S. Spunette Hawkins, MHA, CRCFA

Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Spunette begin her journey in healthcare 12 years ago. She has gained a wealth of knowledge and experiences in different areas of healthcare. Her passion to help people has been instilled in her since childhood.

Spunette has received an Associates of Science, Associates of Radiology, Bachelor of Health Sciences, and a Masters in Healthcare Administration. She is a graduate of Spartanburg Methodist College and South College of Knoxville.

Spunette started her career in healthcare as a Radiologic Tech Intern at Mary Black Memorial Hospital. She worked as a student Radiologic Tech at Holsten Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN. After moving back to South Carolina, she started working as the Administrator Assistant at the Reid House Assisted Living in Wellford, SC. She then ventured into the field of Polysomnography, where she became a Certified Polysomnographic Technician, performing sleep studies and various sleep related exams.

Spunette's passion and love for seniors began to unfold so she decided to get back into Long Term Care and started working in a skilled nursing facility as Admission/Marketing Coordinator, Business Office Manager, and Social Services Director.

Working in various areas has allowed Spunette to become a Licensed Community Care Facility Administrator which also led her to start her very own behavioral & mental health counseling business: Innovation Counseling Services, LLC. Spunette saw a need that was lacking in the community for seniors, especially those who are on Medicare/Medicaid. She wanted to create an avenue that would allow them to embrace their mental well-being and help gain acceptance with transitioning in different stages of life.

Spunette's purpose is to be obedient to the vision God has shown her for Innovation Counseling Services, LLC. Our vision is to become a pillar in the community, where we can serve a vast majority of people of all ethnic backgrounds, providing therapeutic counseling and helping individuals to do “Old Things In A New Way”.

“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Proverbs 15:22 KJV

Lonnie Erskine, MS MHC

• Graduate of Pennsylvania State University
• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education
• Graduate of Walden University
• Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
• PhD Candidate in Human Services

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Lonnie received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, her love and devotion to children and helping others grew into a passion of counseling. Lonnie received her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. Lonnie worked as a crisis counselor in Estes Park Colorado working with women and children surviving domestic violence and sexual assault. She specialized in trauma helping individuals cope with grief and loss, anxiety, depression, self-injury. Incorporating a person-centered approach to help individuals cope with loss and trauma with empathy and care.

Lonnie incorporated an emphasis on a person center and humanistic approach to counseling, treating individuals, families, and couples with compassion and unconditional positive regard. Lonnie recently worked as a therapist with children and their families in Jacksonville, Florida providing both individual and family counseling in the community and in school. She worked with a multitude of issues including, trauma, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations, and behavioral issues.

Lonnie is excited to be a part of Innovation Counseling Services, LLC where she provides individuals with the ability to build healthy relationships with others. She believes in providing a person centered and humanistic approach, helping her clients become more self-actualizing and self-fulfilling. She utilizes a cognitive behavioral approach as well as a dialectical approach as well. She believes that individuals are unique, and her goal is to help individuals learn to love themselves and lead a happier, healthier, and more fulfilled life.

Gene Beckner Ph.D, LPC-S

I am excited to be a part of Innovation Counseling Services, LLC as a Supervisor for our Counselors.

I have been a member of the Greenville community since 2005. I graduated with a Bachelor’s in Arts in Secondary Education from the University of South Carolina in 1993 as well as a Masters in Agency Counseling from Clemson in 2006. I received my Ph.D in Psychology from Walden University in 2014. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in South Carolina.

My life’s work is to minister to those in need as well as equip others to minister to those in need. Helping others to develop mental and emotional well-being are priceless commodities that I desire to multiply as much as possible.

I currently reside in Greenville with my wife, two daughters, and two cats. Life is wild ride sometimes!

Maya Angelou says its best, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Martrell, MS SW

• Graduate of the University of the District of Columbia
• Associates of Science in Mortuary Science
• Bachelor of Social Work
• Graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore
• Master of Social Work

Born in Darlington, South Carolina, Martrell relocated to Washington, DC to pursue a career in Mortuary Science. While serving in the profession and bearing witness to the tragic ways of death that occurred among young people especially, there grew a strong desire to pursue a degree in Social Work to address underlying problems contributing to destructive pathways and a special interest in loss, grief, and trauma.

Martrell received both a Bachelor and Master’s in Social Work. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore specializing in families and children services. Martrell has a diverse background in working with adults with disabilities, children/families in foster care/adoption, and individuals/families in hospice.

She worked as a residential counselor in Chantilly Virginia helping adults cope with anxiety, depression and grief relating to their mental and physical disabilities. She worked in child welfare services helping children/adolescents who experienced trauma, abuse, and neglect as well as families find stabilization. She currently serves as a bereavement coordinator in Greenville, South Carolina providing counseling to individuals/families facing end-of-life transition and hospice care.

Martrell is passionate about helping individuals and families grow through challenging experiences by providing eclectic and holistic approaches to facilitate adjustment to unwanted changes and achieving emotional/mental wellness. She believes in providing a safe, caring, and non-judgmental environment to explore and learn techniques to effectively maintain daily roles and a meaningful life. She utilizes cognitive behavioral, mindfulness based, solution focus, and dialectical approaches. It is her belief that every individual has unique strengths and her goal is to build upon these strengths to help clients live the best quality of life that can be achieved in whatever circumstances.

Martrell is honored to join Innovation Counseling Services to help individuals learn to cope and reach a healthier and satisfying way of living.

Yolanda Urena, MA Counseling

• Graduate of Webster University
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
• Master of Arts in Counseling

Yolanda was born in New York and then moved to Miami Florida. Yolanda received their Bachelor’s in Social Work at Limestone College in Greenville SC. Yolanda has 20 years in social services and with that passion in helping people, Yolanda received her Master’s in Counseling at Webster University Greenville SC.

Yolanda has been working as a social worker in skilled nursing homes and helping individuals adjust to challenges and life changes. At the present time, she is a counselor for Department of Juvenile Justice and helping adolescents cope with their challenges and daily decisions. She helps adolescents with their triggers and coping skills. She incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered approach and solution-focus therapy with empathy and care.

Yolanda incorporates an emphasis on cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focus therapy approach to counseling, treating individuals, families and couples with compassion and unconditional positive regard. Yolanda has worked with a variety of issues including but not limited to anxiety, depression, trauma, substance abuse and behavioral issues.

Yolanda is excited to be a part of Innovation Counseling Services and provide individuals with compassion and empathy, and assist them in finding happiness within themselves and their relationships with others. She believes in providing a cognitive behavioral and a person-centered approach to assist her clients in becoming more self-confident and self-fulfilling. She believes that individuals are distinctive, and her goal is to assist individuals that challenges appear impossible but are not. She believes individuals have the power to learn to love themselves, overcome challenges and live life to the fullest.