Find the person that best fits your needs.
Our Team
Michael Tui, LCMHC, NCC
Owner, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist
Life can be challenging, especially if we walk our path alone. On this journey, I hope to help guide and provide skill training that will help you increase confidence, self-worth, and self-empowerment. Sometimes, things happen that are out of our control, and we want to make sense of it all or best manage our emotions.
I have been a mental health professional for the last 15 years, and my approach to counseling is person-centered, family systems, and attachment-focused, allowing individuals to explore their inner self, healing mind, body, and soul. My training and modalities are evidence-based and successfully aid the healing process for individuals and families. This includes but is not limited to EMDR, CBT, Theraplay, Gottman's Couples Therapy, Emotional Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems. I love working with families with children of all ages. I specialize in supporting those who struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, PTSD, ADD, and any relational challenges.
My background includes law enforcement, intense work in a residential setting for teens, clinical work at a women’s shelter, volunteer work at Native Hawaiian non-profits, volunteer work as a pastoral counselor, and youth and men’s group leader. I also enjoyed the opportunities to serve and support our local first responders and veterans in crisis.
About me: Born and raised in Hawaii, I met my wife in Honolulu, and we have been married for 15 years. We have 4 children ranging from 13 years old- 2 years old and have been living here in WNC for 10 years. I love sports, the outdoors, and spending time with my family.
I look forward to supporting you on your journey.
Please call us if you would like to learn more about what Mike can provide for you and your family.
(828-229-7745)
Leighton Hannah
LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience working in counseling with adults and children. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns, including divorce, childhood trauma, depression, loss, mood disorders, etc. My counseling style is direct, coupled with a good sense of humor and a side of compassion.
I come with the approach of a “wounded healer,” hoping that my woundedness (which we all have) can serve as a source of strength and healing when counseling others. We all have our stuff, including me as a therapist, but as we move through the hardships in our lives, we can be more equipped to be present in the lives of others to create a safe space and witness whatever struggles they are presenting. I utilize dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, eclectic, IFS, and psychodynamic. I have also trained in EMDR, an evidence-based and effective treatment for many trauma-derived mental health challenges.
I support curious, motivated adults who are ready to dig in and do the work of unpacking childhood trauma and/ or life’s ups and downs. I also specialize in helping women in transition with both life and relationships. I enjoy working with adolescents as they manage their challenging life stages and work to become fully confident adults. I also love to work with parents as they support their adolescent children.
Please call us if you would like to learn more about what Leighton can provide for you and your family.
(828-229-7745)
Joe Hannah
LCSWA, LCAS
Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate
We want to welcome our newest professional to the IFC family. Joe has been such an impactful mental health professional in our community, and we are glad to have him with us. Joe comes with over 30 years of service to our community in the field of mental health and psychology, and a wealth of knowledge and skills. He has completed his Master’s in education with an emphasis in counseling psychology and a Master’s in social work.
Joe is trained in EMDR, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and the Gottman Method for Couples. Joe has much experience working with individuals struggling with addiction and their families. Joe also brings much experience working with those who have been affected by domestic violence and continues to lead groups through Safe Light and the great work that they do for our community.
Please call us if you would like to learn more about what Joe can provide for you and your family.
(828-229-7745)
Dr. Anurag Mani
LCMHCA
LMFTA
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
I'm dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families heal relationship conflicts and build stronger connections. My name, Anurag, means "love" in Hindi, which perfectly encapsulates my core belief: that love, compassion, and meaningful relationships are the driving forces behind true healing. I've witnessed the transformative power of love in my own life—through faith, family, friends, pets, and the natural world—and I believe this holistic approach is key to moving from simply surviving to truly thriving.
Whether you're facing personal anxiety, marital challenges, work-related stress, grief, or deep existential questions, I offer a compassionate and experientially-based space for exploration and growth.
My therapeutic framework is primarily relational and systemic, grounded in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). I help clients understand their attachment patterns and relational dynamics while also integrating Rogerian empathy and Existential exploration to foster self-awareness and meaning. I'm committed to creating a multicultural holding space where your voice is honored and your unique experiences are deeply respected.
My extensive academic background includes a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Central Florida, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Additionally, I bring nearly 25 years of experience providing spiritual care and emotional support in hospital settings, enriching my clinical practice with a profound understanding of human resilience and the journey of healing.
As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate in North Carolina, a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in North Carolina, and a National Certified Counselor, I'm ready to walk alongside you as a guide and support.
Please call us if you would like to learn more about what Anurag can provide for you and your family.
(828-229-7745)
Don Killian LCMHC
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
As a mental health counselor, I have enjoyed serving our community for the last 25 years, supporting many through their behavioral health challenges. I received my undergraduate degree in Sociology and English from the University of Mississippi, as well as playing baseball for Ole Miss for three years. I obtained my graduate degree in Psychology and counseling from Troy State University. I have worked with clients facing all sorts of struggles, and when you work this long in the field, you see almost every problem that can be imagined, both big and small. With this experience, I have been able to support families through the worst of traumas, pain, and grief.
I approach counseling from a person-centered perspective, recognizing the importance of the values and goals that my clients find most important. I consider myself creative and eclectic, using various evidence-based counseling modalities, dependent on the unique struggles an individual or family may be experiencing. Over the past five to seven years, I have taken a more holistic approach to counseling, recognizing the correlation between good physical health with good behavioral health. I believe that no one is born broken; therefore, no one is beyond finding a healthy balance in their physical, behavioral, and spiritual lives. Healing, recovery, and strengthening relationships are always possible. I work with individuals of all ages, both young and old. I look forward to connecting and supporting you, your child, or your whole family along this path of healing and strengthening relationships, and learning new skills.
Please call us if you would like to learn more about what Don can provide for you and your family.
(828-229-7745)
Pastoral Counseling & Life Coaching
Paul “Rob” Phelan
I am a master’s level pastoral and crisis and trauma-trained counselor with sixteen years of law enforcement and corrections experience in the State of Florida. I also hold a master’s degree in criminal justice.
I bring much experience from the world of law enforcement that helps guide my counseling and coaching approach. Some of my professional experiences include creating department policy on Hostage Negotiations for two local law enforcement agencies. I also have been the hostage negotiations team coordinator for the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office in Florida and am an FBI-trained negotiator.
I am currently employed at the North Carolina Justice Academy, teaching and creating a curriculum for hostage/crisis negotiations, domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and rapid deployment training.
Additionally, I am an adjunct professor for the Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety degree program at Florida State College. Paul is also a board member of the North Carolina Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Board.
With my career and life experiences, I approach counseling and life coaching as an opportunity to support and guide individuals to make their healthiest next steps. It’s about taking a step at a time in creating new habits, shifting our mindset, and establishing lifelong goals of happiness. Life can be so difficult at times, but I believe God wants us to find joy and experience these uplifting feelings with those we love and care about. I look forward to helping you and your family along this journey of life.
Please call us if you would like to learn more about what Rob can provide for you and your family.
(828-229-7745)
Monica Michelle, CPLC
What is holding you back? Life shifts daily; however, how we handle those shifts will allow us to face these subtle changes or become paralyzed with fear and uncertainty. As someone who has faced challenges from childhood to adulthood, I have learned how to meet these shifts head-on and would love to share with you how to overcome adversities and still see life's beauty. The popular saying of YOLO doesn’t sit right with me, as you live every day, so make it count. What is done is done and can’t be changed; however, you can learn from it and take that lesson into the next chapter of your story. I am a certified Life Coach through Maxwell Leadership and the Certified Life Coach Institute. I have been a lifelong learner and believe in learning something new daily. Through life circumstances, I had a late start to continuing my education, and I am currently finishing my Ph.D. in Forensic Psychology.
Never let walls hold you back; there is always a way to the other side. I would love to show you how, through coping skills, subtle changes, or a clean slate.
Please call us if you would like to learn more about what Monica can provide for you and your family.
(828-229-7745)
Taft Draper, RD
When you don’t feel your best, everything suffers: your work life, your personal life, and even your self-esteem. Many Americans are suffering from chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, GI issues, skin conditions, migraines, fatigue, brain fog/memory loss, or generally poor quality of life. All of these chronic conditions can be improved with better nutrition.
Sure, it is difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle on the go. And, many people don’t know where to start when they go to the grocery store or even how to cook a healthy meal. Instead, they choose what is easy or convenient, contributing to long-term chronic health issues.
When you prioritize nutrition, you save time and money by preventing or reversing chronic illnesses, spending less time feeling bad, and increasing your ability to work, play and enjoy life.
I am Taft Draper, a Registered Dietitian and Integrative Nutritionist who has made it my mission to help my clients understand that food is medicine and that it is your best ally for a healthy, happy life.