INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY SERVICES/
THERAPY SERVICES
STAFF

Sarah Basden
Outreach Coordinator

Sarah Basden is currently in her Master of Social Work program at NC State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from NC State University. Sarah is TLC’s Outreach Coordinator and assists in identifying resources for families. Her goal is to become a clinical social worker, specializing in working with adolescents and adults. She is passionate about advocating for those whose voices are softer than hers to elevate their needs and experiences. In her free time, Sarah enjoys watching anime and playing with her cat, Meatloaf.

Tamira Burton
Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate

Tamira Burton is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate (LCSWA) who earned her Master of Social Work degree from NC State University. She provides individual therapy for children, teens, and adults, supporting clients through anxiety, emotional regulation, trauma, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Tamira is especially interested in creating safe and sacred therapeutic spaces for people of color, a population that is often underserved. She utilizes Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Play Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Art Therapy, and more. She also has experience working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism and ADHD, and people experiencing mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.

Brooke Kowalski
Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate

Brooke Kowalski is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate (LCSWA) who is passionate about helping clients feel safe, seen, and supported. Her sessions often incorporate art, imagination, and play to help make therapy an enjoyable and inclusive experience for clients of all ages and interests. Whether its processing big emotions, building coping skills, or finding small moments of joy, Brooke works to make therapy feel welcoming, genuine, and tailored to the individual. Outside of work, you can usually find her in the mountains soaking up the views, getting lost in a good book, getting creative with an exciting art project, or experimenting in the kitchen with new cooking and baking ideas.

Kayleigh Repar
Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate

Kayleigh Repar is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) and a North Carolina native. Kayleigh provides therapy for children, teens, and adults supporting clients of all ability levels. She is passionate about supporting individuals in discovering greater self-understanding, confidence, and emotional balance. She obtained a Master of Social Work degree from NC State University, with a focus on children and families. Kayleigh aims to create a space that honors each individual’s unique strengths, challenges, and ways of experiencing the world. During sessions, she often incorporates art, movement, breathwork, and play to process feelings in a gentle manner. She believes every person has the capacity for growth, connection, and self-acceptance, and that therapy can be a collaborative process of uncovering and nurturing those inner resources.

Lora Rogers
Therapy Operations Supervisor

Lora Rogers, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, is a Speech-Language Pathologist who joined TLC in 2014. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders from East Carolina University and her Master of Education in Speech-Language Pathology from NC Central University. Lora specializes in assistive technology and supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her favorite part of working at TLC is the collaborative spirit among our team as they support clients. Advocacy is central to her clinical approach, and she is committed to ensuring that every client’s voice, autonomy, and rights are honored. Lora is TLC’s Therapy Operations Supervisor, managing day-to-day operations and billing. Known for her calm leadership, thoughtful communication, and heart-first perspective, she helps create an environment where therapists feel supported and clients receive high-quality care.

Vijaya (VJ) Tangella
Therapy Services Manager

Vijaya (VJ) Tangella, MA, LPA, is an experienced clinician who has provided behavioral consultative services and conducted psychological evaluations at TLC for more than 34 years. She serves as TLC’s Therapy Services Manager and works with a team of highly skilled and experienced therapists from different disciplines. VJ provides behavioral consultative services for individuals of all ages who have Innovations Waiver funding. VJ also conducts psychological evaluations, which include developmental assessments, adaptive behavior assessments, ADHD assessments, anxiety assessments, depression assessments, intellectual functioning assessments (IQ), and autism assessments. VJ has experience working with families from diverse racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds.

Abby Watson
Referral Coordinator/Spanish interpreter

Abby Watson serves as TLC’s Referral Coordinator and Spanish interpreter. She helps families seeking services at TLC with the  intake process, connecting them with the TLC program that best meets their needs. Abby is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Translation with a concentration in Spanish and a minor in International Business from Kent State University. Abby’s work at TLC holds a special place in her heart because her oldest brother has Cerebral Palsy.