ABOUT
About Tri-Star Counseling
Helping You Find Balance with Quality Therapy Solutions
Tri-Star Counseling was founded by a native Appalachians to bring quality, affordable mental health solutions across Tennessee and Virginia. Tri-Star Counseling offers in-person and telehealth therapy for grief, trauma, substance use, anxiety, depression, anger, couples, and men who need help getting it all back together for better living.
Your time with us is a safe and non-judgmental space for sharing your feelings, struggles, fears, and challenges. We offer a listening ear, an understanding attitude, a compassionate approach, and solid tools for coping with all life throws at you. Your therapy with us may include a combination of approaches that best suit what you face and how to help you handle it.
We are located just off Interstate 81 in the Colonial Heights area near Kingsport, and our office is easy to find and within minutes of Johnson City and Bristol. Contact us today at 423-430-9687 or message us online to ask for your first appointment.
Meet Our Therapists
Brent says:
“Being a Therapist is an honor. I love helping people become healthier and more empowered and seeing them finally get the life they desire. The most rewarding thing about being a Therapist is seeing a person walk away lighter, freer, and excited about their life.”
“I am committed to guiding you to where things feel manageable again.”
Brent Metcalf, LCSW
Therapy for adults in-person in Kingsport, TN and online across Tennessee and Virginia.
Brent is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has always been the support for family and friends. This natural role became his passion from an early age and shaped his desire to become a therapist. Brent completed a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Human Services at Carson-Newman University and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Tennessee.
He has also completed graduate certificates in Trauma Treatment and Clinical Substance Use Counseling. With experience in child welfare, as a therapist, and as a mental health consultant, Brent desired to bring personal mental health therapy services to his home region of Appalachia. Tri-Star Counseling was founded to pursue that goal.
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
Latonia says:
“My goal is to help you manage life on life’s terms and feel more in control of yourself while doing that.”
“I Bring the ENERGY!!! And the Laughter!!”
“It is an honor to serve in this community and support individuals in becoming the best versions of themselves. People deserve validation, support, and an environment conducive to healing through past and current hurts. You are WORTH IT!”
Latonia Collie, LMSW
Therapy for adults in-person in Kingsport, TN and online across Tennessee.
Latonia is a Licensed Master-Level Social Worker who works with adults who have ongoing challenges with depression and anxiety. Her own rollercoaster life has taught her endurance and how to overcome, shaping her as a person who seeks to help others. Her family and spirituality are vitally important to keep herself centered and down to earth through life’s challenges.
Latonia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia, and a Master of Social Work from East Tennessee State University. She also has a graduate certificate in Clinical Substance Use Counseling and a certificate as a Nurturing Parent Facilitator. With experience in Adult Outpatient Therapy, as a therapist, a Behavioral Recovery Therapist working in Intensive Outpatient Therapies, and as a Hospice Medical Social Worker, she brings a wide body of talent to the Tri-Star Counseling team.
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
Book your appointment and let’s get started right away! Take the step to break free from the chains of life. Let’s do this!
Katie says:
“By sharing my journey and insights, my goal is to empower clients to take ownership of their healing journey and lead fulfilling lives aligned with their true selves.”
Katie Metcalf, LMSW
As a dedicated mental health therapist, I bring a unique blend of professional expertise and personal insight to my practice as a master’s level social worker. Having navigated the complexities of family dynamics, grappled with seasons of anxiety and depression, and experienced the sense of being unseen from adolescence into adulthood, I offer a relatable presence to those I work with.
Specializing in guiding teens and women in their 20s to 40s on journeys of self-discovery and empowerment, I draw from a range of therapeutic modalities such as CBT, ACT, Person Centered Approach, Somatic Movement, and EFT. My approach is holistic, emphasizing the cultivation of internal strengths and desires.
With an easy-going demeanor, I meet clients where they are, fostering a comfortable and nonjudgmental atmosphere conducive to growth and self-discovery. Having firsthand experience with the challenges of a busy lifestyle — including burnout, overwhelm, and a sense of loss of control — I am passionate about guiding individuals through stress management techniques, cultivating restorative practices, and embracing loosely structured routines.
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
Ben says:
“I aspire to help everyone achieve theirs goals to live the life that they would like to live.”
Ben Wagner, LPC-MHSP
Ben is a Licensed Professional Counselor with years of experience helping children, teens and adults overcome trauma, anxiety and depression. Ben earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at East Tennessee State University and then completed his Masters in Counseling.
Specializing in EMDR and having a warm and welcoming personality, Ben can help individuals hurting from long standing trauma finally heal. When not at the therapy office, you can find Ben at the gym powerlifting, out on one Appalachia’s hiking trails, or enjoying time with friends and family.
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
Book your appointment and let’s get started right away! Take the step to break free from the chains of life. Let’s do this!
Deanna says:
“My goal is to meet you where you are, to listen without judgment, and to help you feel heard and seen. I want to walk alongside you on your healing journey, helping you find the strength to overcome what you’ve been carrying.”
“It’s an honor to be part of your healing process. Every step forward, no matter how small, is worth celebrating!”
Deanna Justice, MSW
Deanna is a Master-Level Social Worker who specializes in working with adolescents, teens, and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, and depression. Drawing from her personal experiences, she brings empathy and authenticity to her therapeutic approach. Her passion lies in creating a safe, supportive space for clients to explore their emotions and personal growth.
Deanna earned a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master of Social Work from King University. She is particularly skilled in working with adolescents and adults, using a person-centered approach combined with integrative techniques. She values building a collaborative and trusting relationship with her clients, meeting them where they are to guide them toward healing and growth.
Deanna is committed to fostering a therapeutic relationship with her clients, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of their emotions and behaviors. Her work with children and teens in foster care and adoption has shaped her deep commitment to helping clients navigate complex trauma and find healing.
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
Book your appointment and let’s get started right away! Take the step to break free from the chains of life. Let’s do this!
Cory says:
“My goal is to empower clients to overcome life’s struggles and reconnect with their strengths. Together, we’ll work toward creating a life where you feel balanced, confident, and fulfilled.”
Cory Whitfield, LMSW
Cory Whitfield, LMSW, is passionate about helping individuals find healing and empowerment while navigating life’s challenges. He specializes in working with adults who face depression, anxiety, trauma, addictions, and men’s mental health concerns. Cory’s approach is grounded in empathy and collaboration, creating a safe and supportive space where clients can explore their experiences and build resilience.
Cory earned his Master of Social Work from East Tennessee State University and was recognized as the 2022 Outstanding MSW Student of the Year. He is also a member of prestigious honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Alpha Nu, and serves in leadership roles with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-TN). His commitment to advocacy extends to his work with the STRONG Accountable Care Community Leadership Council, where he collaborates on initiatives to strengthen families and communities.
Cory has supported individuals in recovery from opioid addiction, addressing the complexities of addiction and co-occurring mental health challenges.
He brings a trauma-informed and client-centered approach to his practice, blending evidence-based techniques with genuine understanding.
Let’s Discover How I Can Help
At Tri-Star Counseling, we embrace the following Core Values
- Everyone is worthy of love and care.
- Therapy works when you and your therapist are committed to your healing.
- You are strong enough to be present with what you may be going through.
- Therapy may not be easy, but putting in the work can lead to a better quality of life.
- Even if we feel like we've lost hope, it's possible to show up, commit to ourselves, and do what it takes to start feeling better.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s totally normal to be nervous about starting therapy. It can feel intimidating to sit with someone and talk about how you feel. The fear around that can feel overwhelming. Going to therapy even when you are nervous is not easy. It may take courage to take those steps. You reading this now shows that you are already stepping in the right direction.
Therapy is a space where you can be yourself and bring up whatever is going on for you, including feeling nervous. We’re committed to finding a way to care for your nervousness and ensure sessions are as comfortable as possible.
We’re here if you want to talk about it, call us or schedule your first session.
Take your time to read through my website. If you sense that we may be a good fit based on what you are reading, you can schedule yourself in our online patient portal.
Feel free to call us or schedule your first session. You can ask us questions about Tri-Star’s approach, what a typical session with us is like, or any other questions you may have that are specific-to-you. You’ll also be able to share what’s going on for you and we can decide together how we can help.
It may be helpful to think of the first few sessions as trying out the waters together. During the sessions, you’ll be able to start seeing what it’s like. Our approach is not going to work for everyone. What’s most important to me is that you find someone who you feel is the right fit for you. We can explore that together.
If something feels overwhelming or even terrifying to discuss, that’s actually very normal. It can often feel difficult to talk about some things.. During our sessions, you never have to talk about something you’re not comfortable talking about. It’s our job to give you space to slowly start to work through the tough stuff. Gradually and at a pace that feels comfortable to you, you can share what you feel ready to share.
You can also share with us that you are nervous to open up about something and we can talk about that too. Whenever you have a lot of feelings about something, you are welcome to discuss them in session with us.
If you open up to us, we will not think you are crazy, instead we will think you are someone who went through a lot. Many of our clients have had the same fear (that people would think they are crazy).
Through our own life journey’s and working with many different clients, we know how ‘normal’ your experience is.
You’re not crazy. Nothing you can say will cause us to judge you.
We all know people get overwhelmed, we might be emotionally drained from the ups and downs, we are humans trying to be human.
Whatever it is you’re going through, Tri-Star will provide a safe space where you can feel heard and supported without judgment. and supported without judgment.
You may be concerned that your friends, family, or work colleagues could learn what you have said during therapy. So we want you to know that unless there is an imminent danger to yourself or someone else, everything you share with us at Tri-Star is completely confidential.
We highly respect your privacy and value your trust.
You can be rest assured that you can talk about anything without fear of that information getting out.
If you have specific questions about how confidentiality works, you can ask during your first session or anytime during our work together.
You might be asking about how long therapy will take because therapy is hard to fit into your busy schedule.
If this is true for you, we want you to know that on average, new clients start seeing progress after the first few sessions.
By that point, they feel like they have learned some ways to manage challenging stuff in their lives a bit better.
The total duration of therapy varies from client to client. Some of my clients find 6-12 weeks to be enough to resolve immediate challenges. While other clients feel more supported by longer term therapy.
We will work together to find the length of time that works for you.
Overall, you can think of the first session as a structured assessment that helps us get to know you and the challenges that brought you into treatment. We’ll invite you to share more about yourself and we can also talk about what’s worked or not worked for your mental health in the past.
Some questions that we like to ask during a first session include:
“What brought you to therapy?”
“What goals would you like to reach by going to therapy?”
“What do I need to know about you to understand your current challenges?”
You can ask us questions as well. You might be curious about our training or what sessions will be like.
The most important part of a first session is to notice how you feel during and after the session. If you feel safe, accepted, and comfortable with us at Tri-Star, we can discuss if you’d like to meet again.
We’re here to talk, schedule your first session. Where you can share what’s going on for you and we can decide together how Tri-Star can help.
We can provide a monthly superbill that you may submit to your insurance for reimbursement.
To find out what your insurance may cover, contact your insurance and ask if you have out-of-network mental health coverage. If you need to provide a “CPT code” or a “service code” you can provide the following codes:
- Psychiatric Diagnostic Evaluation – CPT 90791
- Psychotherapy 30 Min – CPT 90832
- Psychotherapy 45 Min – CPT 90834
- Psychotherapy 60 Min – CPT 90837
- Family Psychotherapy w/o Patient 50 Min – CPT 90846
- Family Psychotherapy w/ Patient 50 Min – CPT 90847
You may also want to mention the type of license that we carry to ensure services with our type of credential are covered. We are a LCSW.
Other things you may want to ask about are:
- What your deductible is
- What your co-insurance payment will be
- How many visits you get per year
- If you need authorization for your visits
- Details on how to submit a superbill
Contact me if you would like more guidance on how to figure out what your insurance will cover.
Hear From Our Clients
Contact Us
Call or message us today. Share some information with a team member and schedule a consultation with us in Colonial Heights, Tennessee, just off Interstate 81.
