New Staff Members Join Wellness Center

Westminster College recently welcomed two new members to The Wellness Center staff.

C.C. Cassell , Psy.D., is a part-time counselor at The Wellness Center.

She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Georgia School of Professional Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the state of Missouri and California. She completed her APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at Texas Woman’s University Counseling Center, followed by two post-doctoral fellowships. Her first fellowship was with Sheppard Pratt Hospital’s Trauma Disorders Program, and her second was with the University of California San Francisco’s Trauma Recovery Center. Dr. Cassell has worked in a variety of clinical settings, including a domestic violence shelter, employee assistance office, private practice, maximum security prison, veteran’s hospital, inpatient psychiatric unit, college counseling center and an outpatient mental health clinic.

Her research and clinical interests include complex trauma, dissociative disorders, grief, spirituality, resilience, acculturation, emotional intelligence, mentalization, interpersonal relationships, the intersection of cultural identities and the impact of systemic oppression, as well as a host of social justice matters, particularly those relating to the confluence of poverty, racism, crime, justice and culture.

She is especially passionate about serving survivors of various types of trauma, including sex and human trafficking, domestic/interpersonal violence, traumatic loss, torture, child maltreatment, community violence, physical and sexual assault/abuse, natural and human-caused disasters, racism/oppression, serious injuries/illnesses/accidents, as well as torture, political persecution, terrorism and war-related trauma. She is an emphatic foodie and loves learning, cooking, hiking, traveling, reading, watching new films and bonding with loved ones, especially her many nieces, nephews and God-children.

Michelle Craighead, M.Ed, is the part-time student care specialist.

She received her master’s in counseling psychology with an emphasis in career psychology from the University of Missouri in May 2015 and has worked in various roles in case management and job coaching for nonprofits as well as student advisement and career counseling for higher education.

Her role as a mentor is designed to promote a positive learning experience at Westminster and help any student overcome potential obstacles related to academics and campus engagement. She is a source of support and can help students assess time management, sleep wellness, stress management, goal and decision-making, career planning or any other concerns preventing them from succeeding and graduating college. 

Originally from the rural Kansas City area, Michelle can be found spending free time with her husband, Patrick, and daughter, Emersen, in the outdoors, where she enjoys fishing, gardening, barbecuing, swimming or romping in the yard. She also loves traveling on long road trips, eating Mexican food, watching old Hollywood movies, cooking programs, anything HGTV and trying new recipes. Michelle and her family attend The Lighthouse Church in Kingdom City.