Meet Our Team!
Welcome We Are So Glad You’re Here
Jennifer Sutton
(she/her/hers) M.ed LCMHCA NCC (Owner and Counselor)
Jennifer Sutton grew up in the small community of Pittsboro with her two sisters and a brother. She has been part of the chronic pain community most of her life and has first hand experience with the physical and emotional struggles that comes with pain. She found her passion for working with people who suffer from chronic pain and illness when she discovered how isolating pain can be and the lack of resources available for those who struggle. Jennifer is an LCMHCA in the state of North Carolina.
Jennifer opened Chronic Hope Counseling in 2019 with the hope to create a place where everyone in the chronic pain and illness community could come and heal. A few years later in 2021 she founded Chronic Hope Cares, a non profit organization to help support those with chronic pain and illness from a different angle.
Jennifer knows every client is unique therefore every session and approach has to be unique too. She uses an eclectic approach to counseling often combining several different modalities such as CBT, person centered, motivational interviewing and many more different modalities that best matches the client’s need. Jennifer tends to like to take a goal oriented approach to counseling, when it matches the client’s needs, and always goes with the flow to make sure her clients are getting the most out of every session.
Rates:
Accepts BCBS Insurance
$135 Intake Session
$120 for sessions after intake
Kristy Bastone-Baker
(she/her/hers), LCMHCA, NCC, C-AAIS, MEd, MA, RYT-200
Kristy has been a part of the chronic pain and illness community for over a decade. She has firsthand experience juggling work, family, and school schedules along with symptoms, self-care, and appointments.
Kristy has a diverse background in counseling, leadership, and research. A few years ago, she decided to leave her full-time career in the U.S. Navy to pursue a career in counseling. Her clinical counseling experience includes working with clients of all ages on a wide range of issues, including chronic pain and illness, anxiety, parenting, adoption, trauma, abuse, LGBTQIA+ identity, addiction, and grief. She has past experience doing animal assisted therapy with dogs and horses. Kristy and her rescued Beagador (half beagle, half Labrador), Kali, are a certified pet therapy team through Canines for Service. Kali loves being a therapy dog with her happy demeanor and calm presence.
Depending on the age and presenting concerns of clients, Kristy incorporates mindfulness, cognitive behavioral, strengths-based, and feminist therapies. Kristy is a graduate of the M.Ed. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at North Carolina State University. She also holds an M.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding from California State University.
Rates:
Accepts BCBS Insurance
$135 Intake Session
$120 for sessions after intake
Amy Prokopowicz
she/her/hers) MA, NCC, MAC, LCMHC, LCAS
Amy is a licensed mental health and addiction clinician with more than 16 years of experience working in community mental health and private practice and facilitating groups. Amy earned a BS from North Carolina State University and an MA in Agency Counseling from North Carolina Central University.
Amy is too familiar with chronic illness and injury. A head injury in 2019 has left her with a visual processing disorder as well as other chronic symptoms. To quote Rumi “The wound is the place where the light enters you” has been a guiding quote to find new abilities and opportunities. Amy takes an eclectic and holistic approach to counseling focused on mind and body connection. Amy is passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their lives and incorporate mental, physical, spiritual, and financial self-care into daily routines. Amy is open to collaborating with alternative treatment professionals not limited to acupuncture, hydrotherapy, equine therapy, yoga, massage and Ayurvedic medicine. In her free time, she can be found on her yoga mat, exploring nature and enjoying outdoor sports.
Rates:
Accepts BCBS Insurance
$135 Intake Session
$120 for sessions after intake
Shaunte’ Johnson
LCMHC, LCAS
Shaunte is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist with over 8 years of experience. Shaunte has worked with multiple populations and with people from all walks of life. Shaunte received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Rehabilitation Counseling from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2015. Shaunte is part of the chronic pain community with two of her close family members living with chronic pain. When one person in a family struggles with pain/illness it affects everyone, and Shaunte understands that better than most.
Shaunte works with clients of all ages and with anyone in the chronic pain/illness community Whether you are the patient, the caregiver, the parent, or the friend, Shaunte is ready to work with you and help you process and grow. Shaunte also has the licensure and experience to help clients through any addiction struggles that they may find themselves going through.
Shaunte is here and ready to help you live beyond your pain and work towards your personal goals.
$135 Intake Session
$120 for sessions after intake
BCBS Pending
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
Brianna King
(she/her/hers) NTP, RYT
Brianna is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner who graduated from the Nutritional Therapy Association in 2022. Prior to working in the field of nutrition, she earned a BA from the University of Delaware in creative writing, and a yoga teacher certification in 2013. Her own personal chronic health experiences with gastrointestinal and gut struggles, food sensitivities, migraines, brain fog, fatigue, and skin conditions over a 10 year period led her to a passion for nutrition and wellness.
Brianna found a passion in helping others learn more about their bodies, stay energized, sleep well, and feel more in control of their health day to day. Brianna specializes in digestion, gut health and is trained in symptom-root cause discovery to find culprits for some of the most common symptoms many people experience, like gas, bloating, heartburn, insomnia, brain fog, acne, fatigue, and rashes. Her work in nutritional therapy takes the entire person into account by looking at diet, digestion, stress, movement, sleep, hormones, mental load, and more, to look at the entire wellness picture. In her free time she can be found doing yoga, taking baths, hanging out with her family, hiking, decorating, crafting, reading, and eating!
Clinical Interns
Amy Merritt
Amy is currently attending the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at NCSU and is excited to continue her training at Chronic Hope. Though her counseling journey has just begun, she brings a long professional history in higher education, including teaching and academic advising, that informs her counseling practice.
Amy’s experience with chronic pain began in her early twenties following a severe back injury. MRIs, medication, and physical therapy followed, but the injury permanently compromised her lower lumbar vertebrae. Amy has experienced the mental and emotional impact of accepting that pain will be a permanent part of one’s future of realizing that pain and ability level is often invisible to others and that pain management interactions with medical professionals can be a confusing and demoralizing process where we are often made to doubt our own physical experiences. By developing a meaningful relationship grounded in compassion, patience, and attentive listening, Amy strives to create an approach tailored to individual clients’ needs that provides unconditional support in pursuit of their goals
Rates:
$25-55 for a 50-55 Session
Tory is currently in her final semester at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University pursuing her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Rehabilitation Counseling. Tory recently completed an internship with Durham Vocational Rehabilitation Services where she counseled clients to help them find and maintain employment while living with chronic illness. Additionally, Tory has led local chronic pain support groups for several years.
Tory’s experience with chronic pain began during her teen years when scoliosis fusion surgery was unsuccessful. Several additional surgeries and years of medication for ongoing pain, doctor invalidation, and being rigidly stuck to a “suck it up”mindset led to depression, anxiety, and shame.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) gave Tory a new perspective on chronic pain and living purposefully. Through mental health therapy, physical therapy, and medication management, Tory was able to set meaningful goals and eventually pursue her master’s degree.
Tory is excited to work with adults of all ages and backgrounds to incorporate mindfulness and purposeful living in her counseling work at Chronic Hope.
Rates:
$25-55 for a 50-55 Session
Tory Kusam
Victoria is a new intern at Chronic Hope who attends NCSU for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has a diverse history of working in the mental health field as a national crisis line advocate, and volunteering at refugee centers for mental health community support. Seven years ago Victoria was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. She comes from a family line of diabetics and was a caregiver for her mother also lived with diabetes. Then in 2021, she was hit by a car that led to a spinal injury.
For years she felt like being "strong" was the only option she had, and often experienced racism and discouragement by other professionals when seeking medical help. Deep down it felt like no one out there could really feel her pain or accept her existence.
Now, Victoria dedicates living through the meaning of empowering yourself to continue your story. She wants to uplift others in finding inspiration in themselves and fight against mental health stigmas. She follows a holistic and uplifting approach where every feeling is validated and advocated for with justice
Rates:
$25-55 for a 50-55 Session
