Serving Teens, Individuals, Families, Couples
Dr. Dave Wenzel, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Dr. Wenzel earned his Ph.D. in Counseling from Loyola University. He also has Master’s degrees in both Divinity and Theology from Western Seminary in Portland Oregon. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (Oregon 1012) and a Nationally Certified Counselor (27095). He has been a professor of counseling for over 20 years. His clinical experience includes the Veterans Administration, out-patient drug and alcohol, in-patient psychiatric, and out patient community mental health. He also trained for two years in the Isaac Taylor Institute of Psychiatry and Religion in Columbia Maryland. Formerly he served as the Clinical Director of the Sandy Family Services DUII program (1996-1998), Clinical Director at Sunnyside Counseling Center (1994-2007), and Director of the Counseling Program at Western Seminary (1994-2010). His professional interests include child development, parenting, clinical supervision, and the role of spirituality in mental health. In addition to his teaching and presentation of professional continuing education, he frequently speaks to community groups on parenting, family communication, marriage, and relationship topics.
Serving Couples, Families, Seniors
Hollis Wenzel, M.S., LMFT
Hollis has been a LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) in the state of Oregon since 1996 (#T0346). She earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from California State University East Bay. Her Bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Child Development is from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo California. Her clinical experience includes working with clients in private practice, small clinic and in-patient settings. With training as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team, she approaches therapy primarily from a family systems approach: assessing client’s needs, providing therapy and referrals where necessary. However, she also pulls from other counseling approaches as indicated. Hollis specializes in working with couples. She also has done extensive work with teens, and has spent the majority of her career working with children and families in a variety of capacities. Hollis has extensive expertise in helping clients who are dealing with marital satisfaction, blended family issues, marital infidelity, parenting, grief and loss issues, suicide, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. As part of the River Ridge Counseling Offices team, Hollis often partners with her spouse, Dr. David Wenzel, in providing Marriage Intensives, presenting workshops and seminars.
Serving Individuals, Families, Seniors
Deborah Johnson, M.A., LPC
Deborah earned a Master of Arts in Counseling from Western Seminary, Portland. She received specialized training in counseling children and youth with a focus in directive and non-directive play therapy and sand tray therapy. She is a registered counselor with Life Innovations, Inc, Minneapolis, MN (1186672) and a member of the American Counseling Association. She has over 40 years experience in education, both public and private. Working with both youth and adults, her practice concentrates on life span development, parenting, anxiety & depression, grief and loss, and designing adaptive strategies for life challenges and transitions. For the past 10 years she has worked with special needs populations including high functioning Asperger Syndrome, talented and gifted students, developmental delays, fear and anxiety, senior wellness issues and life transitions. In addition to sessions at River Ridge, she employs a variety of therapeutic activities including aquatics, visual arts, and outdoor settings with horses. Her special interests include music, spiritual development, and nutrition & wellness. Reach Debbie at [email protected]
Serving Teens, Individuals, Couples
Kendra Wenzel, M.S., LPC
Kendra earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Portland State University in 2012. Kendra is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon. Kendra worked as a middle school counselor in Minnesota before spending two years as a counselor for adolescents on Chicago’s west side. Kendra also has experience leading group therapy for children in both inpatient and intensive outpatient settings. Kendra spent the last two years working with children, teens, and adults at a private practice in Chicago. Kendra enjoys coming alongside clients and assisting them in identifying unhealthy relationship patterns and navigating life transitions. Kendra’s clinical interests include child and adolescent development, life transitions, parenting, anxiety, and depression. In addition to Kendra’s clinical work, she is a registered yoga instructor. Kendra believes that a person’s wellbeing is multi-faceted and utilizes mindfulness practices and breathwork in clinical practice where appropriate. Visit Kendra’s website to get in contact with her.
Serving Teens, Individuals, Couples
Melissa Harbert, MA, LPC
Melissa Harbert received her BA from Linfield College and an MA in Counseling from Western New Mexico University. Melissa has worked in women’s shelters with survivors of domestic violence, as well as counseled individuals and groups in school-based health clinics, community health organizations, and, for the past several years, in private practice. Melissa specializes in trauma recovery and has extensive training and experience in EMDR, CBT, and associated therapies. Integrating therapeutic approaches to meet individual needs, she has helped clients empower themselves to heal from childhood trauma, severe traumatic incidents, overwhelming life stressors, grief, depression, anxiety. Working with mindfulness, she encourages clients to find greater self-compassion and well-being through developing communication skills and more helpful ways to view themselves and to solve life problems. With a deep commitment to social change, equity, and justice, Melissa is an ally who supports personal growth and healing in teens and adults welcoming those of any race, ethnicity, age, ability, nationality, socioeconomic status, gender, religion, and sexual orientation.
Melissa works remotely via confidential Telehealth, and you can contact her by email at [email protected], or phone/text at 971.220.2645. Visit her website at melissaharbert.com.
Serving Teens, Individuals, Couples
Stephanie Alley, MA, LPC
Stephanie Alley earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling with additional specializations in Professional Coaching and Child & Youth Development from Western Seminary. Stephanie is a Professional Counselor Associate (PCA) in Oregon while she obtains licensure and an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation. Stephanie has been providing counseling services to individuals during major life transitions – major illness and recovery, divorce, parenting, empty nesting, death of a family member, youth entering middle school, high school, or college, entrepreneurial transitions, business start ups, merges and acquisitions. She is passionate about helping people work through the difficulties of life to find the opportunities where strengths can emerge. As someone who has experienced unwanted loss and forced life transitions, she recognizes that each life takes is own time going through tough seasons. Some seasons are natural and some self-created. She strives to come alongside her client’s whatever season they find themselves in. Using strategic and empathic listening, Stephanie offers silence, reflection, feedback, illustrations, exercises, assessments, and out-of-session efforts to encourage clients to gain a clearer and more authentic life experience. Stephanie is also an adjunct professor of psychology at Warner Pacific University and a volunteer leader in the Community Emergency Response Program in her area. Prior to her current pursuits, she worked in the high tech, internet, higher education, coaching, and marketing communication industries. She enjoys sharing life with her two small dogs, foraging in the wild with her husband, traveling, and having board game parties with lots of laughter, friends, and family. Stephanie works remotely via confidential Telehealth, and you can contact her by email at [email protected] or phone/text at 503.517.1920. Visit her website at www.stephanie-alley.com
Serving Teens, Individuals, Couples, Families
Teresa Kerhli, MA, LPC
At times life can be difficult. We can encounter obstacles that prevent us from reaching our full potential for living the life we want. Any one of us can use help at times managing the challenges that come our way. It’s not easy to ask for help! By seeking out and exploring options, for doing just that, you show the strength and courage needed to make the changes that will help guide you into a more fulfilling and balanced life. I help individuals develop skills to manage anxiety/fears, depression, stress/trauma, grief/loss, and multiple types of life transitions, and couples/families in improving relationships through the development of communication skills, parenting skills, trust restoration, and clearer understanding and appreciation of individual differences within a couple/family systems dynamic. While applying special training/experience in domestic violence, posttraumatic stress disorder, and addiction treatment I believe that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. And that when met with an accepting, non-judgmental approach you can discover the path to balance, health, and happiness that lies within you. Reach Teresa at (971) 400-5333.
Serving Individuals, Couples, Families
Greg Peterson, PhD, LPC, ACS
Dr. Peterson received his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Adams State University in 2023 and a Master’s in Counseling from Western Seminary in 2012. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington, a nationally Approved Clinical Supervisor, a Board Certified Tele-Mental Health provider, and a Nationally Certified Counselor. He has over ten years of experience providing counseling services and over seven years of supervisory experience. Dr. Peterson has taught in four Master’s in Counseling programs since 2016 and is a current contributing faculty member at Walden University. His clinical, supervisory, and leadership experience includes counseling in universities and colleges, private practice, and community mental health. Dr. Peterson served as the Director of Student Wellness at the University of Portland, the Director of Counseling Services at Concordia University-Portland, and as Clinical Supervisor over a two-county region community-based mental health services in Southwest Washington. Dr. Peterson has served the counseling profession as the Oregon Counseling Association’s President and its Ethics Committee Chair. He is the winner of a national research award through the American Counseling Association, the Counselors for Social Justice Climate Justice Award, and a nationally invited speaker in his area of research in preparing counselors to address the mental health impacts of climate change. Dr. Peterson is a counselor generalist interested in helping clients with climate change and mental well-being, men’s issues, relationships, couples counseling, adolescents and young adults in transition, and parenting. Dr. Peterson approaches counseling by enhancing psychological flexibility and supporting what approaches have worked in past experiences for clients. Dr. Peterson works in the River Ridge Counseling office on Mondays and remotely via a confidential virtual tele-mental health platform Tuesday through Thursday. For appointment inquiries, please contact him via his webpage www.petersoncc.com.