History
SERVING THE COUNSELING PROFESSION IN HAMPTON ROADS FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS: The History of HRCA
The Hampton Roads Counselors Association (HRCA) is the largest of the 15 chapters of the Virginia Counselors Association (VCA). HRCA is comprised of professional counselors in a variety of settings ranging from public schools to private practice. Since 1950, HRCA has provided counselors in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake with opportunities for professional growth, networking, and idea sharing.
MEMBER SERVICES
Here are the top 5 services to members:
- Professional development and skill building opportunities
- The quarterly newsletter, Highlights and Insights , shared via the HRCA website www.hamptonroadscounselors.org/ and eblast.
- Annual recognition of members for outstanding contributions to the field of counseling.
- News updates about pertinent legislation at the state and national levels.
- Representation on statewide committees, such as licensure, certification, and the VCA Executive Board.
Why Stay with HRCA?
Here are the top 3 reasons to become and/or stay a member of HRCA:
- Participate in relevant quarterly professional development opportunities.
- Address professional issues and topics while working toward the common goal of promoting professional counseling throughout the community.
- Take part in expanding public awareness and advocacy programs through the community service projects adopted by HRCA.
Our Board
Charnetta R. Waters
President
Charnetta R. Waters is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Youth Mental Health Specialist, and Supervisee in Registered Play Therapy. While her current service areas are primarily across the Hampton Roads community, she has professionally trained, mentored, and received advanced education in the field of mental health in Richmond, Va.
Charnetta holds a Master’s Degree in the Art of Clinical Mental Health Counseling where she received from South University-Glen Allen and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2016. She completed her undergrad work at North Carolina Central University in 2009, obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Sciences with a concentration in Child Development and Family Relations. Ms. Waters is the owner and lead therapist of Heart-Led Counseling, Consulting, and Community Services in Newport News, VA., where she specializes in working with children, youth, and adolescents. Her experiences include but are not limited to working program management and development, group therapy, individual therapy, community mental health, training and professional development for QMHPs, community event coordination, and youth mentorship.
Ms. Waters has participated in multiple speaking engagements in the community, spreading the importance of “caring for society’s youngest citizens”. It is her philosophy that in order to get ahead of the mental health crisis, it is imperative to address the needs of future generations to come.
Her passions are advocating and breaking the stigma of mental health in African American communities and rebuilding those communities less served. She prides herself on being authentic, relatable, and “just a young Black girl from Ballentine in Norfolk, VA trying to make a difference. It is her goal to give back to the community and bring new, fresh ideas to the Hampton Roads Counseling Association that will benefit the Hampton Roads community at large.
Melinda Staton
President Elect
Melinda Staton has been described by many as a powerful and transformational leader. Melinda describes her life mission as:
“To use my lived experience as a leader, counselor (resident), life coach practitioner, cancer conqueror, and trauma of money professional to heal the effects of historical and present-day trauma.”
Melinda’s lived experience includes serving in the U.S. Navy for 12 years as a Human Resources Officer, working as a SME (Subject Matter Expert) for Veterans disability compensation, and working as a trauma informed and trained counselor (resident) and certified life coach with veterans, youth, mandated, underserved populations, and women survivors of military sexual trauma.
Elizabeth O. Hunter
Past President
Elizabeth O. Hunter holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, is a Nationally Certified Counselor, board-approved clinical supervisor, and Licensed Professional Counselor in the Commonwealth of Virginia. She also holds the Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Provider (CCATP) Credential.
Currently, Dr. Hunter provides clinical supervision services to community mental health counseling residents and counselors in training within the non-profit sector and across the Hampton Roads community.
Dr. Hunter has been teaching in CACREP-accredited Community Mental Health Counseling programs since 2018 at the master’s and doctoral levels. Currently, Dr. Hunter is a contributing faculty member within the Walden University Community Mental Health Counseling program.
Dr. Hunter’s current research interests include vicarious trauma prevention, intervention, recovery, and education. Other research interests include neuro-diversity and wellness-based and trauma-informed clinical supervision. She has published in professional journals, and presented at community and state conferences and workshops.
Samantha Redd
Secretary
Samantha holds a Master of Arts in Language and Communication and certification in Master Mental Health Coaching; Samantha is pursuing her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Regent University. Her background and training in emergency trauma response have enriched her professional journey.
Originally from Thailand, Samantha immigrated to the USA and brings a deep-seated passion for supporting individuals in their acculturation process, navigating life transitions, and healing from trauma. Samantha’s counseling approach is characterized by client-centered, compassionate listening and emotional validation. She fosters emotional exploration and employs a culturally sensitive therapeutic approach to create a safe space for her clients.
Samantha’s therapeutic approach includes evidence-based practices such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and Christian counseling. Through these approaches, she empowers individuals to develop coping strategies, enhance self-awareness, and cultivate resilience in adversity.
In addition to her clinical practice, Samantha is a passionate advocate for destigmatizing mental health through awareness and education. She actively engages in initiatives to promote mental health literacy and break down barriers to accessing mental health resources.
Ashley Laws
Treasurer
Ashley Laws is a licensed professional counselor in Virginia, North Carolina, and California. She also holds a telehealth license in Florida. She completed her Masters in Counseling at Regent University and is currently a doctoral student in the Counseling Education and Supervision program at the University of the Cumberlands. Ashley specializes in working with adults and adolescents (ages 14 and up) struggling with anxiety, depression, mood issues, grief, self-esteem, and life transitions in the therapy space. Ashley is dedicated to equity and social justice, specifically regarding climate change and reproductive health.
Dr. JaNaé Taylor
Treasurer-Elect
Dr. JaNaé Taylor , an Alabama native, is the Black Folks’ Therapist, Emotional Wellness Consultant, and Mental Health Podcaster. Dr. Taylor is a Licensed Psychotherapist in Virginia Beach, VA, where she owns and operates Taylor Counseling and Consulting Services. JaNaé is an HBCU graduate, a proud alumnae of Tuskegee University where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Additionally, she holds a Masters of Education in Community Counseling and Doctorate of Philosophy in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia. She was honored as UGA’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2019.Dr. Taylor has worked with clients in a variety of settings, ranging from pediatric hospitals, juvenile justice systems, living assisted facilities, women’s homeless shelters, community mental health agencies, school and college counseling centers. She works with a wide range of mental and behavioral issues including chronic pain, anxiety, depression, anger and trauma.
The life issues people face are also an important part of her practice: healthy relationships, race-based offenses, cultural identity development, gender identity development, aging, social and diversity issues. She is committed to serving people of diverse ethnic backgrounds and providing culturally sensitive services. Dr. Taylor customizes her services to the unique goals and needs of every client. Her therapeutic style is centered on creating an authentic connection with her clients. JaNaè consults with Black men and women who are struggling with harmful self-evaluations. As the Founder of Minding My BLACK Business, Dr. Taylor provides Emotional Wellness consultations to Black Entrepreneurs, in every stage of the game, who are working to balance their mental health, Black identity, and successful businesses. Currently, she’s facilitating her emotional wellness program, Mindful Moguls, to Service Based Black Entrepreneurs who desire to build their businesses without sacrificing their sleep, serenity, or sanity.
JaNaé has provided consultations throughout the community with agencies such as: MTV’s Teen Mom: Young & Pregnant, Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerce, Hampton Roads Voice Radio Show, Black Wallstreet Today, Shades of Life Coaching Services. JaNae’s expertise has been featured in New York Times, STARZ, Refinery29, Cosmopolitan, NBC, and CBS among many others.As the host of the Minding My BLACK Business podcast, JaNaé continues to make a valued impact on educating Black Entrepreneurs on their emotional wellness. Since the start of the podcast in 2007, the show currently has over 100,000 downloads in over 100 countries.
JaNaé is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Iota Omega Chapter in Norfolk, VA where she holds several leadership roles. She serves as the Vice-Chair of the Swan Center Board of Directors. Additionally she holds memberships with the Virginia Counseling Association and Hampton Roads Black Chamber of Commerce.
Phylicia Littleton
School Counselor Representative
As a National Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional School Counselor in Virginia, Phylicia Littleton is a Counseling & Career Consultant at Pearson Virtual Schools where she provides support and oversight to virtual school counseling leaders to implement a comprehensive school counseling program at public and private virtual schools across the country.
Prior to this position, she was a school counseling director at a local Title I school. She holds a Master of Education in Counseling with a concentration in School Counseling from The College of William & Mary and is currently a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision Program at Regent University. Phylicia is an ASCA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist and 2023 Michelle Dowdy Emerging Leader through the Virginia Counselors Association. Her professional interests include supervision in school counseling, school counseling leadership, and advocacy in counseling.
Casey Voss
Student Representative
Casey Voss is an undergraduate psychology student in her final semester at Old Dominion University. Currently, Casey Voss is completing an internship with Charnetta Waters at Heart-Led Counseling and Consulting in Newport News. She has also gained previous experience working in the mental health field under a QMHP, as well as working at a private school. Casey plans to further her education and experience in the mental health field while providing positive, lasting impacts in the community.
Committees
(a) Advocacy. The Advocacy Committee shall disseminate information among members and focus public attention on legislation which would in any way affect guidance, counseling, mental health, or human resource activities in the Southeastern Tidewater area. As appropriate, the Advocacy Relations Committee shall formulate resolutions and propose them to the membership for approval.
(b) Archives. The Archives Committee shall be responsible for collecting information to be assembled in a scrapbook to be submitted at the state and or national level. It may also be assigned responsibility for tasks related to the process of recording and maintaining documents of historical value to the Chapter.
(c) Awards. The HRCA Awards Committee shall determine the recipients of the Chapter Awards: “HRCA Counselor of the Year,” “HRCA Chapter Member of the Year,” “HRCA Humanitarian & Caring Person of the Year” and “HRCA Career Service Award.” This committee shall also submit the HRCA Chapter recipients to VCA for the ‘VCA Counselor of the Year,” “VCA Humanitarian & Caring Person of the Year,” “William H. Van Hoose Career Service Award” as well as submitting for the “VCA Chapter of the Year (Large & Small}.” These awards are not necessarily made annually. This committee is responsible for the submission of materials on behalf of our members for awards at state and national levels. The Awards Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate-Past President.
(d) Communications. The Communications Committee shall coordinate the publicity efforts of the Chapter, using the various means available (email, internet, webpage, local newspapers, etc.) to get the word out and keep the membership informed. The Secretary-Elect shall chair the Communications Committee.
(e) Ethics. The committee on Ethics shall be charged with responsibility of promoting ethical professional behavior among members by providing members with the ACA Code of Ethics, reporting to the members the results of pertinent court rulings, and conducting educational programs as needed.
(f) Hospitality. The Hospitality Committee provides social amenities for the general membership meetings including the sign-in for members and the checking off of reservation lists. They are also responsible for sending acknowledgments to our members who are ill or who have other unfortunate circumstances such as bereavement.
(g) Membership. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for the membership work of the Chapter and for the coordination of membership activities of the Chapter. The Membership Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer-Elect.
(h) Multi-Cultural. The Multi-Cultural Committee promotes understanding of multi-cultural issues pertaining to the counseling profession through varied efforts such as news articles, programs, etc.
(i) Newsletter. The Newsletter Committee compiles and disseminates the newsletter four times during the year to HRCA membership and retains additional copies for submission to competitions at the state and or national level.
(j) Professional Development. Professional Development Committee promotes programs and activities designed to enhance the professional expertise and knowledge of the counseling profession among our membership.
(k) Programs. The Program Committee shall make all arrangements for the Chapter meetings. This responsibility shall include procuring suitable facilities and arrangements and appropriations for the professional aspect of the meetings. The Programs Committee shall be chaired by the President-Elect.
(l) Scholarship. The Scholarship Committee shall advertise, solicit and adjudicate scholarship applications from individuals in graduate programs, to award an annual scholarship in an amount to be approved by the board.