Meet Our Core Leadership Team

Katie Wright, LCSW
Regional Director of Operations
Katie Wright received a BA in psychology from the University of Virginia in 1996 and an MSW from UC Berkeley in 2001. She has worked primarily with adult clients with serious and persistent mental health and substance abuse issues in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including Forensic ACT services in the San Francisco Bay area. She joined Carolina Outreach in 2004, and, in addition to providing supervision and training, she oversees the ACT program as well as Wilson and Smithfield sites.

Brooks Carter, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Brooks Carter is board certified in both General and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He attended medical school at East Carolina University - Brody School of Medicine and completed residency and fellowship training at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He is a North Carolina native with 14 years of psychiatric experience. He has worked primarily in outpatient community mental health settings, in both clinical and administrative roles. He also enjoys teaching and providing supervision for medical clinicians at all levels of training and experience. He looks forward to continuing to serve this population and being a part of the Carolina Outreach team.

LaKeisha Brown, LCSW, LCAS, LCMHCA, CCSI
Quality Management Director
LaKeisha Brown is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHCA), licensed clinical addictions specialist (LCAS), and certified clinical supervisor (CCSI). LaKeisha has over seven years of mental health/counseling experience specifically working with adolescents and adults who suffer from mental health and substance use disorders. LaKeisha’s career includes working in a rehabilitation setting working with adolescents and adults with disabilities, providing outpatient as well as community-based mental health services, and overseeing a school-based mental health program as a Clinical Director. LaKeisha currently holds an MSW degree in Social Work from East Carolina University (2016). She has a MS degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Winston-Salem State University (2013). She also has a BS degree in Family and Community Services with a minor in Alcohol and Drug Studies from East Carolina University (2008). She joined Carolina outreach in 2020 and proudly serves as the Director of Quality Management.

Robin Armstrong, LCSW
Clinical Director of Child Services
Robin received her BA In English from SUNY Oneonta in 2001, and her MSW from UNC Chapel Hill in 2005. Robin worked for Durham County Child Protective Services from 2005-2007 and began her tenure with Carolina Outreach in 2007. Robin has had multiple roles at Carolina Outreach, including Durham Site Manager, Intake and Assessment Manager, and IIH therapist. She is trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and is also training to become a Certified Trainer Mentor in Eco-systemic Structural Family Therapy. Her current role includes providing clinical supervision, overseeing IIH and FCT programing, as well as the Durham and Fayetteville sites.

Heidi Dohnert, LCSW, LCAS, CCS
Director of CST and Substance Use Disorder Services and New Program Development
Heidi received her BA in English at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1995 and her MSW from the The Joint Master of Social Work Program between NC A&T University and UNC Greensboro in 2004. She was a Child Welfare scholar and started her social work career working in foster care for two years. Heidi started her clinical career providing in-home therapy and case management at Carolina Outreach in 2006. She moved into providing adult services in 2009 through the Community Support team service. She began providing leadership for CST and SUD services in 2010 and has been a big contributor to the success of our CST program. In addition to overseeing program development for CST and SUD services, her current role has her overseeing our Raleigh and Charlotte sites.

Tanisha James, LCSW, LCASA
Director of Outpatient Services
Tanisha received her BA in Psychology from Queens University of Charlotte in 2000 and her MSW from UNC Charlotte in 2005. She joined Carolina Outreach in 2017 as a Clinical Supervisor and was promoted to Site Manager in 2019. Tanisha has extensive experience and training in trauma-informed approaches with children and adults. She enjoys supporting the next generation of social workers and counselors by providing clinical supervision and teaching graduate courses. Tanisha is currently seeking certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples.
_JPG.jpg)
Averill Grove
Director of Business Operations
Upon completion of her BA in Communications from Seattle Pacific University, Averill found her home in Durham, NC, and shortly thereafter, a role in administration at Carolina Outreach. Since her start with the company in 2011, Averill has worked in a wide range of administrative and managerial roles, and now oversees business operations for Carolina Outreach. Averill is passionate about supporting positive change in the communities we serve by helping to maintain a high standard of excellence in business operations and client care.