Meet Our Counselors
Clay was a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology in 1976. In 1988 Clay completed his M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary, in Atlanta, Ga. In 1995 he completed his PhD in Counseling Psychology from American College and Seminary, Bethany, OK.
Clay’s ministry experience includes 10 years on Young Life staff, a para-church ministry to high school students. In 1985 he joined the staff at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church as an Associate Pastor/Counselor. In 1989 he was the Senior Pastor of a church plant in Charlotte called Grace Chapel where he served for 3 years. Then in 1993 he joined the staff at Carmel Baptist Church and started what is now the Carmel Counseling Center. In 1999 he began his present role as the Pastor of Caring which provides pastoral care across Carmel Baptist's church body. Dr. Barnes carries out most of the pastoral duties of teaching and preaching in the absence of the Senior Pastor. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Dr. Barnes specializes in marital and family issues, eating disorders, grief, sexual addiction, sexual and ritualistic abuse.
In 2000 David was ordained and joined the pastoral staff at Carmel Baptist Church as an Associate Pastor/Director of Counseling. David is a Licensed Professional Counselor –Supervisor in the state of North Carolina, and is a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor.
He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management. David is presently working on his Ph.D. from the Center for Counseling and Family Studies at Liberty University. His dissertation is on Christian Spirituality and Marital Wellness.
At present, he also serves as Adjunct Faculty at Liberty University. At Liberty he teaches students in areas of Techniques and the Helping Relationship, Psychopathology, and Counseling Theory. David specializes in working with adults and adolescents on various life issues. This includes: anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, relational conflict, sexual addiction, parenting, marriage and family counseling, and issues of self-worth.
David and his wife Jennifer have two daughters, Abby and Amelia.
Wendy is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina,a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Graduating cum laude from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling in 2007, Wendy enjoys working with individuals, families and groups. She has completed counseling internships at Carolinas Counseling Group, and The Barnabas Center, as well as Carmel Counseling. She graduated from Georgia College and State University with a Bachelor of Music Therapy in 1997. She began counseling at Carmel Counseling Center in 2007.
Since 1998, she has worked with a college ministry and continues to provide leadership development and training for staff workers and students on college campuses in the southeast. She also loves working with missionaries on and off the field. She has experience with people working through relationship issues including developing boundaries, experiencing grief and loss, conflict/resolution, dating, and singleness. Wendy loves helping people explore their emotions and develop emotional regulation as well as understanding how they are impacting current behaviors. She has experience working with those with adjustment disorders, bipolar, post-traumatic stress disorder. She is experienced in helping those in their twenties and thirties navigate through life transitions and develop healthy identities.
Carol Grier was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1972 and also completed her Masters of Education in Counseling there in 1992. She worked for several years with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System as a school counselor before furthering her education at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Carol was inducted in the PSI CHI (National Honor Society of Psychology) and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Gordon-Conwell in 2002 with a Masters of Theological Studies in Counseling. She has also attended Ashland Theological Seminary for training in Inner Healing and Prayer Therapy. Carol is licensed in the state of North Carolina as a Professional Counselor and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and an International Board Certified Christian Counselor.
During her graduate schooling, she completed internships at Presbyterian Hospital’s Employee Assistance Program, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Agape Christian Counseling. She has experience working with adolescents and adults in individual, couple and family therapy on a wide variety of psychological, emotional, relational, behavioral and spiritual issues. She has experience in addressing issues of: abuse, anxiety, codependency, depression, grief and loss, domestic violence, trauma, anger management, and self- esteem. Carol’s approach to counseling seeks to integrate counseling skills and strategies with Biblical principles in addressing the psychological, social, physical and spiritual issues of health. She utilizes a variety of cognitive strategies and family systems orientations as well as prayer therapy in her counseling.
Carol and her husband Bill live in Charlotte and have two married daughters and seven grandchildren.
Diana is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina, a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She graduated summa cum laude with a Masters in Christian Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Charlotte, and was inducted into the Psi Chi Scholastic Honor Society. She completed internships with Hickory Grove Baptist Church and Carmel Baptist Church.
Diana’s cross-cultural background encompasses life in South America, the West Indies, the Dutch West Indies and the Southeastern United States. Her experience has broadened her understanding of people from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds, and of their struggles to live well.
Diana has provided individual and couples ministry in churches since 2000, and she joined Carmel Counseling Center in 2004. Her counseling approach integrates biblical truth with psychological principles, and she is experienced in prayer therapy. She addresses a variety of issues including anxiety and depression, grief and loss, identity and purpose, codependence, work-related matters, abuse, problem behaviors, chronic illness and disability, marriage, parenting, and other relationship issues. She has facilitated Divorce Care, Celebrate Recovery, and Disability support groups.
Diana and her husband live in Charlotte and have two children.
Nancy is a Licensed Psychologist. She earned her Ph.D. (1992) in Counseling Psychology and her M.Ed. (1983) in Counseling and Student Personnel, both from the University of Georgia. She holds a B.A. (1979) in Psychology from Randolph-Macon Women's College. Between her masters and doctoral degrees, Nancy worked full-time as a Career Counselor at Indiana University for three years. Upon completion of her PhD., Nancy worked as a Psychologist in the Counseling Center at UNC-Charlotte. In 1996, Nancy entered private practice in Charlotte, where she practiced with Morrocroft Psychological Group for four years. Out of this goup, Southeast Psychological Services was formed, where Nancy practiced for seven years.
Nancy joined the Carmel Counseling Center out of a deep desire to be part of a Christian counseling center. In all, Nancy has worked in the field of counseling for over 25 years with adults of all ages. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the Christian Association for Psychological Studies. Nancy offers Christ-centered counseling to adults on a wide range of emotional and spiritual issues, including: chronic illness, marital and relationship issues, singleness, depression, anxiety, career assessement and counseling, premarital assessment and counseling and family of origin issues. Nancy combines cognitive-behavioral and insight-oriented techniques with a Christian world view. Nancy is a frequent speaker to area chronic illness support groups on coping strategies, and to women's ministries on various emotional and relational issues.
She and her husband, Mike live in Charlotte.
Rob graduated from Texas Tech University in 1994, with a B.A. in Sociology. After graduation, he spent 9 years working in Corporate America as an Information Technology (IT) Project Team Development and Project Manager. In 2006, Rob graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte , NC with an M.A. in Christian Counseling (MACC) and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Marriage and Family Therapist Associate (MFTA). He was inducted into the PSI CHI National Honor Society in 2004 and is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).
During his graduate work, Rob completed two practicum’s working as Chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital ’s Main Uptown Charlotte location and Matthew’s campus. Following this, he moved to Agape Christian Counseling and First Baptist Church of Matthews Counseling Center to complete his internships. During his training, Rob learned to integrate sound biblical doctrine and the practices of psychology. He also developed special interests in helping men, women and adolescents to resolve their struggles with issues of identity, grief and loss, depression, life purpose, marriage, parenting, communication and relationship skills, self-esteem, and career.
Rob currently works full-time as a therapist for Access Counseling Group in Charlotte, NC and Carmel Counseling Center. He resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife, Amarie, and his two girls, Halle and Hayden.
Wendy Skenderi is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina, a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor, as well as a Registered Play Therapist. She is also a member of the Association for Play Therapy and the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Wendy has been counseling for eight years with children, adolescents, and adults in individual, couple, and family sessions on a variety of psychological, emotional, relational, behavioral, and spiritual issues. Her areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma and abuse, ADD/ADHD, childhood and attachment disorders, parenting, marital, divorce recovery, as well as issues dealing with identity and self-worth. Her approach integrates proven psychological principles with a Biblical foundation.Wendy graduated summa cum laude with a Masters in Christian Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and was inducted into the Phi Alpha Chi, Scholastic Honor Society. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from the University of the Pacific in California.
Wendy has completed specialized training and certification in Play Therapy and Theophostic Prayer Ministry. Her experiences also include facilitating divorce recovery, Boundaries, and anti-bullying groups in churches and classrooms, as well as various music therapy groups in special education classrooms, rehabilitation clinics, pediatric hospitals, and nursing homes. She has extensive cross-cultural experience due to living overseas and her involvement in missions.
Wendy lives in Charlotte with her husband and their two children.
Lance is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of North Carolina since 2004 and counsels youth, individuals, couples, and families. He also conducts support groups, workshops and seminars for churches and businesses.
He earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Charlotte, where he served as the Associate Director of Counseling Programs.
Lance is an ordained minister and has served in three local churches as an associate pastor overseeing various youth, men, and marriage ministries. Before seminary and pastoral ministry, he was an electronic engineer working in Santa Clara, CA.
Lance lives in Pineville, NC with his wife Rachel of 24 years, along with their two teenage sons (one in college), and middle-school aged twin daughters. His interests include having dinner out with his wife, outdoor adventures with his kids, having coffee with a friend, and when time allows, wood working and playing various sports. Lance specializes in working with adult and adolescents on various life issues including: anxiety, depression, grief and loss, parenting, and marriage and family counseling.
Sherry B. Stacks, MA, LMFT, LPC - Sherry is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC) who earned her Master of Arts Degree in Counseling from UNC-Charlotte in 1991 and her Bachelor’s Degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. Sherry also served as Vice President of the Academic Professional Counseling Honor Society at UNC-Charlotte. She draws from a wide range of academic, professional and personal experiences beginning in 1989 as a counseling intern at Hickory Grove Baptist Counseling Center then continuing on in 1991 as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Since 1991, Sherry developed her specialty family practice focusing on treatment for individuals, couples, families and youth.
Emphasizing the ever-changing family life cycle, Sherry addresses relationship issues regarding Family and Couples Communication, Transitional Life Stages, Stressors related to Depression and Anxiety, Grief, Loss, and Trauma. As a Family Therapist, her focus specifically includes Adjustment problems in children and teens, also Divorce, Blended Families and Multicultural issues.
Sherry is also certified in Soul Healing Love Techniques for couples and certified to administer the Prepare- Enrich Inventory for premarital and marital counseling. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors and the North Carolina Association of Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.
Sherry encourages you in the healing process as you discover your God given strengths and develop them. She implements relationship oriented Family Systems Therapy by emphasizing interpersonal relationships and their impact on our thinking, emotions, and behaviors. Awareness and growth are the focus of therapy as Sherry distinguishes healthy patterns of wellness and balance into our relationships and lifestyle.
Sherry is an in-network provider with Blue Cross Blue Shield. She and her husband Roger, along with their four children live in Charlotte and have been members of Carmel Baptist Church since 1985.
