Our Team

Julie Yesmunt, LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Chief Executive Officer, Lansing Psychological Associates

Julie Yesmunt, LMSW, is a Christian-oriented Licensed Master Social Worker who provides compassionate, client-centered therapy for adults and adolescents. With a deep commitment to helping individuals and families thrive, Julie offers individual, couples, and family counseling grounded in both clinical expertise and spiritual understanding.

Julie specializes in a range of therapeutic areas including assertiveness training, relationship building, personal organization, self-esteem development, parenting strategies, and life transition support. Her work is guided by evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and family systems theory.

Julie is known for creating a warm and supportive environment where clients can explore challenges and build lasting skills for personal growth. In addition to her clinical practice, she serves as CEO of the Lansing Psychological Associates Board, where she provides strategic leadership and upholds the organization’s mission of delivering high-quality, integrative mental health services.

James R. Engelkes, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

President, Lansing Psychological Associates

 Dr. James R. Engelkes is a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Michigan with over 40 years of experience in mental health and rehabilitation. He offers individual and couples psychotherapy for adults and older adolescents, drawing on an eclectic therapeutic approach that integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques with psychodynamic insights. His clinical work is grounded in a Christian orientation, providing clients with care that aligns with their values when desired.

He maintains a broad mental health and rehabilitation caseload, with many clients seeking help for issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress-related concerns.

A former Full Professor at Michigan State University (1969–1985), Dr. Engelkes has been recognized for his contributions to the field as past President of the Michigan Vocational Guidance Association and through listings in Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in America, and International Biographies.

Dr. Engelkes currently serves as President of the Lansing Psychological Associates (LPA) Board, continuing his longstanding commitment to advancing psychological care and guidance in the community.

Jamie Arnold, D.O.

Board-Certified Adult Psychiatrist

Jamie Arnold, D.O. is a Board-Certified Adult Psychiatrist licensed in the State of Michigan with a primary focus on psychopharmacology and medication management. She provides outpatient psychiatric services at Lansing Psychological Associates and currently serves as the practice’s Medical Director. Since completing her residency in 2015, Dr. Arnold has also maintained a clinical role at Community Mental Health in Lansing, treating individuals with chronic and severe mental illness.

Dr. Arnold completed her undergraduate education through the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University and earned her medical degree from MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. She subsequently completed her psychiatric residency training at Michigan State University, where she trained under several nationally recognized leaders in the field.

Dr. Arnold specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, and pharmacologic treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and other adult psychiatric conditions. Her clinical approach is rooted in evidence-based medicine, with a strong emphasis on individualized treatment planning and close monitoring of therapeutic response. While her primary role involves medication management, she recognizes the value of integrated care and supports collaboration with therapists and other providers to optimize patient outcomes.

G. David Harris, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist

David Harris, Ph.D. is a Licensed Psychologist in the State of Michigan who works with adolescents, adults and couples. He offers a supportive, collaborative space where clients can explore challenges and work toward meaningful personal and relational growth.

Dr. Harris takes an eclectic approach to therapy, tailoring treatment to each person’s needs by drawing from cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, behavioral, and solution-focused techniques. His areas of focus include depression, anxiety, grief and loss, communication and relationship issues, parenting support, family dynamics, and LGBTQ+ concerns.

With a warm, empathetic style, Dr. Harris strives to help clients feel heard, understood, and empowered as they navigate life’s difficulties and pursue positive change.

 

 

Wendy MacFarland Nicholson, MS, LLP

Wendy MacFarland Nicholson, M.S., LLP has been providing clinical services to children, adolescents, college students, adults, families, and couples since 1996. Her experience spans both residential and outpatient treatment settings.  Wendy employs an eclectic and collaborative approach to therapy, creating a compassionate and safe environment where clients can explore new strategies to foster meaningful, adaptive, and well-adjusted lives. She utilizes a broad range of interventions aimed at positively influencing emotional, physical, cognitive, and spiritual well-being.

Her clinical expertise includes working extensively with adolescents presenting behavioral disorders, histories of abuse and neglect, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, and family conflict. Wendy also treats adults and couples experiencing adjustment difficulties, mood and anxiety disorders, attention issues and relationship challenges. She emphasizes the implementation of clear, concrete strategies designed to help clients make measurable progress toward individualized treatment goals.

In addition to direct clinical care, Wendy has also contributed to the professional development of graduate students, child welfare staff, and foster parents through specialized training programs.

Sandra P. Kazor, MS, LLP

Sandra P. Kazor, M.S., LLP is a Master’s-level Psychologist who has been providing therapy to individuals of all ages since 1996. She brings extensive experience in working with children, adolescents, and adults across a wide range of diagnoses and clinical needs.

Her areas of specialty include anxiety, anger management, stress, self-esteem, relationship conflict, life transitions, and traumatic brain injuries. Sandra offers individual, couples, and family therapy, tailoring her treatment approach to each client. While her foundation is in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), she draws from other evidence-based modalities as needed to provide the most personalized and effective care.

Sandra is dedicated to creating a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients feel safe to explore challenges and build meaningful change. She has experience working with individuals from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and is bilingual in English and Spanish, offering therapy in both languages for those who prefer to communicate in Spanish.

Teresa Townsend, LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Teresa Townsend, LMSW has been practicing social work since 1997, with experience serving children (ages 5-18), adults, seniors, and veterans. She holds a school social work license and is trained in family and play therapy. Teresa has provided services in school, outpatient, and hospital settings.

Her clinical expertise includes treatment for anger management, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, codependency, stress, and supportive therapy. She integrates evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Family Systems approaches.

Teresa offers a holistic approach to well-being that incorporates Christian values, emphasizing the connection between healing and faith to support the mind, body, and soul.

Kathryn Loy, LMSW

Licensed Master Social Worker

Kathryn holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and has over ten years of experience providing services to youth and families within medical, mental health, school, community mental health, and hospital settings.

She works with individuals aged five and older, with a primary focus on youth, families, and young adults facing challenges such as college stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, self-esteem difficulties, anger management, conflict resolution, adjustment disorders, communication issues, and trauma-focused treatment.

Kathryn employs an eclectic therapeutic approach, integrating multiple evidence-based methods alongside psychodynamic principles. Her primary modalities include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, Active Listening, and Psychodynamic Therapy. She believes that through open communication and personalized treatment, individuals can rediscover healthy patterns of thinking and living.

“My goal for each session is to ensure that people feel heard. I provide a warm, calming environment that is safe for all words and emotions.”

Valerie Hathaway, MA, LLP

Limited Licensed Psychologist

Valerie specializes in supporting adults, first responders, veterans, military personnel, healthcare workers, mothers, and college students facing challenges with mental health, trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use recovery, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.

Valerie’s goal is to provide a safe, compassionate space where clients feel heard, understood, and empowered. With a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University and a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Chinese from Carthage College, I am passionate about helping individuals build resilience and navigate life’s challenges with strength and confidence.