Brenda Fowler, MSCP, has her master’s degree in Counseling Psychiatry from Alaska Pacific University. She has been working as a Clinician on the Adult Services team since 2009. Brenda is passionate about working with people as they explore personal goals and gain skills to improve quality and satisfaction of life. She empowers others by providing a safe supportive environment using a holistic, person-centered approach incorporating a variety of treatment modalities to meet the needs of individuals she works with.

Kristin Hansen, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, graduated from Walla Walla University in 1996. She has a background in medical social work before transferring to mental health therapy. Kristen enjoys working with underserved cliental employing an evidenced based approach while focusing on a client’s strengths. Her personal interests include reading and history.

Drew is a clinician on the ICM team and enjoys working in the community with clients of all walks of life. He graduated with his Master’s in Clinical Psychology from UAA in 2018 and is currently working towards licensure. In his free time he and his family enjoy spending time being active outdoors and eating food indoors.

Lizzy graduated from Regent University’s School of Psychology and Counseling in the summer of 2018. She moved from Montana to Alaska with her family in the spring of 2023 where she is working with AKBH’s adult outpatient team. She has done volunteer work in Nicaragua with survivors of human trafficking and has a heart for supporting individuals who have experienced suffering at the hands of others. She specialized in trauma treatment using EMDR and other modalities to help individuals reprocess and heal from their past. She loves all of the outdoors that Alaska brings, and enjoys cooking Indian cuisine and spending time with family.”

Nicole Jenkins, MS, LMFT has more than 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field and is finishing her Doctorate in Psychology, with the goal of becoming a Licensed Psychologist. Nicole provides behavioral health services to adults, children and families using a variety of treatment modalities to meet the needs of her clients.

Stephanie Morgan, M.Ed., joined the Adult Services Team at Alaska Behavioral Health in May of 2021 after interning on the Child & Family Continuum in 2019. Her role at Alaska Behavioral Health is an extension of her first career as a research psychologist. She has taught psychology (mostly statistics and research methods) at Alaska Pacific University for 11 years and returned to school for clinical training three years ago. She hopes to serve the community by helping people grow by recognizing, developing, and leveraging their strengths. When not at work, Stephanie enjoys walking, reading, the arts, cooking, and is slowly learning piano.

Courtney Evans, LPC, has a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Courtney’s passion lies in the community counseling setting, which she approaches through a cognitive and dialectical behavioral and cognitive processing approach. She places great value on the therapist-client relationship. Outside of the office, Courtney is actively involved in the community by coaching and mentoring young individuals while also sitting on a board of directors. In addition, she enjoys traveling and exploring new hobbies, such as embarking on a sourdough journey.

Bri Gergel, LPC, NCC, RYT-200, fosters a solution-focused environment for both staff and clients. Their counseling is rooted in evidence-based practices, supporting individuals in building resilience and making meaningful change. Outside of work, Bri enjoys spending time with their dogs, practicing yoga, and exploring Alaska’s wilderness.

Cassie Jackson, LPC, NCC, earned her Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. She joined the Alaska Behavioral Health team as a student-intern in August 2021. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelors of Science in Middle Childhood through Early Adolescence Education and TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages). Before becoming a therapist, Cassie taught middle school within the Fairbanks North Star Borough for over 10 years. She loves exploring Alaska and spending time outdoors! In the winter, she enjoys cross country skiing and snow machining. In the summer, she enjoys gardening, backpacking, paddling, and trail running.

Esther Ransom. LCSW is originally from Michigan and graduated with a master’s in social work from Spring Arbor University in 2019. She has a background in crisis intervention and substance use. Esther has worked mainly with adults in both outpatient and residential programs. Esther enjoys crocheting, knitting and camping.

Olena Avelar, MS, graduated from Capella University in 2024, earning her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Olena adopted person-centered, strength-based and psychodynamic approaches, which allow her to center treatment around the client’s personal goals. Olena is trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, Or Conduct Problems (MATCH – ADTC), which allow her to find the best suited course of treatment and apply it to unique client’s needs.

Jenn Hurtig, Licensed Master Social Worker, is a Clinician at the Mat-Su clinic. She graduated from USC School of Social Work in 2016 and worked in preventative mental health as a Community Support Coordinator before moving to mental health therapy. Jenn began her clinical journey with Intensive Case Management where she worked with those who experienced high-service needs before transitioning to the Mat-Su clinic. Specializing in CBT techniques, Jenn utilizes solution-focused, person-centered, trauma-informed modalities to help individuals and families build lives they feel are worth living. She enjoys reading, playing trombone, and eating delicious food.

Lora Jae brings over a decade of experience supporting individuals navigating trauma, addiction, and complex emotional challenges. Lora integrates evidence-based modalities such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to meet the unique needs of each person she serves. As a therapist of Sámi descent, Lora is committed to culturally responsive care and values the wisdom of ancestral and community knowledge. Outside of work, Lora enjoys kayaking, collecting rocks, and spending time in nature with her partner and their dog, Kissa.

Lynette Ramos, MSW, is a Clinician 1 at the Mat-Su Clinic. She is a life-long Alaskan and graduated from UAA in 2022 with a master's degree in social work. She has experience as an inpatient mental health therapist, as an outpatient substance use clinician  providing DBT group therapy and individual therapy and has hospice/home health experience. She completed practicum placements at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and at the Veteran's Administration HUD/Vash program for veterans experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders. Lynette has worked with adult clients from diverse backgrounds using a trauma-informed, strengths-based, empathetic, and person-centered approach. She primarily uses CBT techniques to help clients develop improved coping skills and recognize their own personal strengths. Lynette brings a broad range of life experiences and enjoys helping people as they progress on their own journey. She sees adult and child clients.