Staff Therapists
MEND Staff Therapists have completed their graduate-level training, are associate or fully licensed therapists, and work with our clinical team for ongoing supervision, consultation, and training.
Unlike our Intern Therapists who commit to MEND for a limited period of time, our Staff Therapists work at MEND long term, so there’s no program-specific end date for your therapist. With more training and experience, the fee for individual therapy with a Staff Therapist is $70-$120 per session and $85-$135 for relationship therapy. We understand that many people come to MEND in part because of our low-cost counseling, and we hope with the varying levels of experience and fee ranges, we can better serve our communities for many years to come.
Learn more about our Staff Therapists below.
Cecania Alexander, MSW, LICSWA
she/her | white | queer | cis
Cecania believes therapy is a space for collaboration, honesty, and warm acceptance of exactly who you are. Cecania completed a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Washington where she was trained in individual and group therapy through the lens of deconstructing systems of oppression. Cecania’s orientation includes aspects of Internal Family Systems theory, psychodrama, and somatics as they align with individual interest. At UW she researched the sizeist patterns of the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders, and completed internships at Sound Mental Health and MEND Seattle.
“Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be and embracing who we are.” - Brene Brown
Erin Arney, LMHCA
she/her | black | cis | spoonie
Erin's therapeutic work focuses on promoting health equity by collaborating with clients to create healing spaces. She believes in the integral connection of the mind, body and spirit and use decolonized approaches to help people cultivate resilience and nurture their own self-healing abilities. Erin appreciates the importance of environment and socialization in the healing process and focuses her practice on facilitating understanding and acceptance to create change.
"A measure of liberation will be found in our capacity for intimacy" - Prentice Hemphill
Jas Harcum, MSW, LICSWA
they/she | black native/afro-indigenous | shinnecock nation | bisexual | queer
Jas completed their Master’s of Social Work at the University of Washington with a Clinical Mental Health concentration in June 2022. Through their education, work, and volunteer service, Jas has worked extensively with immigrant and refugee communities and in crisis intervention amidst the pandemic, as well as facilitated QTBIPOC processing groups. They believe in a person-centered approach to therapy that acknowledges systemic barriers to wellness as well as encourages empowerment and [re]connection. They are passionate about working with Queer and Trans folks and Black, Indigenous, and folks of Color.
“You are your own best thing.” -Toni Morrison
Kristi Lee, PhD, LMHCA, LPC, NCC
For Kristi, it is an honor to accompany people on their journey of healing and growth. Her approach to counseling focuses on understanding a person’s stories, experiences, and intersections of identity. In addition, she focuses on how external environmental factors such as discrimination and oppression can traumatize and wound. Work in counseling with Kristi will harness your own personal power to create change in your life, and in the world.
Kristi’s experience in the helping profession has spanned 20 years and many different clinical settings. She has a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Idaho State University (2006) and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the College of William and Mary (2009). A professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Seattle University, she teaches classes on human development, counseling theory, and clinical practice. In collaboration with other faculty and students, she conducts research on healing practices for girls and women who experience gender based violence in Guatemala, on the community impact of hate crimes, and on social justice approaches to counseling.
“Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” James Baldwin
Lizzie Stryker, MA, CRC, LMHCA
she/her | asian-american | cis
Lizzie believes in creating a space where therapy can be a creative, resourceful, supportive, and accepting process which is built on a foundation of trust and mutual respect between therapist and client. Lizzie completed a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at the Western Washington University. Lizzie identifies her own counseling practices with Carl Rogers' therapy approach which includes client-centered counseling, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness.
“Life, at its best, is a flowing, changing process in which nothing is fixed." - Carl R. Rogers
Nefeteria (Nefie) Bolin, LMFTA
she/her | Black/Native/Creole/White | hetero | cis
Nefeteria (Nefie) is a first generation student and ciswoman of color with a masters of arts degree in marriage, couples, and family therapy at Seattle University. She believes therapy to be a process that helps people recreate the narratives of their life story. She believes in discovering the humanistic side of people and knowing who they are at the heart to understand what's important to them and how it shapes their personal identity. With empathetic teaching, active listening, and compassion, she hopes to provide a safe space for people from everywhere to share their stories authentically with no judgement or shame.
"I've learned that people will forget about what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou
Nicolette Moore, MSW, LICSWA
she/her | white | hetero | cis
Nicolette utilizes a holistic, systems, and strengths-based approach to therapy. She believes engaging in therapy is an act of bravery and self-love and will partner with you to build your desired present and future using mindfulness and solutions-focused approaches. Nicolette completed a Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Washington, where she received training in individual and group therapy using a social justice lens. At UW she has conducted research on eliminating oppression and creating greater accessibility in outdoor spaces, and is passionate about incorporating green spaces into her practice so all can experience the benefits of the outdoors.
“An exchange of empathy provides an entry point for a lot of people to see what healing feels like.” - Tarana Burke
Talya Rozenberg, M.Ed, LMHCA
she/her | jewish | canadian | american | cis | previvor
Talya brings a warm, non-judgmental, and collaborative approach to therapy. She believes cultivating a safe therapeutic relationship is essential to help support clients move towards desired change, healing, and fulfillment. Talya earned her BA in Psychology from McGill University and her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Toronto. She previously worked at Stanford Outpatient Psychiatry before joining the MEND team as a Staff Therapist. Talya uses a client-centered, integrative framework to help clients cope with anxiety and depression, navigate grief, and process trauma.
She incorporates a variety of evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Talya is also trained in Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Sex Therapy. She enjoys working with couples to help them improve intimacy, relationship satisfaction, and navigate health challenges. She is LGBTQAI+ affirming and considers it a great privilege to support individuals and couples in their unique life journeys.
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing we’ll ever do.” - Brené Brown