meet our staff

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 Dr. Thomas is the owner and executive director of Meridian Professional Psychological Consultants, P.C. Meridian operates as an Outpatient Professional Clinic (OPC) under Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, offering a full range of mental health services for individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan—from children to older adults.  In addition to traditional outpatient therapy, the clinic offers an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), providing structured, intermediate care for individuals needing more support than standard outpatient services. 

Letisha M. Holloway, LMSW, Director of Operations has over 20 years of experience in the mental health field, I am passionate about helping people navigate some of life’s most difficult seasons. I hold a clinical degree from Michigan State University and have dedicated my career to providing compassionate, client-centered psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and adolescents from diverse backgrounds.

My areas of specialization include grief and loss, women’s issues, family dynamics, and supporting adolescents as they navigate the challenges of growing up. I also work with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, identity concerns, stress, and relationship struggles.

At the heart of my practice is the belief that healing happens through connection, understanding, and the right therapeutic support. Whether you are facing a personal loss, family conflict, or simply feeling overwhelmed, I am here to help you move forward with clarity, resilience, and hope.

Dr. Pernell has an educational psychology background with behavioral psychology as an emphasis. He works with families in crisis. His emphasis areas are in family therapy, substance abuse, counseling for stress management, and depression. He has taught in the public school systems as a school counselor, art and music teacher, and high school band director. He retired from Michigan State University after teaching for 33 years. He is a co-founder of Meridian Professional Psychological Consultants, PC.

Our team of experienced healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality care. We stay up-to-date with the latest medical advances and use evidence-based practices to ensure that you receive the best possible care.nd helping them achieve optimal health and wellness.

 Joshua Groce is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner; he graduated from Walden University in 2021; he has 13 years experience in psychiatric nursing. Josh has a wide range of experience, from inpatient through the community/outpatient spectrum (case management, crisis stabilization, substance abuse, IOP, etc). Josh specializes in depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and LGBTQ+ issues.  

 I'm a board-certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience as a Registered Nurse in a wide range of mental health settings — from inpatient and outpatient care to emergency and community-based services. That background gave me a strong foundation in understanding the many layers of psychiatric care. Now, in my role as a Nurse Practitioner, I focus on providing thoughtful, person-centered care through psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and working closely with individuals to support their mental health journey. 

Our team of experienced healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality care. We stay up-to-date with the latest medical advances and use evidence-based practices to ensure that you receive the best possible care.

 I have worked with teens and adults within the Ingham and Eaton County area for over 25 years. Dealing with truancy issues, relationship challenges, sexual assault, PTSD, depression and bipolar disorder. There will always come a time when an individual needs extra support in his/her life. Life circumstances can be overwhelming sometimes. But learning new skills to address these challenges, could help ease the process. I have worked with primary care providers, nurse practitioner` and school social workers collaboratively to provide comprehensive supportive services to youth, their parents and others reach their goals for a healthy future. Cognitive Behavioral, Person Centered therapy are my most common approaches. 

 John Dowling received his B.A. in Health Education from Western Michigan University and has a M.A. in counseling from Michigan State University. He is a licensed professional counselor and has over 25 years of counseling experience. John has extensive experience providing outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment. He specializes in depression, anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, substance use, and anger management issues. John also has spent time working with the correctional population (prison, parole and probation).   

Donna Gasior is a Limited License Psychologist in the state of Michigan. She earned a bachelor of science in psychology from Wayne State University, and a master of science in clinical psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Ms. Gasior has been with MPPC since 2016. She works with adults and older persons with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, and relationship issues.

Jacqualine Griffin, LMSW is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in the field of mental health. She has worked with children, teens, individuals and couples experiencing varied life events. Jacqualine approaches treatment in a caring and compassionate manner with the belief that building rapports is the foundational key to successful treatment. 

  Dr. Hawkins earned a Bachelor’s degree from Kent State University and completed both a Master’s in Social Work and a Ph.D. at Michigan State University, with a focus on social work, psychology, and physiology. Dr. Hawkins has been with MPPC since 1996 and specializes in adolescent therapy, couples counseling, individual counseling, and substance abuse treatment.  

Heather's area of focus is  individual therapy with a concentration in substance abuse, mental heath counseling, grief and loss, self-esteem, anger management, chronic pain and panic disorders.    

Disorders of Childhood & Adolescence

Marital/Family Issues

Substance Abuse

Geriatric Disorder

Anxiety/Mood Disorder

Adjustment Disorder associated with medical conditions

Our team of experienced healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality care. We stay up-to-date with the latest medical advances and use evidence-based practices to ensure that you receive the best possible care.

  Viola earned a bachelor’s degree in social work, a master’s degree in social work

and an ACSW endorsement in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University.

Viola is a Licensed Professional with a wide range of experience, including the

privilege of serving young children and adolescents in the Lansing School District for 15

years, who struggled with childhood disorders such as Adjustment Disorders, Sexual

Abuse, Anxiety and Depression. 

Viola also specializes in marital and family counseling, women’s issues and domestic violence intervention with the focus on individual and family therapy to help clients with social and emotional issues. Viola has provided these services in the Greater Lansing community for over 23 years.

 Petra Smith has been a mental health therapist at MPPC since 2016. 

She received her bachelors & masters degrees from Michigan State University. She has 27 years of experience in the medical social work field. Petra excels with clients who have chronic medical conditions. She also has extensive experience with bereavement needs. 

Our team of experienced healthcare professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality care. We stay up-to-date with the latest medical advances and use evidence-based practices to ensure that you receive the best possible care.

 Lance Wimberly is a seasoned mental health professional with over 15 years of experience across diverse treatment settings, including residential care, inpatient facilities, substance abuse programs, and state-level services in Michigan. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master's Degree in Social Work both from Michigan State University.

Lance's clinical expertise spans a wide range of areas, including substance abuse, grief and loss, trauma, suicide assessment and prevention, and child and adolescent mental health. He is also deeply committed to supporting families through life’s challenges and promoting self-care as a foundation for long-term well-being. Lance brings a thoughtful, compassionate, and evidence-informed approach to every client interaction, grounded in years of frontline experience and a strong educational foundation.