Mark Carpenter - Director; Licensed Professional Counselor; Mental Health Service Provider

     Mark is the president of the The Lighthouse Counseling Center.  He is a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider certification.  Mark has been counseling since 1994.  He has a Bachelors degree from Covenant College and a Masters degree in Professional Counseling from the Psychological Studies Institute.  He is a licensed minister and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the Christian Association of Psychological Studies.  Mark and his wife, Debbie, have a daughter, Amanda.  His interests are in Marriage and Family Therapy, Adult Counseling, Spiritual Direction, and Life Coaching.

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Dowdy Layne - Licensed Professional Counselor; Mental Health Service Provider

     Dowdy uses her spiritual and professional gifts as she assists clients to grow in Christ as they solve their problems. Her goal is to integrate psychology and theology to deal with the whole person (physical, psychological, and spiritual) utilizing her training and experience while relying on God’s Word and prayer. 

     Dowdy believes that there is a partnership between the client and the counselor and she recognizes God as the third party in the counseling relationship working together to obtain healing and wholeness for wounded spirits.

     Dowdy is a member of The American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC). Her pratice includes counseling for: Individuals, Marital, Pre-marital and Families. Her counseling areas of focus include but not limited to: Marital Issues, Anxiety, Depression, Women’s issues, Abuse Recovery, Codependency Recovery, Phase of Life Adjustments, Couple Communication, Spiritual Issues, and Conflict Resolution.

Darlene Karst - Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental health Service Provider

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     Darlene has been a counselor for over 3 years now. Her areas of specialty are adolescents, sexual addictions, sexual abuse; marital therapy, sex therapy, and life issues. Currently, Darlene serves as an adjunct professor at Southern Adventist University where she teaches in the Psychology department. Darlene also teaches marriage enrichment classes for First Things First.

     Darlene's undergraduate work was done through the University of South Africa where she is originally from. She completed her Master's of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy in July of 2006. She received her License in Professional Counseling in February of 2010. In her life she has lived on 3 different continents and done many different things. People top her list of favorite things!

Arianne Brigner - Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy; Resident Counselor

Arianne has been a Therapist for 4 years. She recieved a M.S. in Marriage & Family Therapy in May of 2005. She also recieved a B.S. in Psychology in May of 2002, and an A.S. in Science in May of 2000. Arianne is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the American Counseling Association.

Arianne provides a full range of therapeutic services to children, adolescents, and families. She has specialized training in playtherapy, grief therapy, and family therapy. She has been trained to work with ages 4 and up. Arianne is married and enjoys spending time with her husband and their two dogs. 

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Jessica Moore - Licensed Professional Counselor; Mental Health Service Provider

Jessica Moore is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Mental Health Service Provider. She recieved her M.S. in Counseling from Lee University in 2003. She also recieved a B.S. in Social Work from UTC in 2001.

Jessica has specialized training in play therapy, and works with children ages 4 years old and up. Her areas of counseling include: individual, family, marriage, child, and adolsecent counseling. Jessica is married and enjoys spending time with her husband and her son. 

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Wayne Williams - Licensed Professional Counselor; Mental Health Service Provider

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     C. Wayne Williams is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Tennessee and Georgia.  He also is a Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) and Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) in Tennessee.  Wayne received his Master’s of Education degree from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was the counseling program Graduate Student of the Year in 1999.  He has been extensively involved in emergent and crisis response mental health services (CRT) for over 10 years.  He has training in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and is also a trained Spiritual Director.  He has served as past President of the Chattanooga Chapter and as past Southeast Regional Director of CAPS, International (Christian Association for Psychological Studies).

     Wayne has been in pastoral ministry for over 29 years, serving churches in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama as Senior Pastor and as Minister of Youth and/or Worship.  He has a particular love for ministers and their families.

     Wayne has been married for 34 years to his wife, Donna.  They have four grown children and eight extremely beautiful and intelligent grandchildren!

Chris Rogers - Master's of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy; Resident Counselor

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     Christopher T. Rogers has a Master's of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Addictions Counseling from Richmont Graduate University (Formerly PSI- Psychological Studies Institute). Chris recieved his Bachelor's of Arts degree in Bible and Theology from Lee University.

Chris is a Licensed Pastor with the Association of Vineyard Churches

 "Having training in both psychology and theology I have a passion to help people bridge the gap between emotional pain and spiritual frustration. I see and appreciate the many connections and relationships between how life and experience can hurt and challenge us in a spectrum linking both sides of every person. I see the therapy I desire to offer as an opportunity to join people on their journey towards health and wholeness."

Dr. David Cavin - MA; MS; M.Dir.; D.Min.; LMFT

• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
• Ordained Bishop, Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee
• Retied Army Chaplain, Lt. Col.
• Clinical Member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapist
• Clinical Member, Tennessee Association for Marriage and Family Therapist
• Owner/Director, Agape Counseling Service 1984—2002
• Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Valley Psychiatric Hospital 1984—1988
• Marriage and Family Therapist, Green Leaf Psychiatric Hospital, Adolescent Unit, 1985—2000
• Adjunct Faculty, Psychology Department 2002—2003
• Adjunct Faculty, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Sociology Department, 1993—2003
• Marriage and Family Therapist, Chattanooga Bible Institute/PSI, 1993—2005

Noelle Schwantes - LPC, MHSP, NCC

Noelle Schwantes is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider and Nationally Certified Counselor. Her specialty training includes experiential techniques, rapid trauma resolution, and she has experience working with chemical dependence, sexual addiction, codependency, and eating disorders. She is passionate about helping people heal, espcially in areas they never thought possible. She believes that nothing is too traumatic to have healed especially when incorporating the support and power of a spiritual life. 

Amber Crigger - MA, Resident Counselor

Amber Crigger is a 2010 graduate of Richmont Graduate University. Amber received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Lee University in 2004. She is currently pursuing licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist.

Amber has been providing low-fee services to individuals, couples, and adolescents at our center since May 2009. She has received specialized training in sex therapy and can address a range of issues including, but not limited to, sexual abuse and same-sex attraction. Amber enjoys working with people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. 

Wally Hindman - BS, BA, Counseling Intern 

Wally Hindman is currently attending Richmont Graduate University and will earn his Master of Arts in Professional Counseling in May of 2011. Wally is available to see clients at a very low fee. 

Wally has worked for over 30 years in Information Technology Management and is currently the General Manager of a Chattanooga based IT Company. He is a student/intern at Richmont Graduate University and has served as an Elder at City Church of Chattanooga for over 25 years. 

Wally enjoys helping people work through issues from a relational perspective, and looks forward to combining his natural gifts in this area with the training he is receiving at Richmont to help others live their lives in a productive and satisfying manner. 

He has been married to his wife Pam for 30 years and they have three grown children. 

Chris Waters - LPC, MHSP, NCC

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Chris Waters has over thirty years professional experience in financial, business, pastoral, family and individual counseling and consultation.  He possesses a Bachelor degree in Theatre Arts and Business Administration from Rider University, a Masters of Arts degree in Psychology and Professional Counseling, from Psychological Studies Institute, will complete an MBA in Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship from Regent University May 2009, and is a certified budget and business counselor.

From 1977 to 2000 Chris worked in the fields of real estate development and sales, financial management and investments, retail management and sales, and business consultation. As a pastor and minister, Chris has counseled individuals and families.  In 1998, he co-founded Journeys to the Heart, Inc., a ministry dedicated to addressing relational problems through small group interaction.  One of his primary responsibilities has been developing small group curriculum and training small group facilitators.  Regarding finance and business, Chris has counseled individuals and families in the area of Biblical Stewardship, financial planning, and budgeting.  He has also trained lay financial counselors, and has consulted with individuals who are interested in starting a business or address ongoing business growth issues.

 Chris’ areas of concentration are: Pre-marriage education and counseling, couples distress, family mediation/resolution, detachment and relational trust issues, grief/trauma, anxiety, depression, sexual addictions, all areas of financial matters, understanding investing, and coaching.

Dr. Bill Dwyer - MD: Family Systems Therapist

 Dr. Bill Dwyer, MD has completed 5 years of post-graduate work in family systems therapy. Dr. Dwyer does family systems therapy for individuals, couples, and families.