Our Staff and Board

Meredith Switzer, M.Ed.

Executive Director

meredith@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 108

Meredith has over 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit arena and has served in leadership capacities – either on staff, Board of Directors, or Advisory Council – for more than 15 regional nonprofits. She has dedicated her career to finding solutions to challenging community issues including food insecurity, access to mental health services, affordable quality childcare, public education, and housing and homelessness.

Meredith is a graduate of Leadership Asheville and Leadership North Carolina, and she has served on the WomanUP Committee for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. She was recognized as the Chamber’s “Outstanding Woman in Nonprofit Leadership” in January 2021 and received a COVID Humanitarian Award in October 2021 for her executive leadership at Homeward Bound of WNC during the pandemic.

She holds a B.A. in Broadcast Communications from UNC Chapel Hill and a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When not engaged in nonprofit work, she enjoys discovering a new hiking or running spot in the beautiful WNC mountains, spending time with friends, cheering on her children in their sporting endeavors (go Black Hawks!), and practically any activity that includes her husband and three sons.

Mary Waller

Development Director

mary@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 109

Mary brings creativity and professional diversity to her role as our Development Director. Her career experiences include working for large and small non-profit organizations in the capacity of fundraising, stakeholder relations, writing, event planning, and executing community education campaigns.

A native of Oklahoma, Mary was drawn to Asheville thanks to friends, family, and the nature-forward culture of North Carolina’s mountain communities. She has two adult daughters who live in Providence, Rhode Island, and Durango, Colorado. She loves hiking, reading historical fiction, coffee, gardens, and hopes to expand her nascent fly fishing skills.

Nicole Almeida

Director of Finance and Operations

nicole@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 104

Since joining the ASCC team in October 2019, Nicole has played a crucial role with her extensive experience in office management and leadership. Having also completed the Leadership Asheville program, Nicole demonstrates her commitment to continuous growth and professional development.

Nicole recently tied the knot with her husband Blair in the Summer of 2023, and together they have two kids. In her free time, she enjoys dancing and gardening. She is passionate about the work of ASCC and is dedicated to supporting its mission of providing mental health counseling for the uninsured and underinsured of our communities.

Adam Lewis, LCSW

Clinical Director

adam@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 102

Adam is a licensed therapist who joined All Souls Counseling Center in August 2023, bringing over 10 years of experience in mental healthcare. Adam holds an MSW from St. Louis University and specializes in DBT, EMDR, and somatic therapies, with a focus on supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Originally a pastry chef, Adam’s passion for mental health was sparked by volunteering at a suicide hotline, which led him to pursue a career in social work.

Outside of providing individual and group therapy, Adam enjoys gardening, hiking, baking, and singing with the Asheville Choral Society. Adam believes in meeting clients where they are, fostering a non-judgmental and compassionate approach to mental wellness.

Pam Penland

Clinical Manager

pam@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 101

Many would consider Pam the heart and soul of our counseling center. She has been with All Souls Counseling Center since its inception, shaping our organization’s growth and impact. Her legacy is so deeply woven into our mission that we established an annual award in her honor. “The Pam Penland Mental Health Champion Award” recognizes an individual’s tireless advocacy and commitment to improving mental health in our community.

Pam’s prior background is in psychiatric nursing where she worked in psychiatric inpatient settings and community mental health. She has officially worked for All Souls Counseling Center for twenty-plus years and remains dedicated to its mission. Pam is also a proud Grandma of two wonderful grandchildren and enjoys spending time with them as much as she can!

Rachel Potter

Community-Based Program Manager

rachel@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 114

Rachel joins us as our newest staff member, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her on our team. Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Community Health from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Originally from rural upstate New York, she has called the Asheville area home for the past 10 years. Rachel brings more than ten years of experience supporting and connecting disenfranchised individuals with essential services. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to quality, compassionate care, regardless of their circumstances. She is proud to be part of All Souls Counseling Center, whose longstanding commitment to reducing financial barriers to mental health care reflects her belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality services and support.

Outside of work, Rachel loves spending time with family, playing board and card games, reading, and enjoying the outdoors—especially swimming and tending to the garden. We are so excited to have you, Rachel!

Janet Shelton

Finance & Operations Manager 

janet@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 103

Janet joined our team in February 2024 and we are thrilled to have her join our family! Janet has over 20 years of experience working in the healthcare arena as an administrator and also runs her own bookkeeping business.

As an Asheville native, she loves to explore the brewery and restaurant scene, as well as enjoy the beautiful outdoors that surround our area. She is a proud cat-mom to two cats and is currently undergoing a 1972 Corvette restoration project in her free time!

Katie Walo

Outreach & Community Engagement Manager

katie@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 112

Katie started working at our center in May of 2026, and we are so thrilled she has joined our team. Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Katie obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Montana State University. She moved to Asheville in the fall of 2023 and has loved exploring the area and making connections in the community. Before joining ASCC, Katie worked for local nonprofit Homeward Bound as a Housing Specialist. She’s passionate about affordable and accessible social services for those who need it most, whether that’s housing, substance use recovery, or mental health care. 

In her free time, Katie loves to do anything active – hiking, going to the gym, and running! She loves spending time outdoors and discovering new places in Asheville. She also recently got engaged, so a lot of her time outside the office will be spent on wedding planning!

Ela Twigg

Donor Relations Coordinator

ela@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 113

Originally from West Virginia and Maryland, Ela has lived in Asheville since 2013 after spending time in places as varied as Maine, New Mexico, and Oregon. She brings a rich background in social services, healing arts, and fundraising—along with a BA in anthropology, graduate-level business studies, and extensive experience managing small businesses.

Ela was drawn to ASCC because of our mission to provide compassionate, accessible care to all, and she’s most excited to grow her skills in nonprofit development while supporting the expansion of our services. Outside of work, she’s a birdwatcher, gardener, language learner, and lover of local trails and eateries. She also serves on the board of Just Economics.

 

Shawna Ohle, LCMHC

Full-time Therapist

shawna@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369 ext. 105

Shawna earned her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2021 and is both a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. With a background that includes providing support to individuals impacted by incarceration and working with local domestic violence and reentry programs, Shawna brings a deep commitment to trauma-informed, person-centered care. She specializes in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and chronic stress, incorporating mindfulness, attachment theory, and acceptance and commitment therapy into her work.

Elizabeth Corbett, LCMHC

Part-time Therapist

elizabethc@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369

Elizabeth joins us as a new part-time therapist serving clients in Asheville and Burnsville. Before becoming a therapist, Elizabeth worked as a NICU and pediatric nurse for 20 years in Atlanta, where she witnessed firsthand the gap in mental health services for caregivers of children with complex medical needs—an experience that led her to this career. She now provides counseling for trauma/PTSD, grief and loss, anxiety, stress, and depression, with a recent focus on supporting WNC residents affected by Hurricane Helene. She works especially well with parents, caregivers, first responders, and veterans, and serves as writer-in-residence for Brothers and Sisters Like These, helping veterans explore their military experiences through creative writing. She is honored to join All Souls Counseling Center, whose mission of increasing access to quality mental health care in WNC resonates deeply with her.

Elizabeth grew up in Atlanta and earned degrees from the University of Georgia, Emory University, and Mercer University before moving to western North Carolina—a longtime dream. In her free time, she enjoys reading on her porch, spending time at the barn with her horse Hank, and traveling to visit her three adult children in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Georgia.

Elizabeth Likis, PhD, LCMHCS

Part-time Therapist

elizabethl@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369

Elizabeth joins us as one of ASCC’s new part-time therapists, available for our Swannanoa and Asheville clients. We’ve been lucky to have her on our team for a few years now as a contract therapist since January 2023! Elizabeth has been in the Asheville area for 30 years and brings a wealth of experience — from in-home and school-based therapy to running a university counseling clinic and teaching in graduate counseling programs at four universities. Her clinical work focuses on grief and loss, addiction and recovery, and trauma, approached through a humanistic and relational lens using modalities like Motivational Interviewing, DBT, and polyvagal theory. Raised to be community-minded, she’s always been drawn to providing care in community settings, which made All Souls a natural fit.

Outside of work, Elizabeth loves spending time with her dog and being outdoors — walking, biking, tennis, yoga, dancing to local music, and traveling, along with time with friends and family. We’re so glad to have Elizabeth continuing her work with ASCC in this new role!

Carolina Robles, LCSW

Part-time Therapist

Carolina@allsoulscounseling.org
828.259.3369

Carolina is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides therapy in both English and Spanish. She specializes in working with individuals experiencing domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, racial trauma, migration-related trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety. Carolina brings over eight years of clinical experience and is particularly passionate about supporting BIPOC communities. She integrates mindfulness, DBT, CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and attachment theory into her work.

Outside of her clinical work, Carolina enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and reading.

ASCC Board of Directors

Tommy Dennison

Board Chair

United Federal Credit Union

Mike Cortes

Treasurer

United Federal Credit Union

Peter Best

Leslie & Associates, Inc.

Rusty Edwards

First Bank

The Very Rev. Sarah Hurlbert

The Cathedral of All Souls

Kristin Scott

Capstone Health Alliance

Dean Shatley

Campbell Shatley, PLLC

Courtney Youngblood

WLOS/ MY40 TV

Morgan Bradley

AMY Wellness Foundation

Zach Levin

WNC Bridge Foundation

Tessa Scarborough

Vice Chair

Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC)

Holly Fisher

Secretary

Fisher Creative

Niki Duff

Western Carolina Medical Society

Laura Jones, Ph.D.

University of North Carolina – Asheville (UNCA)

Brandy Mills

Owner/Executive Coach of Brandy Mills Consulting

Chris Smith

Beverly-Grant, Inc.

Tracy Walker

DMJPS PLLC

Melissa Duong

First Horizon Bank

Michael Pesant

North Carolina Department of Commerce

Client Testimonials

[My counselor] has been a vital part of working my way out of a very difficult time in my life. She listened attentively, asked difficult questions that needed to be asked and with a sincere sense of compassion.

[My counselor] brought so much light to our marital issues. He helped us work through years of built up negativity. With his guidance, we were able to find our love and compassion for each other again.

I’ve noticed the changes in my personal life have gotten better and with the help of counseling I’m more happier and able to see growth.

I feel very safe talking with [my therapist]. She always listens to everything I need to say and responds with great empathy and understanding. She has helped me open up more and revisit things that I thought I had dealt with but in fact are still challenging my mental health more than I thought they were. We have been working very hard to get to the root of my problems instead of just fixing whats more visible on the surface.

My sessions with [my therapist] have really changed a lot for me. [She] is always knowledgeable, nonjudgemental, unbiased, and thoroughly insightful. I have never been happier with a therapist.

I'm so glad I found ASCC. I had been in therapy/counseling before, but it had become too expensive. It was important that I had a therapist and I have felt an improvement in my mental health.

I have come for both individual as well as couples therapy and I love the level of care I receive here. So thankful to have found you guys.

I am so glad to have found All Souls. I would not have been able to receive therapy otherwise!

[My counselor’s] calm accepting demeanor helped me feel comfortable and safe in discussing anything. Her suggestions were pivotal and realistic in helping me deal more successfully with my anxiety.

My experience here at All Souls has been so life changing. The amount of compassion and dedication I feel here is so comforting. I wasn’t sure I would ever get my mind and life back but I did and I’m so grateful for this place, I love it!

I am so thankful for ASCC. [My counselor] has been amazing to work with...it's been so helpful to be able to utilize this service and the much needed support I've been searching for. 

This place has been a literal life-saver. I have never felt more respected or understood by a counselor. Now that I’ve come here I can’t imagine what I’d do without this place.

ASCC has helped my partner and I have a better quality of life that we otherwise would not have been able to afford. Thank you.

[My counselor] is very likely saving my life. My gratitude has no measure. Thank you.