About Us - Our Staff

The staff at InnerWisdom, Inc. is as varied as our clientele. We serve individuals from all cultures and our staff is culturally diverse, as well.

The InnerWisdom treatment team is represented by physicians, nurses, social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family counselors, substance abuse counselors, certified nurse assistants, psychiatric technicians, and quality improvement professionals. Information about the clinical staff is highlighted below.

JoAnne Mandel, LMSW, RN, CNS
Founder and CEO

JoAnne graduated from the University of Iowa, School of Nursing, and the University of Houston, Graduate School of Social Work. In addition, she has an advanced degree in psychiatric nursing and is trained as a substance abuse and eating disorders counselor.

In 1988, JoAnne began providing mental health counseling services, focusing on a healthy and holistic environment that supports client responsible wellness. In 1994, JoAnne founded the Wellness Day Partial Hospital Program, working with clients with chronic mental health and medical disabilities yet were capable of assuming a life of productivity, especially those individuals with HIV/AIDS.

Using the same techniques used with abused individuals, clients were taught to view their disease as a chronic condition that could be managed, rather than one that brought loneliness, isolation and death. This highly innovative program was so successful, that JoAnne and her staff have duplicated the model of treatment with other chronically ill patients in a partial hospital program setting.

JoAnne supports the use of alternative healthcare modalities, and blends them with traditional medical care for the treatment of symptoms and problems that do not respond to customary treatment. She is a longtime supporter of the use of prayer, meditation, stress management, and other practices to treat certain medical conditions that may originate in the mind and belief system.

In addition to the success JoAnne has experienced through mental health treatment programs, she is the author of My Precious Child, a workbook recovery program designed to address the painful memories of childhood and adult trauma. Using her extensive knowledge and engaging speaking quality, she is a welcomed presenter for many community, church, and business events.

Alexandra Burch, Ph.D., LPC
Program Therapist

Alex Burch received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her master's level training at Webster University in St. Louis, and completed her undergraduate work at the University of California at Irvine. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas, and has extensive experience providing individual and group counseling to a variety of client populations.

Denny E. Fahey, MA, LPC
Program Therapist

Denny received his Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Sam Houston State University in Texas, and has extensive experience working in hospital settings, schools, and prisons. In addition, he has been adjunct faculty for Sam Houston University for the past seven years, teaching junior and senior level college courses in the Texas prison system.

Elke Gasch, LMSW
Patient Care Coordinator

Elke obtained her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned her Master's Degree in Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. She is a member of The National Association of Social Work, Houston Gerontological Society, and Sigma Phi Omega, a group of area professionals concerned about geriatric causes. She has worked in inpatient psychiatry, hospital and community mental health settings.

Rhonda George, MS, LPC, LMFT-A
Program Therapist

Rhonda M. George, a native Houstonian, received a Master of Science in Psychology degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. She completed her undergraduate work at The University of Texas at Austin. Rhonda is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate (LMFTA) in Texas. Her range of experience includes counseling of children, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics, and includes individual, group, family, and drug and alcohol counseling. Rhonda is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

Terry Moore LMSW-ACP
Program Therapist

Terry earned his master's degree in Social Work from the University of Houston, Graduate School of Social Work. Terry has worked extensively with the Juvenile Criminal Justice System in the Harris County area as well as hospital, community mental health and university settings. Terry was nominated as Outstanding Practicum Supervisor, Houston Community College, Human Services and Technology Department, in 2000. Terry's experience extends to the administrative and financial arenas and has performed as Administrator and Chief Financial Officer for a community mental health center and family medical clinic in the Houston area.

Andrea Singer-Lepow, MS, LCDC, AAC, BCI,
Assistant Administrator

Andrea is a graduate of NOVA Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. with a Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling. She also has a degree in Special Education, is an Advanced Addictions Counselor, a Board Certified Interventionist, a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, and a Certified Diplomat of the American Psychotherapy Association.