Meet Our Clinicians and Staff

Nicole Dovel, LPC, Associate Dean for Student Wellbeing

Sarah Magnant, LPC

Sarah Magnant (She/Her) is an LPC 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 has been here since! Sarah has worked in a variety of therapeutic spaces, including crisis centers, hospitals, and outpatient therapy offices working primarily with college students.  She has a true passion in this field, and loves to be a core support and safe space for anyone in need. She welcomes individuals with a wide variety of needs, including members of the LGBTQIA+ communities, those struggling with mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD, couples counseling, etc.
Sarah relies on a humanistic approach for counseling, as she enjoys treating individuals holistically and empathetically. Methods used also include a basis from CBT, person-centered techniques, and trauma work. Her techniques are ever changing, and adaptable to individuals!

Annalise Livingston, LPC

Annalise (she/her/hers) is an LPC 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.  

Courtney Carvajal, M.A. in CMHC, Resident in Counseling

Courtney (she/her/hers) is a resident in counseling who obtained a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University  and her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University. Courtney has several years of experience working with children, adolescents, young adults and families as well as in local public schools doing early intervention and crisis support. Courtney is comfortable working with all ages and populations including LGBTQ+ individuals and those of diverse faith/cultural backgrounds by focusing on client-centered, culturally responsive approaches. Courtney provides trauma informed care and a safe, judgement free space to foster personal growth and healing for clients with a variety of needs. Courtney is passionate about normalizing and destigmatizing mental health issues and improving mental health service inequalities. Courtney spends her free time with her family-cooking, crafting, singing and dancing. 

Cameron Piper, Doctoral Intern

Cameron (she/her/hers) is a doctoral intern completing her degree within the Combined-Integrated Clinical and School Psychology Psy.D. program at James Madison University. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from James Madison University and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Towson University. Cameron grew up in Northern Virginia but has called Harrisonburg home for much of her adult life. Cameron provides psychotherapy and psychological assessment services for adults experiencing a wide range of concerns such as anxiety, depression, life transitions, and interpersonal difficulties. She has worked in university counseling, community mental health, substance use treatment, crisis intervention, and psychological assessment settings. Cameron aims to create a collaborative, supportive, and responsive environment where clients feel understood and empowered to make meaningful changes in their lives. Her approach is primarily person-centered and integrative, drawing from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy, and relational approaches tailored to each client's unique needs. Outside of her clinical work, Cameron enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with family and friends.

Loryn Carulli, Graduate Intern

Loryn Carulli (She/Her) is a graduate student in EMU’s Counseling of Arts program. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology with an emphasis on mental health at Mary Baldwin University. Her passion for counseling grew through her internship at the Arrow Project in Stanton, VA, and her work with On The Road Collaborative on the ‘Diva Girl’s Initiative,’ which aimed to support Black and Brown middle school girls in the Waynesboro area. As she pursued her education, she became committed to creating safe, inclusive spaces for all people of color who have experienced racial trauma, a passion deeply shaped by her own experiences as an African American woman. This inspired her to pursue an independent study called, “Mindfulness: A Pathway to Liberation”, exploring how the journey toward self-discovery and liberation for women of color can be achieved through mindfulness. Loryn aims to create a therapeutic space that fosters healing, encourages clients to be their authentic selves, and promotes pride in all their identities. Her counseling approach is rooted in Person-Centered and Humanistic theories and incorporates existential, narrative, contemplative, and mindfulness-based perspectives to facilitate insight, resilience, and meaningful change. Her integrative approach emphasizes cultural humility and recognizes each person’s unique lived experiences, fostering a safe, respectful, and therapeutic environment. In her free time, Loryn enjoys spending time with family & friends,

Jen Gulliver, Graduate Intern

Lydia Hough, Graduate Intern  

Lydia Hough (they/them/theirs) is a graduate student in the EMU Master of Arts in Counseling program and studied Fine Arts at Bridgewater College with an emphasis in Painting. They blend their love of art and counseling through Expressive Art Therapy Practices. Lydia is a Shenandoah Valley native and grew up in rural Augusta County. They are passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ and gender-expansive individuals, as well as anyone exploring identity. Their therapeutic approach is influenced by person-centered, trauma-informed, multicultural, and Health at Every Size (HAES) frameworks. They've grown their skills working with students from kindergarten through seniors in high school at Eastern Mennonite School in their counseling center. Outside of the counseling room, Lydia enjoys riding their horse, Sully, painting, reading, and making costumes!

Stephanie Vilenkin, M.A., JMU Sports Psych Doctoral Student Clinician

Stephanie (she/her/hers) is a doctoral student in James Madison University’s Combined-Integrated Clinical and School Psychology Psy.D. program. She earned her Master of Arts in Sport and Performance Psychology from the University of Denver in 2024 and her Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Toronto in 2021. Stephanie’s clinical and applied experience spans sport psychology, psychological assessment, eating disorder treatment, and mental health research. She has worked as a milieu therapist at EDCare Denver, an eating disorder treatment center, and contributed to EDCare’s clinical research team. Within sport and performance psychology, Stephanie has worked as a mental performance consultant through the University of Denver’s Center for Performance Excellence, providing individual and team-based services to athletes across a variety of settings. Her broader experience includes work with Strong Girls United, Heads-Up High Performance, and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, as well as serving as a Graduate Student Representative to the Performance Psychology section of APA Division 47. Stephanie takes an integrative and individualized approach to her work, with an emphasis on understanding the whole person rather than performance in isolation. Her clinical and research interests include athlete and performer mental health and well-being, adolescent and collegiate well-being, resilience, performance enhancement, eating disorders and body image, therapeutic movement-based interventions, performing arts, and aesthetic sports. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys traveling, watching movies, movement, and hanging out with friends and family. 

Rachel Farrell

Rachel Farrell is the Office Coordinator for Counseling Services.  She graduated from EMU in 2007, and is grateful for the opportunity to welcome and support current students.  When she’s not at her desk, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family, hanging out with her goats/chickens/foster pets/etc., 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!