MEET OUR TEAM
LEO DEBROECK, MS, LMHC, CMHS, MHP
President
National Provider Number (NPI): 1417308024
Washington State License Number: LH60827185
Leo DeBroeck, MS, LMHC, CMHS, MHP is Child Mental Health Specialist and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington State. He is CBT Plus certified through the University of Washington and Harborview Sexual Assault and Traumatic Stress Center. He has worked full-time at a community health center as a Mental Health therapist with a team of other Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. he has previous experience working with children and adolescents at an intensive inpatient program in Spokane, Washington for several years. He has completed his Masters of Science in clinical psychology with his thesis on factors in suicide. He has published scientific research on young adults related to suicidality. He writes and has published children's therapy books for use in counseling settings. These are published on Amazon, for use in therapy settings addressing grief, addiction, neglect, abuse, self-confidence and others. He is the president and founded an LLC called Counselor's Choice Award that reviews counseling products and therapeutic tools. This also offers Continuing Education Courses. He has taught Continuing Education courses throughout the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. He has worked in several different levels of care for mental health treatment including long-term inpatient care, WISe wraparound intensive services, school-based therapy services, and outpatient clinical settings.
RACHEL HUGHES, PH.D.
Instructor
National Provider Number (NPI): 1366805905
Washington State License Number: LF60774478
Dr. Rachel Hughes specializes in supporting families with neurodivergent, gender questioning, and transgender kids and teens to build a collaborative and accepting family culture as a family therapist. They are the primary clinician and CEO of Connect Counseling and Consulting where they use therapeutic game interventions to work on treatment goals. They received their PhD in Medical Family Therapy from Saint Louis University and has completed a certification to become a therapeutic game master.
EDUCATION:
University of Colorado: Advanced Specialization in Medical Family Therapy
Saint Louis University: PhD in Medical Family Therapy
Appalachian State University: MA in Marriage and Family Therapy with certificates in Addiction Counseling and Expressive Arts Therapy
LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATIONS:
State of Washington, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LF60774478
State of Washington, Child Mental Health Specialist, Active
State of Washington, Approved Supervisor
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, Approved Supervisor
BOB TYLER, BA, LAADC, CADC II
Instructor
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) Credential Number LCi04530315
While working in Inpatient, Residential, and Intensive Outpatient levels of care, Bob Tyler has been working in recovery since 1990. He serves as Compliance Officer at L.A. CADA, is owner of Bob Tyler Recovery Services (consulting, CD private practice, public speaking), is Past President of CAADAC, and taught the ethics course at LMU Extension in the Alcohol and Drug Studies Program for several years. He authored the EVVY Award-winning book, Enough Already! A Guide to Recovery from Alcohol and Drug Addiction, and has produced several educational DVD’s shown in over 1000 treatment centers across the country, including Craving and Relapse. Bob Tyler has earned his BA in psychology from Loyola Marymount University.
https://drugabuseandrecovery.com/
GINGER MICHEL, MA, LMHC
Instructor
LIC# LH60896220 Washington State
NPI# 1457807331 USA
Ginger Michel earned her MA in Licensed Mental Health Counseling through Antioch University of Seattle and since 2015, clients – both individuals and families – have honored her with their trust and confidence to help them recover from trauma, anxiety, depression, and behavioral difficulties at home and school.
She has worked with adults and children (5+) who have feelings and/or behaviors that interfere with healthy daily functioning and have helped them get on the path they want to be on.
Ginger started the path to becoming a Supervisor in 2018 moving up to Clinical Director in a large practice before starting her private practice in 2022.
Ginger has developed a reputation with her colleagues for being kind, enthusiastic, supportive, and direct with her clients believing fully that honesty and love are the best healers.
Aside from her passion for therapeutic work with the community, she is a Breast Cancer survivor, has been working with dogs for over a decade, and enjoys painting, playing ukulele, and traveling.
In the past, Ginger has volunteered with homeless teens and older adults and has since worked therapeutically with teens, children, and adult clients including refugee families, adult survivors of trauma, those recovering from addiction, and teens transitioning from disciplinary youth centers back into the community. She has worked with people experiencing significant depression and anxiety with a special interest in treating trauma and depression with a person-centered, empathic, existential approach.
https://www.cqtherapy.com/
DIANE BIGLER, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW
Instructor
Missouri License# 2008005530
Diane Bigler, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri and Kansas. She has over 20 years of experience in the fields of psychology, social work and mental health. Prior to her career in social work, Diane was a Criminal Investigator for the Robertson County District Attorney’s Office in Tennessee, on a Crimes Against Minors task force; completing investigations in child abuse, human trafficking, missing persons, sexual assault, and homicide. Diane completed two field internships at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, while obtaining her Associates and Bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice, and during post-graduate work.
Diane was an Adjunct Professor of Social Work at The University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare for 10 years, where she obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work in 2006, with clinical concentrations in Children & Families and Mental Health. Diane taught classes in the Clinical Master’s program, which includes: Clinical Social Work Practice, Loss and Grief, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Family Therapy, Advanced Standing Practice, and Mental Health & Psychopathology. Additionally, Diane was a Field Liaison and Community Education trainer for the School of Social Welfare. Diane was the recipient of the Adjunct Professor of the Year award in 2017, and the Margo Award for Excellence in Field Instruction in 2020.
Diane has two decades of clinical experience in psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics, and in the provision of in-home and community-based therapy. She has also functioned in leadership and supervisory positions as a teacher, mental health consultant, clinical supervisor, and program coordinator. Diane maintained a clinical supervision practice where she supported over 50 social workers in their journey of obtaining a clinical social work license.
Diane has facilitated hundreds of trainings locally and nationally in recent years, to audiences comprised of mental health professionals, physicians and nurses, teachers, police officers, business personnel, and local City Council members. Diane enjoys the creativity that comes with envisioning and designing trainings, and aims to provide trainings that are informative, engaging and skill-building.
Diane was the Performance Solutions Director at New Directions Behavioral Health in Kansas City, MO. She customized and facilitated leadership and corporate trainings to EAP customers, on topics such as Supporting Employees with Personal Problems, The Value of Emotional Intelligence, Dealing with Difficult Employees, and Facilitating Team Meetings. Diane also provided executive leadership coaching to managers and CEO’s.
Outside of her professional life, Diane loves to spoil her four rescue Dachshunds (Mavis, Jerry, Daisy and Hank). She also volunteers with Serve KC, Kansas City Hospice, and Harvesters Food Bank. Diane is a child of the 80's and loves anything from that era - including being a groupie of 80's cover bands.
CLIFTON MITCHELL, PH.D.
Instructor
Clifton Mitchell Ph.D. is an international clinical trainer and keynote speaker who has a love for teaching and over 30 years of training experience. He delivers practical information in a uniquely entertaining, fast-paced style that is filled with humor and illuminating examples. In his latest book, Priming: Programming the Mind for Habit Change and Success, he teaches a scientifically-based system for partnering with the subconscious to eliminate bad habits and create success-advancing behaviors. He also demonstrates how to use priming to radically intensify therapeutic communications and improve outcomes.
For over 20 years, he has studied and presented seminars on methods for dealing with resistance in therapy. In his book, Effective Techniques for Dealing with Highly Resistant Clients, he presents cutting-edge approaches for managing psychological resistance. He has also trained thousands of mental health professionals in the management of difficult, perplexing legal and ethical issues and his latest training is in an entertaining, dynamic game show format.
He is a contributing author in therapy books and published in numerous professional journals including the Psychotherapy Networker, Psychotherapy in Australia, Journal of Personality Assessment, Perceptual and Motor Skills, Psychology and Education, Journal of Psychological Type, The Professional School Counselor, Sober World, Counselor, Vistas, and The Advocate. His research includes investigations of therapeutic resistance, legal and ethical issues, subliminal message tapes, stress and coping, PMS, and personality types. His ideas and writings have also been published in Men’s Health Today and Barron’s Financial Weekly. Dr. Mitchell is currently a professor Emeritus at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN, where he was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2002.
For more information please visit: www.cliftonmitchell.com.
MATTHEW PETERS, MS, LMHCA
Instructor
NPI# 1649855263
License #MC61302704
Matthew completed his Master’s in Science at Eastern Washington University. He has working for year in an inpatient hospital setting in Spokane, Washington. He’s worked in group practice work with adolescent, youth adults, and adults. He has served in the military in the army reserve for 8 years. He worked with veterans. He is currently a licensure as an associate in clinical mental health.
CHRIS MCLAUGHLIN, MSW, LCSW
Instructor
Maine Clinical Social Worker License: LC6608
Chris McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW (he/him/his) is the Executive Director of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and owner and lead consultant of Inspired Consulting Group, LLC. A lifelong resident of Maine, he obtained both his BA in Psychology (1996) and his MSW (2001) from the University of Maine. Chris has spent more than 25 years as a provider and a leader in behavioral health services for youth and families across a variety of clinical settings, including treatment foster care, residential treatment facilities, public schools, private practice, community-based programs, and psychiatric hospital-based services. Chris has a passion for teaching and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maine and Husson University in Bangor. He served for five years on the Maine Board of Social Work Licensing and is a member of both the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care (SSWLHC), where he served as the Maine Chapter President and as a member of the National Board of Directors for three years. A lifelong learner in leadership, coaching, and mentoring, he is a graduate of the Disney Institute leadership program and the Daniel Hanley Health Leadership Development program in Maine. Chris is on the Faculty for the SSWLHC's Leadership Development Institute and holds two certifications in Diversity and Inclusion and Building a Diverse Workforce from Cornell University. Nationally, Chris was the SSWLHC’s 2019 recipient of the Eleanor Clark Award for Innovative Programs in Patient Care for his work in youth suicide prevention. In Maine, Chris was recognized in 2019 for his advocacy and commitment to LGBTQ+ youth and was named Health Care Social Worker of the Year in 2019 by the Maine Hospital Association and the Maine Chapter of the SSWLHC for his leadership role on the award-winning “Acadia CARES” youth suicide prevention curriculum. In spring of 2020, Chris was named the University of Maine School of Social Work's Alumni of the Year. In 2022, Chris was elected to serve on his local School Committee. The Maine Education Association (MEA) honored Chris in May of 2023 as the first ever recipient of the "Friend of Education" award which recognizes an individual in elected office for their commitment and advocacy for public education. Chris and his husband live in Hermon, Maine with their three dogs, Anna, Becky, Sawyer and are avid fans of many types of recreation and leisure during all of Maine’s seasons.
Chris.McLaughlin@InspiredConsultingGroupLLC.com www.inspiredcg.com
ELISAVETA V. PAVLOVA, PH.D., CEDS, MS, IE-PRO, EDIT-I
Instructor
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) #3737, IAEDP
• More than 12 years of experience in working at individual psycho-educational counseling face-to-face, online therapy, counseling parents, and leading groups as a Counsellor for eating disorders (ED), and related fields.
• Trained in internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (iCBT) in clinical practice, which program is accredited by Accredited Professional Development or Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Have been working as a Counselling Psychologist in Canada, Europe, and Internationally, and possess extensive experience in online counseling for 7 Cups, Onlinetherapy.org, and Just Answer organizations.
• Partnering Clinician for THIS WAY UP (Australia) internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy platform.
• Founder and President of the Association UNIKAL, which focuses on the prevention of ED, and UNIKAL Online Institute, for which I work as a Counseling Psychologist, Coordinating Trainer, and Lecturer.
• Professional partner of the Global Clinical Practice Network at World Health Organization (WHO), iaedp™ USA Institute of ED: Board Member, and member of the International Advisory Committee; International Chapter Chair, and Designated Educational Affiliate of iaedp™ (International Professional Association for ED Professionals) in Bulgaria (Europe).
COLLEEN CARNEY, PH.D.
Instructor
College of Psychologists in Ontario License number 4094
Dr. Colleen Carney is a Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory. They are the President of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Behavioral Sleep Medicine Special Interest Group. Dr. Carney is a leading expert on the cognitive behavioural insomnia treatment for those with comorbid illness. They have over 25 years of experience in behavioural sleep medicine, with over 100 publications, including 12 books on CBT for insomnia. Dr. Carney trains students and professionals in behavioural sleep medicine internationally and is a passionate advocate for improving access to evidence-based treatments for insomnia.
https://drcolleencarney.com/
https://www.dozeapp.ca/
https://consensussleepdiary.com/
M. REID STELL, MA, LMHC
Instructor
National Provider Number (NPI): 1881979946
Washington State License Number: LH 60425029.
Macdonald Reid Stell is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). My Washington State Department of Health license number is: LH 60425029. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from City University of Seattle. I previously served as the executive director of the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association, board member, and chair of their professional development committee. I am a longtime member of the C.G. Jung Society of Seattle, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, and the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association.
DAWNA DAIGNEAULT ED. SPEC, LCPC, CCTP
Instructor
Missouri Licensee Number: 2008035324
As a professional counselor in private practice, Dawna specializes in treating individuals experiencing self-worth issues. She has learned that sometimes depression and anxiety stem from denied self-worth. This reality has prompted her to hone her skills for repairing self-worth as a central need.
Dawna created the So Worthy app (2020) to include pathways that guide people back to self-worth. The app was a prototype, and a new self-worth affirming app is in the works to launch in 2026. It will be an extension of a technique in the book she co-authored with Dr. Chris Brown, Understanding Self-Worth: A Guide to Worth-Conscious Theory and Psychotherapeutic Practice (arriving fall 2025), and the app will be free to mental health providers.
Dawna graduated from the University of Missouri—Kansas City with a master’s degree in counseling and continued her education there, achieving an Ed.S. degree. Throughout her career, she has authored local articles and blogs on balance and self-awareness and led workshops, seminars, and group classes. She was an ongoing presenter at a regional self-improvement seminar for four years and has conducted speaking engagements at various local events.
In 2012, Dawna wrote the Ribbon of Worth essay to assist her clients in forming a mental image of how to protect self-worth. She created an online Facebook community called Ribbon of Worth to promote individual and community wellness through sharing her wealth of experience on self-worth. It was through this initial effort and Daigneault’s own process of self-care and learning from client experience that the website was born to support self-worth as a key component in wellness.
GREGORY M. WHITE, MS, LMHC, CCHP
Instructor
Washington State Licensee Number: LH00009321
Gregory White received his Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University in 1983. Early on, his professional experience included working in a residential treatment program for teens, private practice, and outreach crisis intervention for families. Then, for 23 ½ years Mr.White worked as a mental health professional at the Snohomish County Jail in Everett, WA, a facility that had the largest mental health patient count in the city on any given day. During that time he assessed hundreds of people who made suicide statements, suicide gestures, and serious suicide attempts. Mr. White has had extensive experience working with families, clinicians, psychiatric providers, courts, and Designated Crisis Responders (DMHPs) when developing treatment plans and safety plans for at-risk detainees returning back to the community.
Mr. White has provided subject matter expertise for the National Institute of Corrections (Technical Resource Provider & Crisis Intervention Team instructor), the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (Academy & CIT Instructor), OmniSure Consulting Group (Risk Management consultant, webinar presenter, Suicide-Reduction-Risk-Tip videos), Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. (editorial and accreditation assistance for their counselor CEs through Lippincott Professional Development), Winning Focus, Inc. (suicide prevention flyer & webinar presenter), the National Commission on Correctional Health Care conferences (break-out session presenter), and the law firm of Kirkpatrick & Startzel, P.S. (jail mental health consultant).
http://www.gregwhitetrainings.com/
Kriti Gaur, PhD, APCC
Blog Writer, Reviewer, and Volunteer
I am a counselor educator, author and a practicing counselor in California. I have experience as an adjunct faculty in teaching integrated behavioral science courses and serve as a dissertation committee reviewer for a final year PhD student at Adler University. I specialize in complex traumas specifically grief, and have pioneered the 8-Step Process Oriented Meaning-Making Tool for multicultural grief work. Currently I with neuro-divergent twice exceptional youth on triggers of complex socio-emotional traumas. In my free time, I enjoy reading latest scholarly work that serves to bring forth innovation in the field of mental health. I believe the saying ‘if it is not on paper, it doesn’t exist’ does a disservice to the mental health field. With the advent of multicultural counselors in research and the field of academics, we are evolving from history of oppression and white-washed narrative to inclusive literature. Through my work in writing or reviewing papers, I strive to include the under-represented stories of people holding varied identities, and bring them to light. I believe that a solid scholarly work is one in which the author is able to talk about phenomena that are not comprehensively studied in the existing academic literature, but is observed by a society at large. Synthesis of the already known information with the conscious awareness of a phenomenon leads to equitable, inclusive and holistic research – one that fills a gap in the existing knowledge.
Laura Jackman, MA, LCPC
Instructor
Illinois License Number: 180003361
Laura is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and received her Masters degree from Wheaton College. Laura specializes and is clinically trained in the area of marriage/family counseling. Laura also works with individual adults who present with various concerns including depression, relational issues, anxiety, some forensic work, life transitions, grief, and life coaching. Laura works with clients to ameliorate psychological and emotional pain with caring, compassionate counseling. Her approach to therapy is straightforward, honest, empathetic, and relational. Laura's goal is to assist client's to modify their ineffective thoughts and behavior patterns to better achieve their life goals, arriving with a sense of contentment, fulfillment, and resolution. While clinically trained in the area of marriage and family therapy, I see adults who present with various concerns (for example: depression, relational issues, anxiety, and some forensic work, life coaching). I work with clients to ameliorate psychological and emotional pain with caring, compassionate counseling. My approach to therapy is straight forward, honest, empathic, and relational. My goal is to assist clients to modify their dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns to better achieve their life goals, arriving with a sense of contentment, fulfillment, and resolution.