Counseling Staff

Amy is a graduate of Boise State University, majoring in social work for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She has been practicing in the mental health field in Boise for over 20 years. Amy’s approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (including CBT for insomnia) , generalist Social Work practice, solution-focused and motivational interviewing. These approaches assist those struggling with anxiety, depression and life transitions. Seeing people meet their life goals and grow is the favorite part of her job. Amy is a certified Body Positive treatment provider; a specialty that focuses on improving body image and treating disordered eating. Amy strives to create a welcoming and accepting therapeutic environment for everyone. When not working, Amy is blessed with dear friends and family to spend time with. She also enjoys listening to vinyl records, watching documentaries and cooking. She recently achieved perfection in Stardew Valley.

Ayako is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC). After moving to the United States from Japan for college, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Boise State University and Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Idaho State University. Before joining the Boise State counseling services, she has worked in community counseling agencies and had her own private practice. Ayako’s clinical interests include depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, life transitions, relationship issues, cultural issues, self-worth, and LGBTQ+ issues. Her counseling approach is person-centered which emphasizes the importance in the relationship between the counselor and client in order to facilitate healing, growth, and change. Ayako is an EMDR trained, LGBTQ+ affirming counselor. In her free time Ayako likes to eat, hike, do yoga, explore new places and things, watch too much TV, and spend time with friends and family.

Dr. Brette Stephenson serves as the Director of Counseling Services. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Boise State University and previously attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where she earned her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Her current work focuses on advocacy for college student mental health, and she is committed to a collaborative approach that supports and enhances students’ access to resources that promote mental health and wellbeing, working closely with campus and community partners to foster a supportive environment for students. Brette also works with individuals experiencing personal and career transitions, depression, anxiety, grief, serious mental illness, and cultural concerns. Brette is an LGBTQ-affirming counselor, and her approach emphasizes the therapeutic alliance between client and counselor, focusing on awareness, acceptance, and growth. Prior to joining Boise State University, she worked in community-based mental health and private practice settings. She serves as an adjunct instructor for the Counselor Education Department at Boise State University. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, traveling, hiking, and running.

Christie earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Medaille University, in Buffalo, New York in 2021. As part of her graduate work, she completed training in various academic and community mental health settings. Christie’s clinical interests are specific to the traditional and non-traditional college-aged population, focusing on anxiety, ADHD, depression and personality disorders. Her approach draws from person-centered care, cognitive behavioral therapy and biopsychosocial models. In her free time, Christie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching the Buffalo bills, and participating in a number of sporting activities.

David is currently in the 4th year of his doctorate in clinical psychology from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID. As part of his graduate program he has experience with testing and assessment for ADHD, and ASD from previous practicum experiences. He is currently interested in continuing to learn psychological testing and assessment. He is also excited to continue to grow his therapeutic skills. His therapeutic approach is learning to integrate Emotion-Focused therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Existential approaches. David is an LGBTQ+ affirming counselor. In his free time, David enjoys spending time with his family, going on walks, and reading for fun.

Ericka is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who earned a master’s degree in social work from Boise State University. As part of her graduate work, she completed an internship with Interfaith Sanctuary Housing Services and an internship with the Boise School District. Ericka has experience as a medical social worker, working for St Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise. Ericka values the opportunity to provide counseling/mental health services to students, faculty and staff with Boise State University. She believes the most integral component in the therapeutic process is the moment a client feels seen and heard. Ericka works toward empowering clients to be their most authentic selves while exploring their intrapersonal and interpersonal worlds. Ericka typically utilizes a person-centered approach, a cognitive behavioral framework, narrative theory, and Existentialism (among others). Her professional interests include: grief, anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, self-worth, relationships and assertiveness. Ericka is LGBTQIA+ affirming. In her spare time, you’ll find her engaging in anything that makes her laugh, enjoying the various events and outdoors Boise has to offer, solidifying her cooking skills, and spending time with her friends and family.

Jessica is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Boise State University, and her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Boise State University. She has been a counselor at Boise State University since 2017. Prior to that she worked in the mental health field as a community-based provider. Her professional interests include working with individuals experiencing life transitions, anxiety, trauma, depression, grief and cultural concerns. She is a LGBTQIA+ affirming provider. Jessica views the relationship between counselor and client as the most important factor in facilitating change and wellness. She strives to provide a safe, open, and supportive environment for every individual she counsels, and draws from an eclectic base of modalities to provide effective therapy for her clients. Outside of work, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family and taking advantage of the vast wilderness access and outdoor recreation that Idaho has to offer.

Jose Valle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Social Work degrees from Brigham Young University. Jose has practiced in multiple clinical settings including a community clinic, managed care organizations, a state agency, a nonprofit organization, and 11 years in his own private practice. One of his most rewarding experiences is having worked as a contractor for the federal government in an emergency shelter in Texas. There, he provided crisis and trauma care to unaccompanied youth from Central America who crossed the US-Mexico border. His professional interests include working with individuals who are having difficulty with trauma, ADHD, depression, anxiety, family disruptions, and other phase of life problems. His approach to counseling incorporates openness, non judgment, and acceptance, paired with therapeutic approaches that foster healing and personal growth. When Jose is not working or catching up with overdue home projects, he enjoys spending time with his family, bicycling, taking photos of nature and fly fishing.

Katie (she/her/hers) graduated from Boise State University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Katie spent most of her life in cities like Detroit and Chicago and came to Boise to pursue her passion for watching others grow and flourish. Katie helps her clients navigate the human experience and its full range of emotions by showing them how to listen to signals in their body, and tuning in to the parts of themselves that feel depressed, anxious, and unsure. Katie gently guides clients to listen to themselves to find what they are looking for and heal the parts of them that are hurting. Clients can expect to learn more about how their nervous system is activated or shut down, how this affects their daily lives, and how to listen to themselves to find the support they are searching for. Katie supports all identities and is a LGBTQIA+ affirming counselor. In her spare time, Katie enjoys reading thriller books, trying new hobbies, and playing volleyball.

Kristin is a Counseling Intern and a final-year Master of Social Work student at Boise State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marriage and Family Studies, which informs her interest in supporting couples as well as individuals navigating relational and personal challenges. Guided by a strengths-based and person-centered perspective, Kristin creates a space where students feel safe and empowered to explore their experiences, uncover their strengths, and build resilience. She has developed a particular interest in supporting neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD and Autism, and draws on a solution-focused approach to help students identify practical strategies and campus resources to support their well-being. Kristin is passionate about helping students strengthen connections and navigate the transformative years of college with confidence. Outside of her work at Boise State, Kristin enjoys life with her husband and their five daughters. She loves the energy of live music, the creativity of designing themed Halloween costumes, and the sense of wonder she still feels every time she steps into Disneyland. For Kristin, these moments of play and imagination are just as vital to well-being as reflection and growth.

Madi is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) who completed her degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She works to empower individuals to own their stories and find healing through the process. Madi cultivates a safe environment for exploration and growth by maintaining curiosity and drawing on a variety of therapeutic techniques. She holds experience working in non-profit, private practice, and university settings, and is passionate about addressing systemic and environmental issues that impact mental health. Madi is mindful of these throughout her practice and has worked with individuals from a variety of marginalized communities including veterans experiencing housing insecurity, students in recovery for substance use and eating disorders, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and individuals on the autism spectrum. Madi practices acceptance of all identities and is an LGBTQ+ affirming counselor. When she is not consumed with reading too many books at once, Madi is usually baking, soaking up the outdoors, attending her favorite workout class, or connecting with loved ones. 

Nathan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He grew up in Indiana and studied Spanish and Psychology at Indiana University before getting his Masters in Social Work at Boise State. Nathan’s approach to therapy is person-centered and strength based. His primary clinical interest and specialty is in couples counseling, and he utilizes blended elements of Gottman, and Emotions Focused Therapy (EFT). Nathan’s other clinical specialties include anxiety and depression management and treatment, narrative approach to trauma and grief, developing and maintaining healthy relationships, transition and exploration of various components of identity, and the development of self trust and autonomy. Nathan is LGBTQIA+ affirming and emphasizes acceptance, trust and authenticity in his work. When away from the office, Nathan is a huge outdoor enthusiast, and you can probably find him up on the Payette or Salmon river systems on the weekends.

Parker is currently a Counselor Intern finishing his Master’s degree in Addiction Counseling at Boise State University. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Boise State University. Parker has over two years of clinical experience working with people experiencing various co-occurring psychological and substance-abuse challenges. Parker is particularly interested in trauma, addiction, and disordered eating. Parker is a LGBTQIA+ affirming provider. His approach to counseling integrates various forms to therapy to promote peoples’ holistic health and wellness. His approach is primarily grounded in Person-Centered Therapy. Parker believes that a therapeutic relationship founded on accurate empathetic understanding, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard can create an environment that promotes growth, personal development, and healing. Parker integrates insights and techniques from Relational-Cultural Theory (RCT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Feminist Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy. In this way, he seeks to provide treatment that can help people meet their individual needs while also recognizing the influences of the larger systems and cultures they are a part of. Parker’s first priorities in counseling are to establish a safe and accepting therapeutic relationship with clients and to collaborate with clients in identifying and working toward counseling goals. Depending on clients’ concerns and preferences, Parker utilizes various emotion-focused, relational, mindfulness-based, and experiential interventions to help clients make progress toward their goals. In his spare time, Parker enjoys hiking, running, connecting with close friends and family, and spending time with his dogs Cosmo and Bacon.

Shannon is a counseling intern pursuing her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) certification. She is in her final year of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Idaho State University, and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lindenwood University. Shannon believes in the importance of a strong therapeutic relationship, and that building trust and rapport is essential. She honors every part of an individual’s identity, and she is dedicated to creating a space that acknowledges and welcomes all aspects of who they are. Shannon has a particular interest in supporting college students as they navigate the significant changes and challenges of that life stage. She primarily uses a Person-Centered approach and is exploring a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) lens. In her free time, Shannon enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Skyler is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), earning his degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Idaho State University – Meridian. He has extensive experience working with university students in several capacities, including as a counselor and previously as a writing professor. He also has experience with individual and group counseling for clients struggling with substance abuse and addiction. Skyler views counseling as a collaborative exploration of emotions, identities, and beliefs that can provide insight to his clients’ overall wellness. He values clients’ unique experiences, strengths, and cultural identities, and views these as powerful tools in creating meaning and purpose. Skyler is a LGBTQIA+ affirming counselor and possesses a passion and dedication for the wellness of this community. Skyler’s counseling approach draws primarily from Person-Centered Counseling approaches and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, having familiarity in multiple other modalities. His clinical interests and specialties include anxiety, depression, substance use and/or abuse, addiction, and interpersonal/social worries and struggles. When Skyler isn’t working, he is connecting with his friends over games and good food, soaking in the vibes of local coffee shops, or participating in local theater as a performer and a director. 

Tami is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and earned her Masters in Counseling from Boise State University. She has experience working in a variety of mental health settings prior to coming to Boise State University Health Services. Her clinical interests include trauma, anxiety, self-worth, healthy boundaries and healthy relationships. Tami’s approach to counseling is person-centered along with aspects of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR. Tami is an LGBTQ+ affirming counselor. Her favorite part of the job is empowering clients to become more self-confident and accepting of themselves. In her free time Tami enjoys being outdoors and traveling, and playing with her two cats.