Staff Bios
Higgins & Carter LLC was founded by John Carter in 2010 with the goal of creating a multi-disciplinary staff of psychologists, social workers and psychiatrists. Our staff is comprised from varied experience, education and expertise. Please review the bios below to learn more about the clinicians at the practice.
Staff
John C. Carter, LCSW
Therapist
John is deeply committed to helping individuals navigate the transformative process of change with compassion, clarity, and resilience. With a focus on complex trauma, anxiety, relationship negotiation, social and family role dynamics, and co-occurring disorders, John believes that meaningful change begins with deeper self-understanding and authentic connection. John works from a cognitive-integrative perspective, drawing from object relations and self-psychology to explore how early relational experiences shape current patterns of thinking, feelings, and relating. His approach is exploratory, helping clients build cognitive insights while also attending to the deeper emotional and developmental needs that influence present-day struggles.
Education
John completed his M.A at the University of Chicago. John practiced privately since 2010. He has worked and trained in community mental health centers and hospital settings, providing care to children and adults. .
Hector Rupitt, LCPC
Practice Director / Therapist
Hector values a compassionate and supportive dynamic that is conducive to healing and growth. He has experience providing individual and group therapy services with specific focus on depression, anxiety, OCD subtypes, co-occurring disorders, substance use disorders, and severe and persistent mental illness. Hector applies a practical approach to the helping relationship and incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and existential theories in his work.
Education
Hector earned his Ed.M and M.A in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University in New York. He has practiced in private practice, hospital, and community settings in New York and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. He is bilingual and offers culturally competent services in Spanish.
Dr. Tony Fletcher, PsyD., ABPP
Clinical Neuropsychological Training Coordinator
Dr. Tony Fletcher is a clinical neuropsychologist, licensed clinical psychologist and board-certified forensic psychologist who specializes in the assessment of neurologically-based disorders, psychiatric disorders, and psychological problems. Conditions assessed include, but are not limited to: Anoxia, Aphasias, Anxiety and depressive Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention deficit Disorders, Birth Defects, Cerebral Vascular Accidents (stroke), Degenerative Disorders, Developmental Delays, Dementias, Encephalopathy, Hydrocephalus, Hypoxia, Impulse Control Disorders, Lead Poisoning, Learning Disabilities, Low Birth Weight, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Schizophrenia, Seizure Disorders (Epilepsy), Toxin Poisoning, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Tumors, and vascular Disorders, as well as other mental and neurological illnesses.
Education
Dr. Fletcher received his Master of Science (M.S.) and his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University in Florida where he received extensive clinical and research training within the fields of clinical neuropsychology and some initial coursework in forensic psychology. He completed a pre-doctoral internship at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology in the department of Neurology at the University of Illinois at Chicago Hospital.
Dr. Carrie Schmitt
Psychiatrist
Dr. Schmitt is a dual board certified Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist. She treats psychiatric conditions in adults. She has experience treating anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder She values compassionate all-encompassing care.
Education
Dr. Schmitt Graduated medical school from Edward Bia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, South Carolina in 2016. Following medical school, she completed her Psychiatry residency at Henery Ford Allegiance in Jackson, Michigan in 2020. After residency training, she completed a subspecialty in Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, Maryland in 2021. She has practiced in inpatient, outpatient, community, and academic and forensic settings.
Nikolette Amoros, LPC
Therapist
Nikolette believes that successful therapy requires authenticity and depth. She works in a highly relational way and practices on the foundations of Adlerian principles. She is an art therapist who is well versed in CBT, DBT, and Psychodynamic theory. She believes that art can help bring out what’s going on beneath the surface, giving both the therapist and client a window into the unconscious. She also enjoys working on attachment issues and a whole family systems approach. She practices through a trauma informed lens and bases methodologies on the client’s individual needs. Nikolette’s areas of specialty are CPTSD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, addiction and co-occurring disorder, self esteems issues, and spiritual crisis.
Education
Nikolette obtained her master’s degree in counseling with a focus of Art Therapy, at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, where she took courses on art therapy theories and assessments, neuroscience, trauma, Biopsychosocial conceptualization, diagnosis and treatment. She is also trained in Inherited Family Trauma Resolution.