The Cascade Group
Phone: (540) 951-4800
Fax: (540) 951-3081
Email: thecascadegroup@outlook.com
Bonita Brigman, Ph.D., LPC, LMFT
During my Masters training I made the decision to pursue a career as a therapist because I wanted to work with people to improve their everyday lives. It is far too easy for any of us to get stuck in a difficult place in life. We want our relationships to be happier. We want to do well at school or work. We need support when the tasks of life such as choosing the right partner, raising children or caring for an aging parent becomes overwhelming. We grieve when we are faced with loss and change. We may become depressed or anxious trying to figure out which choice is best for us in life. I enjoy working with clients to meet these challenges.
Dr. Brigman is co-founder of The Cascade Group. She is a native of Martinsville, Virginia and first attended Virginia Tech in 1970. She obtained her M.A. in Sociology from East Carolina University with a specialty in Behavioral Marital Therapy in 1982. She returned to Virginia Tech for her doctoral studies in Marriage and Family Therapy which she completed in 1986. Dr. Brigman worked at St. Albans Carilion Psychiatric Hospital in Radford, Virginia as a Family Therapist and an Eating Disorder Specialist for ten years while working in private practice. She established The Cascade Group in the Fall of 2002 with her husband and colleague, Joseph McVoy. Dr. Brigman is a Clinical Member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She is currently writing a text entitled, Child Onset Eating Disorders: The Work of Hilde Bruch and Children.
Dr. Brigman enjoys outdoor activities, travel, music, movies, and time with her family.
Her expertise is in the following areas:
- Anxiety
- Depression and mood disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Grief counseling
- Individual, Couple, and Family Therapy
- Postpartum depression
- Women's Issues including working with women
in graduate school.
Charlotte A. Perdue, LCSW
Looking back on my life, it is hard to imagine how and why I arrived at this place in my life. My journey is an example of what one can achieve with an Associate's degree in mental health from Virginia Western Community College. In 2006, I received my Bachelors of Social Work from Radford University and was accepted into an Advanced Standing track. In May of 2007, I received my Masters of Social Work from Radford University. My dream was to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, which is typically achievable in 2-3 years. Little did I know that this goal would take me 13 years to complete.
During my journey, I often came close to giving up, however I persevered. Eventually, I achieved what I set out to accomplish and became a LCSW. As a result of my endeavors, I now work to support others who wish to overcome obstacles in their lives that are holding them back from their own goals. It is a passion of mine to help clients understand that these obstacles do not need to prevent them from seeing their goals. It is a passion of mine to help clients understand that these obstacles do not need to prevent them from seeing their goals come to fruition. Whether it be depression, anxiety, grief, trauma or something that is unable to be categorized, I am here to walk with you through this journey.
Areas of specialty for Charlotte include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Individual and family therapy
- PTSD
- Adolescents/College students
- Trauma
- Adults
- Grief
My most beloved roles in my life are being a mother and grandmother. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren and attending their athletic events.
Heather Jenkins, LCSW
I am from a very rural town in Western Virginia, and growing up always appreciated the sense of community there. There was also a lack of healthcare in the immediate area, and mental health care was virtually non-existent. I always knew that I wanted a career in the “helping professions”, I wanted to be a part of helping my community and those like it. Initially, I was interested in pursuing a career in medicine. After obtaining my bachelor’s degree, I learned that I had a passion for helping individuals in the mental health field, and also recognized the need not only in our state but nationwide for qualified professionals and advocates. I shifted my focus and obtained my master’s degree in social work from Radford University in 2014. I spent the next three months travelling the United States with two of my best friends and gained perspective on people and culture. I had planned to relocate to the Savannah, GA area, but landed in Blacksburg instead. I married my husband in 2017, and we have an incredible daughter.
My career has been very diverse. I have worked in the inpatient setting at a large trauma center and hospital, providing care to all units in the hospital and a wide range of patients of all ages. I spent some time providing mental health care to older adults and the geriatric population at an assisted living, and then shifted to providing mental health support services to adults in the Roanoke area. Prior to obtaining my master’s degree, I was working with adults, children, and families providing both mental health support services and intensive in-home services. I spent two years of that time working as a school social worker in the Roanoke County school system. Since 2014, my career has involved providing crisis services, intensive in-home services, case management, and outpatient services to children and adolescents in the New River Valley.
Mikayla Tittsworth, MS, Resident in Counseling
Resident in Counseling with License #0704016185
I was thirteen years old when I first encountered therapy. I appeared weekly to support my mom in going to her appointments when a provider noticed a need. Untraditional as it may seem, the provider asked if I would be interested in joining my mom and began including me in sessions until I transitioned to individual sessions. All it took was one provider looking deeper, deciding she could not ignore the brave-faced little girl with the world's weight on her shoulders. With her support and guidance, I was able to rewrite my story. I was able to break free of codependency and begin developing my own identity apart from the More importantly, I realized what a true honor it is to guide someone in uncovering the strengths and tools that they have possessed all along.
I grew up in the small town of Abingdon, Virginia, and attended Emory & Henry College. I had a front-row seat to the lack of mental health resources in rural areas. I also worked as an in-home aid for a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I fell in love with behavior therapy and skill-building. When I moved to Radford, Virginia to attend Radford University for graduate school, I applied for a job with New River Valley Community Services working with clients diagnosed with Intellectual Disability and/or developmental disorders. Throughout my graduate school program, I worked with adolescents and young adults. I have yet to find a
population that I am not interested in working with, as I find it to be a privilege to be a part of anyone’s story. I cannot pinpoint one singular modality of therapy that I align with strictly; I utilize much of my ideals from narrative therapy and solution-focused approaches. In my free time, I like to read, walk my dogs, and read some more. I am excited to work alongside you as I complete my Residency at The Cascade Group!
My areas of specialty and interest include but are not limited to:
- Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Adolescents and Young Adults
- Individual, Couple, and Family Therapy
- Depression and Mood Disorders
- Gender and Sexuality
- ADHD
Administrative Staff
Sophie
Senior Office Administrator
Bethany
Front Desk Administrator
Corryn
Front Desk Administrator
Gail
Assistant Accountant
Joseph McVoy, Ph.D., LPC
I entered this field, in my thirties, as a client and not as a therapist, because I was disappointed with the help that I had received. Although my counselor was very supportive, he offered no direct guidance as to how to carry out the change that I needed. This frustration led me to explore the possibility of going into the counseling field. It seemed overwhelming to even consider at that time. Thankfully, I left my old career and entered graduate school. As a result of my own experience, I now see myself as having the responsibility to both motivate you and provide you with the tools necessary to accomplish your goals. At the same time, I am also the source of encouragement and support as you face the uncertainty of change.
Dr. McVoy is a co-founder of The Cascade Group. A native of Pensacola, Florida, he obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Kenyon College. He returned to college in his thirties to obtain his M.S. in Family Therapy and Child Development from East Carolina University. Subsequently, Dr. McVoy came to Blacksburg in 1985 to obtain his Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy. His interest in the causes and effects of being overweight led him to research adolescent obesity as his dissertation topic.
The New River Valley appealed to Dr. McVoy so much that he remained in the area once his doctoral education had concluded. He initially worked as St. Albans Psychiatric Hospital where he developed a family therapy program. At St. Albans, Dr. Mcvoy became interested in eating disorders and initiated an eating disorders treatment program. This interest in Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa led him to present to other professionals throughout the United States on eating disorder and obesity issues.
Dr. McVoy left his hospital affiliation in 1996 to concentrate on working in private practice. This led to the establishment of The Cascade Group in 2002.
Over the past 25 years, Dr. McVoy has developed specialized knowledge in a number of areas:
- Testing for attention-deficit disorder
- Anxiety
- Depression and Mood Disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Eating related Disorders
- Relationship Issues
Rebecca Hope, LCSW
I grew up in Buffalo, NY but have never enjoyed the cold and snow! That is the reason I ended up in Southwest Virginia. I completed my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at the State University of New York at Geneseo and after I graduated, I moved to Massachusetts for several years to get some great experience working in a behavioral treatment center for children and adolescents. Massachusetts was still too cold so when I decided to apply to graduate school, I applied to universities in the south only! I chose to attend the Master of Social Work program at Radford University and graduated in 2003.
I began working at New River Valley Community Services as an in-home clinician with children, adolescents, and families. For the past six years, I have served as a school-based clinician in a Montgomery County elementary school, working intensely with children with various mental health and behavioral issues. I have a special interest in grief counseling, trauma, and attachment disorders and really enjoy using play therapy to help children express things that they might not be able to put into words.
My husband and I have two young boys, a cat, and a dog, all of whom keep us very busy! I enjoy traveling, shopping, spending time with friends and family, and reading.
Sandy Kay, LPC
Growing up in South Jersey near "Philly" I was so excited for the offer to attend James Madison University as a student/D1 athlete. Virginia is a perfect fit for me and I have moved further southwest since my JMU days. I continued my education and career in Va, eventually becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). I am excited to be joining the Cascade Group in Blacksburg.
Many years of working in the mental health field I honed my skills with all age groups to include: hospital settings, K-12 schools, and college counseling centers.
My expertise and interests are:
- Collaborating with you to figure out your short term and long term goals
- Supporting you when you are ready for taking new risks by providing the evidenced based tools that are essential
- Providing strategies for managing emotions and thoughts related to anxiety, depression, transitions, and milestones
- Helping you to navigate your life by identifying your strengths and enhancing your
coping skills
Crystallyn Heron, LCSW
“The willingness to show up changes us, it makes us a little braver each time.”
-Brené Brown
When I began my career in the mental health field in 2007, I wanted to encourage others to embrace their authentic selves while maintaining a healthy curiosity about their current lives, emotional selves, and the unknown. I began my career working with adolescents and their families in psychiatric treatment facilities and group homes. During that time, I observed the impact of cultivating a therapeutic relationship with my clients and watching as they learned to lean into their own resilience. Inspired by my experiences, I felt motivated to pursue my Masters in Social Work at Appalachian State University in 2012, with the goal of decreasing social stigma around mental health within rural communities. Shortly after graduating with my MSW, I moved from my rural home in Deep Gap, NC to the Portland, OR metro. During that time, I specialized in providing case management, counseling, and support at a 170-unit senior, independent living facility. Although I absolutely loved this position, my husband and I decided to move back to Southwest Virginia in 2016, so that we could live closer to our families.
My jobs at the local Community Services Board since returning to Virginia have been diverse. I have provided support to adults with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, completed clinical assessments for adults and adolescents, facilitated group therapy, and provided individual outpatient therapy.
My areas of expertise and interests include:
- Supporting individuals as they process and navigate life transitions
- Providing space and support for individuals engaging in grief/trauma work
- Collaborating with individuals to identify short and long-term life goals
- Introducing individuals to distress tolerance and emotional regulation coping skills to help them cope with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
- Utilizing mindfulness and expressive arts informed practices
In my free time I enjoy gardening (especially historic irises), excitedly greeting every cat I meet, and spending time with my husband, our 3 adorable cats, and our sweet rescue dog.
Courtney Brooks, M.Ed., Resident in Counseling
Resident in Counseling with License #0704016062
I grew up in a small rural town in Southwest Virginia. I knew about mental health services the majority of my life because my mother and aunt both worked in the field. Becoming a young professional in this field has led me to become far more aware of the ways in which I want to help people of all expressions and walks of life, particularly in a rural area. Becoming a client in this field has led me to form a strong sense of compassion for people who struggle with any range of therapeutic needs.
In undergraduate school I studied Psychology and Religion, then moved on to attend Virginia Tech University’s Counselor Education program for my masters. While in graduate school, I had opportunities for a wide range of exposure in the field, including work in a residential home and internships both in a school setting and with couples, families, and individuals in a private setting. These experiences were pivotal in my journey to becoming the emerging professional that I am today. I utilize experiential family therapy, a relation-cultural lens, and a sprinkle of Gestalt; I like to adapt my approach to the needs of my clients. In my free time, I love to read and spend quality time with my fiancé, my friends, and my dog. I am excited to join The Cascade Group for my residency experience and I eagerly await the opportunity to work with you!
I work with adolescents (14+), and young adults, and adults. Specific areas of interest and specialty include, but are not limited to:
- Depression, Grief, Anxiety, Mood Disorders
- Couples therapy
- LGBTQ+ issues
- Mindfulness-based practices
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Gender and sexuality
- Race and culture
Our Staff
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Clinical Fellow, awarded 1987
