Chad Sims, Ph.D., LCP, LP, HSP-P
Director of the Talley Center
Education: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, Ball State University, M.S.Ed. Counseling and Counselor Education, Indiana University Indianapolis. Internship: The University of Memphis Counseling Center
Chad is happy to be part of the UMW community. His clinical interests include multicultural counseling, trauma-informed care, Black Diaspora issues, and integrative therapeutic approaches tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Chad is passionate about training the next generation of mental health professionals through clinical supervision and comprehensive professional development initiatives. Drawing from a variety of evidence-based modalities, Chad promotes holistic, client-centered care that emphasizes healing, resilience, and empowerment.
Melissa Palguta, Psy.D.
Staff Counselor
Education: Psy.D. & MA from the University of Indianapolis; BS from University of Wisconsin – Madison.
Melissa is delighted to be part of the University of Mary Washington community and to continue her experience working with college students. She completed her internship at George Mason University Counseling & Psychological Services Center. She enjoys working in a variety of functions and with a wide range of issues, but she has a particular interest in working with trauma survivors, as well as with diversity and social justice-related issues. She is a strong ally of the LGBTQ+ community and she enjoys exploring the strengths and concerns of this group through her work. She primarily works from a cognitive-behavioral perspective, providing students with concrete skills and support to aid them in overcoming personal difficulties and in improving their quality of life. She takes a collaborative approach to treatment, working with her clients to establish a treatment dynamic and therapy goals that work best for them.
Melissa’s Amira’s Favorite Local Places:
- The Battlefield
- Rappahannock River Trail
- Possum-bilities
- Central Park Shopping Center
- Fredericksburg Convention/Community Center
Amira Niori, Psy.D.
Mental Health Coordinator/Staff Counselor
Education: Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology and MA in Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and MA in Counseling with a concentration in community and agency and BA Psychology from Hampton University
Amira is thrilled to be a part of the Talley Center team again. She enjoyed being an extern and working with UMW students so much that she returned to the Talley Center team as a staff psychologist. Amira completed her internship at the University of Nevada, Reno Counseling Service Center. She also has experience in other settings and forms of treatment, such as; inpatient, private practice, in-home therapy, and case management. Amira enjoys working with the college population and supporting students in such an important developmental time. She has experience with trauma, depression, anxiety, other mood disorders, autism spectrum disorder, personality disorders, and psychotic disorders. Amira tends to be collaborative when working with students, as her approach to therapy is to meet the student where they’re at. Consequently, Amira is integrative in the type of therapy interventions that she uses. Amira is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Amira is a new mommy and enjoys spending time with her son when she is away from the office.
Amira’s Favorite Local Places:
- Benny Vitali’s
- Carl’s Frozen Custard
- Freddy’s donuts
- Morelia Ice Cream Shop
- Fun Land
Krysta Thomas, LPC
Staff Counselor
Education: Dual MS in clinical and counseling psychology from Capella University. BS in Behavioral Science from New York Institute of Technology
Krysta is excited to return to the University of Mary Washington community. She holds a dual Master’s degree in clinical and counseling psychology from Capella University and is a licensed professional counselor. Having grown up as a military child, she has lived in various locations including Germany and Saudi Arabia, as well as multiple states across the United States. Having worked with diverse populations in diverse settings, Krysta brings valuable experience in addressing neurodivergence, crisis situations, trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, existential challenges, and substance abuse. Her approach is primarily integrative, emphasizing person-centered and solution-focused strategies. Additionally, she incorporates cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and various other techniques to empower clients in developing essential skills for success. In her personal time, Krysta enjoys nurturing her relationship with her daughter and partner, as well as engaging in cooking, crochet, yoga, and travel.
Krysta’s Favorite Local Places:
- The Dragon’s Den & Treasures
- Hex’s & Healing
- Gateway Comics
- Agave
- Hyperion
Demi Thompson, Resident in Counseling
Staff Counselor
Education: Dual Masters in Human Service Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University
Demi is thrilled to be a part of the Talley Center Team – again! As a graduate student, she completed all of her intern work here at UMW. Having experienced working with the student, she jumped at the opportunity to join the team as a staff counselor. Demi completed her degree work Liberty University and hold dual Masters – Human Service Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Additionally, she holds a certification in resiliency training. Demi has advocated for victims of domestic abuse and violence and sexual assault. She has experience in supporting clients dealing with grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, crisis, and other mood disorders. Demi utilizes an integrative approach to counseling but primarily works from a cognitive behavioral perspective, helping clients to reach their therapy goal and improve their quality of life. She and her family are a proud military family, recently retired but still serving the community. Demi spends her free time writing, reading, and exploring new places.
Demi’s Favorite Local Places:
Jimmy Nguyen, M.Ed., Resident in Counseling
Staff Counselor
Education: Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the College of William & Mary
Jimmy is excited and honored to be back at the Talley Center! After completing his internship here during his graduate studies, he is now back as a full-time staff counselor. His specialties include international & multicultural populations, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) issues, and the LGBTQ+ community. Jimmy strongly believes in the core principles of self-acceptance and being true to who you are, even when it feels like the world is against you, and he strives to help clients find their inner peace through being authentically themselves. He enjoys helping students work through self-discovery, identity issues, relationship conflict, depression, anxiety, life transitions, trauma, distress tolerance, lack of motivation, meaning and purpose, and pressures from family and society. Jimmy mainly works from a humanistic, strengths-based, and existential orientation but utilizes a collaborative and integrative approach, incorporating concepts from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), mindfulness, self-compassion, and motivational interviewing. During his free time, Jimmy likes to play video games, work out, learn languages, take photographs, indulge in his sweet tooth, and watch YouTube.
Jimmy’s Favorite Local Places:
- Fredericksburg Nationals Stadium
- Hurkamp Park Farmer’s Market
- Riverfront Park
- Downtown Fredericksburg
- Costco
Debbie Huff
Office Manager
Debbie is excited to be a part of the team at the Talley Center at the University of Mary Washington as the Office Manager. During the academic year, she will be working in the Lee Hall location and assisting the UMW community as well as providing support to the staff. Debbie is a lifelong resident of VA, and in her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Debbie’s Favorite Local Places:
- Freddys
- Possum-bilities
- Reclaim Arcade
- Splitzville
- Alum Springs Park
Nicole Hicks
Administrative Assistant
Nicole is excited to join the team at the Talley Center. She spent the last 6 years working in the elementary school system and it was a rewarding and wonderful experience. She is very excited about following her passion and serving the college community in her new position. Nicole is from New York but is a country girl at heart. In her spare time, she loves to take walks, trips to the mountains, reading, listening to music, and spending quality time with her husband, family, and friends.
Nicole’s Favorite Local Places:
- Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
- Lidl
- The Battle Ground Country Store
- Riverfront Park
- Historic Downtown Fredericksburg
Trainees
Madison Casner
Education: Working towards MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University, B.S. from Northeastern University in Psychology
Madison is thrilled to be working at Mary Washington University for her intern year. Madison is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northwestern University, working towards her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure. She is passionate about supporting individuals, particularly those with anxiety spectrum disorders (including selective mutism) and behavioral disorders such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
Her work is rooted in evidence-based modalities, including Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), PCIT for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and is excited to become fully certified in all three.
Her clinical philosophy is: “Let’s get to the root of the issue and avoid getting lost in the leaves.” This reflects her focus on addressing core challenges while fostering emotional resilience.
Outside of her professional endeavors, she finds joy in spending quality time with her friends and family, including her beloved pets. She enjoys staying active through hiking, running, and weightlifting, she enjoys reading fiction and nonfiction, and she cherishes opportunities to travel both domestically and internationally to broaden her perspectives.
Madison’s Favorite Local Places:
- Novel Book and Green Eyed Vines Plant Store
- Agora Coffee Shop
- Plato’s Closet
- Curitiba Art Cafe
- Blue Cow Ice Cream Co.
Glorya Askew, LCSW, D.Min
Glorya is a licensed clinical social worker in Virginia. She received her Master’s of Social Work degree from Fordham University and a doctorate in Spiritual Counseling from Hebrew Union in New York City. She received her Master’s of Social Work degree from Fordham University and a doctorate in Spiritual Counseling from Hebrew Union in New York City. She attends The Chicago School in Washington, DC, bringing ten-plus years of experience to her practice. Glorya is passionate about working with teens, young adults, couples, and families, and uses an integrative, trauma-informed, person-centered, and holistic approach to help individuals overcome mind-body-spirit conflict due to trauma, attachment issues, and unhealed or unresolved conflict in interpersonal relationships.
Glorya is a strong advocate of her clients’ ability to heal. She collaborates with them to uncover stuck memories and challenging areas, embarking on a journey to help them find missing links and puzzle pieces to enable them to function at their best. She meets individuals where they are and works with them at their own pace, ensuring they feel involved and valued in their healing process. Glorya’s specialty is grief and loss (that she believes happens from the womb to the tomb), trauma, inter-intrapersonal conflict, and attachment. Several of her favorite approaches are bringing unconscious (hidden) issues to the conscious (awareness) or psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), which addresses the interconnectedness of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, family system stressors, and existential angst. Glorya’s training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) further enhances her ability to help individuals with anxiety, depression, mood, gender identity issues, dissociation, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Glorya’s Favorite Local Places:
Rebekah Michael
Rebekah is excited to be completing her practicum semester at Mary Washington University. She is working toward her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University, intending to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She also holds a B.A. in Counseling from Manna University.
Rebekah takes a person-centered, strengths-based approach to therapy and often incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to help clients explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. She believes that with the proper support, each person can uncover the tools they need for healing and growth through resilience.
She sees every challenge as an opportunity for transformation, and Rebekah brings that same mindset to life outside the counseling room. She enjoys cooking for family and friends, hiking scenic trails, playing guitar, and traveling to new or old places. She is always ready to try something new and loves hearing people’s stories.
Rebekah’s Favorite Local Places:
- Orofino
- Agora Downtown Coffee Shop & Roastery
- Riverby Books
- Memorial Park
- Virginia Outdoor Center