Kayla Mullin, Chair
Kayla Mullin, MA, LPC, AADC, PMH-C is the owner of Montani Mental Health in Morgantown, WV. A WV native, she is a graduate of Fairmont State University and Waynesburg University, where she specialized in Addictions Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both WV and PA and holds the title of Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor for the West Virginia Certification Board for Addiction and Prevention Professionals. Before opening her own practice, Kayla worked in juvenile justice and hospital settings. Having 2 children of her own and hearing the stories of mothers who came in for therapy opened her eyes to the issues facing mothers in the Mountain State. She obtained her PMH-C in October 2019. As co-chair of the new WV chapter, Kayla hopes to lay a strong framework of support and education on PMADs throughout our state, empowering other professionals to seek certification themselves.
Brittany Cummings, Co-Chair
Brittany Cummings, PA-C, PMH-C is a Psychiatric Physician Assistant at Park Valley Behavioral Health Care in Wheeling, WV. Brittany is a graduate of the Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies Program at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is certified by the NCCPA and is licensed in the states of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In 2022, Brittany became certified by PSI to educate, diagnose, and treat women with mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period, as well as providing support for their families. At Park Valley, Brittany also provides addiction treatment for pregnant and postpartum women. As the co-chair of the West Virginia Chapter, Brittany hopes to promote awareness of perinatal mental health conditions for both local health care professionals and the community as a whole. The West Virginia Chapter is here to help further develop and strengthen support networks for this population across our state.
Stephanie Hurst, DNP, APRN, CNM, PMHNP-BC, PMH-C
Treasurer
Stephanie has 28 years of nursing experience; 23 years of midwifery experience; and 3 years of psychiatric mental health experience. She has worked as a midwife at UHC in Bridgeport, WV since 2012. Stephanie currently sees patients for outpatient care only for obstetrics, gynecology, and mental health issues. She developed a passion for perinatal mental health treatment options after seeing patients repeatedly being advised to stop all medications with a positive pregnancy test.
Outside of her career, she enjoys traveling, reading, and collecting fabric (quilting). She is a proud mother of three adult children and wife to husband, Erik.
Heather Marshall, Liaison
Heather Marshall, MA, LPC, PMH-C is a Nationally Board Certified therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor in both West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Marshall holds a B.A. and M.A. from Waynesburg University, and brings a wealth of experience from addiction therapy, residential facilities, outpatient community agencies, and private practices. In 2021, Heather became a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional, igniting a flame for advocating those struggling with postpartum, fertility, and birth trauma issues. In becoming perinatal certified during the COVID-19 pandemic, Heather felt pulled to provide these individuals with the support and validation they felt so isolated from. As the liaison for PSI-WV, Heather hopes to bridge the gap between PSI and the state of West Virginia, so no parents or caregivers alike feel that they are alone.
Lora McDonald, Secretary
Lora McDonald, MSW, MPA, LGSW is a Clinical Therapist at Appalachian Counseling Center located in north central West Virginia. Lora received her B.A. in Psychology and dual M.A.’s in Social Work and Public Administration from West Virginia University. As a lifelong West Virginian, she has witnessed firsthand the impact of under-resourced communities and growing maternal care deserts. Lora hopes that PSI’s West Virginia Chapter will help bring needed education to the state and begin destigmatizing conversations about mental health to benefit all Appalachian families.
Jerica Wesley, Alliance Rep
Dr. Jerica Wesley is a licensed professional counselor who has supported the Kanawha Valley for over a decade. She currently works as a counselor educator and has previously worked as a school and community mental health counselor. She is passionate about decreasing stigma around mental health and has advanced training in perinatal mental health, reproductive loss, grief, bereavement, and culturally sensitive counseling. Dr. Wesley is the owner of Restored Wellness Life Enrichment Services, LLC a company seeking to restore the village through consultation, continuing education, clinical supervision, culturally sensitive counseling, and doula services.
Stephanie Clarke, At-Large
Stephanie Knight Clarke is a Licensed Professional Counselor, an Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor, and a Nationally Board Certified Counselor. Stephanie earned her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Marshall University. She has been practicing for over 13 years and has experience with adults, children, and families. Stephanie is certified in Perinatal Mental Health and is working to create a support network that empowers the women of West Virginia. She is passionate about working with perinatal clients and runs an ongoing virtual therapy group specifically for postpartum mothers. Stephanie also offers individual therapy sessions, both in office and virtually. Stephanie utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She has also been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Stephanie provides training and consultation services in the workplace and in educational settings, as well as for foster families and other mental health professionals.
Paula Ugochukwu Ude, At-Large
Sister Dr. Paula Ugochukwu Ude is an Assistant Professor of Master of Social Work at Concord University, Athens, West Virginia. Before her current position, Sister Dr. Ude gained many years of experience as a social worker. As a missionary and social worker, she practiced with children and families in rural communities in Nigeria, Saint Lucia in the Caribbean, and the United States. Her practice and research interests center on maternal and child mental health, especially among immigrant women. She served as PSI Volunteer Coordinator for Smith County in Texas and surrounding areas and currently serves as Specialized Coordinator for African Immigrants.
Marlee Layh, Membership Chair
Dr. Marlee Layh is a Clinical Health Psychologist located in Charleston, West Virginia. She holds an active license in both West Virginia and Ohio. Dr. Layh specializes in women’s health including peripartum concerns, infertility, PCOS, chronic pelvic pain (CPP), and sexual pain and dysfunction. Dr. Layh serves as the Federal Advocacy Coordinator for the West Virginia Psychological Association. She is also Clinical Adjunct Faculty with Marshall University and is CEO of Layh and Associates, Inc., a multidisciplinary group private practice in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Dr. Layh is an active reviewer for the Journal of Sex Research. Her research interests are in chronic pelvic pain, sexual dysfunction, and women’s health.
Caroline Crislip, Communications Chair
Caroline Crislip is a 29 year old mom from West Virginia. She has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from West Virginia University. Caroline was a middle school social studies teacher for four years before becoming a mom in March of 2022. After eight months of being a mom to her daughter Caia, she was diagnosed with severe Postpartum OCD. She spent a year in therapy to recover. This diagnosis led to her wanting to be involved with PSI. Caroline created a blog called hugsformoms.com to help raise awareness to Postpartum OCD. She wants to help other moms who have struggled with perinatal mood disorders, because no mom should ever have to feel alone.
Kelli Yingling, Legislation Chair
Kelli Yingling is a Provisionally Licensed Counselor in West Virginia and a Nationally Board Certified Counselor. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Charleston and M.A. in Counseling from Marshall University. Kelli is a member of Postpartum Support International and is trained in treating Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, as well as Perinatal Grief and Loss. She is also a member of EMDRIA and is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. As a native of West Virginia and mother of two, Kelli is passionate about serving women and families in the state. She hopes to use her studies of public policy and mental health to advocate for awareness, resources, and access to prevention, treatment, and support for women and their families throughout their journey of trying to conceive to postpartum and beyond. Kelli serves to empower individuals and families to grow and heal, as she provides counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
Juliana Haney, The Climb Chair
Juliana is a clinical psychology PhD student at West Virginia University. Juliana’s research and clinical interests include mood, anxiety, trauma and obsessive-compulsive disorders during the pregnancy and postpartum period. Juliana serves as a therapist in West Virginia and has experience with Prepartum and Postpartum Care, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Cognitive Processing Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia. She is passionate about multicultural mental health and increasing awareness and access to evidence-based psychological treatments in areas with historically limited access to mental health care.
Before moving to West Virginia, Juliana worked at Harvard Medical School as the Program Manager for two mental health research programs. She received her MPH from Boston University School of Public Health and her BS in Biology and Psychology from Loyola University Maryland. She is originally from Long Island, New York. In her free time she likes to cook new recipes, try new restaurants, binge watch comedies and crime related dramas, watch hockey/baseball/football games, and spend time with her family & friends!
Melissa Scott, Education Chair 
Dr. Melissa Scott joined Mountain Laurel Medical Center in May 2023 as a Psychiatrist and the Medical Director of Behavioral Health. She is originally from the Hudson Valley of New York state. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from La Salle University in Philadelphia and received her D.O. Degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. She completed her residency training at Ozark Center in Joplin, Missouri in 2017. She was awarded resident of the year in 2014 and served as Chief Resident in her 4th year of training. She recently completed specialized training to become certified in Perinatal Mental Health. She has worked throughout her career in Community Mental Health Centers and has experience with outpatient, residential, partial hospital, and Assertive Community Treatment services. Her husband is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. She currently lives in West Virginia with her husband and daughter.
