OUR Team
Lindsey Pope, LMFT, LCAS, CCS
Owner & Therapist
Pennsylvania State University | NOVA Southeastern University
(704) 840-5035 | lindsey.pope.counseling@gmail.com
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Lindsey has always known that she wants to help others. It was this passion that led her to study Human Development and Family Studies at Pennsylvania State University where she received her Bachelor of Science. After college, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL to attend NOVA Southeastern's Master's program where she studied Marriage and Family Therapy. She obtained her License in Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) but realized how many of her clients were affected by addiction. Wanting to do more for these clients, she decided to pursue a second license and is now also a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). Her expertise and experience in substance abuse counseling has also allowed her to pursue a Clinical Supervision License (CCS) which permits her to supervise clinicians working towards their LCAS.
Lindsey's specialties include marriage and family therapy, treating substance use disorders as well as individual therapy. Providing therapy to individuals working through depression, anxiety and life changes. Lindsey has provided therapy services in inpatient and outpatient settings.
Lindsey is a Gottman Bringing Baby Home Educator, and this allows her to help expecting and new parents prepare for lives after baby by decreasing postpartum mood disorders, relationship conflict and potential relationship hostility. Through therapy, she teaches parents how to maintain a strong sense of friendship, improve intimacy and co-parent effectively.
Lindsey is a Gottman Seven Principles Leader which allows her to help couples address conflict and communication, deepening their relationship and connection and learn to communicate more effectively.
Lindsey believes that strong, healthy and happy relationships are the backbone of every family. She also believes that focusing on one's mental health and maintaining healthy relationships can be beneficial for helping children recognize what they desire in future relationships.
Bess Lyons Ceresa, MS, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist
Central Michigan University | NOVA Southeastern University
(704) 447-7477 | bess.lmft@gmail.com
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Bess earned her Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University where she worked as a research assistant on an empathy training program for couples. This experience helped Bess to discover her passion for helping individuals and couples and to realize the impact that relationship patterns have on an individual’s as well as a couple’s well-being. Her interest in family dynamics led her to NOVA Southeastern University where she received her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Bess has specialized training in marriage and family therapy that allows her to work with couples to create and maintain healthy relationship patterns that can help them to communicate and to support one another through life’s most difficult challenges and stressors. She has completed Level 1, 2 and 3 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and she uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in her practice. She has also completed the training “Treating Affairs and Trauma: A Gottman Approach for Therapists on the Treatment of Affairs and Posttraumatic Stress.” She has completed the trainings “The 10 Principles for Doing Effective Couples Therapy” and “The 10 Principles of Effective Couples Therapy: What Science Tells Us and Beyond with Julie Schwartz Gottman, Ph.D. and John Gottman, Ph.D.” In addition, she is a Gottman Seven Principles Leader and a Gottman Bringing Baby Home Educator.
Since graduating, Bess has provided individual, family, and couples therapy in outpatient settings, in the home, and in schools. She aims to empower individuals with the necessary tools to promptly reach their goals and to take ownership of their lives. Bess works with clients struggling with the stress and anxiety of everyday life and helps them begin to recognize harmful patterns with the goal to work through and modify the negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are interfering with their overall well-being. Bess utilizes a systemic approach while helping those struggling with interpersonal relationships, adjustment challenges, stress, anxiety, self-esteem issues, and depression.
Tram Pokorney, LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Mississippi University of Women | University of North Carolina at Charlotte
(704) 840-5035 | tpokorney@popecounseling.org
Tram is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in the state of North Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology with a Minor in Psychology at Mississippi University of Women. After receiving her degree, Tram desired to be in a profession that focused on helping people create meaning in their lives. She attended University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Tram’s experience includes working on an adult inpatient behavioral health unit with people who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Her work has allowed her to receive training in Mental Health First Aid and Crisis Prevention Intervention to assist people in de-escalating. She has sat on various panels to advocate for mental health in her local community.
Tram’s areas of interest include individuals, couples, and families. Her therapeutic style strives to offer a trusting environment for deep exploration while implementing research-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral and strength-based therapies. Tram has completed training in Level 1, 2, and 3 for Gottman Method Couples Therapy and is currently pursuing certification to become a Certified Gottman Therapist. She has also completed training in Gottman’s “Treating Affairs and Trauma: Helping Couples Heal and Rebuild Trust” along with “Couples and Addiction Recovery.” She recognizes that life poses unexpected turns that require a person to process their emotions and thoughts to help them heal. Her hope is for each person to develop a true sense of self that will empower them. Tram welcomes anyone who is yearning to have an authentic life that brings meaning and purpose.
Allyssa Resech, LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
Winthrop University
(704) 840-5035 | allyssa.pope.counseling@gmail.com
Allyssa Resech is a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) in the state of North Carolina. She graduated with a Masters of Education in Clinical Counseling from Winthrop University. Allyssa’s passion for counseling is rooted in her desire to nurture self-discovery and help individuals to live authentically. Her counseling style emphasizes an open and warm approach and integrates multiple theories, depending on the needs of a client. Foundational theories Allyssa uses are Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Reality therapy, and Internal Family Systems. In addition, she has completed the Gottman Level 1 Couples Therapy training to inform her approach in working with couples.
Allyssa works with adults and couples. Her expertise includes those who experience mood disorders, anxiety disorders, grief and loss, substance abuse, eating disorders, relationships
issues, and trauma. She also works with members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Allyssa seeks to understand and meet clients where they are at, and to help them get to where they wish to go.
Samantha Giardina, LCMHCA
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate
Wake Forest University | Appalachian State University
(704) 840-5035 | sg.popecounseling@gmail.com
Samantha “Sam” Giardina is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHCA) in the state of North Carolina. She is a recent graduate of Wake Forest University (WFU), having earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Throughout her final year at WFU, Sam completed her practicum and internship under the supervision of a renowned neuropsychiatrist, Dr. C. T. Gualtieri, in the Charlotte location of his private practice. Sam is now seeing clients - individuals and couples (16+) - at Pope Counseling Center.
Sam believes it is imperative to collaborate with her clients to develop an open and safe environment such that her clients feel comfortable for their sessions. Utilizing a person-centered approach, Sam is committed to providing CBT-based intervention techniques, diagnoses, and treatment plans that are uniquely tailored for each client based on their presenting concern(s) as well as their goal(s) for therapy. Overwhelmingly, Sam is a passionate therapist whose primary interests involve understanding the neuropsychological underpinnings of our everyday decisions and behavior.
Outside of seeing clients, Sam enjoys exercising and staying active in nature, especially when accompanied by her three pups. She can also appreciate getting comfy and watching her favorite true-crime series.
Virginia Zampella
Practice Manager
(704) 840-5035 | pope.counseling.center@gmail.com
Virginia is a Practice Manager with experience in healthcare administration. She orchestrates daily operations to cultivate a warm and supportive environment for our clients.
Virginia's commitment to mental health is reflected in her collaborative leadership style, fostering open communication among our team of skilled clinicians. Beyond her managerial role, Virginia advocates for mental health awareness, embodying our commitment to your well-being.