Nita and Wes have been friends for 30 years and have worked together at 3 different agencies serving the mental health needs of their community. On January 1, 2020 they decided to buy Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling. Nita and Wes share a hope and desire to continue to serve the needs of Elizabethtown and the surrounding communities for years to come.

They have plans to expand EPIC’s services to areas in need of greater support such as Meade County and Grayson County and beyond and to develop new collaborative partnerships in other communities. Nita and Wes are committed to living up to and carrying on the tradition of quality care set before them by Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling founders, Rhonda Shircliff and Rick Hollinden.

Wesley P. Monroe MSSW LCSW has been working in the mental health field for 32 years. He began his career at Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health System before spending 12 years in residential work with Baptist Homes for Children and Buckhorn Family & Children Services. Wes has been at Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling since 2012. On January 1, 2020, he and Nita Conner purchased the agency.

Wes received his BSW from Western Kentucky University, where he is a member of Delta Mu-Phi Alpha and accepted the Outstanding Social Work student award. He received his MSSW from the University of Louisville. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Work-Supervisor, licensed through the Kentucky Board of Social Work.

Wes was born and raised in Elizabethtown. He is married and shares 3 children, 3 grandchildren and a family zoo. Passions and interests include social justice, LGBTQ issues, reading, vacationing and walking his dogs.

Nita Conner, MSW, Owner has been working in the human and social services and mental health field for 28 years. She began her career in human and social services with Communicare (1992) and later worked within the community-based residential setting for eight years as a program manager and counselor. Nita joined Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling in 2003. Since 2003, Nita has provided child and adult case management services and completed her MSW internship with Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling.

Nita received her BA from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, her JSOCCP from Kent School of Social Work, and her MSW from Walden University where Nita was selected for Walden University’s chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success, Sigma Alpha Pi. Nita is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and plans to complete her CSW exam this year.

Nita was born and raised in Hardin County. She is married, treasures time spent wither her family and her four nephews. Nita and her husband have one Pekingese, Ming, that they have spoiled since the day she arrived fifteen years ago. Passions and interests include learning and research related to social work, LGBTQ issues, reading, photography, writing, fishing, and being near the water and beach.

Ashley (Ash) Brown-Malinsky was born and raised in Hardin County Kentucky and has made Elizabethtown her home. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services and Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College and her Master's Degree in Counseling and Human Development with a specialization in Mental Health Counseling also from Lindsey Wilson College. She has spent the past 4 years working with Children, Adults, and Families in both Residential and Outpatient Therapy. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, licensed through the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors.

In her free time, Ash enjoys spending time with her fiancé and three step kids. She enjoys taking her 2 fur babies on walks, visits to the dog park and out for ice cream, and she enjoys video gaming.

Amber Rahim is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counsel with a Master's degree in Human Services and Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College. Amber’s passion is helping client’s to be themselves – to be honest about where they are in life, what they want, what they need, and finding themselves to succeed. She has a holistic approach with the understanding that each client is wonderfully unique. Amber has been working with families, children, and adults since 2011. She meets with clients from ages 14 and older. Amber, originally from Alabama, has lived in Kentucky for 18 years. She is married and has two sons. Amber is available for telehealth services only.

Rosie Hardin was born and raised here in Elizabethtown and has lived here most of her life. She retired from the Cabinet for Families and Children working with Family Support. During her career she worked primarily with Aged and Disabled people providing services with eligibility for Home Health, Long Term Care, Hospice and other medical needs. She has one son and two grandsons who also live here in Elizabethtown. Rosie enjoys being outdoors, swimming and reading, but more than anything she loves spending time with her grandsons.

Daniel Douglas has been at EPIC for over a year working in many capacities: Billing clerk, maintenance, housekeeping and general rule enforcer. After a career in production he is happy to be in the public service domain. Daniel is married and has raised 6 children and been blessed with 11 grandchildren.

Carolina Pulgar Carolina Pulgar is a Case Manager. She was born and raised in Venezuela. She came to the United States in 2003. Carolina has lived in Florida, Seattle, and Washington prior to making Kentucky her forever home in 2013. She has since earned her Associates in Arts from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College and her Bachelor of Social Work from Western Kentucky University. Carolina is a member of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. She has spent the last five years working with children and families in several different settings. Carolina has also worked with substance abuse and behavioral health, outpatient treatment facilities, and government agencies. Carolina is known for her advocating skills. She has worked in the foster care system and is a foster mom herself. She speaks both English and Spanish and enjoys working with diverse communities. Carolina enjoys time with her daughters, visiting different places, road trips, and music.

Kathy Turner has been an employee of Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling, Inc. since 2001. Kathy has worked within the mental health field for twenty-five years and earned her Bachelors of Social Work through Western Kentucky University (1999). Kathy provides case management services to children (SED) and adults (SMI) populations. Case management responsibilities include but are not limited to assisting client’s with access to needed medical, social, educational and other support services, facilitating resiliency, client advocacy supports, and participation in collaborative and multi-disciplinary service delivery. Case management is delivered in multiple settings: in-home, in-office, community, and school.

Dr. Lela S Dunn, Ph.D.Licensed Clinical Psychologist (Suzie) was born and raised in Hardin County, Kentucky. She resides in Elizabethtown, Kentucky with her husband and fur babies. She has deep roots in this community going back several generations on her mother’s side. Her father, although born in Northern Kentucky, spent his adult life in Elizabethtown and served as a State Trooper, Elizabethtown Chief of Police, and Commonwealth Detective many years ago. Lela received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Louisville. She was accepted on fellowship into the University of Louisville’s Doctoral program for Clinical Psychology where she completed her Ph.D. Practicum placements included training at the VA medical center in Louisville, Kentucky. She completed her one year internship at the Federal Medical Center - Federal Bureau of Prisons in Lexington, Kentucky with a focus on women’s issues and treatment of trauma.

Early in her career she worked in an inpatient treatment program which provided services to adults and adolescents with mental health diagnoses and adults with chemical dependency issues. She also began to work in a private practice setting during this time providing outpatient psychotherapy to adults, adolescents, and children. She has a history of providing Employee Assistance Services for employees of several large corporations in Elizabethtown and Louisville, Kentucky. Lela has worked in a private practice setting for nearly 30 years; the last 20 years happily spent at this practice, Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling. (She has also maintained a part time practice in Bowling Green, Kentucky since 1998.)

Karen Baker, LMFT was born and raised in Kentucky. Her husband was a soldier in the US Army, and once he retired from the Army at Ft Knox, they remained in Kentucky. She received her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Kentucky University. She is a Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist licensed through the Kentucky Board of Marriage & Family Therapy. She has spent the last 12 years working with individuals and families in office, school and home based settings. Her experience includes working at a community based mental health practice, where she provided individual, couples and group therapy. She currently works at a private practice and provides child and family therapy services. Karen has a passion for working with kids and families, rendering guidance for the complexities of therapeutic concerns, and improving their overall mental well-being.

Lin Patterson (LPCC) obtained her Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development (M.Ed) with specialization in Mental Health Counseling from Lindsey Wilson College in 1997. She began her counseling career in 1987 prior to obtaining licensure in 2001. Her (KY) professional licenses include licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) and licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor (LCADC). Her professional background includes inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse facilities treating individuals with mental health and/or dual disorders, outpatient community mental health settings, outpatient hospital based geriatric psychiatric program, domestic violence shelter director, and private practice.

Lin has been part of the Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling (EPIC) team since 2017. In addition to treating adults with mood and anxiety disorders, she sees couples in couples therapy and children/adolescents in school or office setting. Lin is available for face to face in office treatment as well as Telemedicine.

Ashley Harris was born and raised in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and made Elizabethtown Kentucky her home in 2010. She has since earned her Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Elizabethtown Community College, her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Western Kentucky University and is a member of the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Ashley is a licensed Social Worker through the Kentucky Board of Social Work and is currently working on her LCSW. Ashley has spent the last five years working with children and families in several different settings including educational settings, outpatient treatment facilities and government Agencies. In her free time Ashley enjoys spending time with her fiancé, son and German Shepherd. Ashley's hobbies include playing chess, investing in penny stocks and taking care of her pet chickens.

Mary Ann Travillian, PMHNP-BC was raised in Western Kentucky. She has lived in rural Western Kentucky her entire life with her husband and two teenage sons, their dog Chip, and 2 cats. She has been a nurse for 20 years. Her career started by obtaining an LPN from Glasgow Health Tech and then continued five years later with an Associates in Nursing from Madisonville Community College. After several years of working in many different areas such as Acute Care, Surgery, Long-term Care, inpatient behavioral health unit, and Wound Care, Mary Ann decided to go back to school for a Bachelor's in Nursing from Western Kentucky University, graduating in 2017. "While I worked as a manager for 6 years on a behavioral health unit in a long-term care facility, I realized all of the disadvantages that existed in the mental health field for this and all populations suffering from mental health issues." She realized then that she wanted to make a difference in the care and availability of care with this and all populations suffering from mental illness. So as she finished her Bachelor’s degree she continued to work on my Masters in Nursing specializing in Mental Health. Mary Ann is now board certified through the ANCC as a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Life Span. "I am excited to work with all ages as a team to develop the best treatment plan for all clients and to help provide the best outcome."

Rick Hollinden was born in Shively Kentucky. He received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bellamine in Louisville and his master’s in Psychology from Murray State.

Rhonda Shircliff was born in Bardstown Kentucky, lived in Elizabethtown for 30 years before moving to Louisville. Rhonda received her Associates in Nursing from ECTC, her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Nursing from the University of Kentucky. She then became a nationally certified APRN through American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Rick and Rhonda both taught in their professions and both managed multiple Out-patient Clinics for Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Louisville before entering private practice in 1999 when they started Elizabethtown Partners in Counseling. They chose private practice to help change attitudes toward mental health and to bring much needed services to their community.

Rick and Rhonda are not just partners in business, but partners in life as well.