Our Staff
The CPS clinical staff includes licensed psychologists, clinical professional counselors, and clinical social workers who attended accredited graduate training programs and are licensed in Montana. CPS also trains advanced graduate students earning their Master’s and Doctoral degrees who practice under the supervision of licensed CPS staff members. All CPS clinicians have specialized interest in college student mental health and can work with a wide range of presenting concerns.
While all clinical staff are generalists, the following is a non-exhaustive list of specific areas of interest or expertise for our staff:
- Anxiety and stress
- Depression
- Relationship concerns
- Adjustment/life transitions
- Identity development
- Grief and loss
- Academic distress
- Trauma
- Family distress
- Self-esteem
- Emotional resiliency
- Body image/eating concerns
- Substance use and addiction
- Suicide prevention
All CPS clinicians recognize people as cultural beings with unique backgrounds, experiences, relationships, and intersecting social identities. When providing clinical services, we consider the whole person including the cultural dimensions of one’s identity and related values, beliefs, and attitudes to support culturally attuned treatment. We also consider the socio-cultural context that may be impacting or contributing to the concerns, goals, or challenges clients want to address. Students may seek services at CPS to address specific cultural concerns including religion and spirituality, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, racial identity, socioeconomic status, discrimination, and cultural adjustment.
Counseling and Psychological Services Staff
Betsy Asserson, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Director
Licensed Psychologist
Bennett Kern, M.S.
Staff Counselor
PCLC
B.T. Cooper, Ph.D/ CMPC
Senior Staff Pychologist embedded in Athletics
Brian Kassar, Psy.D.
he/him
Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Licensed Psychologist
Brianna Windhorst, M.Coun.
Care Manager
LCPC
Carlynn Schwalm, MSW
she/her
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Social Worker
Catherine Francis, Psy.D
she/her/hers
Groups Coordinator/ Training Specialist
Licensed Psychologist
Dan Deming, M.S.
he/him
Staff Counselor
PCLC &Licensed Addiction Counselor
Eric Uhl, Ph.D
he/him
Senior Staff Psychologist
Psychologist Resident
Jacquelyn Rinaldi, Psy.D
Staff Psychologist
Psychologist Resident
Julia A. Nance, Ph.D
she/her/hers
Senior Staff Counselor
Licensed Psychologist
Katie Darnell, Psy.D.
she/her
Assistant Director of Clinical Services
Licensed Psychologist
Katy Fritz, MSW
she/her
Senior Staff Counselor
LCSW
Laura Thum, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Assistant Director of Outreach and Prevention
Licensed Psychologist
Levenae Buggs, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Training Specialist
Licensed Psychologist
Mani Stubbs, M.A.
he/him/his
Clinical Specialist
LCPC
Mariah Hill, Psy.D.
she/her
Diversity Coordinator
Licensed Psychologist
Marshal George, Psy.D
he/him
Senior Staff Psychologist
Psychologist Resident
Melissa Cassad, M.A.
she/her
Senior Staff Counselor
LCPC
Paisley Azra-Lewis, Ph.d
she/her
Behavioral Health Specialist
Licensed Psychologist
Rachel Woodard, M.A.
she/her
Senior Staff Counselor
LCPC
Ryan Niehus, Psy.D.
he/him/his
Assistant Director of Training
Licensed Psychologist
Sanaye Thompson, M.S.
Senior Staff Counselor/ Veterans Liason
LCPC
Lindsey Palagi, B.A.
she/her
Medical Records Administrator/ Office Manager
Tara Shannon Pratt, B.S.
she/her
Buisness Operations Manager
Aram Zelman M.A.
Doctoral Intern
Kristen Wederski, M.A.
she/her
Doctoral Intern
Matthew Duff, M.A.
he/him
Doctoral Intern
Laura Hyder, M.A.
she/her
Doctoral Intern
Eva Ticknor, B.A.
she/her
Master's Intern
Michael Becker, B.A.
he/him
Master's Intern
Olivia Roche, B.S.
she/her
Master's Intern
Sarah Marsh, MSW
she/her
Post Master's Intern