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.

Jane L. Steiner, MD

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”.

Marian Friedman, MSN, PMHNP-BC

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

Joan Fraifeld, LCSW

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

Dr. Barbara Bear is a distinguished Doctoral Level Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 25 years of experience in various professional roles and settings. Her career encompasses a broad spectrum of psychological services, including therapy, psychological assessments, executive coaching, educational consulting, career consulting, supervision, and university teaching. As a former psychology professor, she has educated and mentored college students at several universities, demonstrating a profound commitment to the field.

Dr. Bear’s clinical expertise spans a wide range of issues, such as mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, attention deficit disorders, autism spectrum disorders, trauma, relationship difficulties, and workplace challenges. She has worked with individuals, couples, and families, helping them navigate and overcome these challenges to lead more productive and fulfilling lives. Her diverse experience includes working in a variety of settings including schools, court systems, universities, private practice, group practice, and corporate mental health.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Bear holds several other professional roles. She serves as an Educational Consultant, Career Consultant, Executive Coach, Organizational Psychologist, Certified Autism Specialist, Parent Coordinator, and Guardian Ad Litem. She also served as a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Psychology Department and as an Adjunct Faculty Member/Executive Coach at the Center for Creative Leadership, where she coached executives globally, focusing on leadership development, workplace communication skills and conflict management.

Dr. Bear’s academic background is extensive. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Duke University and both her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology. She furthered her education with a graduate degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a graduate certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, she holds a Master of Jurisprudence from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and is certified as an Advanced Certified Autism Specialist, reflecting her dedication to advocating for individuals on the Autism Spectrum.
Her professional training includes an APA Predoctoral Residency at Johns Hopkins University Counseling and Testing Center in Baltimore, Maryland, and an APA Post-Doctorate Fellowship at the University of California-Berkeley Counseling and Psychiatric Center, equipping her with a robust foundation for her varied roles.

Dr. Bear’s approach to therapy is deeply collaborative, emphasizing tailored treatment plans that reflect the unique needs and goals of each client. Her work spans various settings and age groups, further enriching her practice.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Bear is a proud mother of four children under the age of 18, who she describes as her best teachers. In her leisure time, she enjoys swimming in the ocean, engaging in water sports, skydiving, traveling, learning, and immersing herself in different cultures. She has a quick wit and incorporates humor in her daily life.

She is an active member of the American Psychological Association, the North Carolina Psychological Association, and the Triad Coaching Connection.

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.

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

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!