Meet Our Therapists
At Sandhills Best Care, our passionate team of therapists is dedicated to guiding you towards a brighter future. Each member brings a unique set of skills and a heartfelt commitment to supporting your mental and emotional well-being. Together, we strive to create a safe and welcoming space where you can thrive. Meet the caring professionals behind our services and discover how we can walk alongside you on your journey to healing.
Stacey Long Fain
LCMHC, NCC
Stacey Long Fain is a Licensed Clinical Mental health Counselor licensed by the North Carolina Board of Clinical Mental Health Counselors. She is also a National Certified Counselor. She earned her Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from North Carolina A&T University. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University and has achieved recognition as both a National Board-Certified School Counselor and a National Certified Counselor.
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Ms. Fain has been providing individual and small group counseling services for children, adolescents, parents and families for over 30 years. She uses a client-centered, and Christian based approach. Ms. Fain uses cognitive behavioral therapy with various ages. She uses a variety of techniques with children and adolescents including mindfulness, bibliotherapy, play therapy, music, art activities, games and journaling.
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Ms. Fain enjoys working with individuals from a variety of backgrounds on issues including ADHD, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, grief and loss, parent/child relationship issues as well as other mental health and life concerns.
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Ms. Fain enjoys spending time with her son. They love to travel and explore new adventures. They love riding horses, fishing, and swimming. Her favorite pastime is reading a good book while enjoying a great cup of coffee.
Courtney Blake
MSW, LCSW
Courtney Blake is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is licensed by the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board. Courtney completed her undergraduate career at UNC-Wilmington and received her Masters in Social Work at UNC-Pembroke.
Courtney has experience in working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and the elderly population. While acquiring her undergraduate degree in Social work in Wilmington, N.C., Courtney gained experience in working with elementary aged girls in a Girl’s Empowerment Group and at-risk youth. Courtney worked closely with an agency that catered to youth that were at-risk of becoming involved in gang life in New Hanover County. Courtney also worked with the New Hanover Sherriff’s Department with events and county mandated meetings and natural disaster response groups.
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While working towards her Masters in Social Work, Courtney worked with Richmond County Hospice in many aspects including: in-home visitation, fund raising, and facilitated a monthly grief group for those family members who had lost a loved one in and out of Richmond County Hospice.
Courtney most enjoys working as a clinician serving individuals ages six and older in an outpatient mental health agency. Courtney’s primary clinical interest are treatment of oppositional defiant disorder, adjustment disorder, anxiety, ADHD, and depression in children, adolescents, and adults as well as providing therapeutic services to families and couples
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Courtney thoroughly enjoys spending time outdoors kayaking, fishing, playing a variety of sports, and being on the beach. She also enjoys crafts, board games, and hands on activities and tries to incorporate these into each session, where appropriate, as a therapeutic outlet
Valerie JonesMA, LCMHCA, NCC
Valerie Jones is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) licensed through the National Board for Certified Counselors. Valerie is also a certified SYMBIS Assessment Facilitator. To further her certifications, she is currently working on receiving her certifications in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Trauma Focused and Amen Clinics Brain Health Professional.
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Valerie graduated from Liberty University with her Masters of Arts Mental Health Counseling. She also has her Bachelors in Business from the University of Phoenix and her Bachelor in Arts in general studies from Indiana University.
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Valerie enjoys traveling, learning new cultures, music, and helping others. She once traveled overseas for five years and visited various countries where she taught English to individuals as a second language. Valerie says that she enjoys leaning about new people, new cultures, and visiting new places.
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Valerie loves what her job does for others, as mentioned, she loves helping people! In her own words, "I believe that counseling is a therapeutic process in which the counselor and client have a safe space to work together to achieve goals and help the client become the best versions of themselves.".
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Stephen Cline
LCSWA, CCTP
Stephen Cline is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional who joined the Sandhills Best Care team in 2024. Originally from Chambersburg, PA, Stephen spent much of his life in Fayetteville, NC. His exposure to new places and cultures came from his father’s service in the US Army and his own service in the US Army. He attended Methodist University, earning his bachelor's degree in Social Work with a minor in Mass Communications. He then went on to earn his master's degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
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Stephen offers a wide range of therapy services to individuals and couples, assisting with various disorders, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, communication issues, OCD, panic disorders, PTSD, workplace issues, grief, and coping with life changes. Stephen has pursued additional training in trauma, driven by his passion for helping others understand and heal from past events, so they no longer harm their present and future. He offers both remote and in-person services in a clinical setting.
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With several years of experience as a social worker in various environments, Stephen has worked as a high school social worker and an investigative social worker, helping families and children in abusive and neglectful situations. Prior to his career in social work, Stephen served in the US Army for 8 years as a combat documentation production specialist in support of USASOC and JSOC. During his service, he completed two combat tours in Afghanistan and participated in an international exercise (FLINTLOCK) in Senegal, Africa.
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​Stephen is married with one child and enjoys spending time with his family, rock climbing, photography, and socializing with friends. He also enjoys friendly competition through video games, mini-golf, and puzzle games.
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Teresa Durstine
LMHC
Teresa Durstine is a dedicated Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a wealth of experience in guiding individuals through life's challenges, including trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychological and Counseling Studies with a specialization in Crisis and Trauma, she is passionate about creating a compassionate and supportive environment for her clients.
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Teresa employs a trauma-informed and person-centered approach, collaborating with both adults and children to craft personalized treatment plans tailored to their unique circumstances. She utilizes evidence-based practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing, and trauma-informed modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Her goal is to empower clients to identify their strengths and navigate their healing journeys effectively.
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With a commitment to fostering resilience and promoting mental well-being, She is dedicated to helping her clients achieve their therapeutic goals. She believes in the transformative power of therapy and is honored to accompany individuals on their path to healing and growth.
Nina Sullivan
​LCMHCA, NCC
Nina Sullivan is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Associate in the state of North Carolina and a Nationally Certified Counselor through the National Board of Certified Counselors. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut and completed a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through Walden University.
She has worked in various mental health settings with different populations, including therapeutic foster care, psychiatric residential treatment, private practice, and remote guidance consulting for employee assistance benefits. Her therapeutic approach with clients incorporates both person-centered and cognitive behavioral principles and methods. Empathy, active listening, and unconditional positive regard enable her to develop trust and rapport with clients, while CBT techniques such as guided discovery, cognitive restructuring, and mindfulness encourage clients to confront irrational thought processes that may compromise their ability to develop a healthy self-concept and reach their full potential. By utilizing these skills, she is able to assist clients in combatting personal obstacles in a productive and therapeutic manner.
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Throughout her career, she has worked with children and adults impacted by mental health diagnoses related to anxiety, depression, trauma, as well as neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, and conduct-related conditions. She has extensive experience and thoroughly enjoys working with children and adolescents with significant individualized emotional and behavioral needs, as well as individuals pursuing trauma-focused treatment.
She is also a certified fitness boxing coach and believes it can serve as a great outlet for those who are experiencing difficulties with mood and emotional regulation.
In her spare time, she loves traveling, going on adventures with her dog, working out, attending concerts, playing volleyball, boxing, paddle boarding, practicing yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
She believes that helping others is the best way to help and better oneself, so she does her best to take advantage of volunteer opportunities within the local and surrounding areas. She is very excited to start serving the local community in a clinical capacity as an outpatient provider with SBC.
Ashley Howell
LCSW
Ashley Howell is a licensed clinical social worker who is licensed by the North Carolina Social Work certification and Licensure Board and South Carolina Social Work Licensure Board. Ashley completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Wingate University and received her masters in social work at UNC-Pembroke.
Ashley has experience in being in the healthcare industry since high school having volunteered in a variety of settings, working as a pharmacy technician, an inpatient and home hospice social worker, as well as in home health.
Ashley also has an extensive background in working in the missions field both in the United States and abroad serving in a variety of roles to help others in meeting their most basic needs to assisting with reaching their goals.
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Ashley has provided over 7 years of therapeutic services to individuals, families, and groups ranging from children from the age of five, young adulthood, adults, and the elderly. Ashley enjoys working with those from diverse backgrounds, and assists in the treatment of various disorders including ADHD, anxiety, depression, caregiver issues and stress, chronic illness and disability, communication issues, OCD, panic disorders, PTSD, workplace issues, and coping with life changes.
Ashley offers both remote and in person services in the clinical setting, utilizing a variety of different therapeutic approaches to assist patients in their journey.
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In her free time Ashley enjoys spending time with family, taking day trips to new places and exploring, and learning about new things involving different cultures and religions.