Banyan Is Growing: Bringing Compassionate Mental Health Care to Wilmington, NC
Written by Brittany Proxmire, MA, LCMHC
Office Manager, Licensed Psychotherapist, and Community Outreach Coordinator
As Banyan continues to grow in Winston-Salem, NC, we’re excited to expand our reach and bring our services to a new community: Wilmington, North Carolina!
At Banyan, growth is about more than opening a new office. It’s about recognizing where mental health services are needed and building teams that can respond to the unique needs of the communities they serve. With a personal connection to Wilmington, having lived in the area previously and recently moved back, our CEO and Founder, Chantal D. Hayes, identified it as the next place for Banyan to put down roots.
Building a Team with Wilmington in Mind
As we prepared to expand into Wilmington, we were intentional about building a team with a diverse range of specialties and experiences. Our goal is to offer services that reflect the needs of the local community while staying true to Banyan’s commitment to compassionate, holistic, and evidence-based care.
As Chantal shares:
“As Banyan grows, it’s important to me that we remain intentional about understanding and supporting the specific needs of each community we serve. Wilmington was a natural next step, and we’ve been thoughtful about selecting providers who bring a variety of specialties and experiences, including trauma, military-connected populations, and substance use. Just as importantly, we’ve built a team that shares our vision of delivering compassionate, holistic, and evidence-based care that empowers individuals, families, and communities to thrive.”
Meet Our Wilmington Providers
Our new office is centrally located in downtown Wilmington, making it accessible to individuals and families throughout the area. Officially opening in late October 2026, the office will welcome three new in-person providers offering a range of mental health services.
Cara Vitadamo, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP joins Banyan Integrated Health as our first psychiatric provider in Wilmington. Cara brings experience in psychiatric care and substance use treatment, expanding access to psychiatric services and medication management in the area.
Dr. Hunter Ward, EdD, LCMHC, LPC, CMPC joins Banyan Tree Counseling as a therapist, bringing experience in mental health counseling and sport and performance psychology, with a special interest in working with athletes and high achievers.
Dr. Mark A. Stebnicki, PhD, LCMHC, CRC joins Banyan Tree Counseling as a therapist, bringing more than 35 years of experience in mental health and rehabilitation counseling, with expertise in trauma, resilience, and supporting military members, veterans, and first responders.
We’re thrilled to welcome these providers to Banyan and look forward to the connections they’ll build with the Wilmington community.
Looking Ahead
Opening our Wilmington office is an exciting milestone for Banyan Tree Counseling and Banyan Integrated Health. As we continue to grow, our commitment remains the same: providing thoughtful, compassionate care while building meaningful connections within the communities we serve.
We look forward to putting down roots in Wilmington and becoming part of the community!
Learn more about our services and providers:
Banyan Tree Counseling: www.banyantreecounseling.com
Banyan Integrated Health: www.banyanintegratedhealth.com
Author Brittany Proxmire, MA, LCMHC is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor specializing in pediatric therapy. With a warm and playful approach, she engages children and adolescents, providing evidence-based techniques like play therapy, art therapy, talk therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP), and other modalities. Brittany collaborates with families, offering insight and support, while empowering clients to make positive changes and discover their authentic selves. In Brittany's work with teens and young adults she utilizes cognitive-behavioral therapy and humanistic approaches to foster behavioral change and self-awareness. Brittany's ultimate passion is helping children, teens, young adults, parents and families find happiness, peace, and harmony.