Best counselors in Cayce
This ranks the 15 highest-scoring counselors and therapy practices in Cayce using our methodology, which weighs rating, review volume, recency, and sentiment together rather than star rating alone.
Looking specifically for a therapist who works with kids or teens? See our best child & adolescent counseling list, which ranks specialists in that area separately.
Picks are ranked by score and relevance to counselor, so a lower overall score can rank higher here.
At a glance
| # | Business | Score | Rating | From | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Cayce | 88 | 4.6 (221) | — | Full-service therapy & psychiatry |
| 2 | Maihan Yazmine Aurah, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | 83 | 4.8 (47) | — | Medication management with a personal touch |
| 3 | Michelle Whitlow-Blanding, Counselor | 78 | 5 (8) | — | All-ages individual & family counseling |
| 4 | Duncan Howe, Counselor | 78 | 4.7 (21) | — | First-time clients wary of therapy |
| 5 | Kya Coreisa Davis, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | 78 | 4.7 (27) | — | Psychiatric care with clear explanations |
| 6 | Debbie Maxwell, Counselor | 73 | 4.8 (12) | — | Trauma & grief work with practical tools |
| 7 | Nancy Winston, Counselor | 72 | 5 (12) | — | Unhurried, goal-focused sessions |
| 8 | Karen M Smith, Counselor | 71 | 5 (6) | — | Real-world guidance on grief & relationships |
| 9 | Jenkins Simply Said Counseling Service, LLC | 70 | 5 (19) | — | Long-term experience with anxious clients & kids |
| 10 | Lynn Gilderhus, Counselor | 70 | 5 (3) | — | Couples & trauma work |
| 11 | Erica Whitaker, Counselor | 70 | 5 (3) | — | Warm intro sessions with CBT/DBT tools |
| 12 | Robert Karpe, Counselor | 69 | 5 (3) | — | Trauma-informed CBT/DBT with a relaxed style |
| 13 | LaToya Edwards, Counselor | 68 | 5 (9) | — | Anxiety, depression & trauma, in-person or online |
| 14 | Valentine Baptiste-Thomas, Counselor | 68 | 5 (2) | — | CBT-based trauma support |
| 15 | Maggie Malaney, Counselor | 67 | 5 (3) | — | Direct, no-frills guidance |
Ranked picks
LifeStance Therapists & Psychiatrists Cayce
Why it ranks first
With 221 reviews and a 4.6 rating, this practice has by far the largest review base on this list, backed by the highest composite score. Reviewers point to attentive therapists, careful medication management, and a genuinely stable telehealth setup, which matters for anyone who wants both talk therapy and psychiatric care under one roof.
Pros
- Attentive, responsive therapists
- Skilled medication management
- Reliable video visits
- Punctual, well-run scheduling
Watch out: Verification on file is limited, so confirm insurance and intake details directly.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, substance abuse counseling, grief trauma counseling
Maihan Yazmine Aurah, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Why it ranks second
Maihan Aurah pairs a high 4.8 rating with a strong volume of 47 reviews, giving this pick solid confidence. Patients describe a clinician who remembers details between visits and will actually adjust a treatment plan that isn't working, rather than sticking with a default approach.
Pros
- Adjusts medications when prior approaches fail
- Refers out to therapy when appropriate
- Zoom appointments available
- Follows up to confirm treatment is working
Watch out: One patient mentioned the online booking portal was hard to navigate.
Services: mental health counseling
Michelle Whitlow-Blanding, Counselor
Why it ranks third
Every one of Michelle Whitlow-Blanding's eight reviews is five-star, and clients specifically credit regular sessions with her for meaningful healing. She's licensed since 2016 and covers individual, family, and play therapy, which gives her range across age groups.
Pros
- Perfect 5-star record across reviews
- Warm, attentive in-session presence
Watch out: Review volume is still modest, so treat this as an emerging track record.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Duncan Howe, Counselor
Why it ranks fourth
Duncan Howe draws people back who avoided counseling for years after a bad prior experience, according to his reviews, thanks to a low-pressure style paired with strategies clients can put to use right away. He also handles psychiatry referrals within the same session when needed.
Pros
- Practical coping tools alongside good listening
- Creates a safe, low-pressure space
- Quick to schedule
- Can route to psychiatry referrals in-session
Watch out: A few reviewers mention inconsistent front-desk warmth or login/tech friction.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Kya Coreisa Davis, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Why it ranks fifth
Kya Davis holds a 4.7 rating across 27 reviews, one of the higher-volume, higher-confidence entries here. Patients say she listens carefully and explains medication options in plain terms, and most describe efficient appointments without unnecessary delays.
Pros
- Thorough explanation of treatment options
- Efficient, no-nonsense appointments
- Professional, caring demeanor
- Warm, validating office environment
Watch out: A handful of reviews mention a rude front-desk interaction or disagreement over treatment choices.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling
Debbie Maxwell, Counselor
Why it ranks sixth
Debbie Maxwell holds a 4.8 rating from 12 reviews, with clients calling out her knowledge and the concrete techniques she hands clients to use between sessions. She's compassionate with trauma and grief cases specifically.
Pros
- Teaches usable between-session techniques
- Puts new clients at ease quickly
- Clear explanations of therapeutic concepts
- Compassionate with grief and trauma
Watch out: One patient felt she moved trauma interventions too quickly for their pace.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Nancy Winston, Counselor
Why it ranks seventh
Nancy Winston has a perfect 5-star rating across 12 reviews and stands out for taking her time rather than rushing clients toward resolution. She works with a range of ages and relationship types, with both online and in-person options.
Pros
- Unhurried, respectful pacing
- Skilled at goal-setting
- Practical, actionable advice
- Online and in-person flexibility
Watch out: Several reviewers flagged a strict cancellation policy and difficulty reaching the office by phone.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Karen M Smith, Counselor
Why it ranks eighth
Karen Smith's six reviews are all five-star, with clients describing breakthroughs on grief and relationship issues using advice grounded in real experience rather than a textbook script. It's a smaller sample, but the sentiment is uniformly strong.
Pros
- Calm, personable manner
- Experience-based rather than generic advice
Watch out: Only six reviews on record, so depth of evidence is limited.
Services: mental health counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Jenkins Simply Said Counseling Service, LLC
Why it ranks ninth
LaRaine Jenkins brings over 25 years of experience and a perfect 5-star record across 19 reviews. Clients single out her directness and humor for helping anxious introverts and children open up, which is a specific and useful strength.
Pros
- 25+ years as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor
- Effective with anxious and introverted clients
- Works well with children and families
- Honest, direct feedback
Watch out: Recency score is lower than others here, so some reviews may be a few years old.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Lynn Gilderhus, Counselor
Why it ranks tenth
Lynn Gilderhus earns a perfect rating across a small sample, with reviewers highlighting fast trust-building even with people skeptical of therapy. His couples work on communication and shared trauma reportedly shows results within weeks.
Pros
- Trauma and PTSD focus
- Builds trust quickly with skeptics
Watch out: Based on only three reviews, so treat as an early signal rather than a broad track record.
Services: mental health counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
Erica Whitaker, Counselor
Why it ranks #11
Erica Whitaker's three reviews are unanimous in describing her as caring and easy to talk to, with every reviewer saying they left feeling better. She offers specialized approaches including CBT, DBT, and mindfulness.
Pros
- Genuinely empathetic manner
- Comfortable for first-time clients
Watch out: Very small review count so far.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Robert Karpe, Counselor
Why it ranks #12
Robert Karpe is trauma-certified (CCTP II) and trained in CBT and DBT, and his three reviews describe a patient, down-to-earth style that helps clients open up on hard topics. Both telehealth and in-office visits are available.
Pros
- Trauma-certified (CCTP II)
- CBT and DBT trained
Watch out: Only a handful of reviews so far.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, grief trauma counseling, career life coaching
LaToya Edwards, Counselor
Why it ranks #13
LaToya Edwards is a Licensed Professional Counselor with supervisory credentials, and one reviewer called a year of working with her life-changing, citing progress across multiple areas of life. She's based in the Bank of America building with both in-person and telehealth options.
Pros
- Licensed with supervisory credentials
- Specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma
Watch out: One reviewer mentioned the office location signage is hard to find.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, career life coaching
Valentine Baptiste-Thomas, Counselor
Why it ranks #14
Valentine Baptiste-Thomas is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in CBT and trauma support. The available review is positive but limited to a single comment, so this is best treated as a newer, less-documented option on this list.
Pros
- Licensed clinical social worker
- CBT and trauma-focused approach
Watch out: Only one review on record, so there's very little to go on yet.
Services: mental health counseling, child adolescent counseling, career life coaching
Maggie Malaney, Counselor
Why it ranks #15
Maggie Malaney has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 2015 and works with diverse populations including military members and LGBTQ+ clients. The single review on file calls her clear, approachable, and trustworthy.
Pros
- LPC since 2015
- Clear, direct communication style
Watch out: Based on very few reviews, so this is a lighter-evidence pick.
Services: child adolescent counseling, mental health counseling, grief trauma counseling