Meet Your Team
Michelle Poye-Seal, LCSW-C, Co-Owner
Teen, Young Adult, & Family Counselor
Meet Michelle
Since 1997, Michelle has been working in the field of social work and mental health. Throughout that time, she has held various positions, such as case manager for the medically ill and seniors, providing medical social work to seniors and families in a home setting, and working in a hospital with maternal child health concerns.
More recently, Michelle has been working at various mental health clinics, providing counseling services to children, families, and individuals.
It was during this time that Michelle realized her passion for working with youth and families. She wanted an opportunity to provide more specialized services to this population away from a clinical setting. This was Michelle’s reason to partner with Julie and form Willow Tree Counseling!
Michelle’s approaches to therapy are client- and/or family-centered, with integration of other clinical interventions.
Many times, she encounters young people who have a hard time communicating how they really feel to the people they care about most. Often, it’s hard for a young person to feel that they can “fit in” at school, with peers, and socially.
Parents can have similar problems, which is why she enjoys working with families so much.
Michelle is passionate about helping families communicate and is excited to be able to do it in an inviting and comfortable space that is convenient to the Tri-State area.
Personal notes
Michelle has been married since 2002 to her wonderful and caring husband Michael. Together, they have two awesome sons that make it worthwhile to get up every day!
Whether it’s hanging out at home or out on an adventure together, she enjoys spending time with them.
Michelle also enjoys the outdoors, the beach, and more relaxing activities like yoga, meditation, and acupuncture!
Julie Fleagle, LCPC, Co-owner
Child, Tween, & Teen Counselor
Meet Julie
Working with children and their families has been the most rewarding work in Julie’s entire career. Along the way, Julie has developed some core beliefs to share with you. By doing so, she hopes that you will have a better sense of what it would be like working with her.
First, and maybe the most important, Julie believes that there is no such thing as a “bad” child. We all make mistakes, but they do not define who we are.
All behavior is a way of communicating a need. Sometimes, this can be “throwing a fit” or crying. Julie believes her job is to help you and your child identify the need without having to resort to negative communication.
Based on her experience, young children communicate best through play. It amazes her what a child will “say” to her through play. Sometimes, they just don’t have the words to express it verbally.
She believes that everyone is doing the best they can in any given moment. She has never encountered a person who wakes up and says, “I’m going to make sure this is the worst day ever.” All of us are doing our best.
Professional
Since 1999, Julie has been working in the mental health field holding various positions, such as Therapist with Family Preservation Services, Inc.; Child and Adolescent Facilitator with Way Station, Inc.; and Clinical Assistant at Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Julie’s passion is working with children and teens who struggle with a history of trauma, attention issues, school avoidance, and depression and/or anxiety.
Julie earned her Master’s degree in community and school counseling from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland.
To become a licensed therapist, she completed additional credits beyond her Masters. Therefore, she holds a Certificate in Advanced Studies in community mental health from Messiah College.
Currently, Julie is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and a Maryland Approved Supervisor for LGPCs.
Personal Notes
Julie has been married to her loving and supportive husband Jeb since 2002. Together they have two amazing sons who keep them on our toes!
Another important family member includes her fur baby, Cooper. Cooper is a boxer/lap mix and was rescued in 2016 when he was four months old.
In Julie’s free time, she loves being outside (if it is at least 68 degrees!).
Julie loves taking her family to the beach every year.
Victoria Leizear, LCSW-C, Mental Health Counselor
Meet Victoria
Victoria is excited to be a part of your treatment team at the Willow Tree Counseling Center.
Victoria has many years of experience working with children and families dealing with trauma and has been trained in trauma counseling, as well as working with children and families in art and play therapy.
Laura Malcy, Psychologist
Meet Laura
Laura is ready to start providing psychological assessments.
Professionally
Laura earned her doctoral degree in 2003 after an internship with the Houston, TX school district. She subsequently spent a year in Seattle completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Washington’s Autism Center. She then began working with children, adolescents, and families in a private practice setting. Laura has completed hundreds of psychological and educational evaluations and believes assessment is an essential tool in helping to determine the best path forward for each person tested. The process is a way to understand the unique strengths and areas of need for each client in order to generate appropriate recommendations for services. Laura also loves the process of working in therapy with children, adolescents, and adults on the autism spectrum as well as those with ADHD and anxiety/depression. She especially believes that clients of any age deserve to feel self-love and enjoys being part of supporting them in developing a deep sense that they are worthy of regard from others. Additionally, Laura strives to create a non-judgmental and emotionally safe space for each client to vent while also promoting positive coping skills (e.g., emotional regulation, impulse control).
Personal Notes
Laura and her husband have been married since 2002 and are proud dog parents. She believes a dog’s love is one of the best things in life! She enjoys watching sports, attending sporting events, and working out. Time hanging out with friends and traveling are also important parts of living her best life.
Angela H. Brantley, M.D., Psychiatrist
Meet Dr. Brantley
Dr. Brantley’s greatest joy as a psychiatrist is to meet individuals or families and provide them with the comfort of feeling heard and understood which she knows is an experience which many have not had before when seeing a mental health professional. Her approach is collaborative and supportive. Together, with each individual patient or family, we can come to understand the underlying causes of discomfort and develop a treatment plan that is effective with the hope of alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life.
Dr. Brantley had been actively practicing as a psychiatrist seeing children, adolescents, and adults for more than twenty years. She attended Prairie View A&M University for undergraduate, followed by Meharry Medical College where she obtained her medical degree. Finally, she completed her residency training at the University of Maryland in adult and child psychiatry.
Dr. Brantley is excited to bring her experience to Willow Tree Counseling Center and to become an integral part of comprehensive services offered by the center. She will be working collaboratively with your Willow Tree Counseling therapist to provide optimal mental health care. She emphasizes the importance of adequate nutrition, exercise, sleep, and structure within the home, the school, and the community, no matter what mental health disorder may be encountered.
Dr. Brantley believes that if we as a team can help make a difference in the life of one member of a family, we can potentially affect an entire generation of family members! She looks forward to the privilege of starting our journey together.
