Meet Our Team
At Wild Ember, we believe the right therapeutic relationship is one of the most important factors in successful treatment. Our team brings diverse experience and specialties while sharing a commitment to compassionate, evidence-based care.
Psychiatric Care
Our PMHNP team provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and personalized treatment planning for children, adolescents, and adults. We believe in treating the whole person- not just the diagnosis, through compassionate, evidence-based care that supports longterm mental wellness and resilience.
Ashleigh McDonnell, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FIM-P
Founder & Owner | Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Veterans & Law Enforcement ·
Functional & Integrative Psychiatry ·
Equine-Assisted Therapy
Founder of Wild Ember with over a decade of behavioral health experience. Specializes in trauma, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, and the intersection of mental and physical health. Passionate about serving law enforcement, first responders, and veterans, with integrative and equine-assisted approaches alongside traditional psychiatric care.
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Jessica Dery, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Adults · Anxiety · ADHD ·
Trauma · Functional & Integrative Psychiatry
Integrative psychiatric care for adults, bridging evidence-based medicine with nervous system-informed healing. Specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, and complex ADHD presentations. Additional training in Energy Psychology and psychedelic-integrative therapy.
Kwesi Woode, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Children · Adults · Mood Disorders ·
Anxiety · ADHD · Eating Disorders
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Psychiatric NP providing evaluations and medication management for adolescents and adults. Structured, evidence-based approach with emphasis on clarity, consistency, and collaborative treatment planning.​
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Trent Pruitt, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Children · Adolescents · Adults ·
Mood Disorders · Anxiety
Board-certified Psychiatric NP with experience supporting adolescents and adults across a wide range of psychiatric needs. Emphasizes building strong therapeutic relationships and individualized treatment plans grounded in evidence-based practice.
Ned Dingeldein, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Adults · Integrative Approaches · Psychotherapy
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Over 20 years of psychiatric experience providing medication management and integrative psychiatry for adults. Incorporates motivational interviewing, CBT, and solution-focused therapy alongside thoughtful medication care.
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Therapy
Our therapy team works with children, adolescents, adults, and families to navigate challenges, build resilience, and move toward lasting emotional wellness. Using evidence based and individualized approaches, we help clients process difficult experiences, strengthen coping skills, improve relationships, and develop greater confidence in themselves and their future.
Justin Biske, LPC
Lead Therapist | Clinical Supervisor
Adults• Trauma • EMDR Trained
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Lead Therapist at Wild Ember and clinical supervisor for associate-level therapists. Specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. EMDR trained. Creates a safe, steady space grounded in honesty and a strong therapeutic relationship.
Brad Devar, LAC
Licensed Associate Therapist | School Psychologist
Children · Adults · First Responders · Educational Evaluations
Licensed Associate Counselor and School Psychologist with a background in law enforcement. Brings lived understanding of high-pressure environments and trauma exposure to his work with kids, adults, and first responders.
Carly Millsap, LAC
Licensed Associate Therapist
Children · Adolescents · Adults · Neurodivergence · ADHD · Autism
Specializes in children, teens, and families - particularly neurodivergent youth with autism and ADHD. Trauma-informed, strength-based approach with a CBT-informed focus on emotional regulation.
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Kailey Shelburn, LAC
Licensed Associate Therapist
Adults · Trauma · PTSD · Relational Wounds · EMDR Trained · IFS Trained · EFT Trained
Specializes in relational wounds, trauma, PTSD, and abuse. Trained in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Relational and integrative approach tailored to each individual.
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Support Team
While our providers guide your clinical care, our support team helps create the experience that surrounds it. From your first phone call to scheduling, care coordination, and ongoing communication, our team is dedicated to helping you feel welcomed, supported, and cared for every step of the way.
Marc McDonnell
Owner | US Marine Corp Veteran
Marc is part owner of Wild Ember Psychiatry & Therapy, supporting the practice through operations, logistics, and community engagement.
He is a USMC veteran, service-connected disabled veteran, and former law enforcement officer, bringing lived experience that informs the practice’s commitment to serving veterans, first responders, and their families.
Kiyra Garcia
Equine Specialist
Kiki brings over seven years of equine experience to Wild Ember and is the proud owner of two horses. She competes locally in barrel racing and will begin a Veterinary Assistant program this fall as she works toward a career in equine health. At Wild Ember, Kiki assists with horse care, training, conditioning, and supports our equine-assisted programs. You may even see Kiki alongside her heart horse, Tibby, sharing her passion for horses.
Cristine Bargayo
Client Services Manager
Cristine is the heart of our front office- she's often the first voice you'll hear when you contact Wild Ember. With warmth, responsiveness, and meticulous attention to detail, she handles scheduling, coordination, and communication to ensure every client feels welcomed and supported from day one.
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Karleigh Bernstein
Practice Assistant
Karleigh supports the admin team by assisting with the day to day duties that keeps the practice running. She will be attending college in the fall and hopes to pursue a career in psychology in the future. Karleigh enjoys working with children.
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