A Behavioral Health Management Company
Timothy Thistlethaite, MD
Medical Director/ Psychiatrist
​Dr. Tim Thistlethwaite has extensive practical experience in correctional behavioral health, over 19 years, working in a maximum security correctional facility and providing tele-psych services to all security level facilities throughout West Virginia. In addition, he served as chief resident for Charleston Area Medical Center’s Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry. He is a certified member of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is licensed with the West Virginia Board of Medicine. Dr. Thistlethwaite has a broad range of psychiatric experience in private practice, institutional, inpatient, and outpatient services. He currently serves as the Psychiatric Services Medical Director for PSIMED CORRECTIONS, LLC. Dr. Thistlethwaite oversees psychiatric services for contracts serving the WV Division of Corrections and the WV Regional Jail and correctional Facility Authority. Dr. Thistlethwaite has served as a psychiatric consultant to the Forensic Evaluation Unit at the South Central Regional Jail and for fellows assigned to correctional and forensic rotations in partnership with West Virginia University. Dr. Thistlethwaite is a long-standing member of the American Psychiatric Association and West Virginia Psychiatric Association and has achieved Diplomat status with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He has also presented both nationally and internationally.
Kiran Deveraj, MD
Medical Director/ Psychiatrist
Board Certified Psychiatrist.
Dr. Devaraj has practiced psychiatry in WV for over 20 years. He completed his Medical School at Leeds University School of medicine in England and finished his psychiatry residency at WVU CAMC in Charleston West Virginia. During his residency, he was Co-chief resident in his 3rd and 4th years. He has most recently been the chief medical officer/medical director of Highland hospital. He has a broad range of experience in treating psychiatric problems and substance abuse. He has experience in treating all ages and will be seeing children adolescents and Adults
Christi Cooper-Lehki, MD
Psychiatrist
is a child, adolescent and forensic psychiatrist at West Virginia University; the medical director for PSIMED Juvenile Services Division. She completed her general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit, and forensic psychiatry fellowship at West Virginia University. Dr. Cooper-Lehki is board certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. She is originally from Oceana, WV (Wyoming County). She graduated from WV School of Osteopathic Medicine in 1994.
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Sheena Dohar, MD
Dr. Sheena Dohar, MD grew up in Youngstown, Ohio. She graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology and then found her way to West Virginia for medical school at the WVU School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Chestnut Ridge Hospital Ruby Memorial where she served as a chief resident and received honors for her rotations in neurology and for her outpatient clinic work. She received the Brandon K. Fuller Award for Physician Empathy in 2017. She joined PSIMED in 2018.
Dr. Dohar works with adults struggling with a variety of mental health ailments with specific interests in depression and anxiety disorders as well as addiction treatment. Her goals include helping people feel comfortable seeking treatment as well as promoting an understanding of the purpose and reasoning behind the use of various medications to treat psychiatric disorders. Dr. Dohar appreciates and values working with therapists within the PSIMED practice and in the community in an collaborative effort to promote wellness. She strives to build strong therapeutic relationships with the people that she sees in her practice. Her passions include working in the community at large to encourage a better understanding of mental health disorders and to promote suicide awareness and prevention.
Merideth Smith, Ph.D
Psychologist
Merideth Smith, Ph.D. is the Director of Clinical Services and a psychologist for PSIMED Corrections in West Virginia. She obtained her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at West Virginia University with a focus in aging and resiliency and suicide prevention with research training in the Departments of Psychology and Public Health. She was appointed as the first class of trainees to the NIH T32 Grant to promote interdisciplinary research in the fields of behavioral and biomedical science. and completed her internship in Geropsychology at the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System. Post-doctoral work was completed at West Virginia maximum security prison under the supervision of Dr. David Clayman. Dr. Smith obtained her Certified Correctional Health Professional status from National Commission on Correctional Health Care since 2016. She has presented at national conferences and published in peer review journals in the areas of behavioral interventions, aging and resiliency, and suicide prevention. As a psychologist, Merideth provides clinical services to inmates with severe behavioral and mental health problems housed in West Virginia maximum security prison. She supervises graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in clinical psychology as well as psychologist pursuing licensure. As the Director of Clinical Services, she provides training and consultation for all mental health staff and correctional staff in the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Trainings have included basic mental health introduction, use of behavioral interventions in prison, suicide prevention, treatment and care of aging inmates, and the treatment and care of inmates with personality disorders. She is responsible for collaborating with mental health and correctional staff to develop and monitor specialized treatment programs for inmates with a wide range of mental health issues, including severe personality disorders or dementia, that focus on best practices and efficient and effective interventions. Dr. Smith works with clinical staff and correctional systems to review current practices and continuously improve the clinical services provided to meet the changing needs of the inmate, the facilities, nationally recognized treatment standards, and innovations in the field. Current projects include evaluating suicide assessment and protocols, reviewing the effectiveness of intensive treatment for inmates engaging in no suicidal self-injurious behavior, developing gender and trauma informed sex offender
treatment protocols, and evaluating the use of naltrexone to reduce opiate and alcohol abuse for individuals paroling to the community.
Brenda Brubaker, MSN, FNP-BC
Psychiatry
Brenda Brubaker, MSN, FNP-BC is a board-certified nurse practitioner in family medicine with an emphasis on psychiatry. Mrs. Brubaker is a lifelong resident of Fairmont, West Virginia who received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and Masters of Science in Nursing from Marshall University.
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Brenda is qualified to practice in both primary care and psychiatry; diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication for children, adolescents, and adults. Some of her practice specialties include (but not limited to) ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia. After graduating she worked with a community clinic setting, seeing patients of all age ranges. With 17 years of nursing practice in the mental health field, she has a multitude of training and experience treating patients with psychiatric disorders across the lifespan and across practice settings, from intensive inpatient psychiatric hospitals to outpatient clinics. Her experience illustrated the gap between medical and psychiatric care, and how the mind/body connection is often ignored. These gaps in care encouraged Brenda to develop a practice that integrates medicine and mental health for the most effective treatment.
Michele Long, APRN, FNP-BC
Psychiatry
Michele graduated from the University of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2003. She practiced as a registered nurse for several years before going back to receive her Masters of Science in Nursing with specialty in Family Nurse Practitioner from Marshall University in 2012.
Michele has practiced in multiple settings including hospitals and outpatient clinics. She has treated all age groups, but has found that she has a special interest in children, adolescents, and young adults. She is currently accepting new patients form ages 6-25 for psychiatric evaluations and medication management.
Nichole Lim, APRN, FNP-BC
Psychiatry
Nichole Lim, FNP-BC is a lifelong resident of Charleston, West Virginia who received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from West Virginia University and Masters of Science in Nursing from Marshall University.
Nichole has been providing outpatient psychiatric services to children, adolescents and adults for the last ten years. She has also worked inpatient psychiatric services for over six years. She is currently providing psychiatric care to children ages five and older, adolescents and adults.
Hillard Brown, APRN, FNP-C
Psychiatry
Hillard Brown is a Kentucky native that received his Masters of Nursing from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has practiced as an
APRN FNP-C in both the family practice and mental health settings for the last 3 years. During this time, Hillard cared for and treated those suffering with a host of mental health conditions. In this patient population, a large majority of these patients were also battling multiple types of addiction. Hillard has certification through the AANP and holds licenses in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Before becoming an APRN, Hillard worked for 8 years as a Registered Nurse, which he received from Ashland Community and Technical College in Ashland, Kentucky. As an RN, Hillard's areas of focus was Emergency and Intensive Care, and Cardiology.
Michael Stinnett, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Michael S. Stinnett is a Kentucky native who has made West Virginia home for more than 20 years. He received his Doctor of Psychology degree from Marshall University and completed pre- and post-doctoral training at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine in Huntington, WV. Dr. Stinnett has broad clinical experience in outpatient, inpatient, and residential treatment settings. He was intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy by The Linehan Institute and is a certified Juvenile Sexual Offender Treatment Provider. Dr. Stinnett was appointed as an Adjunct Instructor at Marshall University from 2010-2015 and a Clinical Instructor from 2016-2019.
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Dr. Stinnett’s training as a generalist enables him to competently and effectively care for patients from childhood through adulthood. Similarly, he treats a wide range of presenting concerns including Anxiety, Bipolar, Depressive, Disruptive / Impulse-Control and Conduct, Obsessive-Compulsive, Paraphilic, Personality, Substance-Related and Addictive, and Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders. Further, he is a skilled clinician in the management and treatment of Gender Dysphoria.
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Dr. Stinnett is an active member in his community and holds positions on many boards and committees as well as maintaining membership in several associations. He is the Chair of the West Virginia Psychological Association’s Membership Committee; a member of the West Virginia Psychological Association’s Association Management Committee; a mentor with the Marshall University President's Commission on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, LGBTQ+ Alumni Mentor Program; and a member of the Huntington, WV Mayor's Committee on Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Stinnett is a clinical associate member of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, and a member of the West Virginia Psychological Association and the American Psychological Association.
Monica McMillian
Licensed Psychologist
Monica McMillian is a West Virginia licensed psychologist. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from West Virginia State University and a Master's of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University Graduate College. As a licensed psychologist, Monica has experience working with adolescents, adults, couples and families. She utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy, treating a variety of psychiatric and emotional conditions. Monica also performs comprehensive psychological evalutions.
Cathy Rasnake, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Advanced Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
Cathy Rasnake is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. She has provided services in the behavioral health field for over 25 years, she joined the PSIMED team in May 2015. Cathy is an accomplished, skilled and focused medical professional committed to providing high quality treatment for individuals, couples and families presenting with a cariety of behavioral health needs.
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Cathy is a member of the American Counseling Assocation and NAADAC, the Association of Addiction Professionals. Her special interests are in the treatment of mood disorders and anxiety disorders which indlude Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, addiction and substance abuse issues, grief/loss, anger management and codependency.
Trinity Nicholas, MSW, LICSW
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
Trinity Nicholas, MSW, LICSW, is a licensed independent clinical social worker. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in communication through the University of North Carolina- Pembrooke in 1999. Trinity was a teacher for several years before earning a master's degree through West Virginia University- Charleston in 2008 adn has worked in the field since that time. She provides cognitive behavioral therapy to children, adolescents, and families to address depression, grief, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), trauma, Attention Deficity Hypersactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and other conditions. Early in her career, she worked at Davis Child Shelter and provided counseling to teens in out-of-home placement due to issues such as truancy, incorrigibility, abuse, and neglect. She worked in gerontology for seven years with Gentiva Home Health providing in home services such as needs assessments, planning, and crisis support.
Trinity is a member of the National Association of Social workers (NASW). She is the mother of two teens and an autism mom. Special interests include ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and trauma.
Vanessa Landgrave, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Vanessa Landgrave is a Licensed Professional Counselor that obtained her Bachelors in Psychology and Sociology from Marshall University. Vanessa later achieved her Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marshall University also as a chapter officer of Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society for counseling. She has provided counseling for adolescents, adults and families through outpatient treatment and telehealth. Vanessa has served clients with, but not limited to anxiety, depression, stress, anger, trauma/PTSD, ADHD, OCD, grief, struggles with self-esteem and addiction(s). She has also worked with clients within drug court/day report center(s) involved with use of Vivitrol, Suboxone and Subutex for treating addiction.
Vanessa primarily utilizes Cognitive behavioral therapy approaches in therapy, but will employ other therapy approaches if deem to be most fitting. Vanessa has also had training in and utilizes Emotion-Focused Family therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy. Vanessa has special interest in utilizing Art in therapy, Enneagram, Mindfulness and Self-compassion skills with both teens and adults.
Anthony Arthur, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Anthony Arthur, MA, Provisionally Licensed Counselor received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from West Virginia University as a member of PSI-CHI, the international honor society in psychology. He then completed his Masters of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Marshall University as a member of Chi Sigma Iota, the international honor society in counseling.
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He is currently pursuing his Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and started his licensing process as a Temporary Permit Counselor, and is currently a Provisionally Licensed Counselor for the state of West Virginia, approved by the WV Board of Examiners in Counseling.
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Anthony has been in the field for 5+ years. He has provided counseling services to children and adults, as well as families, in the following settings: intensive outpatient program for adolescents, juvenile detention centers and juvenile youth reporting centers across the state of West Virginia​, juvenile drug courts for multiple counties in West Virginia, intensive outpatient groups for adults, addictions counseling for an MAT program for adults, and outpatient treatment for adults in a clinical office setting. He also was a crisis worker for Kanawha County in West Virginia for two years and worked with the court systems and hospitals in the county to voluntarily/involuntarily place individuals into treatment facilities that posed a threat to themselves or others.
Anthony provides counseling services to adults with a vast array of diagnoses, all of which are found in the current edition of the DSM-5. The treatment approach he utilizes is cognitive behavioral therapy, with special emphasis to trauma, violence, loss/grief, and multicultural sensitivities. He currently provides individual, group, and family counseling services at LiNKS Treatment and Counseling Services since February of 2019.
Nikki Erwin, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Nikki Erwin, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor, is a proud graduate of Marshall University. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2006 and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2009. She has been employed by PSIMED for over seven years providing counseling for adolescents involved with the juvenile justice system.
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Nikki began her career providing crisis intervention services at a licensed domestic violence program
in 2004 and has remained committed to providing a safe space for individuals that have experienced family violence and sexual assault to discuss and process those events. Most recently, she has provided counseling to adolescents experiencing depression, anxiety, ADHD, grief and trauma/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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Nikki utilizes a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approach to treat a variety of diagnoses and is currently accepting new patients ages 10 to adult.
Kari Kahl, MS, CMHC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
I completed my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. I was hired right after graduation at my intern site, Chestnut Ridge Counseling Services, Inc, as an outpatient therapist. Sometime later I was offered a position as the Preston County Drug Court and Community Corrections Therapist where I provided mental health therapy as well as substance abuse therapy. I then provided clinical and administrative supervision to my staff at the Morgantown office of Wellspring Family Services as the Site Director and carried a caseload of clients providing therapy. I am currently working here at PSIMED as a Therapist. I look forward to helping many clients here as well as learning and growing as an individual.
I have many interests in the mental health field and thrive on educational opportunities. I enjoy researching evidence-based literature and case studies to meet the needs of our ever-changing society.
I have a wide scope of experience providing individual, family and group therapy, in a variety of settings including outpatient, in home, non-profits, and structured outpatient programs within the Supreme Court. I have a broad range of clinical experience working with individuals, family, and groups across the life span in the following areas:
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Depression and Bipolar Disorder
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Anxiety Disorders
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Behavioral and Discipline Challenges
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Self-Harm Behavioral
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Complicated Grief Reactions
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Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness
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Anger and Stress Management
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Trauma and Abuse
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Family and Relationship Issues
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Suicide Assessment and Risk Reduction
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Group Psychotherapy
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Chronic Mental Illness
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Couple’s Conflict
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Self-Image and Self-Esteem Issues
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Addictive Behaviors and Substance Use Issues
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Criminal thinking and Behaviors
I provide counseling in the following areas: Psychoeducation, Trauma Interventions, Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Substance Abuse Therapy, Reality Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, etc.
I strive to be the best me that I can be!! – Kari Kahl
John Spraggins, MSW, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker
John graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work in 1975 and a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 1977. He is a Licensed Certified Social Worker. His professional interest include work with adolescents, adults, and couples. He specializes in treating substance abuse disorders, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. John is a generalist practitioner, and draws from a variety of methods to create a tailored approach for each individual. As a therapist, he is warm, open, encouraging, combining experiences, education, and a sense of humor with a down to earth approach to counseling.
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Mr. Spraggins over 41 years of experience as a Social Worker. Prior to joining PSIMED Inc in 2017, he served over 21 years as a Senior Program Administrator/Counselor at the Carruth Center at West Virginia University. He has worked in a variety of settings over the years providing counseling services: inpatient programs; in Employee Assistance; outpatient services; volunteer and board member of Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center; school social worker; currently co-facilitator of a support group at Suncrest United Methodist Church.
Jawad Zafar, DO
Psychiatrist
Dr. Jawad Zafar graduated form WVSOM in 2014, and completed his residency training in psychiatry at West Virginia University School of Medicine Dept of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry in 2018. Dr Zafar served as a chief resident at WVU Dept of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry in 2017-2018 and is currently in private practice in Beckley WV. He is licensed in CA, MI, AL, NJ, WV; providing services through Tele-health in the outpatient clinics, EDs, and prisons. Dr Zafar is also the recipient of SRT grant by state of WV for treatment of Opioid dependence patients.