Ignite Counseling Student Interns
As an approved Clinical Internship site, part of our mission is to offer Graduate Student Interns a one-year program, in a group practice setting, where they build upon their counseling education and implement direct client-facing skills.
We provide our interns with the opportunity to gain experience in how to become an integral member of the Professional Mental Health Community and the importance of breaking down barriers to adequate mental health care by advocating for those in most need.
Interns provide competent supervised therapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups. They are also able to offer these services for clients covered under Medicaid State insurance and can offer a low-cost, reduced fee rates for promoting affordable access to care for all.
SARAFINA LANDIS
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING STUDENT INTERN
SAYBROOK UNIVERSITY
Pronouns: They/Them
Populations: Adolescents and Adults
Specialities: Depression, anxiety, grief, identity development, life transitions, trauma, spiritual guidance, LGBTQIA+, poly and kink, end-of-life
Modalities: Parts Theory/IFS, Person-Centered, AEDP, Attachment Theory, Somatics, Relational-Cultural
Are you feeling inhibited from accessing the fullest version of yourself, your belonging, your aliveness with the world? In our collective experience of trauma, and the profound complexities of being alive, we are not meant to forge our way through alone. As a therapist, I will companion you to traverse the deep terrain of yourself and your life, to rebuild and breakthrough to your innate wise, resilient, and loving nature.
We are not silos; we are an ecosystem, composed of many parts who interact. Some of our parts which control us most have formed in response to trauma. As a therapist, I bring the tools and a skillful container to usher the work of healing those patterns, and moving through life’s transformations and transitions. Only you – in the truest sense of you – know where the healing is, where the wound is, where the horizon is: I will collaborate and attune to the part of you that knows. We will work toward building more capacity, connectedness, and openness.
I bring an awareness of systemic oppression to my work, alongside attachment theory, parts theory / Internal Family Systems, AEDP, and a somatics-based, experiential, and humanistic approach with some psychodynamic emphasis.
I specialize in working with young adults and adults, grief and end-of-life, LGBTQIA+ issues, poly and kink community, identity development, spiritual exploration, trauma healing, and transitions. My academic training has a focus in trauma, and builds on my professional experience with death care and grief, eco-spiritual chaplaincy work, LGBTQ+ healthcare advocacy, and decolonial sexuality studies
ADAM PETERS
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING STUDENT INTERN
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS GLOBAL
Populations: 12-60, individuals, families, groups, teens, young adults
Specialties: Military, trauma, PTSD, Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, and Divorce.
Modalities: Emotionally Focused, Psychodynamics, Solution Focused Therapy, Behaviour Therapy, Structural Family Therapy, and Sound Marital House Theory (The Gottman Method).
Everyone has a story, everyone’s story is unique and deserves to be heard. We all experience life differently. The ability we have internally to address the stressors in life can be developed and encouraged no matter what our preconceived ideas may be. You have the ability to make a change in your life, I am here to help guide you on your journey as you develop and perfect the skills you need to succeed.
I am a veteran and a parent and husband. I have a strong sense of service which I carry into all areas of my life and work. I will work with you to identify the problem and analyze the best response to the issue while keeping your goals and abilities in mind.
I tend to rely on emotionally focused therapy and family-based modalities, but I also utilize tools and techniques from multiple theories and I always expect to learn something new along the way. Let’s get together and start the process of self-discovery. With an open mind and a willingness to learn and make changes, anything is possible.
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you [choose to] react to it.”
~ Charles R. Swindoll
REBECCA JUSTICE
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING INTERN
BRADLEY UNIVERSITY
Pronouns: She/Her
Population: Everyone
Modalities: Gestalt/Person-Centered/Multicultural/Neurocounseling
As a counselor, I acknowledge the complexity of human experience and value collaborating to meet your individual needs by creating a safe space. I believe that you are the expert on your life and your experience. Counseling with me is directed by you and your needs. You may already know what you need from therapy or maybe you’re unsure and just want some guidance. I’m here to support you wherever you are on your journey.
Using experiential methods and techniques from gestalt and person-centered therapy, I focus on the therapeutic alliance to help you create effective change in your life. Gestalt techniques allow us to dig deeper into your experience and discover new ways to be present in your life. I also apply multicultural counseling to ensure you receive adequate care relevant to your lived experiences.
We may also use neurocounseling and neurotherapy to assess how trauma, disorders, and illnesses can affect the brain. I primarily use psychoeducation to help you understand the main factors that influence your brain development and how these changes in your brain are related to your behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
HALEY CAIN
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING INTERN
GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY
Pronouns: She/Her
Population: Young Adults, Adults
Modalities: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Reality Therapy, Motivational Interviewing
Specialties and Areas of Interest: Life transitions and goal-setting, LGBTQIA+ identity and relationships, Self-esteem and personal empowerment, Healing from toxic relationships, Motivation and behavior change, Career and purpose exploration, Boundary Setting
Hello Friends—I’m Haley, a clinical intern here at Ignite and a proud Tacoma native. I live with my partner, our three cats (who think they run the house), and one very sassy dog. When I’m not in session, you can usually find me with coffee in hand and a to-do list that’s ambitiously optimistic.
Finding the right therapist for you can be hard, my style is all about authenticity, accountability, and tapping into your inner drive. I believe that each person already holds the power to change—and I’m here to help you access that. I’ll meet you with empathy, honesty, and a little tough love when it’s needed. We’ll celebrate the wins, challenge the stuck points, and work together to move you toward the life you want.
If you're ready to do the work, I’m here to walk beside you—with encouragement, strategy, and maybe a laugh or two. My goal is to create a space that feels supportive, grounded, and real—where you can explore your values, decisions, and goals without judgment, and feel empowered every step of the way.
CLAY BOBST
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING INTERN
ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY
Pronouns: They/Them, He/Him
Populations: Adolescents, Young Adults, and Adults, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA2S+ individuals
Modalities/Influences: Humanistic/Person Centered, Queer Theory, Liberation Ecopsychology, Narrative Therapy, Relational-Cultural Therapy (RCT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Specialties/Areas of Interest: LGBTQIA2S+, gender identity and transition, kink and poly, coming out, religious trauma, spirituality, neurodivergence, depression, anxiety, grief and loss, climate anxiety
Hi, my name is Clay and I am a clinical mental health counseling student intern, attending Antioch University. I approach therapy and the therapeutic relationship with empathy, genuineness, curiosity, and when called for, a bit of humor. We humans are relational beings and our greatest capacity for healing and growth can be found in the community we build with one another. I haven’t been where you have been, but I am here to be present with your story and walk with you towards whatever future you are hoping to create. I welcome you in taking this first step on your journey. Wherever you are, wherever you are coming from, I am here to take the next steps alongside you.
I work with every individual to develop a therapeutic plan that meets your unique needs and goals, believing that you are the expert on your own life. We will journey together to explore what is necessary for you to create a fully embodied life of thriving. I believe that many of the challenges we face today are framed by the dominant culture as shortcomings within ourselves, when in reality systems of oppression keep us from accessing the resources and relationships that would allow us to thrive. To that end I work within a relational-cultural (RCT), liberation- based, and queer framework to address the systemic factors that impact well-being. My therapeutic approach is informed by Humanistic Theory, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and liberation ecopsychology, and I have a particular interest in Narrative Therapy and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) modalities. I am kink- and poly-friendly and LGBTQIA2S+ affirming and specialize in working with adolescents and adults on issues related to gender and sexuality, neurodivergence, depression, anxiety, religious trauma, spirituality, grief and loss, and climate anxiety.
I am white, queer, and transmasculine and identify spiritually as an agnostic with paganist, animist, and mystical influences. I am an avid reader who is eternally curious about the world and our relationships to each other and the more-than-human. In my spare time you can usually find me out exploring with my partner and our three fur babies by car, foot, bike, or boat.
EMRIC PENNINGTON-DAVIS
CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER INTERN
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
Pronouns: He/him/his
Populations: Children, Teens, Adults,
Specialties: 2SLGBTQIA+, identity development, neurodiversity, anxiety, depression, trauma
Modalities: CBT, DBT, ACT, Play therapy, Narrative therapy, Art therapy
Seeking therapy can be a difficult journey--especially when you've experienced harm in therapy in the past or when society tells you "it's all in your head". As such, I want to celebrate your bravery in making it this far already!
I believe that my role as a therapist is to stand beside you as you explore opportunities for growth and to collaborate with you as you draw up a map towards self-discovery & connection. Here there be dragons--and also a supportive space for healing!
I use narrative therapy in my work and understand that stories we tell ourselves–and are told by the systems we live within–have great power. I work with clients to explore the stories they tell and are told about their own lives, honoring them as the expert on their experiences. What stories are you ready to let go of? What new stories do you want to tell?
As someone who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder as an adult, I work with clients to embrace and navigate neurodiverse experiences through exploring your unique strengths and creative avenues for empowerment. Instead of focusing on medical models that pathologize lived experiences, I instead work with clients to unearth joy, meaning and belonging within themselves and their relationships outside of the predescribed cisgender, heterosexual expectations.
I use art and play therapy in both my work with adults and children---I believe that processing our feelings, untangling past traumas, and learning new coping skills can be easier when we're speaking through a stuffed dragon, nerding out over our favorite characters, and drawing stick figures. As a queer, transgender man, supporting my clients in exploring gender and sexuality identity, unlearning toxic masculinity/fostering positive masculinity and developing healthy queer relationships are major tenants in my work.
I was born and raised in the tiny town of White Salmon, WA. I moved to the Tacoma area for undergrad and fell in love with Tacoma’s charm and its wonderful queer scene. I'm in my first year of the online Master’s of Social Work Program at Boise State University. In my free time, I enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons, learning new fiber crafts, and hanging out with their rambunctious rabbit Juno.
I'm available for in-person sessions with clients five years old and older and also offers online telehealth sessions. I look forward to collaborating with you on the journey forward!
STEPHEN SISSEL
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING INTERN
CAPELLA UNIVERSITY
Pronouns: He/him/his
Populations: Military, Couples/family, individual, Adolescent
Modalities: CBT, Solutions-Focused, Person-Centered, Mindfulness
As a counselor I believe in the journey to wellness. I believe in the power of mindfulness, I believe in pragmatic solutions, and I believe in our own abilities to heal from little hiccups as well as big hurts, this is a possible future for us. Through the counselor client connection, with a little education, and some understanding we can discover why we think and feel, the way we think and feel, and change how we think and feel. One tenant of the counseling profession is meeting a client where they are, for most of us were not at 100% when we decided to try therapy. I know I wasn't, it's refreshingly easy and is becoming a norm. Another tenant of the counseling profession is the counselor sharing their experience, strength and hope, I believe in both of these, and I believe in happier healthier futures.
Urie Brofenbrenner (1917-2005, Moscow Russia), famously said “Every child deserves at least one adult in their life that is irrationally crazy about them”. Urie may have been referring to children and parents/grandparents, however, every client deserves the same from their counselor, what Carl Rogers called ‘unconditional positive regard’. That is part of my role as a counselor. Another part of my role as a counselor is challenge, change and growth for the problem at hand.
Through my experience as a crisis counselor and first responder outside of Chicago Illinois, and as a residential counselor with a Washington State Mental Health Hospital, I am not squeamish talking through difficult subject material. As a father of three, husband, and veteran, I have lived through and survived much of life’s little experiences that bring us into a therapist’s office. Life can be fun and easy, life doesn't have to be an uphill battle. All of these experiences are all part of the human experience.
STEPHANIE HALL
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING INTERN
ANTIOCH UNIVERSITY
Pronouns: She/Her
Populations: Children, Teens and Adults, Child and Teen Therapy, Individual Counseling
Modalities: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Gestalt Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy
Hi, my name is Stephanie. I am a Clinical Mental Health Counseling student at Antioch University in Seattle. I am a compassionate and empathetic counselor-in-training, dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment for my clients. My approach is grounded in trauma-informed care, meaning I honor each person’s unique story, recognize the impact of past experiences, and strive to ensure that every interaction fosters safety, trust, and empowerment. I believe healing happens when individuals feel truly seen, heard, and respected, and I aim to create a space where clients can explore challenges at their own pace while building resilience and self-compassion.
I offer both in-person and online counseling to provide flexibility and accessibility that meet each client’s needs. Whether we are face-to-face in the same room or connecting through a secure online platform, I bring the same warmth, presence, and attunement to our work together. My style blends active listening, gentle guidance, and evidence-based strategies, all tailored to each individual’s goals, strengths, and cultural background.
I view therapy as a collaborative journey, one where we work together to uncover patterns, build coping skills, and create meaningful change. You are the expert in your own life, and my role is to walk alongside you, offering insight, tools, and encouragement as you navigate your path. Together, we can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and help you reconnect with your inner strength and sense of possibility.
Baley Porter
Mental Health Counseling Intern
Seattle University
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Populations: Young Adult/Adults
Modality: Narrative Therapy, Existential-Humanistic Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Specialties/Area of Interest: Holistic and Integrative therapy, addressing the person as a whole being, Empowerment, Story focused, Trauma, Anxiety, Depression
As a counselor I am extremely passionate about guiding clients through an experience that is holistic to ensure success in their self-discovery process of healing. This means I like to get to the root of the symptom that comes up for us rather than focusing on one particular symptom. Through the process of getting to the “root” is where we do our work together that is impactful. Through that impactful work we also foster healing by creating an experience that is truly safe, individualized, and intentional. I strive to ensure I address all dimensions of a person by recognizing them mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, culturally, and socially as I believe we must integrate all parts of a person for a true experience of self-discovery and healing. Another piece of life I like to emphasize is that of how we see the world. I believe that our experiences shape our perspectives, and our perspectives shape our perception. What makes this so special is no one person has the same perception, and it is through our experiences, perspectives, and perceptions that lies stories deep within ourselves. These stories have the power to influence our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It is through that ability I like to provide guidance for the person to have the opportunity to restructure and create their own stories that aspires to heal and empower. I believe therapy is a process of self-discovery and my role is to guide and facilitate that discovery by creating a space where our therapeutic relationship can thrive. A little about me:) In my time outside of therapy you can find me working at a local coffee shop with a group of friends whom I cherish. I am naturally an introvert which means I love my solitude and peace, but also love doing extroverted things to fulfill my need for connection with others. I also love anything outdoors so you can find me road tripping, paddleboarding, running, exercising, walking, or just simply reading a good book outside. I enjoy the simpler things in life so I hope we can find a way to connect and I can learn something that you enjoy!
Erin Chamberlin
Mental Health Counseling Intern
Prescott College
Pronouns: She/Her
Populations: Adults and children
Modalities: Somatic techniques, Parts work, Art therapy, Play therapy, and Mindfulness
Hi everyone!
My name is Erin, and I am a clinical mental health counseling intern, and I am very excited to begin this new chapter! Outside of the demands of graduate school, I work full-time as a massage therapist, a profession that I genuinely love. Massage has deepened my interest in becoming a mental health counselor, as I have seen firsthand how intimately connected the mind and body are. I am also a mom to two fascinating middle schoolers and three cats, and many plants. At my core, I am an eternal questioner of life, committed to approaching it in a way that honors the earth and all its inhabitants.
As a highly sensitive, neurodiverse person, traditional schooling and many of the societal norms have not often come easily for me. Because of this, I find alternative therapies that incorporate creative approaches to be incredibly meaningful. I believe humans are essentially creative beings, and these types of practices can be deeply fulfilling for so many of us. Anything involving art, the earth, and somatic movement makes my heart light up, and I wholeheartedly embrace learning more about those types of modalities and am excited to work with others who think this might be helpful for them.
Overall, I often vacillate between wanting to practice expressive art therapy with children and somatic therapy with adults. However, I am truly excited to support each client in exploring what feels most authentic and fulfilling for them at this stage of their life. I look forward to working together and discovering what we can create to help fulfill your needs and support your journey.
Janessa Phil
Clinical Social Work Intern
Capella University
Pronouns: She/Her
Populations: Children, Adolescents, Teens, Young Adults
Specialties and Areas of Interest: Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss, Family Dynamics, Attachment, Trauma-Informed Care
Modalities: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy, Play Therapy
Hi, I’m Janessa! I believe therapy is a space for understanding, growth, and discovering your own strengths. It’s a place to explore your feelings, make sense of your experiences, and try new ways of handling life’s challenges in a safe and supportive environment. Whether it’s managing anxiety, figuring out your identity, or navigating life changes, I aim to create a space where you feel seen, heard, and valued, just as you are.
I approach therapy by looking at the whole person and the context around them, considering family patterns, relationships, and attachment experiences, while using a trauma-informed perspective. My goal is to help you discover your strengths, build practical tools, and feel empowered to handle challenges in a way that works for you.
Therapy is collaborative, and I’m here to walk alongside you, supporting your growth, honoring your experiences, and helping you feel more confident on your journey.
