Meet Our Team in Eau Claire, WI

Clinical Approach

Nichole brings over 18 years of experience supporting children, individuals, and families navigating mental health challenges, crises, and substance use concerns. She believes that every person’s story is unique and approaches therapy with compassion, curiosity, and respect—customizing each session to meet her clients where they are.

Nichole has received specialized training in Trauma-Informed Care, strengths-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Systems Theory, and the Gottman Method for couples therapy. She is also a certified Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapist, holds a Substance Use Disorders Counselor Certificate, and has earned her Sex Therapy Practitioner certification.

Dedicated to lifelong learning, Nichole remains passionate about staying current with evidence-based practices and expanding her clinical expertise. She finds deep fulfillment in helping adults, families, and couples overcome challenges, strengthen relationships, and achieve meaningful growth.

Clinical Approach

Alicia is focused on providing an inclusive and affirming environment providing therapeutic services to individuals ages 12+. She is passionate about building connection and supporting greater understanding of ourselves and others. With a focus on empowerment and integrated mental healthcare, Alicia meets clients with compassion, positive regard, and clinical skill.

Alicia is experienced in a wide array of clinical interventions, allowing her to personalize her approach to your concerns and goals. She frequently uses cognitive behavioral skills (CBT), dialectical behavioral skills (DBT), mindfulness, and behavioral activation in a trauma-informed practice model that nurtures clients as they explore new ways of interacting with life’s challenges and opportunities.

Alicia specializes in integrated clinical practice, with expertise in supporting individuals with acute and chronic medical conditions, including cancer and other life-altering diagnoses. She enjoys working with adolescents and adults. Areas of special interest and focus include women’s health, depression, anxiety, survivorship, parenting, and relationships.

Outside of work, Alicia enjoys travel, reading, cooking, time with family, and snuggling her two ill-mannered Boston Terriers!

Clinical Approach

Donna has a rich background of professional experiences working with people who are facing a wide range of challenges including depression, ,bipolar disorder, anxiety and other mental health problems, traumatic memories, chronic pain and other health problems and relationship challenges. Donna also is experienced in addressing phase of life problems including grief, aging and end of life stressors. She has worked in diverse settings including clinics, schools, a hospital and group homes which has resulted in a deep understanding of the barriers and challenges people face. She is dedicated to using her skills and knowledge to guide and support her clients through the rough patches in their lives.

Donna helps people learn to better listen to and trust their inner wisdom. In addition, she provides perspective and teaches skills for coping. She values diversity and welcomes LGBTQ-- as well as racial, religious and ethnic minority group-- clientele. She will work with adults who wants to feel better, improve their ability to manage their feelings or simply to hold onto hope in the midst of hard times.

Donna’s clinical approach has a foundation of person centered and cognitive behavioral methods. She also uses Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy concepts to help with emotional management and empowerment. She also uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) when appropriate which helps people who have troublesome memories of traumatic events. The goal of EMDR is to help make the traumatic memories feel as though they are in the past.

Clinical Approach

Kaia has a passion for collaborating with people to create greater well-being! She supports individuals and families in developing strengths and adapting to challenges to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Her approach involves gently getting to know each person and honoring their needs, preferences, and lived experiences. She then uses creative, individualized therapeutic approaches to support healing and flourishing!

Kaia is skilled at making genuine connections with children, teens, and adults of all ages, including preschool children, young adults, and older adults. Kaia knows from experience that positive change can happen at any age! As a therapist, Kaia has helped people experiencing grief, trauma, depression, anxiety, identity issues, emotional and behavioral challenges, chronic illness/pain, toxic stress and more.

In addition to talk therapy, sessions with Kaia may include Brainspotting, mindfulness, music, sensory activities, writing, drawing, and/or play based on the person's needs and interests. Regardless of the approach, Kaia supports people in the creation of a new self-narrative or life story full of confidence and hope.

Kaia is qualified as a certified Brainspotting therapist with specialized training in parts work and post-traumatic growth. She has also had training in somatic therapy, polyvagal therapy, mindfulness, Internal Family Systems, Acceptance Commitment Therapy, play therapy, DBT, and CBT. Kaia's training and experience enable her to support clients through a closely attuned therapeutic presence that includes genuine caring, open listening, and authentic respect.

Kaia identifies as an LGBTQIA+ positive therapist. She also has deep knowledge and understanding of neurodivergence, including ADHD, autism, intellectual giftedness, intellectual disability, and learning disabilities or differences.

Prior to becoming a counselor, Kaia worked in a variety of advisory and educational roles, including early childhood education, youth services, and business consulting and research in the University of Wisconsin System. She also writes, performs, and records original music and poetry and serves as a Reiki energy therapy practitioner and teacher. In her free time, she enjoys nature walks, reading, live music, and time with friends and family.

Clinical Approach

Patti Fedie has over 20 years of clinical experience. She works with individuals on issues related to anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem and grief/loss. She was trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) thus she is knowledgeable on trauma and utilizes an evidence-based cognitive behavioral framework in her trauma recovery treatments.

Patti specializes in areas of sexual addiction, sexual abuse and pornography addiction. She has many years of experience providing therapy to victims of sexual abuse and working with those who are addicted to sex and to pornography.

Patti was a foster parent and is an adoptive parent so she is able to help adults who are struggling with identity issues related adoption. She can also provide support for foster parents and adoptive parents who are dealing with issues such as difficulty with attachment and/or behavioral concerns.

Clinical Approach

Ally is a dedicated mental health therapist passionate about guiding individuals on their journey to emotional well-being and personal growth. With a profound belief in the transformative power of therapy, she is committed to creating a safe and empathetic environment where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Ally's therapeutic style is collaborative, warm, and non-judgmental. She believes in the strength and resilience within each individual, and is here to provide support, guidance, and practical tools to help you navigate life's challenges. Ally specializes in working with individuals struggling with life transitions, anxiety, depression, self-harm, stress management, relationship issues, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Ally is an Advanced Practice Social Worker who received her Master of Social Work through Saint Mary's University. Ally has worked in a variety of mental health settings including skills work with adolescents, continuing education, and county mental health.

Ally provides therapy under the clinical direction of a licensed supervisor while completing post-graduate licensure requirements.

Clinical Approach

Hello! I’m Mickey, your friendly therapy dog. I’m here to offer comfort, companionship, and a wagging tail whenever you need it. Whether you’re feeling a little down or just need a quiet moment of connection, I’m all ears and paws, ready to listen and be by your side. I love ear scratches, gentle pets, and snuggling up by your side (if wanted of course!). No worries, I’m a pro at making people feel relaxed and happy. If you need a little extra warmth or a moment of calm, I’ve got you covered! Mickey currently works with Ally and is certified through The Alliance of Therapy Dogs.

Clinical Approach

Melissa is passionate about helping young children and families thrive. She believes all children do well when they can- and caregivers too. As a practicing occupational therapist for 24 years, she sees the intersectionality of mental and physical health, leading to additional education to become a licensed clinical social worker.

Melissa has extensive training in sensory integration and social-emotional development in children. She has an eclectic approach utilizing mindfulness, body-based activities, and play to promote emotion regulation for children while supporting caregivers as experts of their child.

She completed the UW-Madison Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health Capstone Certificate Program and is endorsed by the Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health (WI-AIMH) as an Infant Mental Health Specialist.

Her clinical interests include: Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She is experienced in the assessment and relational support of infants and very young children and their caregivers.

In her free time, Melissa enjoys cooking, biking, traveling, and hiking. In the summer she especially enjoys watching baseball games and wearing out her active dog.

Clinical Approach

Kathy is a Texas native, with roots in Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. She loves working with children, adolescents, young adults, and families. She is passionate about meeting her clients where they are on their personal journey and creating a safe space for them to take steps toward the changes they hope to make, body, mind, and spirit. With over 18 years of counseling experience, she considers it an honor to collaborate with her clients as a team to help navigate through the highs and lows that life can bring. Kathy believes in building a rapport with client’s and offers genuineness in sessions.

Kathy provides counseling for those dealing with the following concerns: stress management, anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationship issues and/or divorce, family dynamics, as well as family planning (infertility/postpartum, and grief). Kathy also takes a holistic approach to her work and incorporates clients spirituality and faith in session, if desired by clients.

Kathy’s clinical approaches are as follows: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems.

Kathy has worked in a variety of settings such as: psychiatric inpatient, adolescent residential care, foster care and adoption, day treatment for adolescents and adults, school-based, and out-patient/tele mental health individual, and family counseling.

In her spare time, Kathy loves to travel, go to the beach, watch football, drink coffee and read a good book, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy the simple things in life that bring her joy.

Clinical Approach

Katrina utilizes a short term solution focused approach in her work to empower clients and increase self compassion in a non judgmental environment. She aspires to provide a safe space for clients from a variety of backgrounds, including people of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals. Katrina works with clients with a range of presenting concerns including anxiety, life transitions, identity development, self esteem, grief and loss, concerns related to family of origin, and boundary setting / assertiveness skills. Katrina utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness, Person-Centered Approaches, Solution Focused Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work with clients. She has experience working with adults of varying ages and has a particular interest in working with college students and young adults.

Clinical Approach

Karissa is a strength-based, person-centered therapist who believes in meeting clients where they are at in order to help discover and utilize their own personal strengths and motivations to create change in their lives. Karissa believes that a compassionate, accepting, and respectful therapeutic relationship is a key component to change and aims to create that type of environment in her office. Karissa also utilizes cognitive-behavioral skills in her practice. She has experience working in day treatment and outpatient settings with children, adolescents, and adults.

She works with a wide variety of presenting concerns including: anxiety, depression, trauma, mood regulation, behavioral concerns, family conflict, and identity concerns.

Clinical Approach

Stephanie aims to assist clients with recognizing their own capabilities and finding effective solutions and healing. She has a particular passion for working with teenagers and young adults.

Stephanie works with clients presenting with a wide range of conditions including: school issues, self-esteem/identity concerns, spirituality, trauma, emotional dysregulation, anxiety, depression, bereavement, healthy communication/assertiveness skills, family dynamics and Christian counseling. Stephanie is certified in TF-CBT and is DBT and IFS informed. She is also trained in EMDR.

Stephanie counsels out of a person-centered philosophy centered on self-compassion and understanding. Stephanie draws from family systems theory and strength-based techniques to guide clients to a better understanding of themselves and to find healing. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, exercising, reading, and doing anything that makes her feel productive!

Clinical Approach

Cynthia’s clinical perspective is that everyone is capable of change and her approach is using each person’s strengths to increase hope in a non-judgmental setting. Cynthia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the mental health and health care field for many years. She has helped all age groups and focuses on adults and couples. Her areas of interest include work conflict, mood difficulties, relationship difficulties, phase of life changes, grief and chronic medical issues. Cynthia uses a person-centered approach with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Clinical Approach

Mary Beth brings years of experience in helping all ages with a variety of mental health as well as nutrition concerns. Mary Beth's approach is looking at the whole person and finding solutions together to bring peace, understanding, and happiness again. Mary Beth has extensive knowledge and skills in the areas of Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Grief, and Conflict Resolution. Her tools include Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and EMDR as well as Restorative Practice.

Mary Beth Patterson is a current Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Wisconsin and a former Registered Dietitian of 20 years. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Mary Beth has worked in a variety areas of Crisis Management, School Social Work, and presently in private practice as a Mental Health Therapist. Mary Beth also has extensive knowledge in the areas of Nutrition, Mindfulness, and Well Being.

Clinical Approach

Danielle is passionate about working therapeutically with children, adolescents, young adults and families. Danielle also provides individual trauma-informed therapeutic care for law enforcement, first responders, firefighter, medical and emergency personnel. These individuals will be met with compassion and guidance to create body + mind balance and process the intricate complexities, compassion fatigue and traumas their helping role can place them in. She strives to create an atmosphere of warmth, compassion, genuineness and respect. Her desire is to create a space where you feel safe to share your story free from judgment.

Danielle has an eclectic and trauma informed therapeutic style and uses a variety of approaches in her therapy. To walk alongside clients in a mindful, relational and holistic manner for integrated harmony and balance Danielle supports through Play Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems/Parts Work (IFS) and Polyvagal/Mindfulness approaches. When your story finds a safe space to be shared and held, you can begin your journey to healing.

Danielle is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional specializing in developmental trauma, relational trauma and complex trauma. Advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), international training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and national certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) equips Danielle with unified and ongoing knowledge to support and guide you in your therapy process.

Danielle works with children, adolescents, young adults, adults and families for a variety of concerns to include: anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, relational stress, PTSD, parenting enhancement and guidance, attachment and nurturing repair, parent/child interaction and general life transitions. Overall, helping individuals feel heard and seen while they adapt to the busy and ever-changing world they live in.

Alongside her therapeutic practice, Danielle holds a Professor faculty position in the Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She finds joy in teaching and learning alongside her graduate students. Danielle additionally hosts a trauma consultation on a monthly basis for mental health professionals.

In her free time she enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, yoga, bee keeping, traveling and spending time with her family.

Clinical Approach

Emily has worked in the mental health field for over twenty years and gained clinical experience working in day treatment, hospital, jail, in-home family therapy, wilderness therapy and school-based outpatient therapy before joining the Collaborative team. Emily uses a trauma-informed mindset in her approach to help people with histories of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. She draws upon family systems theory to guide her work, and she incorporates cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness and strength-based techniques. Emily is an EMDRIA-trained certified EMDR therapist (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and continues to enhance her therapeutic skills with advanced EMDR trainings and consultations. Emily loves to incorporate humor into her work and strongly believes that the therapy experience ought to be down-to-earth and enjoyable. She welcomes people of all gender and sexual identities with open arms. Emily is passionate about yoga and gardening.

Clinical Approach

McKala is a dedicated therapist passionate about supporting individuals and families in reaching their fullest potential. Central to her practice is building strong, trusting relationships with her clients, fostering an environment where they feel accepted, understood, and empowered to harness their unique resilience, especially during challenging times.

She has extensive training in trauma-informed care, including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and holds certifications as a Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C).

Her practice is inclusive, welcoming individuals across the lifespan (ages 3 and up). McKala utilizes an eclectic, client-centered approach, addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, grief/loss, and aging. She believes in an adaptive, personalized method that respects the unique needs of each client.

She is skilled in using play therapy techniques to engage children in a way that resonates with them, and works collaboratively with parents to create tailored treatment plans that promote healing. She also specializes in supporting individuals during the perinatal and postpartum periods, offering compassionate care that addresses a range of issues, from adjustment and life transitions to mood and anxiety disorders.

McKala loves living in the Chippewa Valley and greatly values quality time with family and friends. She enjoys traveling, figure skating, reading, listening to podcasts, and snuggling her dog. McKala wants clients to know, "You are not alone...Healing is possible."