Anchorage Providers
Stephanie Palmer, M.S., LPC
Stephanie has been working in the field for over 8 years and has an infectious passion for her work. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor based in Anchorage, Alaska with a wealth of experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her expertise can address post – traumatic stress, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, impulsivity, family conflict, life transitions, sexuality, building cultural identity, and self-esteem.
Stephanie offers a range of therapeutic approaches including Brainspotting, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing, and Emotion Focused Therapy. Her therapeutic approach aims to guide you in harnessing your innate wisdom for positive transitions and sustainable success. Ages of clientele she works with range from 12 years old through the life span.
“My mission is to provide a safe and compassionate space where healing can unfold. I am committed to fostering resilience, guiding self-discovery, and instilling hope. Through empathetic collaboration I support individuals, couples, and families in navigating life’s challenges. My life’s passion lies in promoting mental health, spending time outdoors, and personally pursuing a path to a fulfilling and balanced life. Together, we can embark on a new journey toward mental well-being.” -- Stephanie
Mary Cavalier, PhD, LPC
Mary has her doctorate in Health Psychology. As a Health Psychologist, Dr. Cavalier is uniquely trained to address issues holistically, including the individual’s emotional, physical, and social well-being. She has over 30 years of experience in treating adults with issues of grief, sexual concerns, LGBTQIA2S+ issues, caregiver stress, post-ICU syndrome, and illnesses that impact the quality of life, such as cancer and Long Covid. Dr. Cavalier has worked for many years in an acute medical center and works with healthcare providers coping with trauma and burnout. In addition to these specialties, she welcomes the opportunity to work with those experiencing depression and anxiety.
Barb Kolb, LPC
Barb graduated with a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Alaska and has worked in a variety of settings over the past 15 years. Barb has a passion for working with children, adolescents, and adults to help navigate and overcome challenges including depression, anxiety, trauma and life stressors. Barb specializes in working with children to develop emotional regulation skills, improve healthy expression of feelings and promote a strong sense of self through the use of play. Her work with adolescents and adults utilizes a family system approach combined with cognitive behavioral therapy to explore childhood experiences and the impact it has on their present sense of self. Barb works collaboratively with clients to help identify unhelpful thinking, reframe internal dialogue and develop skills to help get “unstuck” and move toward becoming their authentic and genuine selves. Barb is trained in EMDR, CBT, IFS, DBT, Polyvagal, Gottman Method, Synergetic Play Therapy, and Sandtray therapy.
Barb will work together with her clients to determine the best therapeutic approach to assist in achieving goals and work toward feeling happier, healthier and more balanced.
April Nicole Savage
April Nicole obtained her Master of Social Work from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. While working on her undergraduate and graduate degrees she worked full-time in order to obtain varied experiences in different arenas. She has previously worked with the Coast Guard and their families, as well as with the military at the Naval Brig and Military Hospital in Virginia. She is licensed in both Alaska and North Carolina as an LCSW and is a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist in North Carolina as well as nationally credentialed by NAADAC as a Master Addiction Counselor (MAC).
A Message from April:
“As a clinical social worker, I believe in the importance of being in the moment when providing therapy sessions. Our goal is to address the issues that are plaguing and concerning you and sometimes the answers to the problems might not always be clear. The journey on your way to solutions to your problems will be invaluable and specific to you and this will provide the clarity you seek to gain knowledge about yourself. The answers might not always be clear, but whatever they are, they are your answers for you and how you choose to handle your situation is your own. I, the therapist, don't provide answers, but guidance on your journey to reach your destination that could be constantly changing and shifting as you evolve into the you that you always wanted to be.”
Jean Boga RN, ANP
Jean is a Board-Certified Mental Health Advanced Nurse Practitioner. She works with adults who may be experiencing a broad range of mental health concerns. These may include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, medical/health concerns, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and other emotional based problems.
Phone: 907-644-8044
Leona Gillespie, RN, ANP
Leona is a Board-Certified Family Mental Health Advanced Nurse Practitioner. She works with children and adults who may be experiencing a broad range of mental health concerns. These may include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, medical/health concerns, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse.
Phone: (907) 771-7105
Mary Bartell, LPC
Mary graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University. She is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Alaska and has worked in the mental health field for over 15 years. Mary has experience working in a variety of settings including community mental health, outpatient therapy, and residential treatment. Mary primarily sees adults and their families who are experiencing a variety of challenges including anxiety, depression, trauma, and general life stressors. She is passionate about helping people move towards healing and believes in collaborating with her clients to promote readiness for change. Mary utilizes an individualized approach catered to each client which includes her experience and training in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness, and cognitive-behavioral therapy to assist clients in reaching their goals.
Email: csamarybartell@gmail.com
Jiri Biciste, LPC
Jiri earned his Master of Science in Counseling Psychology degree from Alaska Pacific University in 2004 and has been working in the field of mental health since 2000. Jiri has worked in the acute setting, residential setting and in the outpatient setting. His clientele is comprised of clients as young as three years of age and as mature as retirees, of both genders, people of gay or lesbian orientation, and of various ethnic backgrounds and religious persuasions. Jiri works with clients with a variety of mental conditions and complaints, including attention deficits and academic underachievement of children, social relations problems, anger and conduct issues, traumatic exposure, including treatment of veterans of foreign campaigns, medical issues and pain management, depression and anxiety symptoms, and marital discord problems. He uses Solution Oriented Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rogerian Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential Therapy as primary modes of counseling interventions and allows his clients a large degree of autonomy during counseling.
Phone: (907) 771-7108
Jennifer Cashion, LPC
Jen is a Licensed Professional Counselor who received her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Boston College in 1997. She has been practicing in the mental health field in Alaska for over 25 years and has worked in a variety of rural and urban treatment settings, to include outpatient community mental health, adolescent residential treatment and emergency psychiatric care. Jen provides therapy with young adults and adults, experiencing anxiety, depression/mood disorders, ADHD, trauma, life adjustment challenges, grief/loss and relationship issues.
Rachael Johnson, LPC
Rachael obtained her master's degree in psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage. A lifelong Alaskan, she has experience working in the mental health field for over twenty years in a variety of settings, including residential treatment, adult & adolescent inpatient units, outpatient community mental health with severely emotionally disturbed youth, and emergency psychiatric care. She specializes primarily in adolescents and adults, as well as their families. She has experience with, but not limited to, issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, family relationships, blended family dynamics, adjustment issues, and coping with grief and loss.
Phone: (907) 771-7110
Candice Siciliano, LPC
Candice received her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University in 1999. She has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years. She has experience in a variety of settings including residential, outpatient community mental health, and the psychiatric emergency room. Over the years she has worked with all ages from young children, teens, adults, and the elderly. She has specialized in working with those who have experienced trauma, depression and anxiety, grief and loss, those in need of crisis intervention, adjusting to major medical issues, sports therapy, and family issues.
Kate Lehn, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Kate obtained her Masters in Social Work in 1988 from the University of Hawaii. She believes in a holistic, balanced approach to mental health and has worked with a number of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, trauma recovery and other difficult life adjustments. She has extensive experience working with teens and the issues that encompass adolescence. Kate has also worked with the LBGTQ+ community and issues they may face. She wants to help people find their own inner strengths by providing a safe, neutral space where an individual can feel comfortable telling their story.
Phone: (907) 771-7107
Email: csakatelehn@gmail.com
Joanne Thomas, LCSW
Joanne has been practicing in the mental health field since 1989 and obtained her master's degree in social work from the University of Denver in 1992. In 1993, Joanne arrived in Alaska and has been practicing here as a licensed clinician ever since. She works with adults, 18+, providing individual, couples and family counseling on a variety of issues, including grief and loss, anxiety and depression, divorce and blended family issues, adoption, and other major life transitions. Joanne believes in a holistic, balanced approach to mental health and often has her dog, Yuki, present in her office as a therapeutic addition to counseling sessions.
Phone: (907) 771-7111
Meghan Yarmak, MS, LPC
Meghan obtained her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Alaska Pacific University in 2011 and has been working with families in a variety of settings for more than 10 years. Meghan's approach to counseling marries support with empathy, using cognitive behavioral, interpersonal, and solution-focused therapies. She aids parents and expecting parents in identifying strengths and values while assisting in developing new skills and supporting mental health. Meghan also specializes in working with parents struggling with infertility or loss through their journey to healing. Meghan's practice extends to adults exploring a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, trauma recovery, grief, and other difficult life adjustments.
Phone: (907) 771-7109
Email: meghanyarmakak@gmail.com
Doug Lindsay, LPC
***Doug has availability in both the Anchorage and Eagle River offices.***
Doug began his counseling career more than 35 years ago, as a pastor of multiple churches in rural Maryland. He also counseled soldiers and their dependents as a chaplain in the Army National Guard, where he served for 22 years. As a mental health clinician for the State of Alaska (from 2003 to 2017), he worked with participants in the Anchorage Mental Health Court. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from West Virginia Wesleyan College, a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, DC), and Master of Science degrees from Loyola University in Maryland and Alaska Pacific University. He has been a licensed professional counselor since 2012.
Doug works with clients (from adolescence to late adulthood) who are experiencing personal and professional transition, with an emphasis on clients who are dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma. He works with individuals, couples, and families.
Jamison Cole, LCSW
Jami was raised in Anchorage and has been here all but seven years of her life. She earned a master’s degree in Social Work at University of Alaska, Anchorage (UAA) in 1998, a bachelor’s in social work in 1994 and an Associates in Human Services – emphasis in Youth and Family in 1991. Prior to that she earned a Child Development Degree. In the past she has worked in a variety of settings including Mental health (anxiety, psychosis, mood disorders), psychiatric emergency services (suicidal and self-harm thoughts), crisis intervention, residential substance abuse treatment, domestic violence, PTSD and other trauma, grief/loss/life changes and family services including parenting and communication skill building. Jami uses a variety of treatment modalities including Strength Based, Person/Family/Systems Centered approach, Brief Solutions Focused, Cognitive Behavioral, Motivational Interviewing and Mindfulness techniques.
Jami’s core values are respect, personal responsibility and acceptance. She enjoys reading and spending time with her large family, both core and extended.
Telehealth Only Providers
Dana Williams, LCSW
**Telehealth Only**
Dana holds a master’s degree in Social Work from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He has experience in a variety of treatment settings including adult residential and outpatient care for substance abuse disorders and has practiced as an integrated behavioral health specialist in a family practice clinic. His clinical interests include the treatment of addiction issues, co-occurring disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, depression, trauma, emotional adjustment to health/medical issues and life events involving grief and loss. Dana uses an eclectic, client-centered approach, informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR and mindfulness meditation. He is committed to actively engaging the barriers to a full, healthy, balanced life and meets his clients with compassion and respect.
Phone: (907) 771-7103
Email: dgwilliams.lcsw@gmail.com
Teresa Williams, MS, LPC, CDC II
**Telehealth Only**
Teresa has a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern Illinois University and has been providing mental health and substance abuse treatment since 1987. She provides therapy for adults addressing a wide range of issues including anxiety, PTSD, depression, bi-polar, trauma, substance use disorders, grief, stress, health/medical issues, and relationship problems. She utilizes several approaches in her practice, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR and Mindfulness-Based approaches in her practice. Teresa embraces a recovery philosophy in her work that involves developing hope, supportive relationships, self-motivation, social inclusion, and a greater sense of life purpose.
Phone: (907) 771-7106
Email: teresajowilliams@gmail.com
Michael Vigil, MA, MS, LPC --Currently Not Taking New Clients--
Michael received a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the University of Guam, a Master of Science in clinical psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) and is a Ph.D. candidate in clinical-community psychology at UAA. Michael is a licensed professional counselor (LPC).
Michael has experience working in numerous behavioral health settings to include substance use treatment, college counseling, community mental health outpatient treatment, and psychiatric emergency treatment.
Michael works from an assimilative theoretical orientation grounded in person-centered theory. Michael also operates from a strength-based model that capitalizes on the individual’s internal attributes to successfully navigate through problems.
Michael provides services for adolescents, adults throughout the lifespan, and couples. Michael is currently working on completing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at UAA and plans to graduate in 2022.