been providing outpatient therapy services for more than 10 years in addition to serving the community at Habitat for Humanity for 11 years. She specializes in treating adults, children, marital counseling, family issues, and spiritual formation and desires to serve those in need in a way that honor’s Christ. Tina strives to keep her methods of counseling consistent with Biblical teaching while complying with state and professional standards.

Leslie Robinson, MA, LPC

Leslie RobinsonLeslie has been practicing in the mental health field for more than 12 years and specializes in addressing issues related to depression, anxiety, domestic violence, codependency, women’s issues and adolescents. Leslie is passionate about strengthening relationships and helping others grow emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. In her spare time, Leslie enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, and staying involved in their church.

Lorna Secondi, LCSW

Lorna SecondiA licensed clinical social worker, Lorna has a background providing assistance for over ten years to a wide variety of individuals, couples, and families. Most recently she worked with children, adolescents, and with adult individuals who struggled with anger, trauma, depression, or anxiety. She also helped clients with relationships problems, chronic pain or stress, as well as mood, thought, and personality disorders. Lorna has provided therapy in both outpatient and residential settings. Prior to earning her Masters in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University, she worked for non-profits offering services in mental health and in criminal justice. Lorna earned her B.A. in Social Work from Ohio University.

Renee Decker, M.Ed., LPC, NCC

Renee Stalker Renee Decker, has a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Kent State University and is independently licensed in the State of Virginia and Ohio, with national certification from the National Board of Certified Counselors. She is certified trauma specialist through the National Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children. Her experience includes individual and group counseling with adolescents and adults. She has worked in outpatient, residential, and home based settings with all ages. She also has experience counseling individuals with developmental disabilities, children, adolescents, adults and families who have suffered from difficulties relating to anxiety and mood disorders, relationship issues, anger management, abuse, parenting/blended family issues, women’s issues, and crisis intervention.

Shana Thell, LCSW

Shana ThellShana has worked as a licensed outpatient psychotherapist since 2003. Prior to this, she worked for ten years in treatment foster care. In 2007 she completed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Basic Training. This is a therapeutic technique that can be beneficial in working through trauma and distorted negative thoughts. In addition, she utilizes therapy approaches such as cognitive-behavioral, strength focused, and rational emotive. She enjoys working with people of all faiths, but as a Christian, she also incorporates spiritual issues for clients who desire this. Some of her specific areas of interest include helping adults and adolescents who struggle with depression, anxiety, self-worth struggles, adjustment issues, anger issues, past abuse, and PTSD. Outside of work, she enjoys playing music with a community orchestra and her church.

Sandy K. Wilda, MA, LPC

Sandy WildaAfter receiving her master’s degree from Regent University, Sandy began working as a counselor in 1990 and was licensed as a mental health professional in 1992. Her areas of specialty are marriage and family, women’s issues, depression, parenting, grief and loss, sexual intimacy, and sexual abuse treatment. She is an active member of her local church and has a passion for spiritual growth.

Tim Weaver, MA, LPC

48422972_10100558550498778_8601665298736611328_nTim has worked in the field of mental health for 10 years providing counseling in a variety of settings including in-home, residential and outpatient treatment. He completed his graduate training at Liberty University. Having spent 8 years in the military, Tim is especially attuned to the unique needs of veterans and their families. He has experience treating ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, grief, parenting, anger management and personality disorders. Tim is trained in the use of DBT (Dialectical behavior therapy) and he takes a highly collaborative approach to treatment. Tim enjoys providing a safe and relaxed environment where hope and restoration can be discovered and lasting change is made possible. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, running, and being outdoors. Tim is active is his local church where his wife is a youth pastor.

Sandi Taylor, MA, LPC

Sandi_Taylor Sandi graduated from Regent University and began her career in counseling in 2004 working with adolescents and their families in both psychiatric and residential environments. Sandi believes in a Biblical model of healing and restoration and has served in Christian ministry for over 20 years. She has experience providing individual, group and family counseling services and specializes in working with adolescents, young adults and women with a variety of issues. In her free time, she homeschools her two amazing teenage boys and ministers alongside her wonderful husband who is a pastor.

Brandi Thomas, MA, LPC

Brandi Thomas Brandi Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in trauma and child therapy. Brandi’s goal is to come alongside those who are searching for healing and to create a safe place for those individuals. Brandi has been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and uses clinically supportive models with individuals who have experienced complex developmental trauma. She has clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults both in outpatient and in-home settings. She has experience using play therapy and attachment-based interventions for children and their families.