Professional therapy and pastoral counseling
Our Team
Dr. Jack Ragland
Clinical Director/Therapist
Laura Frederick
Therapist
Sam Hawkins
Therapist
Sara Willhite
Therapist
Amanda Ragland, Executive Director, D.Min., LMFT
- Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family Therapy from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Approved Supervisor by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Licensed Supervisor of Supervision – Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- Diplomate of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
- Distinguished Alumni, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2015
- Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Read Dr. Ragland’s blog posts on a variety of topics here. Watch Dr. Ragland, along with other members of the Vine’s team, share her sense of calling and experience as a therapist here.
Jack Ragland, Clinical Director, D.Min., LMFT
- Doctor of Ministry in Marriage and Family Therapy from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Master of Divinity from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Licensed Approved Supervisor by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Licensed Supervisor of Supervision – Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- Distinguished Alumni, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2015
- Fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
- Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Read Dr. Ragland’s blog posts here. Watch Dr. Ragland along with other members of the Vine’s team, share his sense of calling and experience as a therapist here.
Mickey D. Jett, D.Min., NCC
- Certified Pastoral Counselor with AAPC, Fellow
- Fellow with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors
- M.S. Counseling, Columbus State University (Columbus, GA)
- Army Chaplain (Retired), LTC, 25 years (Deployments to Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan)
- Recipient of Bronze Star and Legion of Merit
- D.Min. in Pastoral Ministry, Erskine Theological Seminary (Due West, SC)
- M.Div., Church of God Theological Seminary (Cleveland, TN)
- Ordained Minister Pastoral Ministry and Word by the Church of God (Cleveland, TN)
- 2 years Hospital Chaplain
- Church Planter and Pastor ChristWay Church, Huntsville
- Director of Family Life Counseling Center, SHAPE, Belgium (2002-2004)
Sarah Bengs, MSW, LiCSW
- B.S. California Polytechnic University
- Masters of Social Work from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
- Licensed Graduate Social Worker with the State of Alabama
- Years of social work experience and counseling with teens and families through Care Net of North America
- Therapist Intern with National Children’s Advocacy Center
Watch Sarah, along with other members of the Vine’s team, share her sense of calling and experience as a therapist here.
Laura Frederick, LMFT
- M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, MS
- B.A., Religion, Luther Rice University, Lithonia, GA
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
- Clinical training in EMDR and Gottman method couples counseling.
- Prepare/Enrich Facilitator in pre-marriage assessment
- Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Award, Reformed Theological Seminary, 2017
Watch Laura, along with other members of the Vine’s team, share her sense of calling and experience as a therapist here.
Browse articles written by Laura on our blog here.
Robbie Dodson, MSW, LiCSW
- B.S. Jacksonville State University
- Masters of Social Work from Florida State University
- Professional Supervisor for Social Work Graduates
- Certified Trainer for The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
- Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader
- Royal Family Kids Camp Social Worker
Watch Robbie, along with other members of the Vine’s team, share her sense of calling and experience as a therapist here.
Rhonda Pemberton, MSW, LiCSW
- B.S. of Special Education from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee
- Masters of Social Work from The University of Tennessee
- Counselor at The Smokey Mountain Children’s Home
- Clinical Director of The Smokey Mountain Children’s Home
- Years of experience in Private Practice
Sam Hawkins, ALC
- Associate Licensed Counselor (ALC) under the clinical supervision of Brittany M. Holland, LPC-S, and Jack Ragland, D. Min., LMFT.
- Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Louisiana in Monroe
- Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Southwestern College
- Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
- 25-year career in engineering field.
- Ordained Minister of the Gospel.
Read Sam’s article “The Lenton Journey”
Browse all of Sam’s blog posts here.
Emily Garnett, MSW, LiCSW
- Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Auburn University
- Master’s degree in Social Work, from the University of Alabama.
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker by the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners.
- Years of experience in medical social work, with an emphasis in Oncology. Has worked extensively with individuals and families providing supportive counseling, resource management, and addressing issues related to chronic illness.
Sara Willhite
- Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Alabama.
- Undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Bowling Green State University.
- School Resource Officer for Limestone County Schools for 8 years before transitioning to a social worker for the schools.
- Experience working with kids and families on issues relating to anxiety, depression, grief, ODD, anger management, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome and Autism.
- Under the clinical supervision of Jack Ragland, LMFT and Robbie Dodson LiCSW.
Meet our team
Mission and Vision
Who we are
The Vine is an pastoral counseling center that promotes emotional healing with the love and grace of Christ. For over twenty years the Vine has sought to facilitate healing and wholeness in human life and relationships using faith resources.
The mission of The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center is to provide services for individuals, couples, families and congregations that will facilitate healing and wholeness in human life and relationships. Services will be provided to any person regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status or faith perspective.
- Individuals
- Couples
- Families
- Congregations
Supporting Churches
In Huntsville:
- All Saints Lutheran Church
- Covenant Presbyterian Church
- Faith Presbyterian Church
- Fellowship Presbyterian
- First Baptist Church *
- First Christian (DOC)
- First Missionary Baptist Church
- First Presbyterian Church
- Holmes Street UMC
- Hope Presbyterian
- Life Church Huntsville
- Church of The Nativity, Episcopal
- Weatherly Heights Baptist Church
In Madison:
In Hampton Cove:
In New Market:
In Athens:
Supporting Organizations:
Robert Donnell Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church
History of the Vine
In 1998 a committee from the Huntsville Association for Pastoral Care was formed to explore the need an ecumenical pastoral counseling center. During this process, Frank Broyles, Executive Director of Huntsville Association for Pastoral Care (HAPC), introduced Amanda and Jack Ragland to Jim Norris. The Raglands and Jim shared a common vision for a pastoral counseling center, one that would be supported by local congregations partnering to provide counseling. Individuals, couples, and families in North Alabama would be served, regardless of their ability to pay.
In March of 1999, The Vine Pastoral Counseling Center was established, and the vision became a reality. The name of The Vine is taken from John 15:5: “I am the Vine; you are the branches…apart from me you can do nothing.” This reflects the Center’s being rooted in Christ while seeking to be vessels for His compassion and healing.
The Vine was officially incorporated on February 2, 1999, with the initial Board of Directors consisting of the following:
- Rev. George Wagner, Madison Christian (DOC)
- Rev. Bobby Ray Halbrooks, Madison UMC
- Rev. David E. Tew, First Baptist Church, Madison
- Rev. Carl Malm, The Huntsville Association of Pastoral Care
- Mrs. Jeanne Hightower, lay representative from Faith Presbyterian
- Rev. Robin Palmer, representing the Huntsville Association of Pastoral Care
- Rev. David Tubbs, Good Shepherd UMC, Madison
- Rev. Hugh Tobias, Trinity Baptist Church, Madison
- Rev. Jim Roberts, Hope Presbyterian Church, Huntsville
- Rev. Frank Broyles, The Huntsville Association of Pastoral Care
- Rev. Fred Webster, Grace UMC, Madison
- Rev. Michael Wilson, Trinity Baptist Church, Madison
