Meet Our Professionals

Dr. Jessy Nwuba DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Dr. Jessy Nwuba is a dual board-certified nurse practitioner with more than 15 years of combined experience in psychiatric and primary health care. She is dedicated to advancing mental health services in Colonial Heights, Virginia, through evidence-based and patient-centered care.

Her academic journey began at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, Nigeria, where she earned an associate degree in nursing, followed by a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She graduated with distinction with a master’s degree in public health from Northumbria University in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. Dr. Nwuba later completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee, and pursued post-master’s certification in psychiatric mental health nursing at Herzing University.

As the owner of Balance Behavioral Health, Dr. Nwuba emphasizes collaboration and open communication, working closely with patients to develop individualized treatment plans. Her clinical expertise includes managing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She is committed to a holistic approach that integrates both psychiatric and primary care principles, supporting long-term wellness and recovery.

Dr. Nwuba welcomes new patients and invites you to take the next step toward balanced mental health. Schedule a consultation online or contact the office today.

Linda Noronha, LPC

Linda Noronha is a Licensed Professional Counselor and LPC Supervisor dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families move through life’s challenges with clarity, resilience, and renewed hope. She brings a warm, client-centered approach to therapy, believing that every person deserves compassionate, individualized care that meets them exactly where they are.

Linda draws from a diverse and evidence-based toolkit, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness-based practices, trauma-informed care, Person-Centered Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. This flexible, integrative approach allows her to tailor treatment to the unique needs, goals, and pace of each client rather than applying a one-size-fits-all model.

She has particular experience and passion for supporting individuals navigating bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, and PTSD, as well as those working through relationship challenges, family dynamics, grief, senior life transitions, and other major life changes. Linda’s practice extends to individual, couples, family, and group therapy, offering a comprehensive range of support for clients at every stage of their journey.

Beyond her direct clinical work, Linda is passionate about strengthening the mental health field as a whole. As an LPC Supervisor, she trains and mentors emerging clinicians, helping to shape the next generation of thoughtful, skilled mental health professionals.

Linda believes that meaningful change is possible for everyone, and she is honored to walk alongside her clients as they build the tools, insight, and confidence needed to thrive. She offers both in-person and virtual therapy options to fit each client’s needs and lifestyle.

Keshia Stephens, FNP-C, PMHNP

Keshia Stephens is a board-certified Family and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C, PMHNP) bringing a whole-person approach to mental health care at JC Health Group. Her clinical foundation as an FNP gives her a grounded, medically-informed lens on how physical and emotional health intertwine — insight she draws on daily in treating working professionals who often keep their struggles hidden behind competence and routine. She has spent her career building spaces where people who feel overlooked — whether by the demands of their careers or the weight of what they’re carrying privately — can be seen, heard, and treated with dignity. She brings that same commitment to JC Health Group: meeting high-functioning individuals where they are, and helping them find sustainable paths toward mental wellness. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, trying new recipes, and reading.

Ann Diem, LMFT

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I am warm, empathetic, and eclectic, dedicated to supporting individuals through healing and growth. I offer a safe, supportive space where you can explore, grow, and heal at your own pace. I support adults and couples facing challenges of anxiety, depression, emotion regulation, grief, relationship challenges, and life transitions such as motherhood, adulthood, and aging. I practice from an integrative, client-centered framework that allows me to adapt to each person’s developmental stage, emotional capacity, and lived experience.

*Aging comes with serious side effects. I specialize in mental health challenges associated with the aging process. Navigating your own experience with aging, or caring for others, creates issues that easily dominate life and cause significant distress. I work with those facing personal aging and health issues, as well as care partners, and those in the “sandwich generation”. I am experienced with cognitive decline, dementia, and issues facing family members and caregivers. I bring to this work enriched life experiences, providing perspective, compassion, and empathy.

Working from an emotion-focused, humanistic, and existential lens, I am a partner for my clients as they face some of the most challenging moments of their lives. My goal is to help clients process past and present experiences. Together we learn to manage stress, anxiety, and depression, and create meaning that will give their life “wholeness.” I believe that healing begins with a deeper connection to ourselves. I offer a space that invites warmth, compassion, and non-judgment. I honor that each person’s experience is unique, and I see therapy as a collaborative process. My role is to support clients in turning into their own inner wisdom, building self-trust, and finding new ways of relating to themselves and the world around them.

Ross Knode LPC

Ross Knode is a Licensed Professional Counselor. He has specialized play therapy training through the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Ross specializes in working with children of all ages (including adolescents) and has worked with children as young as 18 months. Ross also works with the parents every week, helping them understand why their child is acting the ways they are and then empowering them with skills and knowledge so they can help their children at home.

Ross’s focus is increasing the emotional connection between the parent and the child, no matter how old the child is. Ross believes the stronger the bond between the child and parent the more emotionally resilient the child becomes. Along with several play therapy modalities, Ross uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Attachment Based Therapy, and Emotional Behavioral Therapy in his sessions. Ross also works with court-ordered Parent/Child Counseling and Parent Reunification Therapy.

Dr. Laura Beiler LPC, PhD

Laura Beiler is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a doctorate in Psychology, with an emphasis in cognition and instruction. Laura began her journey in counseling when on a whim decided to pursue psychology and went on to earn her BS in Psychology from Virginia Tech in 2008. Shortly thereafter she enrolled into University of Phoenix, and earned her Masters in Psychology. She then chose Liberty University to obtain her MA in Professional Counseling in 2014. From there she attended Grand Canyon University and earned my PhD in Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction in February 2020. Her dissertation focused on Facebook addiction indicators and their relationship with conflict management styles and communication skills in college students.

Along the way Laura has served in various roles for different counseling and mental health programs. Her first job in the counseling field was working with the local WIC offices, providing education and support to new mothers. Over the next 12 years Laura has since worked in various capacities for mental health skill building, psychosocial rehabilitation programs, and private counseling. Her roles included training facilitator, assistant director, and resident in counseling. Laura began private practice in 2020 upon earning her license. She is currently enrolled in a life coaching certification program and hopes to extend this service to her clients soon.

Ashley Lawson LPC

Ashley Lawson is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been in the mental health field for over 13 years. Ashley has an extensive history supporting individuals with severe mental illness and developmental disabilities. She was the former Chief Operating Officer of a large organization and oversaw the delivery of services of 9 homes and 5 day programs for individuals diagnosed with a developmental disability and/or severe mental illness. Ashley’s knowledge of community support and her experiences as a licensed counselor allow her to provide support to a diverse range of individuals.

Ashley works with children, adolescents, adults, and the geriatric population. Ashley also enjoys working with couples to resolves problems of all kinds and with women struggling with fertility issues. Ashley views her techniques as eclectic and person-centered. She often provides support “outside the box” while utilizing sound therapeutic practices. Techniques most used are derived from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Humanistic Therapy, Existential Therapy, Reality Therapy, and Creative Therapy. Ashley is down-to-earth and incorporates humor in the therapy session.

Natalie Cowan LCSW

Natalie Cowan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who enjoys working with adults, adolescents, couples and families. Whether she is working with you individually, or together as a couple or family, Natalie has a real passion for helping others regain their self-esteem, confidence and inner joy. She specializes in helping individuals with issues such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, adjusting to new and difficult situations, personality issues, trauma, mood disorders and relationship issues. Working with Natalie often includes assessing your unique strengths and abilities, as well as helping you develop new skills to grow and flourish.

Natalie obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Natalie approaches counseling from the perspective that each individual has his or her own unique worth and an ability to move forward and thrive with hope, encouragement and determination. She practices a strengths-based, person-centered approach to explore an individual’s past and present issues in a compassionate and accepting, yet directive manner. Natalie primarily utilizes traditional cognitive-behavioral, dialectical behavioral, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapies, and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She is also trained in the Gottman Method of Family Therapy (Gottman Level 1), and is EMDR-trained.

Susan Whiteside LCSW

Susan Whiteside is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) whose background includes work in both the mental health and healthcare arenas. She now works with adolescents and adults both individually and in groups to help them address the symptoms and issues that are causing them distress. These issues include anxiety, depression, new diagnoses, work/stress/burnout, grief, caregiver support, healthcare transitions, and more. Susan uses compassionate listening and humor to help clients see things from a different perspective and gain insight into their behaviors and feelings.

Susan’s experience includes work with individuals and groups as a social worker and case manager in outpatient, day treatment and partial hospital settings. She has also worked with patients in Oncology, Hospice, Bereavement, Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation, and Women’s health settings to name a few.

Susan completed her undergraduate studies at Juniata College in Pennsylvania and her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She has been licensed to practice in Virginia since 1994. She has been active on various Boards and committees in the community over the years and has served as an Affiliate Field Instructor for MSW candidates for over 20 years.

Dr. Stephen V. Strunk Ph.D., LPC

Dr. Strunk is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a doctorate in Psychology. He divides his time between clinical practice, training, consulting, and life coaching. He brings to Balanced Behavioral Health and his patients more than 20 years of experience in the field. He would like the opportunity to put his skills in your service.

In his clinical practice, Dr. Strunk delivers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based treatments to adults, couples, and adolescent clients with a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and adjustment problems, such as anxiety, stress, depression, and relationship problems. He specializes in treating both short and long-term concerns. Steve sees his clients as unique individuals and he develops a treatment plan that is specific to their needs. Besides CBT, he utilizes a variety of concepts from other areas such as life coaching as well as techniques such as relaxation and mindfulness.

Olatunde Akinfolajimi PMHNP-BC

Olatunde Akinfolajimi, PMHNP-BC, is a dedicated and dual-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurse with over 15 years of comprehensive healthcare experience. He provides expert psychiatric care through Legacy Care and has served in crisis stabilization, conducting comprehensive evaluations, diagnosing mental health conditions, and developing personalized treatment plans.

For nearly a decade, Olatunde has been a cornerstone of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Home Based Primary Care program, where he case-manages veteran care, performs in-home assessments, and leads interdisciplinary initiatives to promote patient health and independence. His clinical foundation was built in high-acuity settings, including cardiology telemetry and progressive care, where he honed his skills in patient assessment, critical thinking, and nursing leadership.

Olatunde is committed to applying evidence-based practice to improve patient outcomes and enhance the delivery of compassionate, holistic care.

Feitima Washington PMHNP-BC

Feitima Washington is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who brings over a decade of nursing experience across acute care, critical care, and mental health settings. A graduate of the University of South Alabama, she has developed a strong foundation in advanced clinical practice, patient-centered care, and evidence-based mental health treatment.

Feitima is dedicated to providing compassionate, individualized care to clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, and mood disorders. She integrates psychotherapy, medication management, and holistic wellness strategies to promote emotional stability and long-term recovery.

Her professional approach emphasizes the connection between mind, body, and environment helping clients cultivate resilience, balance, and empowerment. Through her work, Feitima remains committed to reducing mental health stigma and expanding access to quality, culturally competent care for all individuals.