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Grow with Inner Solace Counseling, PLLC

take control of YOUR LIFE

Is your stress, anxiety or depression affecting your job, relationships, or time with family and friends? Do you need help moving past a difficult time? We believe each person has the ability within themselves to develop personal strengths and work through their own issues. Our job as your counselor is to help you find the tools, strength, and confidence to do so in a safe space, free from judgement or shame.

Home: Welcome

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Meet your Counselors

Amanda C. Parsons, MA, LPCC-S

Counselor/Owner

Ms. Parsons (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - Supervisor. Ms. Parsons received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kentucky, and her M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Kentucky University. She has been using her education and experience with evidence based practices to guide and support teens and young adults, adult individuals and couples since 2009. She uses a strengths-based approach to help those experiencing varying emotional, social and familial issues, traumatic events and/or behavioral/emotional difficulties in working through relationship and life struggles, to help them deal with painful or intense emotions and develop healthy coping skills to become successful in school, work, home, and society.

Talk to Amanda

Shannen Bunton

Practice Administrator

Shannen is dedicated professional who specializes in customer relations and management. She's spent the past years working with clients and professionals to keep their projects moving forward. Her work experience also includes sales and
design, live demonstrations and event planning.

Talk to Shannen

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Emily Shickel, MA, LPCA

Counselor

Emily Schickel is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate under the direct supervision of Amanda Parsons, MA, LPCC-S. Emily graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and earned her master’s degree from Eastern Kentucky University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Emily’s training and experience includes assisting adolescents and adults in addressing concerns related to depression, anxiety, substance use, and life transitions. Emily’s therapeutic approach is primarily a person-centered approach while incorporating techniques that would be best suited for the client’s individual needs. Emily’s goal is to provide a safe, comfortable, and nonjudgmental environment for clients to share and process through their different concerns.

Emily is currently accepting new clients who are Medicaid insured or Self-Pay, and offers both in-person and teleheatlh sessions.

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Talana Young, MA, LPCC

Counselor

Talana Young is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Masters in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. She has experience in mental health since 2015. Talana specializes in severe mental illness, personality disorder, anxiety, addiction, and trauma. She works with but is not limited to African-American, LGBTQ+, single mothers, and body positivity. She believes mental health is the pathway to restoration.

Talana is currently offering evening and weekend appointments through telehealth.

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Michelle Usery, MS, LMFT

Marriage and Family Therapist

Michelle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who received her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University. Michelle has worked with various populations including older children, adolescents, and adults; both in individual and family therapy settings. She is trained in EMDR therapy approach and utilizes techniques of cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral, and acceptance and commitment therapies. Michelle’s prior clinical experience includes community mental health focusing on depression, grief, anxiety, trauma, personality disorders, and family connection/communication. Michelle is a proponent of the Rogerian approach to therapy focusing on a client’s positive potential by utilizing unconditional positive regard, genuineness, and empathic understanding.

Michelle's mental health healing journey began at age 19 with a therapist who allowed her to see there are many more emotions than happy, sad, and mad. Over the years, she has found the safety of a trusted therapist can be a powerful tool for internal insight, strength, and growth. She hopes to provide that space for you as well.

Fun fact about Michelle:

Being a therapist was actually her "second" career. She personally feels it was a path she was called to take.

When working with any new client, Michelle focuses not only on your individual beliefs and world, but also on your family-of-origin and family narratives. Being a systemic therapist, she finds these values and concepts often interplay inside us more than we know.

"I feel confident in the team of therapists I work with, and enjoy the differed life experiences each person brings to thier clients and the table."

Michelle offers both in-person and telehealth sessions, and accepts Medicaid, most insurances, and self pay.

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Parker Gilmet, MA, LPCA

Counselor

Parker Gilmet (He/Him) is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who obtained bachelor’s degree in psychology and graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a master’s degree in clinical mental health. Parker will practice under the direct supervision of Amanda Parsons, LPCC-S. He has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. Parkers therapeutic approach focuses on person centered therapy and solution focused therapy. He collaborates with his clients to understand their goals in order to formulate an effective treatment plan for each client. Parker hopes to create a safe space for clients to be able to share their lives with him.

Like many people, growing up Parker struggled with his mental health. Being in counseling for most of his adolescence led him to become a counselor. Understanding the firsthand benefits of counseling and how it enhanced his innate abilities to overcome struggles empowered him to help others on their journey.

Fun fact about Parker:

Parker enjoys playing video games, basketball, and working out in his free time.

Parker believes you are an expert in your own life, and together you can map out a plan to help you achieve your goals and foster change.

Parker is currently acepting new Medicaid and Self pay clients, and offers in person and telehealth sessions.

Talk to Parker

Abby Calhoun, LPCC

Counselor

Abby Calhoun (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. She graduated from Lindsey Wilson College with both her B.A. in Human Services and her M.A. in Counseling and Human Development, emphasizing in Mental Health Counseling.

Abby has clinical experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and families in their mental health goals. She specializes in work with adolescents and adults experiencing life change, grief & loss, career or educational issues, relationship issues, and ASD or ADHD.

Abby approaches therapy with a strengths-based model, sensitive to the traumas and societal challenges that her clients face.

Mental health is so often stigmatized, the elephant in the room that everyone is afraid to bring up first. Abby believes that taking genuine care of one's mental health is a crucial step towards holistic healing and wholeness. Abby has seen firsthand, both professionally and personally, how mental health care can so greatly improve one's overall quality of life and make a lasting, positive impact in the lives of families and communities.

Fun fact about Abby:

My favorite animal is a rhino, I love to play piano, and in some alternate reality I am certain I'm a professional chef.

Abby believes the most important thing in working with any new client is creating a safe, trusting, and nonjudgmental space for them. This is the foundation for all of her therapeutic relationships, and it is her priority in meeting and working with any new client. She does not utilize only one theoretical approach to therapy, but pull from many different theories and techniques to meet a client where they are with what they need. Whether this means using a solution-focused approach to help them with day-to-day functioning, family systems techniques to help them process relational issues, or a trauma-focused approach to support a client through the healing process, She will meet you as a new client with an open mind, empowering you with whatever it is that you need as an individual.

"The team at Inner Solace is supportive, collaborative, and knowledgeable. Since joining this practice, the compassion for clients and for one another has been tangible."

Abby accepts Medicaid, self pay, and most insurance plans, and offers telehealth and limited in-person sessions.

Talk to Abby

Shakesha L. Brown, MAEd

MA Intern and School Counselor

Shakesha is a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the University of the Cumberlands. She is expected to graduate in the spring of 2024. She currently is directly working under the supervision of Amanda Parsons, LPCC-S while she completes her internship at Inner Solace Counseling.

Shakesha has experience as an Elementary Teacher and a School Counselor, and is experienced in working with adolescents and adults. Shakesha is inspired to help clients establish and maintain relationships by enhancing their ability to cope.

Shakesha is accepting new Medicaid clients, and new Self Pay clients at a discounted rate.

Contact

Home: Team Members

DISCOVER your greatest self

Self-discovery is a process to find out about yourself- strengths and insecurities. Identifying your strengths and needs helps to figure out what weak points you need to work on and strong points to expand on to make you excellent. Together we can discover the path to your greatest self.

Relationship Counseling

These sessions often focus on improving problem solving, building communication and connection, and defining relationship roles. We often address issues including infidelity, financial problems, illness and other life changes, and anger, as a means to accessing a happier, healthier relati. Call now to schedule a session.

Individual Counseling

I believe each person has the ability within themselves to develop personal strengths and work through their own issues. My job as your counselor is to help you find the tools, strength, and confidence to do so in a safe space, free from judgement or shame.

Telehealth

We understand meeting in the office is not always convenient. Online appointments allow you to experience the same quality of care as you do in person. No need to take time off work, deal with traffic, or find a sitter to meet with us. Contact us to learn more and find out if telehealth is appropriate for you.

Home: Services

change with CONFIDENCE

You may be facing many difficult things that life sometimes throws at us. To help with this, we will focus on mindfulness, learning coping skills, and finding solutions to life's stressors. Through Family therapy, Individual, or Couples counseling, we can make positive, healthy changes in your life.

Let's Talk