Meet Our Clinicians and Staff
Clinicians 2024-25
Nicole Dovel, LPC, Counseling Services Lead Counselor
Nikki Dovel, LPC, (she/her/hers) earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from James Madison University, and completed her graduate studies right here at EMU in the MA Counseling Program in 2013. She has served as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the Shenandoah Valley for the last several years in various settings to include community based services, crisis response, and clinical leadership and supervision. Nikki serves from a person-centered approach with the understanding that relationship and connection are impactful and transformational. Nikki is also trained in EMDR through the EMDR Institute, and utilizes this treatment approach often with various issues to include treatment trauma responses, anxiety and depression. She strives to provide a safe space where all feel accepted, understood, and empowered to take an active role in their healing and growth. Nikki’s personal interests include time with family, crafting, live music, and rooting for her favorite DC teams.
Tamika Jackson, PhD, Resident in Counseling
Tamika Jackson, PhD, (she/her) earned graduate degrees in Divinity and Counseling from Wake Forest University and completed her doctoral studies in Counselor Education and Supervision at William & Mary. As a Resident in Counseling, Tamika has provided services in several settings including group private practice and community agencies. She also has experience working in college counseling, hospital chaplaincy, and congregational ministry. Tamika enjoys helping people navigate relational issues, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions and religion/spirituality. She takes a humanistic approach to counseling, rooted in a profound appreciation for the complexity of human beings and a desire to see people grow into the best possible version of themselves. When she has free time, Tamika loves reading, spending time with her friends and family, and trying new coffee shops and restaurants.
Sarah Ketchum, Resident in Counseling
Sarah Ketchum (She/Her) is a resident in counseling who received her B.A in psychology at James Madison University, and completed her Master’s of Science in clinical mental health counseling at Radford University. Sarah is originally from Frederick, Maryland, but moved to Virginia to start her college career. She fell in love with Virginia, and moved back to Harrisonburg this summer after 2 years living in Blacksburg. She previously began her career working briefly as a crisis counselor, and transitioned into working intensive in-home during her Master’s program. She currently works full time at SRMH as a behavioral therapist. She has a true passion in this field, and loves to be a core support for anyone in need. She enjoys working with all populations, but enjoys specialties such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, and LQBTQ+ communities. Sarah takes a person centered approach, as well as utilizing cognitive behavioral techniques in her practices. Sarah loves the outdoors, music, surfing and snowboarding (when Massanutten cooperates!) She can’t wait to work with you!
Annalise Livingston, MA, Resident in Counseling
Annalise (she/her/hers) is a Resident in Counseling who obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology at James Madison University, and completed her graduate studies in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University. Annalise was born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia and fell in love with the Harrisonburg area on her JMU college tour. She has worked in various healthcare and crisis stabilization settings, including VCU Health Systems and Region Ten Community Services Board, and her love for supporting and caring for others has only grown throughout her experiences in the field. She believes in the importance of meeting people where they are, wherever that may be. She is passionate about helping individuals with anxiety, depression, interpersonal skills, and emotional regulation. She takes a Person Centered and Existential approach and actively integrates tenets of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Annalise enjoys spending her free time hiking, reading, attempting to learn how to cook, and spending time with loved ones.
Brittany Hook, Graduate Intern Student
maintaining and developing healthy relationships with themselves and others and overall wellness. In her free time she loves to coach softball, spend time with friends and family, play with her cat Lily and eat good food.
Nick La Grua, Graduate Intern Student
Nick La Grua (He/Him) is a graduate student at EMU’s Master of Arts in Counseling Program. Nick grew up in Staunton, VA and in the Summer of 2023, he moved to Harrisonburg to begin his counseling education. It was a combination of working with incoming college students as a Resident Assistant and Tour guide during his undergraduate studies at Randolph-Macon College and journeying with high school seniors through their college process where he found an interest in counseling. Nick also identifies as Gay and is very interested in working with adolescents and young adults through the LGBTQ+ experience. His therapeutic approach is drawn from Person-Centered, Interpersonal Processes, and Existential theories. In his free time, Nick enjoys coffee shop vibes, watching different TV shows and movies, playing video games, and photography!
Danilo Salli, Graduate Intern Student
Bryan Ramirez, JMU Sports Psych Doctoral Intern
Bryan (he/him) is a doctoral student in JMU’s Clinical and School Psychology program. He received an MA in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver, where his training and focus blended sport psychology, clinical counseling, and performance enhancement. He is passionate about the intersection of performance and mental health/well-being. He served as an athletics counselor and mental performance consultant for Old Dominion University before joining JMU.
As a former D1 baseball player, Bryan seeks to destigmatize mental health services in athletics and promote psychological skills as essential to performance, just as one would train one's body and technical skillset. Bryan takes a process-based approach, which means he seeks to understand each individual's uniqueness and tailor services to meet their unique needs. Bryan enjoys sports, music, a good sci-fi book, and exploring Harrisonburg coffee shops.
Staff
Rachel Farrell
Rachel Farrell is the Front Desk Attendant in Counseling Services. She graduated from EMU in 2007 and benefited greatly from the support of the Counseling Center during her time at the university. Now she is grateful for the opportunity to be in a role that allows her to welcome and support students who will benefit from these services today. When she’s not at her desk, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family, hanging out with her goats/chickens/cows/cat/etc., supporting her church, and reading when she can squeeze it in. Remember that you’re welcome to stop by Counseling Services for any reason - we weren’t meant to go through life on our own!
