Our Clinicians
Sarah Wells, M.D., D.F.A.P.A.
Psychiatrist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Wells is a psychiatrist who enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults. Primarily, she provides medication management, and she believes it is important to focus on healthy lifestyle habits and other ways to maximize one’s mental health, as part of treatment. Dr. Wells sees patients at The Pisgah Institute but also works in a variety of other settings. She is a consulting psychiatrist at the University of North Carolina — Asheville Student Health and Counseling Services, Asheville Academy for Girls, and SUWS of the Carolinas. Her passion is teaching medical students and residents. She is on the faculty at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She serves as the associate program director for the new Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Psychiatry Residency program. Dr. Wells completed her training at University of North Carolina Hospitals. She is board certified in adult psychiatry as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. Dr. Wells is the current President and shareholder of The Pisgah Institute. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking in our beautiful mountains, as well as traveling to and experiencing new places.
Mary Berg, M.D.
Psychiatrist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Berg is a psychiatrist who has been practicing general adult and geriatric psychiatry at The Pisgah Institute since 1999. Her clinical interests include evaluation and medication management of a broad range of adult mental-health disorders. She also administers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy for major depressive disorder. Dr. Berg obtained her undergraduate degree at Duke University and attended East Carolina University School of Medicine for medical school and psychiatry residency. She has worked at the Copestone Psychiatric unit and administered ECT treatments in the past. Dr. Berg is a shareholder at The Pisgah Institute, serving as Vice-President and in a leadership and practice-management role. Her personal areas of interest include medical missions, travel, and ballroom dancing.
Susan Hill, Ed.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Hill is a psychologist who began her practice in the public-school system and college counseling centers. She continues to work with children, age six years and older, and has added adults to her therapy and testing practice. Individual and family therapy along with psychological and psycho-educational testing are Dr. Hill’s areas of interest. Her focus is psycho-dynamic theory with an eye towards development throughout the life span. Mindfulness, hypnosis, and spirituality also inform her work. She completed her training at Rutgers University in New Jersey in counseling psychology and moved to Western North Carolina. Dr. Hill is a shareholder at The Pisgah Institute. In her spare time, Dr. Hill enjoys long walks out in nature, live musical and theatrical performances, and playing with her spoiled cats.
Danielle Mitchener, M.S.N., A.N.P., P.M.H.N.P
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Not accepting new patients
Mrs. Mitchener is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who joined The Pisgah Institute in 2008. Mrs. Mitchener enjoys working in multiple settings including a psychiatric crisis center as well as a substance-abuse and eating disorder inpatient and outpatient facility. She also sees adult patients at The Pisgah Institute. She treats a variety of psychiatric conditions including depression, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, trauma, bipolar disorder, substance-use disorders, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders. Mrs. Mitchener attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergraduate and graduate education. Prior to moving to Asheville, she worked at Duke University Medical Center in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit and as a Neurology Research Coordinator. Mrs. Mitchener has become a shareholder at The Pisgah Institute in 2018, serving in a leadership and practice management role. When not working, she enjoys many of the great Asheville restaurants, yoga, hip hop dance, and spending time with friends and family.
Bill Barley, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Barley is a clinical psychologist with four decades of experience in cognitive-behavior therapy for diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, body-centered repetitive behavior disorders, and mood and depressive disorders. He graduated from Texas Tech University’s doctoral program in clinical psychology in 1980. He was a staff psychologist at Highland Hospital in Asheville till 1993. Dr. Barley is a founding member of The Pisgah Institute and current shareholder of the practice. He is twice past president of the Western North Carolina Psychological Association and is past president, long-time editor of the association’s newsletter, and member of the board of directors of the North Carolina Psychological Association. Dr. Barley has several publications and has made many presentations to professional audiences in his areas of practice. Occasionally he is told he resembles Stephen Spielberg, which his wife says he does, “vaguely.”
Nancy McKeel, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
As a psychologist, Dr. McKeel works with adult men and women ages 45 and older using a variety of perspectives and interventions as appropriate for the client’s needs and goals. She strives to maintain a whole-person perspective, understanding that body, mind, emotions, and spirit all interact in the healing process. Dr. McKeel came into psychology by way of nursing. She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia. She worked as a registered nurse in public health, neonatology, and psychiatry/mental health. She earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Georgia State University and completed an internship at George Washington University Medical Center and a post-doctoral program in behavioral medicine at the University of Utah Medical Center. She has worked in group private practice as a psychotherapist since 1983. She moved to the North Carolina mountains in fulfillment of a lifelong dream in 1994 and joined The Pisgah Institute at that time.
Doug McKee, Psy.D.
Psychologist - Accepting new patients for therapy
Dr. McKee is a psychologist who is dedicated to helping his clients work through their issues. He sees adults of all ages and children over the age of six years. Dr. McKee sees each of his clients as a unique individual and therefore tailor makes his treatment plan accordingly. He is a Master Addiction Counselor and treats people with depression, anxiety, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder, and relationship issues that include romantic relationship problems and child-rearing problems. His style of therapy involves coaching techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy, experiential therapy, gestalt therapy, and family-systems approaches. He has worked in a variety of settings and has taught at two universities. He has been licensed as a psychologist in three states and is past president of the Western North Carolina Psychological Association. Dr. McKee is dedicated to his profession and wants to bring out the best in his clients. He has worked in the field of psychology for over 30 years.
Adam Hutchins, M.S.N., P.M.H.N.P.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - Accepting new patients for medication management
Mr. Hutchins works with adolescent and adult patients with an array of mental-health and substance-abuse problems. He has seen patients in multiple settings including acute inpatient psychiatric crisis center, therapeutic boarding school for adolescents with autism, as well as residential and outpatient eating-disorder programs. Mr. Hutchins now sees patients full-time at The Pisgah Institute. Areas of particular interest include substance abuse, neuro-developmental disorders, thought disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders. He completed his Bachelor’s of Science degree in nursing at Winston-Salem State University and his Master’s of Science degree in psychiatric nursing at the University of South Alabama. He has worked in a variety of settings in the past as a case manager, psychiatric registered nurse, and nurse manager prior to coming to The Pisgah Institute. Mr. Hutchins came to western North Carolina in 1999 after living previously in Louisiana and Florida. He currently lives in a rural setting with his family. Mr. Hutchins enjoys spending time with his children, gardening, hiking, raising goats and poultry, as well as cooking and foraging for wild foods.
Adena Altschul, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Altschul is a psychologist who adopts a strengths-based, whole-body approach to mental-health treatment and believes that the mind and body have an amazing capacity to heal with the right support and guidance. Dr. Altschul combines psycho-education, mindfulness training, as well as creative and narrative therapies to support adolescents, adults, and couples struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, addictive behaviors, communication, and codependency issues. In addition, Dr. Altschul co-leads Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills-training groups offered at The Pisgah Institute. She completed her training in Charlottesville, Virginia at the University of Virginia’s Curry programs in clinical and school psychology. She began her practice in the County of Los Angeles providing crisis intervention and intensive outpatient mental-health services to high-risk adolescents. Since then she has worked in a variety of settings treating diagnostically complicated adolescents and adults who have experienced significant trauma histories and have also struggled with addictions, self-harming behaviors, depression, and dissociation. In her spare time, Dr. Altschul loves exploring various creative endeavors, reading, and planning new adventures.
Dorcas "Cassie" Miller, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Accepting new patients for therapy
In her private practice, Dr. Miller specializes in treating individuals with issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as chronic medical conditions, sexual identity, end-of-life concerns, substance abuse, and trauma. Dr. Miller is a psychologist who retired after 30 years at the Department of Public Safety working with female offenders and correctional staff. She has served as a mental-health Red Cross volunteer and has provided critical incident debriefings for first responders and correctional personnel. She started her undergraduate studies at Indiana University and completed her graduate work at North Carolina State University. Dr. Miller uses cognitive-behavioral interventions and believes that individuals cope best by having physical, mental, and spiritual strategies to balance their lives. In her spare time she enjoys nature walks, attending live theater performances, learning piano, and singing in community chorus.
Nicholas K. Ladd, D.O.
Psychiatrist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Ladd is a psychiatrist who sees individuals across the spectrum of life but focuses on children and adolescents. In his work at The Pisgah Institute he teaches psychiatry residents from the new Mountain Area Health Education Center psychiatry residency program, where they work with children and adolescents. At The Pisgah Institute, he also sees private patients of all ages and mental-health challenges with particular interest in first-episode psychosis/mania, autism, intellectual disability, and PTSD. Dr. Ladd is dually board certified in general psychiatry as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, attended medical school at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed his residency and fellowship at Wake Forest Baptist Health. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, hiking, and cooking.
Parks Harper, P.A.
Physician Assistant - Not accepting new patients
Ms. Harper enjoys helping adolescents and adults with many types of mental health issues to reach their highest potential. She currently sees patients at The Pisgah Institute for medication management services and works with students at University of North Carolina Asheville. Ms. Harper previously worked with patients at an acute inpatient psychiatric facility for crisis stabilization. She completed her Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies at Wake Forest School of Medicine after graduating with highest honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming to The Pisgah Institute, Ms. Harper worked in family practice and in ear, nose, and throat specialty practice. She loves reading, the natural world, learning about other cultures, and time with her friends.
Katelin Double, Psy.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Double earned her doctorate in clinical psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary and completed her undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Cortland. She comes to the Pisgah Institute after having completing a post-doctoral fellowship where she focused on the provision of psychotherapy and assessment services. Dr. Double completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina. She has experience working with homeless people, child-trafficking victims, and other individuals impacted by trauma, including military-sexual and combat-related trauma and campus sexual violence, with people who suffer from phobias and addiction, and with individuals who have severe and persistent mental illness. Having worked in integrated- healthcare settings, she is able to explore with patients the impact of medical conditions on mental health. She brings a wealth of knowledge on the integration of psychology and theology and can attend to patients’ mental-health-related spiritual concerns. Dr. Double also provides neuropsychological, academic, personality, and career assessments.
Leif Johnson, M.S.N., P.M.H.N.P.
Nurse Practitioner - Not accepting new patients
Mr. Johnson has been a psychiatric nurse practitioner for 15 years and in that time has worked with kids, teens, adults, and the elderly, in settings as varied as nursing homes, the VA hospital, and child residential-treatment units. He is particularly enthusiastic about working with people who, regardless of their age or diagnoses, enter treatment with an eagerness for change. Mr. Johnson’s own life story has included many distinct chapters, living in San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Seattle, Santa Fe, Boston (where he attended graduate school), and Asheville. Prior to entering medicine, Mr. Johnson spent his 20s and early 30s as a freelance illustrator and animator, winning awards and working for clients such as Microsoft and The New York Times. Now relatively settled in his life, Mr. Johnson shares his Swannanoa home with his family, which includes one son, two large hound dogs, and a rotating cast of neighborhood bears.
Paige Frankfurt, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Frankfurt is a clinical psychologist who began her practice in the Veterans Health Administration. She works exclusively with individuals ages 18 to 75 as well as with caregivers to those living with chronic illnesses. Dr. Frankfurt focuses on evidence-based individual psychotherapy for those living with a variety of mental-health concerns including mood disorders (depression and bipolar disorder), anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety, panic, and phobias), post-traumatic stress disorder (including sexual trauma of military personnel and civilians), and other trauma-related psychological injuries. She has a particular interest in grief, women’s issues, post-partum-related matters, and relationship issues, and she also provides behavioral-health services to assist with insomnia, smoking cessation, hypertension, and weight loss. She understands that there is no “one size fits all” approach to treatment, and she uses an eclectic approach, mainly humanistic and cognitive-behavioral. She was trained at the University of Memphis in Tennessee, in clinical psychology with a focus on behavioral health. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with her family and dogs, and being outside.
Kari Taylor-Evans, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Taylor-Evans has over 20 years of experience in the mental-health field. She is a holistic practitioner who integrates mind–body–spirit interventions to stimulate organic healing with adults. She completed her doctoral training at the State University of New York at Albany in counseling psychology. She has worked in multiple settings including the Veterans Administration, private medical centers, and college counseling centers. She specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a wide variety of traumas, as well as mood and personality disorders. She is trained in Somatic Experiencing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotional Intelligence, Soul Embodiment, and other trauma-treatment interventions. She is currently co-facilitating DBT skills-training groups at The Pisgah Institute. She loves waterfalls, crystals, bubbling brooks, chocolate, hiking, kundalini yoga, collaging, and engaging in ceremonies that promote her own development and growth.
John Donkervoet, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. John Donkervoet received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Rhode Island in 1994 with an internship at the Medical University of South Carolina. His professional education and training was heavily grounded in strong clinical practice work with children, adolescents, and adults. John began his career working with families utilizing the Multi-Systemic Therapy model. He was recruited to Hawaii in 1996 to serve as the Clinical Director for the Hawaii Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division. Subsequently, he became a Director of Psychology and Clinical Therapies at a private psychiatric facility on the island of Oahu. During this time, John provided treatment to youth with delinquency issues and their families, geriatric populations, individuals with substance abuse issues, as well as a variety of inpatient psychiatric child, adolescent, adult, and forensic populations. John has had a thriving private practice in Hawaii for nine years. John brings 25 years of experience working with adolescents, adults and families with complex challenges. His practice currently specializes in work with individuals with personality disorders as part of a comprehensive Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) program. John returned to the mainland (how islanders refer to the United States) from Hawaii to be closer to family, realizing his long term goal of living in the mountains so he can hike, bike, and canoe as often as possible.
Neal Jones, Psy.D.
Psychologist - Accepting new patients for therapy
Dr. Jones is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience. He earned his B.A. from Wake Forest University and his Psy.D. from Baylor University. He sees therapy as an invitation to explore how one’s past informs one’s present, how one’s internal life (thoughts, emotions, and aspirations) influences one’s external life (job, family, and friendships), and how one’s perception shapes one’s reality. He works with adults who are facing relationship difficulties, life transitions, losses, past or recent traumas, questions of meaning and purpose, end-of-life decisions, depression, and anxiety. He also works with couples to help them communicate with more understanding and empathy and to develop a more respectful, nurturing, trusting, and trustworthy relationship. Rather than relying on a single technique or perspective, he draws on various clinical approaches based on the unique personalities and circumstances of the client. In his spare time, Dr. Jones enjoys reading, watching movies, and live theater, hiking, and traveling.
Erin Morrison, D.O.
Psychiatrist - Accepting new patients for medication management (25 and younger)
Dr. Morrison is a psychiatrist at the Pisgah Institute who works with children and adolescents as well as young adults. She completed her undergraduate training in Chemistry, Art and Design from North Carolina State University, Medical School from Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, her Residency in Adult Psychiatry in New Orleans at Louisiana State University – Ochsner Clinic New Orleans, Louisiana and her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training at Washington University in Saint Louis, Missouri. She enjoys working with children, age 5 years and above through young adulthood. Her areas of interest include psychotropic medication management of mood and anxiety disorders of childhood and adulthood, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorders, attention-deficit disorders and impulse control disorders of childhood, psychotic disorders and eating disorders of childhood, adolescence and young adulthood. She uses Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy inspired treatment approaches as well to help approach treatment to mental ailments. In addition to psychiatry, she enjoys fine art, film and true crime books and podcasts.
Michael Poggioli, Psy.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Poggioli is a psychologist who takes an empowerment philosophy towards mind and body wellness. He combines evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral, acceptance and commitment, and dialectical behavioral therapies to treat depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief in adults and older adults. Dr. Poggioli has a passion for helping individuals and their caregivers live meaningful lives while coping with chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and dementia. He is a nationally trained whole health coach who provides behavioral-health services for chronic-pain management, insomnia, tobacco cessation, and weight loss. Dr. Poggioli recently completed his post-doctoral fellowship in health psychology at the Salem VA Hospital in Salem, Virginia, and his pre-doctoral internship at the Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville. He earned his doctorate focusing on health psychology across the lifespan at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, Dr. Poggioli provides pre-surgical, cognitive, and personality assessments. In his spare time, he loves photography, hiking through the mountains with his dog, and sipping coffee on the porch with his two cats.
Mackenzie Muldowney, M.A., L.C.M.H.C.A.
Clinical Mental Health Counselor - Accepting new patients for therapy
Mrs. Muldowney is a licensed clinical mental health counseling associate and nationally certified counselor who provides individual psychotherapy for a variety of adolescents’ and adults’ concerns. Mrs. Muldowney has been with The Pisgah Institute since 2017, first in an administrative role and now as a clinician. She completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Montreat College, where she was a member of Chi Sigma Iota, the International Counseling Honor Society. She completed her graduate internship at The Pisgah Institute. Mrs. Muldowney believes that every person can thrive with the right tools and that our unique challenges can serve as catalysts for change. Her treatment approach is person centered and trauma informed and is based in cognitive-behavioral therapies including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, an evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD. In her free time, Mrs. Muldowney enjoys hiking, waterfall hunting, and watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Samantha Isakson Lyerly, Ph.D.
Psychologist - Not accepting new patients
Dr. Isakson Lyerly treats children, adolescents, and adults. She began her practice in the public school systems, state hospitals, and residential-treatment programs. She integrates several therapeutic approaches to individualize care, which may include cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy, and person-centered treatment. Attachment theory, internal family systems, and positive psychology also inform her work. Dr. Isakson Lyerly also offers a range of assessments, including psychoeducational, neurodevelopmental, and personality testing. She completed her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University and her Specialist in School Psychology degree from Western Carolina University. In her spare time, she enjoys being with family and friends in nature, listening to and performing music, running, and cycling.
LeAna Norman, B.A.
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
LeAna Norman, B.A. is a clinical psychology doctoral student at Fielding Graduate University. Ms. Norman completed her undergraduate degree in psychology from Coastal Carolina University. She is specializing in social- justice and forensic psychology. Ms. Norman is currently a lead researcher in a qualitative laboratory that focuses on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people’s quality of life. She is trained in cognitive-behavior therapy and is interested in working with people with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and gender identity. Ms. Norman has several hobbies, including cooking, traveling, and on occasion, watching reality TV.
Wheeler Heck, B.S.N., R.N.
Registered Nurse
Wheeler received his BSN from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He has worked as an inpatient nurse on a psychiatric unit at the University of Utah, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Ogden Regional Hospital, and Mission Hospital (Copestone). He has worked as an outpatient nurse for two years starting at the Bowen Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is currently obtaining his doctorate degree from Rush University to become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. His current work at The Pisgah Institute has him interacting with patients in a variety of ways, including direct care.
Kelly R. Hermann, M.B.A., C.M.P.E.
Practice Manager
Kelly R. Hermann, M.B.A., is the practice manager for The Pisgah Institute for Psychotherapy and Education, P.A., in Asheville, N.C. She works alongside the shareholders using her leadership and entrepreneurial skills to promote a business model that supports longevity and patient-centric care for the practice. Mrs. Hermann is responsible for business operations, public relations, human resources, and patient satisfaction. Her expertise, perspective, and patience allow her to help guide the largest behavioral health practice in Western North Carolina through the ever-changing landscape of modern healthcare. Mrs. Hermann holds a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on healthcare administration from Western Carolina University and is a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the Western North Carolina Medical Managers Association. She enjoys helping others realize their potential and spending her free time with her family and enjoys science fiction and fantasy pop culture.
Good Faith Estimate Notice
The No Surprises Act (NSA) requires that health care providers supply an estimate for the expected cost/charges to uninsured or self-pay individuals for services. • You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental...
Mindfulness for Stress Management
A Wellness Group Wednesdays at 5pm via Zoom *Starting early November 2021* Mindfulness is a skill that can be useful to anyone. It can help build and bolster coping skills that can be applied in many different ways. If you find yourself struggling with negative mood,...
Welcome! Michael Poggioli, Psy.D. & Erin Morrison, D.O.
We are happy to welcome Michael Poggioli, Psy.D. & Erin Morrison, D.O. to the Pisgah team! Dr. Poggioli is a psychologist who takes an empowerment philosophy towards mind and body wellness. He combines evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral,...
Update your 2022 Insurance Information
Although we are not able to see you in the office, we still need current insurance information and a copy of your insurance card to file your visits to your insurance provider. If you need assistance completing the following form, please call the office.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Remote Therapy Session
Remote sessions are not the same thing as what happens when we meet in person. They are also not the same as a typical phone conversation or SKYPE or FaceTime calls you have with friends and family. Listed below are some guidelines for how to get the most benefit from...