About Us

Claire was born in London, raised in New York City, attended college and graduate school in San Diego, California, and recently moved to the Flathead Valley of Northwest Montana. Claire’s eclectic background has provided her with an opportunity to live amongst a variety of cultures and environments, naturally leading her to connect with individuals and families of all different backgrounds. As an only child growing up in NYC, Claire often found herself wanting to help others while also noticing that her friends and family often looked to her for advice. This innate desire to provide others with assistance eventually led Claire to enroll at the University of Southern California: School of Social Work, where she obtained her Master’s in Social Work degree.

After earning her Master’s degree, Claire pursued her desire to work with youth by providing mental health services in several different high schools within San Diego. Claire provided individual, group, and family therapeutic services while also assisting in the development of district-wide psychoeducational programs. In 2017, Claire earned her title as an LCSW and began a new chapter in her life as she moved to Northwest Montana.

As her career progressed, Claire began to notice a lack of available mental health services for youth in Montana and it was then that she decided it was time to create something. She envisioned a place where youth and their families could access services in a safe and comfortable environment. Since the launch of Spot to Talk in May of 2020, Claire has continued to assess the local community’s needs in the Flathead Valley and has expanded Spot to Talk’s services. Claire and the Spot to Talk team are excited to welcome you to our in-person offices in Bigfork, Downtown Kalispell, and Missoula, MT.

A native of Helena, Montana, ironically, Lisa has spent the majority of her adult life outside the state. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Fitness and Health Promotion from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Lisa worked in Corporate Fitness for several years before expanding her horizons with the arrival of 3 boys and her role as a Navy spouse. Lisa and her family have lived throughout the country and overseas in Okinawa Japan. In each community, Lisa worked with youth in various capacities, including several years as a girls’ camp director.

When the time was right, Lisa pursued her Master’s in Social Work from San Diego State University. As a mental health counselor, she has worked in outpatient psychiatry and other settings with a wide range of ages and challenges. In addition to her work at Spot to Talk, Lisa helps patients and families navigate end-of-life issues at Enhabit Hospice.

Lisa enjoys many different activities in her pursuit of a balanced life including trail running, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, gardening, volunteering through her church and spending time with family and her pup.

Lisa has a particular interest in grief work and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to assist clients congruently with their spirituality and values.  Additionally, she is deeply committed to couples work and is trained in Emotional Focused Therapy, which gets to the heart of relationship problems.

At her core, Lisa has a deep compassion for those in paralyzing situations unable to find a way forward. She is motivated by a desire to empower and tenaciously pursues a holistic approach to effect change for individuals, couples and families. No circumstance is without hope and possibility for improvement.

Mila obtained her Bachelors in Applied Psychology from Montana State University in 2017. While attending school, her background with horses connected her to an internship that provided experiential therapy to survivors of trauma. This program included art, recreation, cooking, and equine-assisted therapy. The experience gained from this internship inspired her to pursue a graduate degree, in order to continue providing equine-assisted therapy. In May of 2020, she received her Master’s in Social Work degree through San Jose State University, with an emphasis in children, youth, and families. While attending graduate school, she provided case management to homeless adults, and worked in child abuse prevention for a large hospital system.

After her graduation, Mila moved to the Flathead Valley to work in primary care, providing crisis intervention and short term counseling. She is excited to be a part of the Spot to Talk team, and to support and provide teens and young adults a space to be themselves, while navigating the challenges of life. She plans to pursue her EAGALA certification in order to continuing providing equine-assisted therapy.

Teagan, a native of rural New England found her way to Montana in the Fall of 2022. After completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts, Teagan spent nearly a decade working as a goldsmith nationally and internationally. Eventually, a passion for social justice inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work ultimately earning her title of Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

During her Master’s degree program at Simmons University, she focused on trauma-informed care, receiving an additional Trauma Certificate from the university. Her time spent as a Crisis Clinician and inpatient caseworker fueled her desire to provide first responders and other healthcare professionals with the informed and culturally competent care they deserve.

In addition to her experience in the Emergency Department, Teagan spent over a year volunteering with the Crisis Text Line and is an active member of the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Team. Along with her first-hand experience in crisis response care, she has spent additional hours training as a First Responder Counselor to best support those who provide (or have provided) emergency services.

She believes that everyone deserves the time and support to identify solutions that are best suited to their unique needs. She embraces the philosophy that when we can stay humble, honest, and curious we can begin to let our guard down and explore the ‘why’, the ‘how’, and the ‘what next’.

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Rachel relocated to the Flathead Valley in pursuit of alpine lakes & beautiful powder days! Rachel is passionate about mental healthcare and helping young people discover their authentic selves.

She has spent the past 10 years working in a variety of roles within the nonprofit sector, most recently at the Nate Chute Foundation for suicide prevention in Whitefish.

Rachel is happiest when swimming in lakes, rafting on the Flathead River, skiing on the Big, or hanging out with her two dogs, Edward and Piper.

Hannah was born and raised in Kalispell, MT. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA but always felt called to come back home to Montana. After college, she worked in various roles including a crisis stabilization worker at Western Montana Mental Health, a case manager for the Recovery Centers of Montana, and as a Life Coach with older adults. She received her Master’s degree in Social Work at Boise State University online in December 2024.

She is very passionate about helping others explore their potential and promote their strengths. She hopes to provide a safe, judgement-free space so that all individuals feel seen.

In her free time, she loves to fly fish, kayak, and camp. In the colder months, she likes to go cross country skiing or read a good book.

Gabe was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, and has been moving north ever since. He graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in environmental studies. This took him a step toward working primarily with high school-aged students in backcountry wilderness settings in Colorado and Wyoming, with an emphasis on teaching subjects such as river ecology, snow science, and geology as well as basic survival skills and Leave No Trace principles. In some of these remote backcountry settings he found that youth were more than willing to not only learn about the environments around them, but to share about the environments and challenges that awaited them back home as well. 

After a couple of years of this line of work, he pivoted toward working in unique school settings, specifically in behavioral health. This was primarily done in schools around Denver, Colorado, and Northwest Montana, and was the beginning of his journey toward providing care, support, and meaningful connections to students that were willing to share their experiences with him and seek connection with a trusted adult in their lives. 

Gabe enjoys spending time outdoors on his bike, his snowboard, or with his six-year-old dog, Sadie (Beagle-pitbull-corgi mix). He also can be found playing music around the valley with various local groups that suit his eclectic musical tastes. 

Lisa was born in Madison, Wisconsin, where she resided until she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a teaching degree in History and Social Studies. After meeting her husband, she moved to Kalispell, Montana in 1995 where she has been fortunate enough to raise her 3 children.

Since moving to Montana, her desire to support youth in a more direct and personal way led to her interest in the mental health field. Lisa has worked in a variety of community mental health and school settings assisting teens and families. Her focus has been on adolescent mental health and crisis intervention.  She recently graduated with her Masters in Social Work from the University of North Dakota.

Outside of work, Lisa will be found skiing, rafting or hiking with her family and two dogs.

Michelle is a Kalispell native, working toward her Clinical Mental Health endorsement. Her background includes 22 years in education.

Michelle enjoys spending quality time with family and friends. During the summer, you will find her at the lake with her husband and their two fur babies, Stella and Finley.

Michelle enjoys working with others to support their mental health and is grateful for the opportunity to join the Spot to Talk team and looks forward to learning and helping others.

Ashley was born and raised in Whitefish, Montana. She moved to Bozeman to attend Montana State University and eventually went on to apprentice as a homebirth midwife in a freestanding birth center in that community.

During her time attending births and providing clinical services, Ashley discovered a passion for mental health care and recognized the lack of available mental health resource that many of the families she worked with faced.

Eventually, Ashley enrolled in the Family Institute at Northwestern
University, where she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She will graduate in the winter of 2025.

Ashley is passionate about holding space for people navigating various life transitions and struggles and believes that every individual deserves to feel heard, seen, and understood.

In her free time, Ashley loves riding her horses, roping, running,
reading, and going for long walks with her dogs, husband, and two
sons.

Ali was born and raised in Kalispell, Montana. She attendedCarroll College in Helena, Montana and majored in Biology, while playing softball for the Saints. After college, Ali got her Personal Training, Sports Nutritionist, and CrossFit Level 1 certifications and worked at various gyms in the Flathead Valley.

In her work in the fitness industry, Ali realized how much our mental health plays into our physical health, and decided to make a career change. She enrolled in Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts where she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work and will graduate at the end of 2024.

Before Spot to Talk, Ali worked as a Life Coach and Intern at Embark Behavioral Health, a residential facility for adolescents.

Ali is extremely passionate about helping others live a well-balanced, confident, and healthy lifestyle. She hopes to be an advocate and supporter for her clients, and provide a space where they can feel heard and understood.

In her free time, Ali loves spending time with her family and two adorable yellow labs Sophie and Bear. She enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, CrossFit, spending time on McGregor Lake, watching movies, and reading a good book.

Joe was born in Idaho and spent much of his youth chasing his parents up mountain peaks, along hiking trails and down rivers in the northwest.

After graduating high school, he enlisted in the US Army where he served as a Radio Telephone Operator in a Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Once his service was complete, Joe worked as a Systems Administrator for several years, before deciding to go back to school at Washington State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

Joe’s close connection to the veteran community inspired him to attend grad school to gain the skills required to help serve his local community. He is currently pursuing a masters of social work at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

Drawn to empathy and connection, Loren immediately knew she wanted to work in the field of mental health to assist others in recognizing their strengths. Loren was originally raised in central Indiana where she spent her years leading up to college. She attended Western Colorado University and obtained her Bachelors in both Psychology and Sociology with an emphasis in Criminal Justice, earning herself magna cum laude. Recently, Loren relocated to the Flathead Valley to explore both winter and summer activities and obtain her Masters of Social Work through University of Montana.

Loren has worked in a variety of settings and roles to serve her community and gain experience. When she is not working or studying, you can find her hiking in the Jewel Basin, spending time with her bernedoodle, fishing with her family, or playing ice hockey at the rink.

When given the right tools and designated time, Loren believes that youth have the power to develop effective problem-solving skills and overcome personal barriers. Her values align with a strength-based approach to Child-Centered Play Therapy. She is passionate in assisting families and guiding youth to a successful future. Overall, Loren is driven to make a positive impact on people’s lives and is excited to continue her journey through Spot to Talk.

Maekayla was born and raised in North Dakota. She moved to Bozeman to attend Montana State University. Maekayla is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling and will graduate in 2025. She recently relocated to the Flathead Valley to complete an internship at Spot to Talk.

Maekayla believes in creating a safe and compassionate space for life’s challenges to be explored. She has a passion for working with children who have experienced trauma and increasing access to care for all. She is devoted to serving children using the Child-Centered Play Therapy model.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking and paddle boarding with her dog, skiing, traveling and going to see live music.

Libby was born and raised in Alaska and after college in Oregon and graduate school in Colorado she moved to Montana to enjoy the mountains and lakes of our beautiful state!

Libby worked in public education for over a decade before joining Spot to Talk. Her experience teaching classes, coaching adults and helping districts meet their goals guides her approach to counseling: supportive, solutions-focused and intentional. She is currently finishing a second Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health and will graduate in 2025.

Libby is passionate about working towards goals with clients so they feel healthier, happier, and more empowered in their lives. With a holistic approach to wellness Libby strives to support you in becoming the fullest version of yourself!

When not at Spot to Talk, Libby enjoys running trails, exploring alpine lakes, paddleboarding and tending her summer gardens. In the winter you can find her skiing or reading a book in front of the woodstove.

Lauren grew up living in the southern parts of California and Oregon, where she found a great love for the outdoors, the community atmosphere, and the smell of warm pine needles in the summer.

During her undergraduate years, she moved to Missoula where she studied professional writing and volunteered leading a small group for teenage girls. Through this experience she found a passion for working with teens and young adults, and soon after began graduate school with the goal of becoming a licensed professional counselor.

She earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the spring of 2023 after completing her internship at Spot to Talk in Kalispell. When she isn’t working, you can find Lauren running trails, spending time with friends, reading, or petting a dog – pretty much any dog. Lauren is so grateful for the opportunity to live and work in Western Montana, and is honored to provide support for the Missoula community through her career.

Robin is thrilled to join Spot to Talk after working with children and families in various settings since 2010. She is a full-hearted enthusiast of Child-Centered Play Therapy and is eager to share it with the Missoula community through her work with Spot to Talk. Robin first encountered play therapy in an undergraduate class at UNT’s Center for Play Therapy while she was completing her BA in Psychology. Following the lead of the child and empowering their authentic development through a therapeutic relationship and a nurturing environment is central to all of her work.

Robin started her professional work with children as a youth Case Manager in Texas. From there, she earned a Montessori teaching certificate in Boulder, Colorado and spent the next 6 years in Western Colorado teaching in a Montessori elementary school and, during the summers, on a public permaculture farm. Spending time on the farm building meaningful connections with kids led Robin to realize she wanted to focus her career on supporting children with therapy.

Robin moved to Missoula next and earned Master’s degrees from the University of Montana in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. While working at a Montessori preschool during grad school, she witnessed the powerful way children processed experiences, tried new ways to solve problems, and communicated through play. Robin went on to use play, art, and movement as therapeutic interventions in her work as an elementary school-based CSCT therapist and in Missoula County Public Schools as a K-5 Behavior Interventionist.

Outside of work, Robin is a dancer, forest frolicker, and loves to garden, read, and relax with her loved ones. Any chance she gets, she heads to the hills to bike, ski, or forage for wild foods. In town, you might catch her at an art or music event. Robin is inspired by the dramatic seasons in Missoula and the inclusive, creative culture of its community. Missoula has become a beloved home to her and she is dedicated to helping it thrive.

Matthew is a compassionate mental health counselor committed to supporting adolescents and young adults. Originally from Colorado Springs, he holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in clinical and school counseling from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).

Matthew’s passion for helping others grew stronger as a full-time school counselor at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. Eager to enhance his skills, he embarked on a new journey and applied to the doctoral program in counseling education & supervision at the University of Montana. Excited about this opportunity, Matthew moved to Missoula, Montana, to pursue his doctoral degree.

Matthew believes in creating a nurturing environment that fosters therapeutic relationships and encourages individuals to explore their self-awareness and personal growth. He recognizes the significance of mental health wellness for everyone and strives to provide a safe space for those seeking support.

In his free time, Matthew loves to watch NFL football, run on the beautiful trails of Missoula, and play his guitar. He is also on a quest to find the best pizza in Missoula!