Meet the Team
Katie Steele, LMFT
I created Thrive Mental Health in the corner of a gym where we combined movement and therapy. Reps and real talk..... We still move, we still sweat and we have grown into a space that expands our accessibility. We sit, we walk the river, we meet clients where they need to be met.
People are my passion. Personal empowerment is my purpose. I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. My clinical focus is with couples and systems. I love and live this work. Getting to accompany you on your self evolution journey is an absolute privilege.
Kamie Ober, LPC
Kamie is an actual ray of sunshine! Her approach is direct and wrapped in compassion.
Kamie specializes in working with adolescents and adults. She supports clients in redirecting unhealthy thought patterns, increase insight to better understand their experience while developing their sense of identity. Her primary hope is to accompany you to finding your passion and purpose.
Alex Hoeplinger, LMFT, LPCC
We are lucky to add Alex not only to our team but to the Bend Community! He recently moved from California. He creates bold moves to live the most fulfilling life and will help assist you in generating the needed changes in your life to reach your goals!
Alex specializes in working with college students, couples, and adult children of narcissistic parents. Alex is also a trained Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. He is committed to meeting clients with the upmost respect and quality care for Alex is dedicated to creating a safe and secure space for clients.
Meredith Schweppe, LCSW
Meredith radiates positivity. She is going to see your strengths and assist you in seeing them too!
Meredith specializes in working with pregnant and parenting women. She is motivated to help women decrease feelings of depression, anxiety and isolation. She has successfully worked with women through these transition seasons to increase their connection to themselves, the ones they love most and their purpose. Meredith is also a trained EMDR provider.
Scarlet Caldwell Baxter, LPC
Scarlet is a strength based therapist. She exudes warmth, compassion and is easy to connect with.
Scarlet specializes in working with adolescents and adults. She has expertise in working with eating disorders, recovery, anxiety and depression. Scarlet see the intrinsic strengths in others and is committed to accompanying client to connect with their best self.
Cecilia McCusker, LMFT
Cecilia is an integrative and holistic therapist whose primary goal is to provide a safe space to create movement for people to become more of who they desire to be. She believes that change is created through clients understanding both how their pasts contribute to their current patterns as well as how their emotions, physical body and thoughts are all interconnected. Cecilia specializes in working with teens, young adults, maternal mental health, major life transitions and trauma. Cecilia is a trained therapist in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Brainspotting.
Debbie Taylor, LPC
Debbie is a bright, passionate light. She brings warmth and insight when helping clients build skills to manage daily stressors, reduce unwanted symptoms, increase motivation and she is committed to creating a safe, welcoming environment.
Debbie specializes in working with adolescents and adults experiencing anxiety, panic, depression, anger, grief, PTSD, relationship conflicts and self esteem issues.
She builds collaborative relationships with her clients and utilizes a strength-based approach with empathy and acceptance while integrating CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques with mindfulness to support her clients in overcoming difficult problems and learn to manage overwhelming emotions. She is also trained in EMDR.
Felicia Comfort, LCSW
Felicia is a calm and present clinician who strives to create a nurturing, safe space for her clients to process, explore and express their feelings and needs. She has a passion for clients struggling with loss and grief as she was a hospice social worker for over a decade. Felicia is EMDR trained and is working towards becoming EMDR certified.
She works with adults of all ages focusing on depression, anxiety, life transitions, aging, chronic illness, relationship issues, personal growth and trauma. Felicia is person centered and works from a strength-based perspective to support clients through their healing and recovery process.
Dave Macomber, LPC
Dave specializes in working with teens and adults experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, developmental trauma, anger, self-esteem issues, and relationship challenges. With a calm, steady presence, Dave meets clients where they desire to be met. He is passionate about helping people explore themselves with compassion and curiosity to discover and let go of anything preventing them from living life the way they want to live it. Dave is an IFS Level 1 trained therapist whose practice is also informed by polyvagal theory, attachment-based therapy, and mindfulness-based CBT. Before becoming a counselor, Dave was a middle school educator for many years.
Clara McClane, LCSW
Clara connects to clients with compassion, empathy, and acceptance. Her approach is open-minded and analytical, enlivened with a sense of humor. Wherever you are in your journey, Clara is fully committed to helping you find your way to your healthiest, most authentic self.
She works with adults of all ages focusing on anxiety, depression, life transitions, relationships, work issues, struggles with health, and personal growth. Additional specialties include working through addictive processes and issues related to aging.
Sharen Meyers, LCSW
Sharen uses a “whole person” view that includes the emotional, mental, physical, spiritual, and social context of each client as she works with individuals, couples, and groups.
Her eclectic approach to change may include creative use of aspects that are already part of each person’s every day world, such as music, nature, movies, collage work, spirituality, books, animals, energy work, journaling, legacy work, mindfulness techniques, dream work, and a good sense of humor.
With over 20 years experience in hospice and behavioral health settings, Sharen provides support to individuals and families in dealing with chronic health issues, care giving stress/fatigue, multiple types of grief/loss, including loss of animal companions, and adapting to life transitions.
Additionally, Sharen assists people experiencing mood disorders, adults with childhood abuse or family of origin issues, spiritual abuse, relational difficulties, communication skills, and existential concerns to develop a healthier sense of connection within themselves and then to others and their own life experience/enjoyment.
Maggie Walsh
Bio coming soon
Tori Fornaciari, LCSW
Tori provides client-centered therapy to adults of all ages. She works collaboratively with clients using an empathetic, affirming, inclusive, and strength-based approach.
Tori has experience working with a range of issues including depression, anxiety, grief, maternal mental health, sleep/insomnia, chronic pain, life transition challenges, aging and caregiver concerns, identity and LGBTQ experiences. Tori uses a variety of therapeutic approaches to help clients work through challenges, gain insight, make changes to improve their quality of life, and strive to be their best selves.
Tori has previously worked as a clinical social worker in health care settings including maternal health and primary care.
Heather Heraeus, LCSW
Heather, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, is dedicated to supporting people on their journey towards emotional well-being. With 20 years of experience in the field, Heather provides a compassionate and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts, emotions and challenges.
Heather specializes in working with adolescents, families and couples. She is skilled in using evidence-based therapeutic techniques and believes in a whole person, strengths based approach to mental health. By working collaboratively with clients, she helps them navigate challenges, develop coping skills and gain insights into themselves, fostering personal growth and improved relationships.
Alex Cotrufello, LPC-A
Alex believes that we have the most potential for growth and healing when engaged in supportive relationships. She hopes to foster a nurturing connection with her clients that allows for curious exploration, radical acceptance, compassion, self-trust, and empowerment.
Alex's counseling style includes looking at how early attachment figures influence one’s self-concept and relational patterns; the potential of trauma and its effects on the body and mind; social-cultural impacts on individuals and communities; and how to attune and tend to all parts of oneself, using this information as a guide to wellness. She specializes in working with children, teens, adults, and the LGBTQIA+ population.
Naime Conrad, LCSW
Bio coming soon
Meet the Pediatric Team
Nicole Spreadborough, LPC
We feel so fortunate to get to learn and work with Nicole! And feel confident you will too! She is a wealth of knowledge and oozes passion for all of her clients and the mental health field. Nicole is the clinical supervisor of the pediatric team. She specializes in EMDR and IFS (Internal Family Systems). Nicole is a certified EMDR provider and EMDRIA approved consultant. Nicole works from an attachment lens. She is a seasoned clinician with extensive experience supporting humans through their tender life moments with the warmest heart and kindest spirit.
Stephanie Bryan, LPC
Stephanie is a thoughtful clinician who strives to bring authenticity and warmth into her practice. She is a bilingual and bicultural therapist who is comfortable working with children, teenagers, and adults from an attachment-based framework. She has extensive experience collaborating with parents and working from a family systems lens.
Specialized interests: schooling and learning issues, adoption/foster identity, developmental trauma, family dynamics, Latinx families and children, ADHD, grief/loss, phobias, EMDR
Zoe Brazie, LPC
Zoe is a thorough and mindful practitioner. Zoe is passionate about supporting children, adolescents, and adults from an attachment-based and family systems lens.
Zoe has specialized interest in working with foster, adoptive and birth families and can assist with processing and healing attachment wounds.
Additional areas of interest are relationship issues, identity issues, trauma, anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA, life transitions, and grief and loss.
Jessie Mercer, LCSW
Jessie is the calm and intentional presence we all need in our lives. She has experience supporting people in navigating complex issues that arise across the lifespan but specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families. Jessie tends toward a holistic, strengths-based approach. She enjoys working collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds and strives to create a safe and inclusive space to meet each client’s unique needs. Jessie believes that everyone has the capacity to learn, to heal, and to grow.
Holly Gilbert, LPC
Holly aims to provide a comfortable and supportive therapeutic environment for all clients to learn about themselves, grow as individuals, and connect to the world around them in positive ways.
Holly works with children, pre-teens, and teens experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, stress, low self-esteem, school/learning challenges, perfectionism, ADHD, childhood trauma, life transitions, family system challenges, and ARFID. Prior to working with Thrive Mental Health, Holly worked as an elementary school counselor and a school-based therapist.
Holly uses a person centered approach incorporating cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness, psychoeducation, play therapy, and expressive art. Holly believes therapy requires collaboration and will work with each client to build unique treatment goals.
Regina Joshi, LCSW
Regina is approachable and understanding. She learned early on that her responsibility was to care for the emotional experiences of those around her. She utilizes a patient-centered approach and strives to uncover and identify interpersonal strengths. She specializes and enjoys working with teens and pre-teens as they move towards young adulthood.
Special interests and populations include interpersonal growth, general anxiety, disordered eating patterns, family system challenges, postpartum support and LGBTQIA+.
Regina believes in integrative self-care as a way to support growth and heal the soul.
Suzy Rosen, LCSW
Suzy is a sincere and authentic human who has a magnetic presence. She has extensive knowledge and experience supporting children, youth and families.
Suzy specializes in EMDR and attachment based therapy for clients with trauma. Suzy is a certified EMDR provider and is a seasoned clinician with extensive experience working with a wide variety of clients with diverse needs and backgrounds. She utilizes a strength based approach and works with her clients in a spirit of collaboration and shared expertise to find strategies and solutions that best fit their needs.
Morgan Hirsch, LCSW
Bio coming soon
Alex F, LSW-A
Alex is intentional, creative and energetic. She is inspired by clients and willing to get creative to meet the client where they are, connecting with them in a way that is effective.
Alex specializes in developmental trauma, attachment work, strength-based interventions, EMDR, IFS and understanding of how unresolved traumatic experiences create barriers to growth and success. Alex believes in empowering individuals to identify and use their strengths as the catalyst for change in their own lives. She believes that each person has the power to find their own answers. Alex engages the power of self-exploration through the use of creativity and the outdoors, using them both as a tool for her clients to explore themselves and feel success.
Thrive clinicians do not assess for custody.
Meet the Client Care Team
Jade Cue, Client Care Coordinator
Jade is the most organized and systematic human. She is passionate about the care she provides people and will ensure all the loose ends are tied off. Jade is a collaborative teammate and operates one step ahead as she foresees the needs. She meets each person with compassion and is motivated to help you get your needs met.
Kirsten Mills, Client Care Coordinator
As a dedicated Client Care Coordinator at Thrive Mental Health, Kirsten is passionate about helping individuals navigate their mental health journeys. She loves working closely with people, providing support, and fostering a compassionate environment. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys hiking and exploring the beautiful landscapes of Bend, Oregon. When she’s not on the trails, she cherishes spending quality time with her family, creating lasting memories together.
Adam Steele- Clinical operations and billing
When Adam officially joined the team we received a lot of feedback that the billing and clinic operation have never been smoother. It’s true. He brings a skill set to the table that is much needed. His priority is that client’s are able to access services without limitations. He works endlessly with insurance companies for coverage to ensure that payment is never a barrier to services. Adam cultivates the community culture at Thrive Mental Health with every client and clinician he crosses paths with. He is passionate that every single person feels supported and encouraged.
Our promise
You will get the help and tools you need to thrive NOW
You will be heard and seen every visit
THRIVE is a space of inclusivity and accessibility to all humans
Mental wellness is not a privilege, it is a human right