SJC Leadership & Clinical Staff
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Executive Director
Sarah Portner, LCSW-C
Sarah holds an MSW from Catholic University’s National Catholic School of Social Service. She engages a holistic approach to serving individuals, couples, and families while integrating the unique and unrepeatable strengths of each individual human person.
Sarah’s primary treatment focus areas are anxiety, depression, Vocational discernment and preparation, complex marriage or family dynamics, trauma healing, role/life adjustment, and holistic health recovery. The treatment orientations Sarah most often integrates are: attachment-based, strengths-focused, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), Systems Therapy, and acceptance & commitment therapy (ACT). Sarah has extensive training in Nutritional and Integrative Medicine for Mental Health Professionals as well as attachment-based Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Anchored by faith, Sarah integrates her diverse background in walking with Clients to greater joy, peace, and thriving. Sarah also works as a Catholic speaker and is part of the Strengthening Your Love Workshop Consultant Team based out of Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center.
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Founding Director
Rebecca Lee, LCPC
Rebecca Lee is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Maryland. Rebecca first studied psychology at the University of Maryland Baltimore County and went on to complete her Master in Clinical Counseling at Johns Hopkins University. Rebecca has worked with various ages, populations, and clinical issues for over seven years; first with the Pro Bono Counseling Project in Baltimore Maryland, and then providing in parish counseling for the Archdiocese of Washington in Montgomery County.
Rebecca has special training and certification in Play Therapy, pornography addiction, and Family Systems.
Along with her counseling, Rebecca has engaged in various volunteer work including 10 years serving as Assistant Director for the DC branch of Pure Fashion (a Catholic high school formation program for girls),11 years of teaching religious formation for various ages, and 7 years as a Catholic speaker on topics such as marriage, grief, anxiety, chastity, pornography, and technology safety.
Director of Finance
Jeremy Lee
Jeremy holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and pursued graduate studies in philosophy and theology at St. John's Seminary and the Catholic University of America. He was also in seminary formation with the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., and the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in Boston, Massachusetts. He has earned two MS degrees from MIT in System Design and Management and Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
A veteran of the United States Navy, Jeremy served as a Submarine Officer and brings almost 20 years of experience in financial stewardship, operational leadership, sales, and management consulting. He combines technical expertise, business acumen, and a deep commitment to the Church's mission of service in supporting the work of St. Jerome Counseling together with his wife, Rebecca Lee.
Therapist
Madeleine Tatum, LGPC
Madeleine graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Bachelor's in Psychology and Theology before earning a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the same institution. In her graduate work, Madeleine completed academic concentrations in both Crisis and Trauma Counseling and Pastoral Counseling. A faithful Catholic, Madeleine finds joy in being an instrument of God's healing and loves watching Him work. She has experience in treating anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, scrupulosity, eating disorders, and trauma, and she typically combines techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She will be counseling at the Rockville and Gaithersburg locations, and she is also available for telehealth."
Therapist
Erica Salpino, LGMF
Erica Salpino is a licensed graduate marriage and family therapist in the state of Maryland. She also earned a degree in business administration from University of Maryland University Global Campus and has 20+ years of office management experience. Prior to working with St. Jerome, she was an office manager at a nonprofit in Washington DC whose mission is to create cultures free from violence. Her theoretical orientation is eclectic in nature. The techniques and intervention strategies are based primarily on the unique needs of her clients and tailored to meet those needs. Her focus is Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral, Existential, Emotion Focused, and Solution Focused therapy approaches when working with individuals. She employs techniques from a Structural, Contextual, and Multigenerational perspective when working with families. However, each client is different, and choices in interventions will be specific to the needs within the family system and the needs of the individual client.
Therapist
Kathleen Carter, LCSW-C
Kathleen Carter is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience dedicated to supporting individuals and families across all stages of life. From childhood through adulthood, she helps clients navigate emotional, relational, and developmental challenges in ways that strengthen both the individual and the family.
Kathleen takes a collaborative, strength-based, wellness approach to therapy, working closely with clients to uncover the root causes of their struggles and build on their existing strengths to help remove the barriers that prevent them from thriving—promoting resilience, emotional well-being, and deeper connection in their personal and family lives.
She integrates evidence-based practices—including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, and family systems theory—with the deep spiritual insights of the Catholic faith. Grounded in the belief in God’s unconditional love and the inherent dignity of every person, Kathleen’s approach fosters healing of the whole person—mind, body, and soul—while reinforcing the well-being of the family as a whole.
In her work as a Catholic school counselor and in the wider community, Kathleen has supported women experiencing unplanned pregnancies, created parenting programs for first-time parents, and facilitated support groups for divorced and separated Catholics. Through every stage of life, she walks with individuals and families to help them grow, heal, and live more fully.
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Therapist
Caitlin Langreich, LCPC
Caitlin Langreich is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) who brings both her Catholic faith, clinical training, and experience into her work as a therapist. A lifelong Catholic raised in Maryland, Caitlin feels called to serve others through compassionate, Christ-centered mental health care.She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Salisbury University in 2015 and her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of the Cumberlands in 2019. Over the years, Caitlin has worked in a variety of clinical settings including crisis intervention, hospital emergency rooms, outpatient programs, inpatient psychiatric care, and medical doctor’s offices.Caitlin is excited to return as a part of the St. Jerome’s Counseling Program, where she works with children, teens, and adults facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and history of abuse. She has particular experience supporting individuals who have endured domestic violence, sexual assault, and abuse.Using a client-centered approach rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Caitlin seeks to walk alongside her clients with empathy and faith—empowering them to grow, heal, and embrace the person God created them to be.She sees clients at the Southern Maryland location (St. John Vianney in Prince Frederick), as well as through Telehealth.
Therapist
Fr. David Bustamante, LGPC
Fr. David holds a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas-Angelicum in Rome, Italy. He graduated from Divine Mercy University with a Master’s in clinical mental health counseling. He is certified by the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology as a Clinical Traumatologist, Compassion Fatigue Educator, and Practitioner. He served as a TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) in the United States Air Force. Fr. David is a member of the Missionaries of Charity Fathers, a community Saint Teresa of Calcutta co-founded. Fr. David has been involved in the spiritual formation of seminarians for his community while assigned to Calcutta, India. He has been ordained for 20 years and has given retreats in many countries, including Italy, Egypt, Malta, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, and the Philippines. His retreats focus on Forgiveness Therapy and the Eucharist. He works with the marginalized and has experience working as a chaplain for prisoners, drug rehabilitation centers, and small Christian communities. He is currently assigned to the Washington, DC, mission house.
Therapist
Sutton Vaughn, LGSW
Sutton Vaughn, LGSW is a Licensed Graduate Social Worker in Washington, DC and Maryland. She earned her Master of Social Work from The Catholic University of America in 2026 and previously received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Georgetown University.
Sutton works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families facing a variety of emotional, relational, and life challenges. Her clinical approach is grounded in the belief that suffering is an inevitable part of the human experience and that meaningful growth often emerges through life's difficulties. Through the context of a genuinely caring and trusting relationship, she helps clients develop greater self-understanding, resilience, and practical skills for navigating challenges in healthy and constructive ways.
Her therapeutic style is collaborative, compassionate, and tailored to each client's unique needs and goals. Sutton draws from a variety of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), psychodynamic and relational therapies, motivational interviewing, and family systems approaches.
As a Catholic therapist practicing within a faith-informed counseling setting, Sutton is able to integrate spirituality into treatment for clients who desire it. At the heart of her work is a commitment to recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every person and creating a supportive environment where healing, growth, and meaningful change can occur.
About Us
Meet the St Jerome Counseling Staff