Our Agents of Change

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 Nick Williams, MS, NCC, LPC Founder/Owner

https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/461421
https://indeliblechanges.clientsecure.me

Nicholas.Williams@IndelibleChanges.org

 (855) 643-5787 ex: 700

I am the son of a Nurse and a Human Services Professional/Law Enforcement Officer. Growing up, I witnessed the true meaning of Public Service. Prior to entering into Behavior Health, I served in the United States Marine Corps as Infantry, and obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Social Psychology prior to separating.  My time in the military did include one combat tour among others. I understand firsthand what it means to serve a cause greater than oneself, and Indelible Changes is my new cause. 

I also have a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling; I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a National Certified Counselor.  In addition, I am a Board Certified Supervisor for mental health counseling and marriage and family therapy. I have additional training in child and adolescent behavioral health, couples and family therapy, trauma, substance use, and family engagement.  Much of my past clinical experience involved working with families of children and adolescents with behavioral disorders, to include high instances of trauma, abuse, and neglect. My clinical experience includes providing individual, family, and group therapy in the outpatient, home, community, and residential group home settings. I also have over 20 years of experience in leading, supervising, and managing; within the military and the  field of Behavior Health; working in the military, private, and local government sectors.

   
I consider my primary theoretical orientation to be Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), although I mostly practice from an integrated approach. The tenets of ​ CBT that I most closely identify with include empowering people to take personal accountability for their life; moving people beyond just thinking and feeling healthier but to also behaving the same; and helping people develop more accurate and healthier meanings to life’s past, present, and future challenges.  Additionally, CBT requires collaboration and active participation; it teaches self-monitoring skills; and most importantly, it teaches people how to break free from their own mental shackles that are most responsible for their current distress.  Like CBT, I appreciate the same tenants of EMDR, in addition to the neuroscience involved with EMDR.  As we discover so much more about the brain every day, I believe every clinician should incorporate understanding of brain science into their clinical practice. 

My professional interests includes but are not limited to teaching and learning about healthy masculinity, and engaging males/fathers in the therapeutic process.  Additional interests include juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention, healing the impact of racial/gender trauma, and working with adolescents, couples, families, and marriages.  I also have a passion for treating Trauma, and Trauma Informed Care; especially within Health and Human Services, Education, and Law Enforcement.

When off work, I enjoy landscaping projects, home improvement projects, reading/studying just about anything, going to the movies, and spending time with my wife of 17 years; we co-parent our niece and nephews ages 13, 14, and 16, respectively. 

 Joanne Perdu, MA, M.Ed., LPC 

Behavioral Health Therapist II

https://indeliblechanges.clientsecure.me

Joanne.Perdu@IndelibleChanges.org

(855) 643-5787 ex: 701

I was born in Sion, Switzerland and was raised mostly in Montreal, Canada. I moved to the States to pursue a Master’s in Child Study, hoping to do research on the impact of childhood cancer on families. I lived in France for a few years and moved back to the States as I followed my husband. We settled in Northern Virginia, where we raised our now grown son and daughter. During that time, I completed another master’s in School Counseling and a Post Master’s Certificate to be a Licensed Professional Counselor. 

I was incredibly fortunate to work as a school counselor in non-traditional settings for my first ten years. The students and staff fueled my passion for social justice and restorative justice practices. My internship for my Post Master’s Certificate was at Life with Cancer, another rich experience which has impacted my counseling style. I just retired from Fairfax County Public Schools this past June, 2020, but hope to remain active in helping high schoolers who will be First Generation college students. 

My theoretical approaches are Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Humanistic Approach. CBT is a problem-solving theory which presumes that personal beliefs impact emotions and behaviors. Our automatic thoughts/beliefs that are developed in childhood are not always accurate and a change in these beliefs can cause better adaptations to difficult situations in the past and present. Humanistic Approach stress a person’s self-growth and actualization. The counseling skills I find most useful are Trauma-informed, uncovering thinking errors, mindfulness, distress tolerance as well as a variety of other skills from different theoretical approaches.

In my free time I like to swim; walk and talk with friends; and stitch, knit and sew projects which my children still don’t wear. I appreciate reading non-fiction and I also enjoy spending time with immediate and extended family which include our rescue dog and cat.

I am excited and so grateful to work for Nick Williams and Indelible Changes, where empathy, validation and solidarity are determined by Mr. Williams to be positive agents of change in our society and for our clients. 

Landis Nichols, BS 

Administrative Assistant 

I joined Indelible Changes in 2020 as an Administrative Assistant. Prior to joining the team, my career track involved the healthcare and hospitality industry. I graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a Psychology degree and a minor in Africana Studies. I am honored to work for Indelible Changes, a company who caters to permanently making differences in all walks of life. Indelible Changes is comprised of therapists who are working passionately to deliver quality care and I am grateful to be a part of the process. I am currently located in Kentucky and I am married to an awesome and patient husband. During my free time, I love creating new recipes and traveling. 

LaToya Cheathem, MSW, LCSW

Behavioral Health Supervisor

I give 100% in everything I do when it comes to serving my clients.  I recently started providing licensure supervision to supervisees in  Social Work.

I received my Master’s Degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2001 and since then have pursued a path in working with families and children.  I am is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Virginia, and have worked in diverse setting.  These include Foster Care, Child Protective Services, Second Responder Crisis Team, and Sex Offender Outpatient Therapy.  Additionally, I have worked with Intensive In-Home Services, Support Services, New Horizons CSB in the schools and community, Intellectual Disabilities and currently Outpatient Therapy.  

I specialize in providing therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families. My skill set includes grief counseling, depression, self-esteem, anxiety, women's issues, relationship issues, stress, anger management, trauma, child development, behavior management, communication issues, parenting skills, learning disabilities, ADHD, ODD, mood disorders, and life transitions. Interventions are based on client’s needs and strengths to include cognitive-behavioral, task-oriented, insight-oriented, and solution-focused interventions.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, husband of 19 years, and 2 kids; a daughter and son both in their tween/teen years.  I also enjoy watching movies, reading, shopping, amusement parks, exercising, spending time with friends, and traveling. I grew up in the Baptist church and continue to attend and worship regularly.