Professional Teen and Young Adult Counseling in Wasilla, AK
Adolescence and early adulthood can be complicated seasons of life. Teens and young adults often face pressure from school, relationships, identity development, and rapid emotional change. Our counselors at Mat-Su Mental Health provide professional teen counseling and therapy in Wasilla, Alaska for adolescents and young adults across the Mat-Su Valley. Therapy offers a confidential space where young people can talk openly, build practical coping skills, and work through challenges such as anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions.
Our teen counselors are adept at navigating challenging circumstances alongside you and your adolescent. We are skilled at coming along side, building rapport, and creating a safe place for your teen to process and explore the various challenges they are facing. Additionally, our counselors utilize brain based information to inform the work they do with teens, and are well versed on the changing and developing adolescent brain.
Our therapeutic processes focus on strengthening sense of self, exploring values, identifying goals, building skills, providing education, nurturing connection, tapping into strengths, and addressing the underlying causes of distress. Various interventions will be utilized to support your adolescent in this process, as our counselors utilize a wholistic and comprehensive approach that supports the creation of positive and healthy habits for life.
From diet and sleep, to mindfulness and movement, our providers will work to address the many variables that are likely contributing to your teens struggles. The family will be called upon to support the implementation and supervision of various interventions that will work collectively in supporting your teen towards overall heath and wellness.
Our Team Of Teen Counselors In Wasilla
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Dr. Abegail Millard - PsyD
Abegail has been serving clients in the mental health field since 2017, and has experience working with people across the lifespan. She enjoys carrying a diverse caseload, and has worked with an array of clients across a variety of settings. As a 10-year Veteran of the United States Coast Guard, she is especially passionate about providing psychological support to Veterans, and Active Duty personnel. She is thrilled to call Alaska home, while taking advantage of every opportunity for adventure. When not at work, you will find Abegail practicing yoga, paddle boarding, ice fishing, or entertaining friends and family.
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Erika McGough - LPC
Erika has been working in the mental health field since 2016, and brings experience in working with individuals across the lifespan and in various different settings. She is most passionate about supporting postpartum mothers and moms navigating parenting in early childhood, and also enjoys working with women transitioning through major life adjustments, dealing with depression and anxiety, or experiencing family and relational stressors. Erika also enjoys working with children and teens. When not at work, she can be found spending time with her family, in her mini backyard ‘urban homestead,’ or exploring and capturing the landscapes of Alaska via photography or painting.
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Haidyn Simmons - LPC
Haidyn is dedicated to guiding her clients through their unique journeys toward healing and personal growth by fostering a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their thoughts and emotions.
Originally from Louisiana, Haidyn moved to Alaska two years ago and has fallen in love with the state’s breathtaking natural beauty and her community. In her free time, you can find her reading, spending time outdoors with her pets, practicing yoga, or enjoying a good cup of coffee with friends.
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Jennifer Dotur - MS
Jen is a pre-licensed clinical mental health counselor with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years and is passionate about walking alongside individuals and couples navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, PTSD, and relationship challenges. Jen is especially attuned to life’s complexities and brings curiosity, warmth, and compassion to her work. Outside the therapy room, she enjoys time with her family, teaching classes in homeschool and charter school communities, exploring creative expression, and collecting meaningful quotes—one of her favorites being, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” – Rumi
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Kelly Jordan - MA
Kelly Jordan is a pre-licensed clinician who works with women, teens, and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relational conflict, identity development, and life transitions. She is especially passionate about helping women and teens heal from complex trauma—including survivors of sex trafficking—and offers a steady, compassionate presence rooted in empathy, empowerment, and safety.
Originally from a small ski town in Colorado, Kelly has lived across the country but now calls Alaska home. She loves spending time with her family, spoiling her dogs, and enjoying the seasons—whether that’s hiking in the sun or curling up by the fire with a book and coffee. She also loves partner dancing and finds joy in the creativity, connection, and movement it brings.
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Mary Kuepper - LPC-S
Mary has over a decade of experience working in community based mental health. Though she has worked with people across the lifespan, she specializes in work with kids, teens and families, as well as in maternal mental health. Mary is passionate about giving people the tools they need to not only function well, but to thrive in their everyday life. Though not native to Alaska, she has fallen in love with the abundant resources of this beautiful place. When not working with clients, Mary can be found adventuring, hiking and exploring. She loves to fly fish our local creeks, dig in the dirt of her backyard garden, and get in quality time with her friends, and beautiful family.
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Micha Savage - Billing Guru
Micha has been taking names and kicking you know what in the billing field for the past 11 years. As most of us know, dealing with insurance can be challenging, but Micha is up to that challenge, and brings the perfect combination of clear, kind, and smart as a whip to the job. Micha’s skillset is an especially perfect fit for us, as she is experienced in the Behavioral Health field, having served for many years within a Tribal Community Based Mental Health Program. Her work in that system gave her a deep appreciation for mental health and wellness, and a specific love for helping people navigate complex systems to get the care and support they deserve.
The structure of adolescent therapy sessions can vary greatly, depending on the circumstances that bring a family in for counseling. An initial session will vary depending on your wishes, and may include just the teen, the parent and the teen, or the parent and the provider.
Our Mat-Su Mental Health counselors serving Wasilla, and the surrounding areas, believe that as the parent, your involvement is essential in helping your adolescent make positive changes. While respecting confidentiality and being mindful of your teens privacy, our providers make a habit of facilitating open communication between you and your teen. There will always be the opportunity to do a “check in” either prior to or following session, to ensure everyone on the treatment team is “on the same page.” During this time, your adolescent will be encouraged to share their experience of session, what they learned, what they’re taking away, or what their “homework” is.
Generally, therapy sessions with teens and adolescents occur one time weekly for 50-60 minutes. However, depending on the circumstances that bring your teen into therapy and the interventions being used, it is at times helpful to flex this schedule according to your specific needs. It is not uncommon for adolescent sessions to occur two times weekly, or to occur in 90 minute increments rather than the traditional 60 minute session. These details will be discussed with you and your teen throughout the process.
What Happens in Teen Therapy at MSMH?
How long does professional teen counseling last?
The length of time an individual is in counseling is situation specific and can vary. However, we at Mat-Su Mental Health are passionate about giving our clients the tools and skills they need to thrive and function well. We will cast a wide net at the onset, looking for all the variables that may be contributing to your teens distress. We will build skills for managing symptoms and explore underlying root causes. We will take as little or as much time as they need, but we will do our very best to get your teen back about the business of living their life.
Why a teen or young adult may benefit from counseling?
There are numerous emotional difficulties that your teen may be facing. From low self esteem, depression, anxiety and eating disorders, to engaging in risky decision making, such as substance abuse, these behaviors need to be addressed, not ignored. Common issues that bring teens and adolescents in for counseling include, but are not limited to:
Disordered eating patterns
Organizational and academic difficulties
Difficulty with focus, attention concentration
Difficulty with motivation, apathy, follow through
Bullying
Sleep problems
Behavior problems
History of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional)
History of trauma
Social skill issues
Coping with grief, loss
Coping with parents separation, divorce, transitions
Coping skills problems
Our providers serving Wasilla, and the surrounding areas, are experienced at exploring the underlying factors that may be contributing to your teen’s difficulties, and identifying the root cause of their behavior.
How to schedule a session with one of our teen counselors or therapists.
Ready to get started? Call or email us today. Our contact info is at the bottom of this page.
Once you reach out, our on-boarding admin will contact you to gather information regarding your specific situation. They will explore with you what provider will likely best meet your needs, and support you in getting set up in our electronic health record.
Mat-Su Mental Health uses Simple Practice, a medical record and portal system that will allow for confidential and HIPAA compliant messaging that ensures your privacy. You will be sent a portal link that directs you to online documentation to be completed prior to your initial session.
This is a great time to ask any questions you might have. After all, where you go for support is your choice, and we want you to feel empowered to assess whether or not we are the right fit for you! Here at Mat-Su Mental Health, our providers believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential in the process of creating change. These initial conversations are important in assessing fit, as therapy is not “one size fits all.”
Our MSMH office is conveniently located in Wasilla. Feel free to arrive a few minutes prior to your child’s scheduled session to grab a cup of tea and relax before session begins. We look forward to meeting you, and are honored you have chosen us to do this work alongside you.
FAQ’s
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Do you offer counseling for teens in Wasilla, Alaska?
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What issues can teen counseling help with?
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Our therapists work with adolescents as well as young adults navigating the transition into adulthood. The counseling approach is adapted to the developmental stage and needs of each individual.
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Teen counseling sessions usually involve conversation, skill-building, and guided exploration of thoughts and emotions. Therapists help teens understand what they are experiencing and develop healthier ways to manage stress, relationships, and decision making.
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Do parents participate in teen therapy?
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Yes, we bill insurance on behalf of our clients. We also accept self pay clients.
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We are in network with Premera, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, UMR, TriCare, TriWest and Moda. We bill most other insurances as a courtesy; many of which offer out of network benefits. If you are not insured with one of the above contracted payers, we would encourage you to reach out to your insurance company and find out the specifics regarding your out of network benefits for mental health services in an office setting. More often than not, our clients find out that services are covered, most often after having met their deductible.
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How do I schedule teen counseling in Wasilla?