Meet Our Clinical Team
Ms. Butler is the founder of Blue Ridge Eating Disorder Care Center and serves as our Executive Director. She received dual bachelor's degrees in psychology and criminology from Slippery Rock University and her master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seton Hill University. Ms. Butler is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Additionally, Ms. Butler is a PhD candidate, with her dissertation addressing weight bias in Atypical Anorexia Nervosa. She is proud to be an Ambassador with Project Heal, a non-profit organization that is committed to breaking down systemic and financial barriers to eating disorder treatment.
Prior to joining Blue Ridge, she served as the Site Director at The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders in Charlotte, NC. Ms. Butler also worked as the Director for Children's Services, Assistant Clinical Director at a Residential Treatment facility for children, and 6 years of direct clinical practice as an individual and family therapist.
Ms. Butler is a member of the AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) and is a member of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (iaedp) and has serves on the local chapter board. Erica also serves as a Board Member for A Brave Step, a non-profit program that provides therapeutic services to children and families impacted by sexual violence. Prior to joining their executive board, Erica implemented the Loved Ones program that provides educational groups to parents of children or adolescents recovering from the trauma of sexual violence.
Energetic and compassionate, Erica loves connecting with families and working with them to better understand mental health systems and processes, as well as finding the best solutions for their loved ones. In her free time, you can find Erica perusing the aisles at TJ Maxx or at home with her partner, toddler, and fur-baby, Gunner.
Ryan is a skilled and experienced therapist with 16 years of practice, bringing warmth, humor, and dedication to her role in supporting clients through their recovery journeys. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in General Psychology from Kutztown University and a Master’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development, equipping her with a strong foundation in understanding the complexities of human behavior across the lifespan.
Throughout her career, Ryan has worked with children, adolescents, and adults, including individuals managing substance use challenges. Her passion lies in being a part of her clients’ recovery processes, fostering growth and resilience in a collaborative and supportive environment.
Outside of work, Ryan enjoys spending quality time with her kids and family, indulging in hobbies like listening to music and diamond painting. Known for her funny, loud, and outgoing personality, she often jokes, “You hear her before you see her,” which captures her vibrant energy and approachable nature.
Ryan is committed to creating a safe and welcoming space where clients can heal and thrive.
Danielle is an empathetic listener with a strong foundation in mental health and substance abuse support. With hands-on experience working with individuals facing mental health challenges and drug and alcohol dependency, Danielle has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of recovery and well-being. Currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program at Temple University, Danielle is passionate about pursuing a career in human care, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.
Danielle has a strong interest in holistic care, especially in the context of eating disorders, where she aims to combine compassion, clinical knowledge, and a client-centered approach to support individuals in their healing journey. With a commitment to improving mental health outcomes and advocating for those in need, Danielle is eager to contribute to transformative care that addresses the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Dakotah has his bachelor’s degree from the new school in political science and is currently getting his MSW from Illinois state university. His entire professional and academic career has been dedicated to children, vulnerable populations, and advancing Social Justice.
With multiple years of experience working in the addiction field, Gabrielle has developed a deep understanding of the complexities and challenges associated with mental health struggles. Currently, Gabrielle is pursuing a major in psychology with a minor in mental health, which helps her build on my knowledge and skills to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she works with.Gabrielle has always wanted to work with kids, driven by her passion to support their mental and emotional well-being. Being very family-oriented, she strives to create a warm and understanding environment for both her clients and her own family. Balancing her professional work, school, and family life, Gabrielle brings a compassionate and down-to-earth perspective to everything she does.She is committed to creating supportive spaces where children and their families can thrive, and looks forward to continuing her journey in the mental health field here at Blue Ridge, helping others navigate their unique challenges with care and expertise.
Michelle (Shelley) has been working in the behavioral health field since 2018, with a focus on adolescents and young adults. With a Bachelor's degree in Human Services, she brings a strong foundation of knowledge and a compassionate approach to her work. Michelle is known for offering emotional support and a logical perspective, providing a balanced approach to complex situations. She is particularly passionate about developing engaging group activities for residents, encouraging them to think critically and explore their emotions. Her dedication to creating meaningful, thought-provoking experiences has made her a valuable asset to her team and the individuals she serves.
Hilari is a board-certified music therapist and an expressive arts therapist. Hilari‘s fundamental belief that all individuals are unique, essential, and worthy of fulfillment drives her person-centered, humanistic approach to therapy and outreach. She has worked as a teaching artist for ArtsQuest and most recently piloted the ALL ACCESSible programming and Sensory Space at The Banana Factory. She is the owner of More Than Music, LLC where she provides therapeutic and recreational music and art opportunities for children of all abilities. In addition to her work at Blue Ridge, she also provides expressive arts therapy in the outpatient setting. Her work centers Disability justice and always aims to be trauma informed.
Michelle is one of our Behavioral Health Technicians. She has a history working in mental health and is experienced in drug and alcohol treatment. She is currently working towards finishing her Certified Recovery Specialist Certification and is super excited to be working in this setting! She loves all colors (mostly pink) and you will almost always see her with glittery, fun eyelashes. She enjoys spending her free time with her partner and her Alaskan Siamese cat, Norbert.
Annmarie studied early childhood education, and continued her studies in psychology, science, nutrition, and wellness, as well as the well-being of adolescents, in addition to her certifications in those fields, Annmarie has worked, as an RBT and has experience working with ED in a hospital setting. She is excited to be working with and being apart our team.
Kiersten has worked in the mental health field and drug and alcohol treatment for over 2 years. She has worked in compassionate care for 4 years and enjoys helping people reach their full potential and encouraging people to love the body they are in. In Kiersten’s free time, she like to crochet, read books, and spend time with her family
Sarah is a Registered Behavioral Technician studying for her bachelor’s degree in psychology, specializing in Applied Behavioral Analysis for a career as a Board-Certified Behavioral Analyst. Sarah has had experience in the mental and health field for 5 years. Sarah has worked with individuals ages 3-90 in settings such as daycares, schools, homes, hospitals, and facilities providing care to those with ASD, ADHD, addiction, rehabilitation, ED, and in a behavioral unit. Sarah has been driven to have a career working with children and young adults to help reform their journey of healing and recovery.
Elizabeth Higginbotham is a licensed social worker (LSW) with over nine years of dedicated experience in the mental health field, and several years specializing in clinical work with children, adolescents, and young adults.
Her therapeutic style is grounded in a trauma-informed framework, allowing her to center the unique experiences of everyone in a compassionate and personalized way. Elizabeth works collaboratively with clients to identify their goals, and strengths, tailoring her interventions to best meet their specific needs.
As a therapist, she is committed to providing compassionate service while upholding the dignity and worth of every individual, fostering positive human relationships built on trust and respect. With a strong foundation in integrity, competence, and social justice, she strives to empower clients to navigate challenges and create meaningful change in their lives.
Elizabeth has worked in a variety of settings, including schools, IOP, OP and community-based programs, where she has built expertise in supporting a range of mental health experiences, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and grief. Her ability to connect with individuals of all ages and backgrounds stems from her empathetic, non-judgmental approach, making her a trusted guide for those navigating their emotional and psychological journeys.
When she's not working, Elizabeth enjoys spending time with her two dogs and engaging in activities that connect her with nature. In addition, she loves horseback riding, hiking, gardening, kayaking, and rock climbing.
Alexandra is a Licensed Social Worker in New York & Pennsylvania. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University and is a certified adult and children’s yoga teacher (CYT 500), and Reiki Master. Her professional experience spans working with children, adolescents, families, adults, couples, and veterans. Alexandra truly believes in each person’s inner strength, and their capacity to heal.
As a certified yoga teacher and Reiki master, she offers mindfulness-based practices to support emotional well-being, reduce stress, and cultivate inner peace. I believe in a whole-person approach, honoring both the mind and body in the healing process. Alexandra strives to hold space for everyone to practice on their journey and meet them where they are in that moment and wants people to leave her class feeling calm, relaxed, renewed, empowered, and more balanced physically and emotionally.
Namaste!
