David Kalergis is the founder and owner of Lowcountry Family & Children. His goal in counseling is to work with families in Mt. Pleasant & the Charleston area to support relationships where both parent and child feel esteemed, recognized, loved and understood. His work and interventions involve supporting children and families to move past barriers by healthily communicating core feelings, wants, and needs. It is his belief that with encouragement, reassurance, and the right coping and communication skills, anyone can thrive!
David has over a decade’s worth of experience working with children and families in a multitude of different environments around the world. He takes pride in implementing mindfulness in providing a person-centered approach to treatment plans as it is his belief that a trusting rapport is the foundation of a healthy therapeutic relationship. He takes pride in providing a positive male influence in the lives of the children he counsels.
David has an animated assertiveness towards life and counseling. His natural and easy-going approach to his work, helps him make real and sincere connections with children, teens, and parents. His ability to meet children and teens at their level while making them feel heard, validated, and understood is valuable asset in the process of rapport development and achieving therapeutic goals.
He works hard to help the children and adults he sees feel heard and accepted yet contested to assist in the process of development and maturation. He does not see the therapeutic process as his place to criticize or condemn, but to craft a bond where you can see your barriers, address them, and move forward.
CREDENTIALS:
- LPC: National Clinical Mental Health Examination (NCMHCE)
- M.Ed. Counselor Education, The Citadel Graduate College
- Certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (State Registered by Project BEST, MUSC)
- Serving Board Member of Family Corps (Accredited Parent Anonymous of South Carolina)
- Darkness to Light Certified – Steward of Children
- Completion and Passing of South Carolina Praxis II – Elementary Education – Instruction, Practices, and Applications
- Completion and Passing of South Carolina Praxis II – Professional School Counseling
- Basic Conversational Spanish
- State Notary
- CPR/First-Response, First-Aid Certified
- Member: America School Counselor Association (ASCA), American Counseling Association (ACA), Palmetto State School Counselor Association (ASCA), Palmetto State School Counselor Association (PSSCA) and American Mental
- Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
Phone: 843 494 8756
Email: david@lowcountryfc.com
Address: 222 W Coleman Blvd, Ste 202
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.
Elizabeth Westbrook is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and has been working with adults, children, adolescents and their families in the Low Country for over five years.
Elizabeth earned a Masters of Arts in Clinical Counseling from the Citadel Graduate College in 2017. Since graduate school, Elizabeth has worked in a variety of clinical settings and has had the opportunity to work with various populations and diagnoses. As a school-based community health therapist, Elizabeth worked in tandem with elementary, middle, and high school students and their families. She also worked with adults in a community based mental health setting, as well as providing group, daily living, and social skills support at a psychosocial rehabilitation center for adults. Elizabeth is also currently certified to provide Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to children and their families and has received training in various other treatment modalities.
Elizabeth’s experience allows her to provide counseling services and support to patients and families experiencing a wide variety of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, impulse-control and conduct disorders, adjustment and trauma disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, behavioral problems, social skills and peer relationships, relationship difficulties, and family systems.
Elizabeth works with her patients to provide a person-centered approach with cognitive-behavioral therapy to focus on the individual needs of her patients and families. She focuses on building trust, empathy, compassion and support for her patients to help them navigate their lives, provide healing, and achieve their overall goals.
Phone: 843 693 5112
Email: elizabeth@lowcountryfc.com
Address: 222 W Coleman Blvd, Ste 205
Mount Pleasant SC, 29464
Elizabeth
Westbrook
Michael “Drew”
Patterson
Drew works with individuals who are looking to gain insight and improve their quality of life. He seeks to understand each individual holistically, including their backgrounds and the strengths they already possess to provide an individualized approach. Drew believes that establishing a strong alliance with his clients is essential to getting the most out of therapy and creating lasting change. Through this alliance, he partners with his clients to explore and address thought and behavior patterns that serve as barriers to enjoying life fully.
Drew has been working the better half of a decade with adults, children, and adolescents. Drew has worked in an agency setting, a detention center, school settings, and has experience working in the private sector. His experience has helped guide him to provide educated and effective counseling services to children and adults. His main theoretical orientations are cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness.
Drew has a very “walking with you” approach to counseling. He is not going to drag you to a finish line, but rather wants to be by your side guiding, educating, and providing evidence based practices to help you learn how to accomplish your goals and get what you want out of counseling.
He is passionate about providing counseling to children, adolescents, and adults, but understands that beginning counseling is often “easier said than done.” Drew is determined to make the process – from the intake session to the last session – an enjoyable, fulfilling, and productive experience.
Phone: 843 408 7553
Email: drew@lowcountryfc.com
Address: 222 W Coleman Blvd, Ste 212
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Cassidy Matthews is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate who is passionate about supporting children and adolescents as they navigate life’s challenges. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina and both a Master’s of Education and Education Specialist degrees in Counselor Education from Clemson University.
Cassidy’s previous experiences include working in school settings with primary and elementary-aged children, providing her with a deep understanding of the unique needs of young people. Her practice focuses on helping others manage a variety of concerns, including anxiety, depression, ADHD and ADD, trauma, behavioral issues, grief, and family transitions.
Cassidy is dedicated to creating a welcoming space where people feel heard and supported. Her approach integrates person-centered and cognitive behavioral theories, creating a supportive and collaborative environment that empowers people to explore their emotions, build confidence, and develop practical coping strategies. She is committed to meeting each client where they are, fostering resilience, and helping them achieve their goals in a safe and nurturing space.
Email:cassidy@lowcountryfc.com
Address: 222 W Coleman Blvd, Ste 219
Mount Pleasant SC, 29464
Cassidy
Matthews
Nicholas Forte
Nicholas Forte, a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, brings extensive experience as an educator, social worker, and group/activity therapist to his role at Lowcountry Family and Children. He combines his professional expertise with vast personal insights as a husband, father, musician, and athlete to create a welcoming environment for all his clients. Navigating various life stages at any time or age can be challenging, therefore Nicholas recognizes the importance of providing empathetic support and perspective.
Nicholas believes therapy is most effective when it incorporates the person’s values, strengths, and interests. He works collaboratively to create personalized plans that address each individual’s needs/goals as well as the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of well-being. With a focus on positivity and growth, his approach emphasizes building on the client’s unique abilities and fostering healthy sustainable change.
In addition to individual counseling, Nicholas helps couples address challenges, build trust, and strengthen their connection by focusing on emotional awareness and relational growth. He assists partners in improving communication and resolving conflicts in ways that deepen mutual understanding and respect. His goal is to guide clients toward healthier mindsets, productive behaviors, and stronger relationships as they manage life’s complexities.
Phone: 843 259 9803
Email: nicholas@lowcountryfc.com
Address: 222 W Coleman Blvd, Ste 213
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464