About Us

Director of Counseling & Psychological Services

Jennifer M. Whitney Ph.D., LCMHCS (she,her,hers)

Hello! I am excited that you are here and thinking about, perhaps even prioritizing, your mental health and well-being. I have been working at UNCG’s Counseling & Psychological Services since 2007. I am grateful that students’ provide me with an opportunity to walk with them on their journey to becoming more authentically themselves! I believe that each of us deserves a space to explore who we are, what we want, what we value, and how we want to show up in the world. Counseling can be that space!

Associate Director Counseling & Psychological Services

Randy Patterson Ph.D., HSP-P (she,her,hers)

I joined the UNCG Counseling & Psychological Services staff in 2018. Working with UNCG students is inspiring and energizing, and I would not want to work anywhere else! When I meet with students, my focus is on helping to sort through and quiet down the “noise” around you as you find what makes you flourish, what gets in the way, and what makes your life worth living. I enjoy working with graduate students, with students dealing with disordered eating, mood disorders, and relationship concerns.. Outside of work, I am a movie buff, a music lover, and an animal lover. I get my peace from being outside, or just hanging out with friends and family.

Staff Counselor

Jennifer Bell Brown Ph.D., LCMHCS (she, her, hers)

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with you as you face challenges and life transitions! I believe that we all need support at times to live our best lives. I joined the Counseling & Psychological Services team in 2019. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor. I received my doctorate in Counseling and Counselor Education from UNCG. I am also a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law, and practiced family law with Legal Aid of North Carolina. I work with the full range of conditions impacting mental health including depression, anxiety, psychosis, grief and loss, career, stress management, self-esteem, and chronic illness. I address the whole person through mindfulness-based interventions, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing. In my spare time, I love to go to the beach, bake, practice yoga, and spend time with my friends, family, and animals.

Staff Social Worker

Thomas Zigo, LCSW (he, him, his)

I joined Counseling & Psychological Services in 2019. I completed both my undergraduate and graduate studies at Ohio University. I seek to provide services that are responsive to the many different identities and lived experiences of our students. I work with students to enhance understanding of symptoms, paying attention to factors that may be causing distress. My role is to illuminate challenges, especially related to navigating systems of power and privilege. I place importance on building a collaborative and non-judgmental therapeutic bond that celebrates authentic self-relation. My goal is for students to feel truly seen, creating chances for self-exploration. Some of my clinical interests include men’s issues, LGBTQPIA+ concerns, grief & loss, anger, depression, anxiety, issues with porn use, relationships, sexual health & functioning, and stress. I enjoy gardening, playing/watching sports, and connecting with loved ones.

Staff Counselor

Cecilia Gonzalez Barber, MA, LCMHC (she, her, hers)

Hola! I was born in Mexico, and I immigrated to North Carolina over 20 years ago. I received my bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Psychology and a master’s degree in professional counseling. During my clinical internship I had the opportunity to work with families and individuals from all walks of life, including underserved minority populations, immigrants, and people suffering from substance use disorders. I joined the UNCG Counseling & Psychological Services team in May of 2021. I feel honored and excited to provide counseling services to students during their college experience and life transitions. I enjoy working with students from different cultures and I am interested in working with students from minority groups, Latinx community and first-generation students.

AOD Coordinator/Provider

Fumie Abe, MA, NCC, LCMHC, LCAS  (she/her/hers)

I am a bilingual English-Japanese Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Counselor Addiction Specialist. I received a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addictions Counseling in 2018 at Appalachian State University. Until recently, I worked in a residential substance use treatment facility, as a counselor.

My approach to counseling is based on Person-Centered theory. My goal as a counselor is to support the process of self-discovery and to enrich the lives of others. I work with individuals with a wide range of issues including addiction, trauma, depression, anxiety, stress management, identity development, low self-esteem, and relational conflicts. I am very excited to work with college students and to get to know you. I am eager to learn from you as well!

Outside of my professional role, I enjoy running, eating, traveling overseas, and going on road trips within the States. My goal for this year is to complete some half marathons. If I believe in myself, I can do anything I put my mind to. So can you!

staff counselor

Jerrica Royal, MS, LCMHC

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”-Dr. Maya Angelou

I look forward to providing counseling support to students during this exciting and at times stressful period of their lives. I joined the Counseling & Psychological Services team in June 2025 as a mental health counselor. I completed my graduate studies at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and my undergraduate studies at UNC-Greensboro. My therapeutic approach is to first create a supportive, affirming space where students feel valued and empowered to be their authentic selves. My style of counseling is person centered and rooted in the belief that every student has the capacity for growth & resilience. In my free time, I enjoy going on nature walks, traveling, eating new foods, and spending time with family and friends.

staff counselor

Vanessa Fox, MA, LCMHC (she/her/hers)

Hi there. I joined Counseling and Psychological Services as a therapist in September 2024. Attending therapy can be rewarding but it can also be scary and exhausting. It’s my job to help you feel safe and understood as you work through moments of struggle and suffering. In therapy sessions I invite students to compassionately explore one’s inner world to better understand and adjust old behaviors that have previously helped one survive. I often encourage homework assignments between sessions to experiment with new ways of thinking and functioning. When I’m not at work, I enjoy hiking and playing pickleball.

graduate trainee

Katie Caccamise-Amritt (she/her)

Welcome to CAPS! I completed my undergraduate degree in Health & Exercise Science at Wake Forest University in 2018 and am currently a second-year master’s student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at UNCG. I have years of professional experience supporting underrepresented students through educational challenges and career transitions. Some of my clinical interests include stress and anxiety, adjustment and life transitions, QTBIPOC, LGBTQIAP+, identity development, and more!

As a counselor, I bring a holistic approach to your well-being. I incorporate ACT, solution-focused, and feminist approaches into our work together. I identify as a Black biracial lesbian woman with Jamaican and Italian ancestry. I invite you to bring your most authentic self into our counseling sessions, where my goal is to create a space where you feel safe and supported.

Outside of my professional role, I enjoy walking in nature, playing sports, hip-hop and R&B dance fitness, trying vegetarian foods from various cuisines, and reading. I feel honored to accompany you on your journey towards healing, empowerment, self-discovery, and feeling better!

graduate trainee

Jack Rubacka (he/him)

Welcome! Prioritizing your mental health is invaluable and I’m happy you are here! Whether something is preventing you from reaching your goals, you are struggling with symptoms of a mental health disorder, or just need someone to talk to, I am here to help support you through your challenges and work with you on your path to wellness. My focus is largely on cognitive behavioral therapy, into which I implement dialectical behavioral, solution focused, and mindfulness elements. I am passionate about providing affirming, validating care to individuals of all backgrounds and walks of life! 

I am a graduate student in clinical psychology, originally from New York. When I’m not working, I spend my time playing videogames or Dungeons and Dragons with my friends, at the gym, connecting with my family, or listening to music. 

graduate trainee

Yu Wang (she/her)

Hello! I am a second-year student in the Master’s Clinical Mental Health Program at UNCG. As human beings, we all regularly deal with issues that call for external support, and counseling can be a beneficial resource. I am passionate about working with college students who are currently in a period of self-exploration and important life transitions. I believe that clients are experts of their lives and powerful enough to make meaningful changes. Thus, I aim to meet clients where they are and walk alongside them as a collaborative guide, assisting in finding ways to move forward.

My counseling philosophy is rooted in the principles of person-centered therapy, which emphasizes establishing a therapeutic relationship with empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard. Based on this relationship, clients can gain awareness of internal experiences, become more fully themselves, and pursue their desired lives. I tend to utilize integrative theoretical views, such as Solution-Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The integration of various therapy theories allows me to tailor therapeutic strategies to best fulfill my clients’ needs.

As an international student, I was raised in China, and I speak both Chinese and English. I always believe that we are all independent and unique individuals who cannot be defined by any labels. I am eager to learn from you about who you are! In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching TV, going on trips, and spending time with my loved ones.