About Us

Jo A. Hughes, DSMc, PA-C, CAQ-PSYCH

Clinical Director, Managing Partner/Founder of Piedmont Partners for Mental Health, PLLC.

Jo Hughes is a psychiatric certified physician associate (PA) with early career experience in Emergency Medicine and Psychiatry for over 10 years. She provides medication management and assessments for psychiatric disorders including but not limited too; depression, anxiety and panic disorders, bipolar and schizophrenia, PTSD, ADHD, personality disorders, OCD, eating disorders among other conditions of the mind. She also specializes in neurodevelopmental disorders in children, adolescents, and adults and with extensive training and experience in substance use disorders.

Dr. Hughes completed her PA training and Master of Medical Science at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and additionally holds a Doctor of Medical Science in psychiatry from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals. She is a certified PA with a Certificate of Added Qualification in Psychiatry.

Jo and her husband are frequently seen visiting and promoting a non-profit coffee house, A Special Blend, they co-founded employing adults with neurodiversity in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Marian Friedman, MSN, PMHNP-BC

Dawn Paretta-Leahey, RN, MSN, FNP-BC

Catherine Banci, MSN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC

Catherine Banci is a dual board certified Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with almost a decade of experience providing holistic, patient-centered care to children and adolescents navigating mental health challenges. Catherine combines advanced clinical expertise with a compassionate, empathetic approach to promote mental and emotional wellness.

Using evidence-based practices, her care focuses on conditions such as anxiety, depression, trauma, learning disorders, mood disorders, substance use disorders, behavioral problems, self-harm behaviors, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She emphasizes a collaborative approach, working closely with patients and their families to develop personalized treatment plans that incorporate medication management, psychotherapy, and lifestyle modifications.

“I am passionate about mental health care because I’ve seen the positive outcome it can have on the individual. I especially focus on children and adolescents, due to the fact that they are the future of society. ” C. Banci

Hilary Puzak, DNP, PMHNP-BC

Hilary Puzak, DNP, PMHNP-BC is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with nearly two decades of experience in mental health and addiction services. She has worked across diverse settings—including group homes, residential treatment, inpatient and outpatient psychiatry, nursing homes, emergency departments, and acute psychiatric units—bringing a comprehensive perspective to patient care.

Hilary specializes in the treatment of mood disorders, trauma, psychotic disorders, substance use disorders, ADHD, and chronic mental illness. Her approach integrates psychiatric assessment, medication management, and brief psychotherapeutic interventions for individuals ages 13 through 100. She emphasizes a collaborative and holistic model of care, incorporating both medication and non-medication strategies tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Her philosophy centers on normalizing mental health, empowering patients with knowledge, and fostering a non-judgmental, supportive environment. She believes treatment should be evidence-based, individualized, and free of stigma.

“I am passionate about helping people feel comfortable being themselves. Mental health care should be embracing, empowering, and a source of hope.” — H. Puzak

Jennifer A. Greene, MSW, LCSW

Jen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to individuals and families. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and a Master of Social Work from Fordham University. Jen has extensive experience working with adolescents in both school and therapeutic settings.

Jen emphasizes a strength-based approach, integrating mindfulness as a cornerstone of the therapeutic process. She is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. Additionally, Jen is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Neurofeedback, with certifications expected in 2025 and 2026 respectively. EMDR is a psychotherapy that reduces the emotional impact of traumatic memories, through bilateral stimulation, to foster deeper and more enduring therapeutic benefits. Neurofeedback is a technique that trains the brain to improve its function and alleviate symptoms through real-time feedback.

Jen also utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) techniques, tailoring her approach to meet the individual needs of her clients. She believes that the most important aspect of therapy is the trusted relationship and rapport established between a therapist and a client. Jen is dedicated to ensuring that her clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to be the artists of their own lives.

Jen and her husband can often be found walking their dog CiCi and enjoying the wildlife around Lake Jeanette. Together, they share four adult children. Jen recently moved to Greensboro from Dutchess County, New York, and she looks forward to exploring all that Greensboro has to offer, both personally and professionally.

Jessica Oughton, MSW, LCSWA

Jessica Oughton is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Associate. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of Social Work degree from the Joint Program at Greensboro University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Jessica is a Certified Grief-Informed Professional and working towards obtaining her Certified Clinical Trauma Professional.

Jessica provides individual and couples therapy to those ready to enhance their mental well-being. Jessica aspires to captivate a safe environment for those who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, grief/loss, couples, PTSD, life transitions and much more. She likes to utilize techniques from the person-centered approach, CBT, Grief Informed therapy, psychodynamic, and trauma-informed therapy. She works with children (10 and up), teenagers, young adults, and adults. She provides diverse therapeutic methods based on the client’s direct needs. Jessica is passionate about working with people who want to feel heard and she strives to create a compassionate space for healing and growth.

In Jessica’s free time, she enjoys going to yoga and traveling with her husband. She is also an avid animal lover; she has two cats, a labrador, and a rabbit!

Jane L. Steiner, MD – Retired

Dr. Steiner has been practicing psychiatry in different settings (both inpatient and outpatient) with both adults and children for over 40 years. She graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook Medical School,  then trained in Pediatrics and General Psychiatry at Montefiore Hospital in The Bronx, NY (part of the Albert Einstein School of Medicine teaching system), and then completed a Child Psychiatry Fellowship at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan (part of the Columbia University teaching system.) Following her training, she worked in New York, then moved to Boston with her husband, and then finally landed in Greensboro, NC, where she has been in outpatient private practice for over 30 years.

She provides medication treatment and psychiatric assessments for psychiatric disorders, especially enjoying treating patients with depression and bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PTSD, as well as ADHD in both children and adults.

Dr. Steiner has always considered treatment as a partnership between doctor and patient. She is thrilled to join Piedmont Partners for Mental Health as her philosophy has always been to “tailor treatment together”.

Joan Fraifeld, LCSW – Retired

Joan Fraifeld is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked as a psychotherapist since 1980. She received her B.S in Psychology from Boston University. She returned to Tennessee, where she grew up, to get her Master’s of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee.

Joan’s practice interests and her approach to therapy have been influenced by the fact that she is a first generation American. She employs a family systems approach looking at how the dynamics that play out in our every day lives influence our sense of well being. She believes each of us reenacts our family of origin issues in every sphere of our lives – relationships with friends, significant others, as well as co-workers, supervisors, etc. Joan has a special interest in emotional and physical trauma. She supports patients as they navigate complex medical needs. She strives to help individuals meet the challenges they face. Joan enjoys working with individuals, couples, and families.

Joan has been married for 35 years to her loving husband and is the proud mother of two very funny adult sons. In her free time Joan enjoys baking, feeding hummingbirds and spending time with her family.

Barbara Bear, PsyD – Moved On

Barbara Bear has transitioned to her own private practice. We’re excited for her next chapter and grateful for her time at Piedmont Partners! You can continue your care with Barbara by visiting drbarbarabear.com or contacting her at 5509-B West Friendly Avenue, Suite 203, Greensboro, NC 27410 | 336-545-9696.