COUNSELING STAFF

Mary Lynn Rote is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Addictions Counselor. She has worked in the counseling field for over 38 years. In 2007, she opened ABC’s of Building Better Lives – a private counseling practice specializing in providing comprehensive, quality, holistic, and effective counseling services to individuals, couples and families. 

She has extensive counseling experience working with couples/marital-related issues, individuals who have depression, anxiety, addictions, stress management issues, traumatic events/Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as diversity related issues. 

Other areas of expertise include: trauma; EMDR; healthy communication skill development; LGBTQ; spirituality; family stressors; issues related to growing up within unhealthy family dynamics (ACOA); self-esteem; self-worth and confidence building. She utilizes a holistic, quality of life counseling approach and one of Mary Lynn’s gifts is that she listens with her heart and offers honest feedback with compassion and understanding. She is a certified Hatha Yoga instructor and offers classes in Erie.

Charen Pasky is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive counseling experience in addictions recovery, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, grief and loss, stress management, spirituality, couple’s therapy and civilian and military related PTSD. Charen also teaches relaxation and meditation and facilitates several educational and clinical groups. Charen is a veteran of the U.S. Army and is well versed in the trials and trauma of military life, she is the author of Spirituality and Recovery, which is pending publication, and she is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. 

 Jillian Rhoades is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with considerable experience in treating children, adolescents and their families. Jillian specializes in treating depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, anger management, ADHD, coping skill and social skill development, parenting stress, improving communication skills, and challenges associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Jillian enjoys working with all age ranges as well as both heterosexual and LGBTQ populations. 

Rob is a Licensed Professional Counselor and brings over 10 years of experience working with clients with mental health and behavioral concerns. His specialties are with diagnoses of ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Conduct and Oppositional Defiant Disorder along with significant exposure to Depression and Bipolar Disorder. He has worked with anxiety, personalities disorders and problems with psychosis. Prior to therapy work, he spent seven years as a pulpit supply pastor. 

Rob is also a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer. If one of your goals is to improve your physical health, we encourage you to make a health and fitness appointment with Rob. He will meet with you for 1-6 sessions to develop a realistic and comprehensive wellness plan, including a personalized physical fitness plan of action and a goal of moving towards eating a more health conscious diet to improve your overall health. 

Ashley Gleason is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Certified Employee Assistance Professional. She has respectable counseling experience in working with individuals who are struggling with a life adjustment disorder, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, stress management issues, traumatic events; marital/couples issues, healthy boundary setting, self-esteem and healthy communication patterns. She specializes in work related concerns. 

Ashley is a published author and has completed several professional presentations throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Her counseling philosophy is based on an integration of Cognitive Behavioral Tenets and Solution Focused Counseling.

 Samantha Marcinko is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Gannon University.  Samantha has experience working in a Community Mental Health outpatient setting where she offered individual and group therapy to individuals with serious mental illness. Samantha has training and experience in implementing evidence based techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills training, and Mindfulness based approaches. Samantha has a passion for learning, she takes a psychoeducational approach to therapy with the belief that understanding and awareness are the foundation needed to demystify the stigma that sometimes surrounds mental health conditions. If you find you are struggling with life adjustments, managing stress, depression, anxiety, or maybe you feel lost and are looking to gain clarity, consider making an appointment with Samantha. She will work with you to identify and build upon your individual strengths, help you to develop better cognitive and emotion management skills, and replace unhealthy behaviors so you can live a full and meaningful life.  Samantha is also a Registered Hatha Yoga Instructor - and has offered classes at Presque Isle State Park.

Alen Melik-Adamyan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s of Social Work Degree from California State University, Northridge. Alen has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults who are experiencing issues with depression, anxiety, relationship communication issues, stress management, schizophrenia, as well as other mental health problems. Alen also has extensive experience working with the elderly and their families dealing with issues of grief/loss, specifically in hospice and end-of-life care. He creates a safe and supportive environment and utilizes a strengths-based approach and solution-focused style of counseling in his work with individuals, couples, and families.

Alen is also a five-time scholastic National Chess Champion who has been teaching chess in private and group settings with children and adults for the past ten years. He is able to integrate his chess playing and coaching abilities into his counseling work with the individuals and families we serve.  

Mark Gardner is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master's Degree in Community Counseling from Edinboro University. He has extensive experience working with families and individuals with mental health and relational issues. He specializes in anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, anger issues, parenting, improving communication, and relationship building. Mark's approach to counseling incorporates Person-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques.

Additionally, Mark has an undergraduate degree in the fine arts. He enjoys painting, drawing and stage acting. Mark firmly believes the creative process has an important role in achieving and maintaining a healthy and stable lifestyle.

 Sara Allegretto is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor with five years experience working in the counseling field. She received her Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Edinboro University. Prior to that, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, also from Edinboro University. Sara views counseling as a holistic and collaborative experience to help clients reach their fullest potential. 

Sara has extensive experience working in an outpatient setting with adults with serious mental illness, including Depression, Bipolar Disorders, and Borderline Personality Disorder. Additionally, Sara is versed in working with clients who struggle with anxiety, self esteem and self worth, communication problems, trauma, grief and loss, emotional regulation skills, and substance abuse. Sara's treatment style is holistic in nature and focuses on goal direction, empowerment, self awareness, and self actualization; merging different treatment modalities to fit each individual client's therapeutic needs. Sara has experience and training in Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, and Solution Focused Brief Therapy. Sara enjoys working with adults, couples, and adolescents.

Sara enjoys time spent with family, friends, and pets, gardening, and tie dyeing. Sara believes in the power of humor, education, creativity, comfort from pets, and the balance between mind, body, and spirit in the therapeutic process.

Marcia is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor with 14 years experience in the mental/behavioral health field. Marcia holds a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ecopsychology/Therapeutic Adventure from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont.

Marcia has extensive experience serving adults and children in both inpatient and outpatient settings with a broad range of mental and behavioral health diagnoses and challenges including trauma, grief/loss, depression, anxiety, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, PTSD, substance abuse/addiction recovery, life-adjustment disorder, self-esteem, bi-polar disorder, anger-management, and relationship repair and recovery. Marcia’s approach to therapy is holistic and she incorporates numerous therapeutic modalities with clients including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-focused, Person-Centered, psychoeducation, mindfulness/meditation, and Family Systems. Marcia is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) which exclusively addresses trauma in young children, adolescents, and teenagers.  Marcia is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms of PTSD.

Marcia is an experienced outdoor adventurer and holds her certification as a Wilderness First Responder. Marcia enjoys sharing the love of the outdoors with her family and friends, and encourages all her clients to devote some time to stepping away from technology through which to realize undiscovered connections of the mind, body, and spirit.