The Personal Wellness Center Staff
Our Mission: We provide a MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT approach to wellness
Our Vision: A healthier and happier community
Our Values: We serve everyone with EXCELLENCE, INTEGRITY and RESPECT.
Veronica Correa, LCSW-C, Owner and Clinical Director
Veronica is a licensed certified social worker – clinical, life coach, and certified hypnotherapist. Veronica earned her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and she holds a license as a certified, clinical social worker from the Maryland State Board of Social Work Examiners. Veronica has 18 years of counseling experience, her work focuses on providing guidance for people to break through physical and emotional pain and inspiring them to make healthy choices and to achieve their dreams. Veronica uses innovative, alternative approaches, such as clinical hypnosis, Reiki and energy therapy, as well as traditional counseling. Her approaches have proved to be a good complement to modern medicine empowering people to get well faster.
Angela Blake, LCSW-C, Child and Adolescent Therapist
Angela is a licensed certified social worker – clinical specializing in providing therapy to families and children. In 2003 Angela earned her Master’s degree from the University Of Maryland in Baltimore. After coordinating youth programs for the Salvation Army and directing the Family Center at East Salisbury School, Angela has been therapist in local mental health agencies both private and public.
Angela specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Brief Therapy, Expressive Art Therapy, Mindfulness, and other Mind Body Therapies. Angela works with adults, children, families, and groups, addressing a range of needs from depression, anxiety, stress, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and life adjustments and organizing students for optimal success in school.
Venessa Bowers, LCSW-C, Therapist
Venessa is a licensed certified social worker – clinical, a certified clinical trauma professional, and a Usui/Holy Fire Reiki Master. She specializes in working with children and adults who have been affected by traumatic experiences. She uses creative expression and mindfulness as treatment modalities in her clinical work in conjunction with more traditional therapeutic interventions.
Venessa earned her Master of Arts degree in Communication with an emphasis in Organizational Communication from Purdue University’s West Lafayette, Indiana campus in 2003 and began teaching classes in public speaking and interpersonal communication directly after graduation at Ivy Tech Community College. Venessa completed a second Master’s degree in Social Work at Indiana University in 2010. She relocated to Maryland in 2015 and continues to teach classes in social work at Salisbury University in addition to her clinical work. Venessa is a Maryland Board of Social Workers approved supervisor.
In 2016, Venessa launched the new Book Worms children’s series with, Violet van Bumble’s Big Secret and Billy Ponder’s Wild Imagination; two of the five books in the series. She also released A Magical Duet, a two-story book that is part of the three-part Magical Hearts series. DayDreaming: Naturally Creative Meditations for Children will be released in 2018, along with the third book in the Book Worms series: Sara Jane Siggle’s Smarty Pants and the second book in the Magical Hearts series entitled The Adventures of the Berry Thieves, another two-story release.
Carol Ireland, LCSW-C, Therapist
Carol is a licensed certified social worker – clinical with more than 20 years of experience. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work from University of Maryland School of Social Work. She specializes in treating clients with depression, anxiety, and those who are in crisis. She helps clients work through relationship struggles, process and ultimately come to terms with grieving and loss, to manage stress effectively and deal successfully with problems related to the perplexities of aging.
Employing integrated tools and a mind, body spirit approach to wellness, Carol assists clients toward optimum effectiveness, mindfulness and emotional balance and wellbeing. Her style is client centered supportive therapy, which draws from a spectrum of cognitive behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic approaches. Carol also uses guided imagery and music to help deepen relaxation, release stress and develop higher level of awareness. With her, you will see yourself beyond your impasses. Carol is currently accepting new clients.
Mehryar “Mike” Tabib, LCSW-C, Therapist
Mehryar “Mike” Tabib holds a license as a Certified Social Worker – Clinical in Maryland and Virginia, and in the past, in Colorado. He has been in the Mental Health field since 1984. After completing his Bachelor’s in Psychology from University of Colorado and receiving his Masters in Social Work from Norfolk State University, in Norfolk, Virginia, he began practicing independently in 1993. He uses Neurofeedback, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy, as well as spiritual counseling to address issues of complex trauma, depression, anxiety, and anger. He works with adults, adolescents and even with children. While in Colorado his practice as an EAP for the Military One Source service, involved treating those returning soldiers stationed at Fort Carson Army Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Catherine Cockey, PMHCNS-BC, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
Catherine earned her master’s degree in psychiatric nursing from Salisbury University and her undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland and Mary Washington College. She has had training from the Gestalt Institute in Philadelphia, PA, and is certified in Heart Centered Hypnotherapy from the Heart-Centered Hypnotherapy Institute in Washington state. Catherine uses a variety of approaches, depending on the individual’s needs. She includes somatic techniques and EMDR in the treatment of trauma. Her great desire is to bring healing to those who have been through a traumatic or stressful experience, and then see them overcome their self-limiting beliefs about themselves and the world.
David Mercier, M.S. L.Ac., Acupuncturist
David has been an acupuncturist since 1983 when he graduated with a master’s degree from what is now the Maryland University of Integrative Health. His background includes time spend as a Buddhist monk in Sri Lanka during the 1970’s, a two-year training under renowned psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, M.D. in transpersonal psychology, and the development of an integrative medicine center for the University of Maryland Shore Regional Center which he directed for nine years.
Zlati Koscina, Office Manager, Reiki Master and Bach Flowers Practitioner
Zlati is a Reiki Master and Bach Flower Practitioner. She received her Bach Flower training from the prestigious Edward Bach’s Education Center and her Reiki Master training from ICRT -the International Center for Reiki Training. Zlati was directly trained by William Lee Rand and she has been practicing Reiki for several years. Zlati’s work focuses on helping people with a variety of life challenges helping them reduce stress and anxiety and bring balance and healing into their lives.
Elizabeth Dawson, Nutritional Coach
Elizabeth has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Towson University and a Master’s Degree in Integrative Health Science from Capitol University of Integrative Medicine and is a Certified Nutrition Consultant. She has been working in the field of nutrition for 18 years with her focus on healing the body from the cellular level. Her integrative, holistic approach uses natural, healthy organic food and supplements for optimum health. This approach helps people increase their energy level, lose weight, improve quality of sleep and reach their individual health goals. Dietary programs are specific to each person metabolic individuality to successfully meet client’s needs, goals and health concerns. Recipes, menus and food tours are all options in the program to support the client through these lifestyle changes and increase success in the future.
Kerry Brennan, Lotus Yoga Studio Manager, Yoga and Dance Instructor
Kerry Brennan teaches dance, yoga, and group exercise to adults and children of all ages. After graduating from Salisbury University, Kerry worked for Migrant Clinicians Network, a national non-profit dedicated to health justice for migrant and immigrant populations. Kerry brings nearly 10 years of teaching experience, certifications in Primary Aerobics and Total Body Strength Conditioning, and pending 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification to the Lotus Yoga Studio. Through teaching, she seeks to empower her students, building confidence and bringing joy through movement, expression, and music. Kerry aspires to guide others to find their authentic self and inner source of peace.
Cheryl Sidwell, Yoga Instructor / Yoga Therapist
Cheryl has been practicing Yoga for over 20 years. She is currently 500-RYT with Yoga Alliance. She earned her 200-RYT yoga teaching certification at Marianne Wells Yoga School and completed her 300-hour certification in Advanced Yoga Therapy with Joseph LePage’s Integrative Yoga Therapy school, now part of Kripalu. She is also a member of IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists). She will complete her 1000 C-IAYT certification in Integrative Yoga Therapy this Spring.
Cheryl is trained in massage therapy and is a Level 3 Reiki Master. She worked for 2 years as a personal assistant to a client with Multiple Sclerosis and has led stretch and yoga classes for Seniors. She brings her understanding & experience working with different bodies to her practice.
Cheryl believes firmly that Yoga is for Everyone! She can design and lead a practice for clients ranging from Senior Citizens to Athletes. Cheryl specializes in Gentle & Therapeutic Yoga & Somatic Movement Therapy, Trauma Informed Yoga and Yoga for Caregivers. She has worked with a variety of clients on their journey towards health and wellness dealing with a wide range of illnesses including osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, heart conditions, multiple sclerosis, scoliosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, cancer recovery, weight loss and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Bob McBrien, Tai Chi and Qigong Instructor
Dr. Bob McBrien has more than 20 years of training in Korean and Japanese martial arts and Tai Chi Chuan. He is a student and teacher of Tai Chi for Health and Way of Energy (Qigong) programs.
A licensed Professional Counselor in Maryland, Dr. McBrien, a Professor Emeritus, has retired from Salisbury Univeristy. He teaches classes in Tai Chi for Health, Way of Energy (Qigong), and other wellness workshops. A Master Trainer for the Tai Chi for Health Institute, he trains and certifies instructors to teach Dr. Paul Lam’s Tai Chi for Health programs.
