School Based Team

Our In-school services are convenient for both children and families because counseling is provided during the school day. School-based counseling allows families better access to the counselors and resources available to them. Our school based counselors have a presence throughout Anderson District 1, including elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

Inquire About Our School Based Program

If your child is a current student at Anderson District 1 and would like for one of our counselors to provide services, please reach out to your child's school counselor or teacher to learn more. You can also speak with our Intake Coordinator, Susan Elter at susan@carolinafamily.org or (864) 283-0637, ext. 200.

Complete Our Intake Paperwork for School Based Services

If you are interested in receiving services for your child or family, please complete our intake packet (links below) and return it to your child’s teacher OR you may complete a referral on our website.

Make a referral for School Based Services

New Patient Paperwork for School Based Services (English)

New Patient Paperwork for School Based Services (Español)

Jessica Cruz

Jonnett Barrick, MA, LPC
School Based Therapist

Jonnett received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University. Jonnett has a passion for working with adoptive families, whether it be pre- or post-adoption. Helping families to navigate this wonderful, but also difficult, transition hits close to home as she has two adopted children herself. Jonnett also loves to work with children and families that are currently receiving services from DSS; family reunification is always the goal at the heart of Jonnett’s practice, but when this is not possible, Jonnett strives to help the children/families deal with this disappointment.

Jonnett lived in Ethiopia for 8 years and was very impacted by the lack of mental health services available to the community. Now that she is living back in the States, she is passionate about helping all people receive access to mental health care. In her free time, Jonnett loves to spend time with her husband, three children, and her dog named Blue. Blue is actually in the process of being trained to be a therapy dog so that Blue can also work with Jonnett’s clients, however, Blue likes to just jump on people and give kisses so she has a lot of work to do! Jonnett also loves to travel, read and sleep.

Jonnett closely identifies with Jessica Cruz, Green Lantern/Limelight, because Jonnett also suffered from crippling anxiety in her college years. Jonnett learned the value of spending time focusing on her mental health so that her superpowers could benefit not only her, but her family and the community.

wonder-woman-4

Stephanie Smith, MSW, LMSW
School Based Therapist

Stephanie is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and received her Bachelors degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, in Interdisciplinary Studies of Psychology, Sociology and Criminal Justice. She received her Masters degree also from the University of South Carolina, Columbia in Social Work.

Stephanie has a background experience working with children and adolescents in a school setting who have difficulties with various issues including anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, trauma related disorders, Grief and ASD. She also utilizes different therapeutic methods, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, play techniques and art techniques. She has completed all required trainings to implement Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Triple P Parenting.

Stephanie was born and raised in Greenville, SC. When she is not working she can be found attending or watching all Gamecock sports. She is an avid college football games and attend all games in the fall. She enjoys spending time with her family and her dog Bud. Stephanie loves creativity and doing arts and crafts.

Black Widow

Brianna Spearman, Ed.S, LPCA
School Based Therapist

Brianna is an LPC-A (Licensed Professional Counselor- Associate) and received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Carolina, and her Ed.S. in Counseling Education with a focus of Clinical Mental Health from the University of South Carolina. Brianna has lived in the upstate her whole life, aside from her six years in Columbia.

Brianna enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults. Her specialties include anxiety, depression, anger issues, adjustment disorder, and trauma. Brianna uses primarily a person-centered approach with her clients, but brings in aspects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Play therapy.

In her spare time Brianna likes to hang out with her two cats, Luci, and Jack, and enjoys sculpting and working with clay! Brianna is interested in traveling, arts-and-crafts, and exploring new things! Brianna loves listening to all genres of music and finding new bands to go see!

If Brianna were any superhero, she would be Black Widow as Black Widow is always learning from her past to help her change and excel in the future. Like Black Widow, Brianna is always on the lookout for new things to learn and how to improve herself and work.

spiderman

Wayne Owens, MA, LPCA
School Based Therapist

Wayne is a Licensed Profressional Counselor Associate (LPCA) and graduated with his master’s degree from Concordia University in the Spring of 2019. Wayne has worked with children of all ages and has a passion for helping those who have experienced traumatic events. Wayne has experience seeing clients with depression, anxiety, grief, trauma/abuse, ADHD, anger management, ODD/conduct disorders, substance abuse disorders, and adjustment disorders.

Over the years, he was learned skills, such as crisis de-escalation, self-regulation in high stress environments as well as helping the clients learn coping skills of their own. Wayne also learned to train others in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI). TCI is a crisis management program developed for use in congregate care by Cornell University.

If Wayne were to be a superhero, he would be Spiderman. Spiderman seeks to help others and use his powers to protect those around him. He also has some amazing abilities such as his “spidey sense.” As a counselor you learn to use your senses to guide clients so that you can help them interpret the effects of their trauma and mental illness. Wayne also connects with Peter Parker as he has also been through many traumatic events in his lifetime, yet he strives to continue moving forward and assisting others. As Uncle Ben said, “with great power comes great responsibility.”

Rachel Grey

Kylie Allison, CTRS, MA, LPCA
Outpatient Therapist/School-Based Therapist

Kylie Smith Allison’s role at Carolina Family Services is an outpatient and school-based therapist. Kylie attended Georgia Southern University where she studied Recreational Therapy and minored in nutrition. She has the credentials of Certified Therapeutic Recreational Specialist. This career path along with other life experiences, led her into pursuing mental health counseling. She attended Colorado Christian University and will use Christian counseling with clients when requested. She has a passion to assist clients in overcoming anxiety, depression, trauma, and domestic violence abuse. Her goal is to become a certified brainspotting therapist and use this to benefit clients in overcoming their past trauma. Kylie uses play therapy for kids, CBT, DBT, supportive therapy, and basic skills of mindfulness in her work.

Kylie is from Milledgeville, Georgia and came to South Carolina in January 2021 after living in Nashville, TN for 4 years. She is married to her husband, Josh, who is a Clemson alumni and has adopted them as a favorite team along with the Atlanta Falcons & Braves. Her prize possessions include her 2 dogs: Benjen and Stella! She plans to officially have her golden retriever become a therapy dog to use in her sessions. In her free time, you will find her listening to Taylor Swift, walking the dogs, exercising, drinking lattes, and traveling to new places! Her favorite quote is "It is not whether you get knocked down, it whether you get up.” from Vince Lombardi.

If Kylie was a superhero, she would be Spider-Man because she loves how he took his grief of losing his uncle and turned it into a positive outlook by helping others with his spider web flying power. Spider-Man is also a nostalgic feeling because she grew up watching the OG movies with Tobey McGuire in the early 2000s.

Scarlett Witch

Alexis Jenkins
School-Based Therapist

Alexis obtained her bachelor’s in Psychology and Bachelors in Sociology from Fairmont State University in Fairmont, West Virginia. She received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and her Education Specialist degree from Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina. She is currently working on obtaining her LPC-A (Licensed Professional Counselor- Associate).

Alexis has a passion for working with children, adolescents, and families with anxiety, depression, developmental delays, trauma, and behavioral and emotional challenges. She has had experience working in private practice and outpatient settings. Alexis uses an integrative approach that consists of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Play Therapy. She is there to support her clients and help them navigate any obstacles that come their way.

Alexis is originally from a small town in West Virginia, and she really enjoys exploring new places. In her free time, you can catch her at a local coffee shop or take her pup Leo on walks. She also loves adventures and spending time with her friends and family.

If Alexis could any superhero, she would be Scarlett Witch (Wanda Maximoff). Alexis admires the resiliency and compassion that Scarlett Witch portrays as she uses her strength and powers to protect her people.

Batgirl.png

Katherine Loaiza, MA, LMFT-A
Outpatient Therapist

Katherine received her bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in English Literature at the University of Rutgers-Newark. However she realized that she really enjoyed working with people and pursued a Masters in Marriage, Families and Couples Counseling from Messiah University in Pennsylvania. Katherine is an LMFT-Associate and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).

Katherine has a background in working with children and families and providing services in English and Spanish. She was born in Colombia and loves connecting with families from different cultures. Her theoretical background relies heavily on solution focused brief therapy (SFBT), motivational interviewing (MI) and emotion focused therapy (EFT). Katherine believes in the power of attachment theory, especially as it affects those experiencing trauma. She has a strong interest in working with multigenerational conflicts within families and creating stronger family bonds.

On the weekends, Katherine loves to volunteer as a Sunday school teacher and spend time in nature. Katherine moved from New Jersey to the beautiful state of South Carolina in 2023. If she had to choose a superhero, she would choose Batman as Batman doesn’t need superpowers to fight evil and it makes him one of the most courageous superhero’s of all time.