Leadership Team
Michelle Perry, Ph.D.
Owner, Clinical Psychologist
She/her/hers
Dr. Michelle Perry is the Founder and CEO of The Center for Trauma, Stress and Anxiety, LLC (CTSA), a thriving mental health practice that opened in 2016. With a strong background in clinical psychology and organizational leadership, Dr. Perry has expanded her reach beyond therapy to build a suite of aligned businesses supporting holistic healing and professional development.
In addition to leading CTSA, Dr. Perry is the Founder of Get Centered Wellness, LLC, a holistic wellness studio offering yoga, meditation, retreats, and integrative mental health services that opened in 2023. She went on to open another practice, Enlightened Journeys, LLC, in 2024, which exclusively provides psychedelic assisted therapy. Her work centers around providing coaching and consultation to practice owners, strategic planning, innovation in mental health and wellness, and empowering other leaders to scale sustainably and ethically.
Before founding her companies, Dr. Perry served as the Chief of Field Investigations within the Army Public Health Center’s Behavioral and Social Health Outcomes Program (BSHOP). In that role, she led military-wide efforts to understand and address behavioral health outbreaks across military installations, bringing deep expertise in program development, research, index case analyses, and population mental health.
As a speaker, supervisor, and consultant, Dr. Perry regularly provides professional training, presentations, and clinical supervision for emerging therapists and organizations. Her leadership is characterized by vision, integrity, and a relentless commitment to fostering environments that promote healing and growth—for both clients and clinicians.
LeeAnn Johnson, LCSW-C
Licensed Social Worker
Director | She/her/hers
LeeAnn Johnson, LCSW-C is a seasoned clinical executive with over 18 years of experience in the behavioral health field, known for her ability to seamlessly integrate compassionate client care with strategic organizational leadership. As a key leader at CTSA, LeeAnn is responsible for implementing business strategies that support growth, sustainability, and the long-term vision of the Owner/Visionary. She serves as the lead facilitator in core operational and clinical meetings, including Leadership Team, Med Management Consultations, and Treatment Team sessions, while also contributing to strategic planning and organizational retreats.
Drawing on nearly two decades of hands-on clinical expertise, LeeAnn brings both insight and empathy to her leadership style. She oversees the full recruitment and onboarding lifecycle for clinical team members, ensuring each new hire is aligned with CTSA’s mission and prepared for success. She leads performance management efforts through clearly defined metrics, direct feedback, and supportive development plans—fostering a culture of accountability and high performance.
LeeAnn continues to provide direct clinical services, maintaining an active caseload to support both her leadership role and the overall mission of the practice. She develops individualized treatment plans, conducts mental health evaluations, and delivers psychotherapy with an unwavering commitment to client-centered, evidence-based care.
Whether guiding strategy, building teams, or supporting clients, LeeAnn is a trusted, mission-driven leader who plays an integral role in fulfilling CTSA’s purpose and vision.
Jennifer Stachowiak, LCPC, PMH-C
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Clinical Director | She/her/hers
With a multifaceted role at CTSA, Jennifer Stachowiak, LCPC, brings a dynamic blend of clinical expertise, operational leadership, and a strong commitment to ethical care.
In her role as Clinical Director, Jenn oversees clinical operations, supervises key team members, and guides the development of group therapy programs. She works to ensure trauma-informed care and measurable improvements in client outcomes, while also contributing to strategic growth and outreach initiatives.
As HIPAA Privacy Officer, Jennifer safeguards client information by developing and enforcing policies that comply with evolving privacy regulations. Her focus includes conducting risk assessments, managing breaches, and providing staff training to maintain regulatory compliance.
On the administrative side, Jennifer also leads hiring, onboarding, and performance management for our support team, maintains and manages medical records, and drives process improvements to enhance operational efficiency—without compromising client or clinician experience.
And because morale matters at CTSA, Jennifer proudly serves as CTSA’s Chief Celebration Officer, planning events that foster connection, celebrate wins, and honor our incredible team.
Essence Johnson
Practice Manager and Biller
She/her/hers
Essence began her journey with CTSA in 2021 as a Client Coordinator and has since grown into her current role as Practice Manager and Biller. In this position, she oversees and supports our exceptional administrative team while managing billing operations across the practice. With extensive experience in insurance and billing, Essence understands the complexities clients often face and works diligently to ensure accurate coding, timely payments, and a smooth, transparent billing process—providing clarity and peace of mind throughout each client’s experience with CTSA.
Drawing on her foundation in client coordination, Essence brings strong expertise in customer service, administrative leadership, and operational support. She plays a vital role in managing office operations across all locations to ensure the highest standard of care is consistently delivered. Driven by a genuine passion for helping others, Essence fosters a supportive, positive, and welcoming environment for both clients, the team, and our community.
Kelly Jenssen, LCPC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Internship Director | She/her/hers
As Internship Director at CTSA, Kelly Jenssen, LCPC, has the unique honor of guiding the very program that helped shape the beginning of her own journey. Having once been an intern at CTSA herself, this full-circle moment holds deep meaning and fuels her commitment to investing in the next generation of trauma-informed clinicians.
Kelly collaborates closely with CTSA’s leadership and supervisors to ensure the internship program is not only organized and sustainable, but also deeply intentional in its design and impact, aligning with the Center’s core values. She continues to live out CTSA’s mission by maintaining a clinical caseload and building her EMDR skills—both to serve the community and to pass along advanced theoretical approaches to the students she mentors.
She leads with heart, grounded in a philosophy of compassionate accountability. She believes in creating a supportive environment where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to lean into the discomfort of learning to grow. At the same time, she holds high expectations—encouraging interns and team members alike to rise into their fullest potential with integrity and purpose.
Whether she’s mentoring a student, collaborating with colleagues, or building new pathways for development, she leads from a place of empathy, experience, and a deep belief in the power of transformation.
Erica Marshall, LCPC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Strategic Growth Coordinator | She/her/hers
Erica Marshall (LCPC) is the Strategic Growth Coordinator at The Center for Trauma, Stress, and Anxiety where she leads initiatives that drive innovation, expand partnerships, and strengthen the organization’s long-term impact. Drawing on her prior experience as Chief Operating Officer, Erica blends operational expertise with a forward-thinking approach to growth, focusing on aligning resources, building collaborations, and creating systems that expand reach while keeping the organization deeply rooted in its mission and values.
In her role, Erica also oversees marketing and communications, ensuring that the organization’s brand voice and message authentically reflect its vision and connects meaningfully with the community.
Alongside her leadership in growth and marketing, Erica is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland with specialized training as a trauma clinician. This clinical expertise provides her with a unique perspective in strategic work, allowing her to bridge the needs of staff, clients, and partners with the organizational systems that support them.
Mary Burmeister
Executive Assistant
She/her/hers
Mary Burmeister serves as Dr. Michelle Perry’s Executive Assistant. She is passionate about supporting healing opportunities for the community and the courageous people who facilitate these spaces.
Before joining the team, Mary was a Freelance Creative Director and Artist for 10+ years with a BFA from Pratt Institute. She’s made animations, illustrations, advertisements, book designs, merchandise, and helped with strategic planning for creative productions. Now she takes on fewer projects to focus her energy supporting CTSA, GCW, and Enlightened Journeys LLC. In her freetime, Mary loves to hike national parks, practice her instruments and enjoys reading with a cup of