Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5226 USA
(269) 387-5100

Counseling Psychology Doctoral Students

2024-25 cohort

Female

Laci Johnson

(She/Her)

Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Undergraduate Institution: Purdue Fort Wayne

Master's Institution: Purdue Fort Wayne

Research Interests: Existential and Humanistic theory, LGBTQ+ populations, psychotherapy process and outcomes

Clinical Interests: Issues related to meaning and identity exploration, LGBTQ+ populations, trauma

Hobbies: Cooking/Baking, Working Out, Chess

Fun Fact: I'm a first-generation college student 

Female

Lillian Hicks

(she/her/hers)

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

Undergraduate Institution: University of Oklahoma

Research interests: Intergenerational trauma, adverse childhood experiences, youth wellness 

Clinical interest: youth and adolescents, trauma

Hobbies (2-3 max): I love reading, baking, playing piano

Fun fact about yourself: I have two cats!

Female

Jade Carriero

(she/her/hers)

Hometown (city, state): New Fairfield, Connecticut 

Name of undergraduate institution: Western Connecticut State University 

Research interests: Psychotherapy process and outcome 

Clinical interest: Children and adolescents, college students 

Hobbies: Going to concerts and music festivals, baking, traveling 

Fun fact about yourself: I can crochet! My favorite thing to crochet is hats. 

2023-24 cohort

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Anderson Boatman

(he/him/his)

Hometown: Poplar Grove, IL

Undergraduate institution: Carthage College 

Master's institution: Western Illinois University 

Research interests: Athlete mental health, mental health stigma

Clinical interests: Athletes, college students, young adults

Hobbies: Spending time with my two dogs and my fiancé

Fun fact: I have two different colored eyes.

Avery Mitevski

Avery Mitevski

Avery Mitevski

(she/her/hers)

Hometown: Clarkston, MI 

Undergraduate institution: University of Michigan-Flint 

Master's institution: Eastern Michigan University 

Research interests: Bias within the LGBTQ+ community (such as bi-negativity) and the impacts on mental health, first-generation American identity development

Clinical interests: LGBTQ+ psychology, first-generation American/Immigrant mental health

Hobbies: Baking, travel, playing video games

Favorite Quote: "Because, at the end of the day, that's all you got: looking back at the joy you had, and the joy you found, and the joy you gave other people." - Clint McElroy, The Adventure Zone

Rebecca Reilly

Rebecca Reilly

Rebecca Reilly

(she/her)

Hometown: Boston, MA

Undergraduate institution: University of Notre Dame

Master's institution: Brown University (elementary education)

Research interests: Youth wellness, parenting, intergenerational trauma, mindfulness

Clinical interests: Youth wellness, parenting, intergenerational trauma, mindfulness

Hobbies: Walking, yoga

Fun fact: I was an en elementary teacher for over 15 years

Adrienne Sulma

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Adrienne Sulma

(she/they)

Hometown: Delafield, WI

Undergraduate institution: University of Wisconsin - Stout

Master's institution: University of Miami and Marquette University

Research interests: gender expansive youth and family well-being, gender expansive parent well-being, and LGBTQ+ resiliency

Clinical interests: affirmative therapy and multicultural counseling approaches

Hobbies: Knitting, hiking, and gaming

Fun fact: I performed drag a couple of times for an LGBTQ+ center fundraiser. 

2022-23 cohort

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Becca Jokinen

(she/her)

Hometown: South Lyon, MI 

Undergraduate institution: Central Michigan University 

Master's institution: Northern Arizona University   

Research interests: Self-compassion, LGBTQ+ populations, identity development, prevention, individuals with disabilities   

Clinical interests: LGBTQ+ populations, identity exploration, self-compassion/self-love development, anxiety management 

Hobbies: Anything outdoors, anything art-related, mindfulness practices   

Favorite quote: “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” - Abraham Lincoln   

Sara Najar

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Sara Najar

(she/her)

Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI 

Undergraduate institution: Western Michigan University 

Master's institution: Western Michigan University 

Research interests: Psychotherapy process and outcome, relational dynamics 

Clinical interests: Psychological assessment, interpersonal process   

Hobbies: Cooking, Pilates, and being outside with my pup, Pierre. 

Fun fact: I’m an Italian citizen. 

Anna Nungster

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Anna Nungester

(she/her)

Hometown: Floyds Knobs, IN  

Undergraduate institution: Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota  

Master's institution: University of St. Thomas 

Research interests: Intergenerational trauma, group dynamics, substance use 

Clinical interests: Co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders  

Hobbies: Dance/theatre, travel, hiking 

Favorite quote: 

Things aren’t beautiful all on their own.  

Beautiful comes from reflection.  

Beautiful takes a person who makes a connection. 

For beautiful to happen, the beautiful has got to be seen.  

(from Ordinary Days, the musical)  

Ryan Wright

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Ryan Wright

(he/his)

Hometown: Washington. D.C. 

Undergraduate institution: Lafayette College 

Master's institution: University of the District of Columbia 

Research interests: Counseling process and outcomes for adult African American males, relational depth, multicultural issues, existential and humanistic theory 

Clinical interests: Depression, suicide and self-harm, issues related to life meaning, racial trauma, counseling diverse populations 

Hobbies: Hiking, cooking, traveling, video games, and djing 

Fun fact: I absolutely dislike chocolate chip cookies, and I am a huge Green Bay Packers Fan!!!! 

2021-22 cohort

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Trae Bell

(he/him)

Hometown: Teague, Texas

Undergraduate institution: University of Mary-Hardin Baylor

Master's institution: University of Mary-Hardin Baylor

Research interests: Somebodiness and African American Adolescents

Clinical interests: Play therapy

Hobbies: Gaming, listening to music

Favorite quote: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Francine Biscocho

(she/they)

Hometown: Anaheim Hills, CA

Undergraduate institution: Stanford University

Research interests: Communities of color, immigrant communities,LGBTQ+ communities

Clinical interests: Communities of color, immigrant communities,LGBTQ+ communities

Hobbies: Hiking, travel, dancing

Fun fact: I’ve been exploring Buddhism, mindfulness, and meditation.

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Dominque Giroux

(she/her/antiracist: committed to sustained action)

Hometown: Windsor, ON, Canada

Undergraduate institution: Olivet College

Master's institution: St. John’s University

Research interests: College student mental health; adverse childhood experiences; cultural betrayal trauma

Clinical interests: Emerging adults; trauma

Hobbies: Workout, play with puppy (his name is Windsor)

Favorite quote: "If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you will look forward, do so prayerfully. But the wisest course would be to be present in the present gratefully" - Maya Angelou

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Maria Sanchez-Rodriguez

(she/her)

Hometown: Pontiac, MI

Undergraduate institution: Grand Valley State University

Research interests: Child maltreatment, Familial Dynamics in families with a disabled child, and Counseling accessibility for Latinx individuals and families

Clinical interests: Familial therapy and counseling, Intervention and prevention therapy for Latinx

Hobbies: I love being active whether it be in the gym or outside. I enjoy building, designing, and refurbishing furniture. Lastly, I enjoy spending time with my family and my chosen family.

Favorite quote: "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor." - FDR

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Tynetta Smith

(she/her)

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Undergraduate institution: The Ohio State University; University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Master's institution: McDaniel College

Research interests: Black women’s mental health, maternal mortality, social and health inequities

Clinical interests: Black women, WOC veterans

Hobbies: Solo international travel, watching football, spending time with my rescue pitbull mix Bruno

Favorite quote: …I’m not saying that I’m going to rule the world or I’m going to change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world…I don’t know how we should change it but I know if I keep talking about how dirty it is out here somebody’s going to clean it up. ~ Tupac Shakur

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Carlie Zervan

(she/her)

Hometown: Chesaning, MI

Undergraduate institution: Ferris State University

Master's institution: Western Michigan University

Research interests: LGBT intimate partner violence, help-seeking attitudes, trauma-informed intervention

Clinical interests: substance use disorder and PTSD treatment

Hobbies: walking/hiking, art/design, spending time with my XXL cat

Favorite quote: "Everything is nothing, with a twist." - Kurt Vonnegut

2020-21 cohort

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HanaLi M. Gilbert

(she/her)

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Undergraduate institution and major: Grand Valley State University

Research interests: Psychotherapy process and outcome, interpersonal relationships, attachment

Clinical interest: Emerging adults and mood disorders

Hobbies: DIY projects and cooking

Favorite quote: "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." -Victor Frankl

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Jennifer S. Derren

(she/her)

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Undergraduate institution and major: Elmhurst University

Research interests: The therapeutic relationship and advocacy towards criminal justice reform

Clinical interests: Adolescent and young adult populations and personality assessment

Hobbies: Exploring walking trails in Michigan with my dog and baking

Fun fact: I am bilingual and speak Polish fluently

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Grace Y. Yensch

(they/she)

Hometown: Dundee, Michigan

Undergraduate institution and major: University of Michigan (Psychology, Communication Studies, & Music)

Graduate institution: Master's: Western Michigan University (Counseling Psych)

Research interests: LGBTQ+ populations, trans and nonbinary experiences accessing care, antiracism and white supremacy in higher education environment

Clinical interests: LGBTQ+ clients, polyamorous relationship concerns, trauma-responsive practices

Hobbies: caring for my many plants, bouldering, teaching middle and high school color guard

Fun fact: I have a long-haired black & white cat named Rorschach

2019-20 cohort

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Lindsey Dopheide

(she/her)

Hometown: Lawton, MI

Undergraduate institution: Grand Valley State University

Master's institution: Western Michigan University (Counseling Psychology)

Research interests: Racial socialization in the public school system

Clinical interests: Psychological testing and integrated behavioral health

Hobbies: Reading, playing tennis, and spending time with her animal hoard (she has 3 cats and a dog)

Favorite quote: “Why sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast" by Lewis Carroll from Through the Looking Glass.

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Sarah Haueisen

(they/them/their and she/her/hers)

Hometown: West Lafayette, Indiana

Undergraduate institution: New York University (Anthropology)

Master's institution: George Washington University (School Counseling)

Research interests: Race-related multicultural competence and LGBTQ+ student experiences

Clinical interests: Children, adolescents, and multicultural counseling

Hobbies: I enjoy running, backpacking, and bouldering

Fun fact: Despite being an avid outdoorsperson, I had never skied until I moved to Michigan. Now I love it!

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Aaron Jones

(he/him)

Hometown: Baltimore, MD   

Undergraduate institution: Towson University

Research interests: I am interested in exploring the intersection of race and sexuality as it relates to psychological well-being. I am also interested in the effect of multiple marginalized identities on community involvement and overall well-being.

Clinical Interests: I am interested in providing therapeutic care for those of racially marginalized communities, specifically African American and Latino communities. I am also interested in psychological assessment in adult settings.

Hobbies: I enjoy leisurely reading, running, and spending time with family and friends.

Favorite Quote: “You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.” – James Baldwin

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Alyssa Powers

(she/hers)

Hometown: Alliance, OH

Undergraduate institution: The University of Akron

Master's institution: Western Michigan University (Counseling Psychology)

Research interests: Brief multicultural educational interventions and the racial attitudes of White undergraduate college students

Clinical interests: Working with adolescents and young adults

Hobbies: Traveling, spending time outdoors, and playing cards and board games

Fun fact: I have traveled to four of the seven continents

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Tatyana Smith

(she/her/hers)

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

Undergraduate institution: Xavier University of Louisiana  

Master's institution: Western Michigan University (Counseling Psychology)

Research interests: Black masculinity, childhood sexual abuse, and romantic relationship outcomes for Black men

Clinical interests: Racial-gendered stress and trauma, mood disorders, and interpersonal concerns

Hobbies: Traveling, spending time with family and friends, and being active

Fun fact: I am a Gemini and a Southern belle through and through!

2018-19 cohort

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Zari Carpenter

(she/her)

Hometown: San Francisco, California and Chimacum, Washington

Undergraduate institution and major: Kalamazoo College (Human Development and Social Relations)

Research interests: How White people, specifically how counseling psychology doctoral students, learn about their whiteness and how they talk about whiteness and systemic racism with other White people

Clinical interests: Working with college aged students and broaching whiteness and systems of power, oppression, and resistance in session

Hobbies: Going for walks and random dance breaks

Fun fact: She can walk on her hands!

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Sandra D. Espinoza Montes

(she/ella)

Undergraduate institution and major: Eastern Washington University (Applied Psychology)

Graduate institution: Master's: Western Michigan University (Counseling Psychology)

Research interests: Intracultural differences between Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants, acculturation, and ethnic identity

Clinical interests: Multicultural counseling, trauma, eating disorders, substance abuse, and assessment

Hobbies: Crafts, baking, party planning, and photography

Favorite quote: "We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy" - Albus Dumbledore

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Adrian J. Hernandez

(he/him)

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Undergraduate institution and major: Grand Valley State University (Criminal Justice and Psychology)

Graduate institution: Master's: Western Michigan University (Counseling Psychology)

Research interests: Resilience development through the promotion of ethnic-racial factors, such as ethnic-racial identity, with Black and Brown adolescents and young adults

Clinical interests: Children and adolescents with relationship issues, behavioral concerns, and identity development

Hobbies: Hiking, biking, and training my dog with the hope of certifying him to be a therapy dog in the future!

Favorite quote: "I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with." - Sonia Sotomayor

2017-18 cohort

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Jonathan Hook

Hometown: Hobart, Indiana

Undergraduate institution: Purdue University

Research interests: Psychotherapy process and outcome, humor psychology, critical psychology.

Clinical interests: Radical psychotherapy, mutual aid, activism.

Hobbies: Tabletop roleplaying games, reading, and travel.

Favorite quote: “Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” - Rosa Luxemburg

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Char Houben

(she/her)

Hometown: Detroit, Michigan

Undergraduate institution: The University of Michigan

Research interests: Psychotherapy process and outcome, attachment/epistemic trust, and multicultural competency

Clinical interests: Identity development (race/ethnicity, sexuality & gender), oppression-related trauma, relationships, and holistic health and wellness.

Hobbies: Reading, gardening, traveling, interpersonal connections

Favorite quote: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends.” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Brian Stran

(he/him)

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Undergraduate institution: Mount St. Mary’s University

Master's institution: Washburn University

Research interests: I am interested in understanding issues of lifespan development and how developmental factors can influence psychological interventions. My research is primarily focused on understudied populations, like older adults and low SES individuals. 

Clinical interests: Clinical Interest: I am most interested in psychological practice within interdisciplinary hospital or medical settings. I am also interested in providing developmentally and culturally informed evidence-based services to underserved populations. 

Hobbies: I enjoy traveling and visiting national parks with my miniature schnauzer. 

Fun fact: I’ve visited 48 states within the last 6 years.