Meet Our Licensed Therapists
Amanda Grizzard, LPC, LMFT
Chesapeake Office
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Amanda Grizzard is the founder and executive director of Restorer of Broken Walls counseling services. Amanda has worked in the mental health field since graduating with her Master’s degree in counseling from Regent University in 1992. Amanda is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She enjoys time with family and is an enthusiastic sports fan. Amanda believes transparency and vulnerability are the keys to successful relationships and advocates grace and forgiveness to overcome barriers. You will often hear her say “I love what I do.” Amanda specializes in working with couples, individuals, and adolescents. Amanda utilizes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) a short-term, goal-oriented therapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change patterns of thinking or behavior that are behind people’s difficulties, and so change the way they feel.
Areas of Expertise
- Marital Issues
- Parent/Child Conflicts
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self-Esteem Problems
Melissa Caldwell, LCSW
Chesapeake and Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Melissa graduated from Norfolk State University with a Masters in Social Work. She enjoys assisting clients in finding peace, strength, and victory in their personal life stories. Melissa has over 20 years of experience working in the human services/social work field to include the following areas – victims of domestic violence, batterer’s intervention, substance abuse, child protective services, families in crisis, at risk youth and co-parenting education/support.
Areas of Expertise
Family Mission
It is Melissa’s desire to assist families in overcoming the challenges of this modern-day world to a thriving and purposeful life. Some of the challenges families experience include substance abuse, domestic violence, infidelity, grief, divorce/separation, technology and co-parenting. Overcoming these challenges to thrive can effectively be done in individual, couples, co-parent, or family counseling.
Children and Youth
Our children and youth face an increasing number of difficulties in the home, school, and community. These difficulties can then manifest into oppositional behavior, depression, anxiety, and hyperactivity. Melissa assists our young people and their parents/caregivers in exploring, identifying, and addressing all possible contributing factors. Then work together to integrate positive cognitive patterns and behavior management techniques to cope and heal.
Anger and Stress Management
Not effectively managing your anger and stress can lead to physical health problems, difficulties in interpersonal relationships and at times an inability to complete daily tasks. Melissa enjoys assisting individuals in exploring the underlying beliefs associated with that anger and stress to help them alleviate and break free from negative patterns and increase their ability to manage everyday life.
Christian Counseling
This is a possible option for those interested in utilizing their Christian faith in the therapy process. Melissa’s foundation for incorporating faith comes from 2 Corinthians 10: 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Melissa has found success in assisting clients with using biblical truths to overcome mental health issues, heal, restore relationships, and establish healthy coping skills.
Dana Johnston, LCSW
Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Dana graduated from Hollins University with BA in Psychology in 1996 and from Norfolk State University in 2000 with a Masters in Social Work. She is an avid runner, with additional work history as a certified personal trainer. Dana and her family are Virginia Beach natives, music enthusiasts, and love all things sports.
Therapy is a process and one that requires a team approach between client and therapist. As a counselor, Dana works with you as a guide and a coach. She believes in addressing all aspects of self: emotional, relational, spiritual, intellectual, and physical.
Areas of Expertise
Adults and Couples
Life and relationships can be hard and you were not intended to navigate it all alone. Areas of focus include, but are not limited to life transitions, depression, anxiety, parenting, military life, infidelity, pornography, and trauma.
Children and Teens
“Nobody understands” does not have to ring true! With over 18 years of working with youth and having children of her own, she understands the challenges facing today’s youth and their parents.
Grief
The experience of loss mimics the ocean’s waves. Some days, the waves seem to be crashing and it’s hard to stand, and other days you can enjoy the lapping presence of the tide! Grief work is not about letting go, but rather how to find joy in life again while upholding the memories and value of the one departed.
Christian Counseling
Although not a requirement, Christian counseling is offered for those desiring to integrate their faith into their treatment.
Donnelle J. Riccio, LPC, NCMHC, CCTP, Art Therapist
Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Professional Counselor
National Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Art Therapist
Donnelle Riccio completed her Master of Science Degree in Art Therapy and Counseling from Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1996. She has been Licensed as a Professional Counselor since 1998. As a Licensed Professional Counselor with a specialty in Art Therapy, Donnelle is trained in clinical, verbal psychotherapy combined with or without the utilization of art, in the therapy process.
Donnelle specializes in children as young as four, adolescents and young adults. She provides each client with a caring, nurturing therapeutic environment as she utilizes Individual and Family therapy to assist them in their healing, growth and development. Donnelle supports and refers clients to other forms of treatment such as group therapy, psychological testing or medication consult when deemed appropriate. Donnelle believes in the family systems and empowerment approaches to therapy.
Areas of Expertise
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Children/Adolescents experiencing divorce, sexual abuse, trauma, grief, behavioral disorders, self-esteem problems, mood disorders, and family deterioration
- Parenting Challenges
- Military-Related Family Stressors
It is Donnelle’s philosophy that it is her role to guide and support children and families on a journey to emotional healing and optimal wellness. Children, adolescents and families need healthy coping skills to function within this difficult and ever changing world.
Merlin Swartzentruber, LPC
Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Professional Counselor
Merlin Swartzentruber is a Licensed Professional Counselor with extensive experience helping, adults, adolescents and children with social, emotional, behavioral, and spiritual concerns. He provides Individual, Couples, and Family Therapy.
Merlin’s approach is client-centered and strength based and he works diligently to help clients find the best they have within themselves. He believes strongly in the value of human life and in the quality of that life. He holds the firm conviction that any person who truly desires it can make a positive change at any point in life.
With experience in public and private community based agencies, non-profit and private practice, 20 years in Public Safety as a 911 Dispatcher, EMT, and Police Chaplain, and more than 20 years as a pastor, Merlin brings a wealth of counseling and life experience.
Areas of Expertise
- Christian counseling
- Parenting
- Behavioral issues
- Marital counseling
- Pre-marital counseling
- Children and Adolescents
- Men’s Issues
- Grief and Loss
- Anger Management
- Public Safety Personnel
- Depression
- Anxiety
Susan Wilson, LPC
Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Professional Counselor
Ms. Wilson completed her Master of Science degree in Counseling from Old Dominion University and she completed a post-graduate certificate program in Family Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She is trained in individual, group and family psychotherapy; she believes that building a supportive therapeutic environment, building positive rapport and nurturing change as it occurs is crucial to the therapeutic process. Ms. Wilson believes in the inherent strengths of those with whom she works and strives to help them identify and build on these strengths. She takes a family systems approach in working with children and their parents and works from a structural family therapy perspective when developing treatment strategies with the family. Ms. Wilson appreciates the unique strengths and challenges faced by each member of our military families.
Ms. Wilson is trained in EMDR and play therapy and has a great deal of experience in working with children and families who have issues regarding trauma, attachment, bonding and relationship issues. She has over 25 years of experience in working in residential and day treatment settings with children, adolescents and their families.
Ms. Wilson is an approved LPC clinical supervisor and has provided clinical supervision for many graduate residents from Eastern Virginia Medical School Art Therapy program, Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University, Regent University, South University and Capella University. She has lectured and presented on topics related to parenting, child development, co-parenting, divorce, grief, stress and anxiety.
Ms. Wilson believes in treating the whole person and has experience in consulting with area schools and other community services that may assist in supporting an individual’s growth and personal development.
“We can learn something new anytime we believe we can” – Virginia Satir
Areas of Expertise
She specializes in working with children as young as four through adolescence who are experiencing:
- ADHD
- Trauma, Attachment, Bonding, and Relationship Issues
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Anxiety and Mood Disorders
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Child Abuse/Neglect
- Parenting
- Co-parenting and developing strong co-parenting plans in order to benefit the child is a core principle.
Lisa M. Willard, LPC
Chesapeake and Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Professional Counselor
Welcome! Since you have found yourself on this page, you most likely have already been considering that you need changes in your life. And yet, you may not know where to start, are feeling stuck, or possibly scared and anxious. Actually, it is the most natural thing to resist change because we can all get scared or anxious about the unknowns. Mary Shelley, author of “Frankenstein” once wrote, “Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.” Fortunately, any person can learn to cope with fear and anxiety about change. In therapy you establish goals to become more confident, improve your self-esteem, and believe in yourself! When you have decided to make an appointment to talk to a therapist, keep in mind that you only need to be willing to change, even if you don’t feel ready. You most likely will not yet know HOW or even WHAT to change, but that’s what we’ll figure out together! After all, we are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.
Areas of Expertise
Survivors of Abuse, Women’s Issues, Relationships and Family
Life’s not just about surviving, it’s about thriving. It’s also about recovery, healing, coping and truly living. Whether it’s childhood abuse, domestic violence, verbal or emotional battering, physical or sexual abuse, or assault, it will continue to affect a person in daily life. Only with deliberate recovery and healing process will the affected person finally realize her or his potential in life. Let’s talk about living in the present, your physical and mental well-being, closeness in relationships, forgiveness of yourself, letting go and the enjoyment of your life!
Mood and Anxiety Disorders, Bipolar Disorder and Eating Disorders
Many of my specialty areas are interrelated and it is common for people to come to therapy with multiple areas to work out. Fortunately, we can address multiple areas together. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a very successful way to address multiple mental health conditions. Albert Einstein once said, “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”
Other special counseling and therapies
Also ask me about my experience working with stress management, communication, military issues – including deployment or reintegration, ADHD, Trichotillomania and PSP.
Melanee Castillo, LPC, NCC
Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Professional Counselor
National Certified Counselor
Melanee Castillo, LPC, NCC is a retired 20 year Navy veteran who provides treatment to individuals and families for mental and emotional health issues. She believes a person must be aware to effect change and seeks to assist individuals in identifying those unhealthy thoughts, feelings, and patterns of behavior. Melanee meets the client where they are using theoretical orientations from Person-Centered, Strengths Based, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She specializes in working with young children and adults working through resistance and building resiliency.
Areas of Expertise
- Anger Management
- Domestic Violence
- Trauma and Abuse
- Child behavior modification and ADHD
- Anxiety and Depression
Sheryll L. Green, LPC
Virginia Beach Office
Licensed Professional Counselor
Sheryll is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has worked as a Social Worker for over 25 years in the arena of Child Welfare (foster care, adoption, and family stabilization). She has group work experience, in the same arena and has also taught Student Development classes at Tidewater Community College. Sheryll graduated from Liberty University in 2015 with a MA in Professional Counseling and her work in the field of Mental Health began the same year. She submits and adheres to the standards of the American Counseling Associations Code of Ethics as well as the standards of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She believes in doing work from a strengths-based perspective and will focus on your strengths in the therapeutic process. Most of her work is centered in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, however, she considers herself an eclectic practitioner and tries to meet clients where they are and will therefore employ various techniques to assist clients in being successful and reaching their therapeutic goals. Sheryll also engages the whole person in her work and believes it is important to pay attention to spirit as well as mind and body. She looks forward to working with you and helping you make changes that will impact your life and well-being.
Taryn O’Shea, LCSW
Chesapeake Office
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Taryn O’Shea is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has over ten years of experience working with families struggling to manage stress as well as cope with anxiety trauma and grief. Taryn loves working with the whole family and values the individual and family strengths each person brings into the therapy room. She understands life can sometimes feel like too much to handle and prides herself on understanding each person’s experience is special and unique.
Taryn enjoys working with all ages, individuals, couples, and diverse family systems. Additionally, she has expertise with maternal mental health. Welcoming a new baby can be as stressful as it is rewarding. She also plans to receive a certification in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C).
Taryn loves what she does and enjoys getting to know people in all walks of life. She has a relational strength-based approach and works to provide a safe empathetic space.