Kerri Hanlon
Kerri Hanlon (she/her) grew up in beautiful Bend and attended Mountain View High School. She continued her education in Portland, Oregon with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Portland State University. She then went on to receive a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Addiction Studies from Lewis and Clark College. She spent a few years working in Salem in Community Mental Health before switching directions to the private sector in out patient drug and alcohol programs in the Portland area. Kerri then made the decision to move back home to Bend and in 2007 started her private counseling practice, East Cascade Counseling Services. Kerri had the goal of bringing together an eclectic, dynamic group of therapists to create a Wellness Center environment – offering the very best therapeutic services to her home community.
Kerri is very excited to be offering services in the private practice setting. She brings a great deal of enthusiasm and passion to her work with adolescents, adults and families. Through her experience she has gained a unique way of being able to connect with clients and has a genuine capacity to assist individuals in seeking changes in their lives.
Kerri is licensed by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapist (LPC) and certified by the Addiction Counselor Certification Board of Oregon (CADC III) as well as the National Association of Drug Abuse Counselors (MAC).
Stuart Forrister
Stuart (he/him), a Texas native, has lived in the Northwest for the last several years. He moved to Bend in 2018 to enjoy the great outdoors. Stuart has a background in education and completed a Master’s Degree in Counseling at Western Seminary in 2017.
Stuart has spent the last four years working in community mental health and addictions. He specializes in both group and individual therapy for those struggling with co-occurring mental health and addiction issues.
His approach to therapy incorporates a cognitive behavioral framework as well as a solution focused approach. He aims to help clients identify, challenge, and replace the self-defeating behaviors and find a healthy approach to living. Stuart also uses skills and techniques from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Narrative Therapy to address past trauma. Stuart views counseling as a collaborative effort where he can help clients to recognize strengths, identify needs, understand conflicts, discover new options, set personal goals, and make informed choices.
When he is not in the office, Stuart likes to spend time climbing, skiing, and fly fishing. Stuart is a registered LPC with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, a CADC I and CGAC-R with the Mental Health and Addiction Counselor Certification Board of Oregon.
Christine Ewing
Christine Ewing (she/her), a Southern California native, moved to Bend in 2017. She has a background in Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, and has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She holds both a license in Marriage and Family Therapy and School Counseling Credential in California and Oregon, respectively.
Christine has spent the last thirteen years in community mental health, specializing in child, adolescent, and family therapy. The last five years she has focused working in both the school and community settings. She is trained in a variety of traditional and evidence-based practices that work to help support each unique individual. Some of these modalities include, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Seeking Safety, Trauma Resiliency Model, Crisis Response, Applied Behavioral Analysis, and Collaborative Problem-Solving techniques.
Christine believes that every person has a story to tell, and that it takes courage to share that story. The foundation of therapy is built on the ability to walk alongside of that story, while finding resiliency and strength. The hope for therapy is to provide individuals with opportunities to gain hope in their ability to live, love, and laugh to their fullest potential. When individuals are able to gain awareness on their trauma or story; needs can be identified, and insight can be used to make positive change. Her passion is helping young people find their voice, with the courage to share their story with family, friends, and community.
In her free time, Christine loves to travel (especially somewhere with a beach) and spend time with family and friends. Christine is licensed with the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT).
Natalie Bowker
In 2006, Natalie received her master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy after spending several years in Southeast Alaska working with adolescents in a variety of settings. Her time in Alaska motivated her to learn more about the impacts grief, loss and chronic illness have on the individual and family system. She graduated from Saint Mary’s University in Minneapolis, Minnesota and became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in 2009.
In the years that followed, Natalie worked with families and adults impacted by grief and trauma. Her passion to help others suffering from loss led her to dive deep into what’s known as Ambiguous Loss, the type of loss that isn’t finite yet changes you forever.
As a trauma-informed Marriage and Family therapist and yoga instructor, she facilitates a heart-felt connection to self and one’s surroundings. Natalie’s therapeutic style envelops a relational and somatic approach. She has a certification in Narrative Therapy, which looks at our hidden stories we tell ourselves. Her sessions offer a unique blend of somatic healing, mindfulness skill building, and insight.
Natalie is a natural connector, and you will see how she brings out your authentic self while she holds a compassionate and inviting space for work to happen.
When Natalie isn’t at East Cascade Counseling, you may find her drinking a yummy latte, hiking, playing with her dog Mochi, or in the woods with her two daughters and partner.
Megan Knoster
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). I embrace a holistic perspective to healing and wellness through an integrative mind-body approach. I graduated with my Masters in Social Work degree from the Boston University School of Social Work in 2013. During my time at BUSSW, I engaged in specialized training in trauma-responsive care, and clinical mental health counseling. I aim to foster growth in the individuals and groups that I work with through education, targeted clinical skills and interventions, and healing relationships.
As a trained and licensed clinical social worker, I bring a trauma-responsive lens to all that I do. Further, I also understand that we are impacted not only by each other, but by the systems and environments that we live within. Therefore, I am always offering the opportunity to consider what larger systems may be at play when obstacles and barriers show up on our journey to self discovery and wellness.
With over 10 years of experience, I have worked in various roles supporting the social, emotional and psychological wellness needs of youth: as a school and community based mental health therapist, school counselor, group work facilitator, youth mentor and coach, yoga and mindfulness meditation teacher, youth program director, consultant and grant writer. In consideration of my time spent in these clinical settings, you can trust my skill-set and experience. I fully believe in the power that lies within the connection between mind, body, and spirit and feel strongly about providing a safe space for young people to participate fully in their healing journey to overall wellness.
I enjoy working with individuals who present with a variety of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, challenges with self-worth and self-esteem, and student athlete stress management. I tailor my interventions to each client and their goals, and approach therapy through a person-centered and strengths-based lens. I have been trained in DBT, TF-CBT, and Motivational Interviewing, and have experience utilizing Solution-Focused Therapy and Somatic Practices.
Megan Condit
Megan (she/her) grew up in the Pacific Northwest and then spent two decades in California before moving to Bend in 2020. Megan has a Masters in Social Work from San Jose State University and worked in Community Mental Health in the Bay Area for over 10 years. Megan was trained in Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) through the University of California San Francisco's Trauma Research Center, and this modality anchors her work with families. Megan is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Megan uses play (the language of children) to facilitate healing and incorporates many modalities into her practice such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness practices, and Motivational Interviewing. Megan is also an experienced clinical supervisor and loves supporting newer child/family therapists as they gain experience.
Megan believes that we each have deep, inner wisdom and that therapy is a way to help us tune in to it. The foundation of her therapeutic work is relationship, so she prioritizes building trust and connection to create a warm, safe environment. Megan works with children (ages birth-12) and their families, parents/caregivers, and individual adults. Megan has a passion for helping children and families cope with anxiety and challenging situations, heal from trauma, and navigate grief. Megan believes that raising children is one of the most important and challenging jobs of all and is honored to support parents and caregivers on that journey. Megan also supports adults who are struggling with depression or anxiety, relationship challenges and life transitions, adult and teen members of the LGBTQ+ community, people engaged in anti-racist work/healing, those who are grieving and/or recovering from trauma, and those struggling with infertility.
When she is not working, Megan enjoys spending time with her kids, being in nature, and going to see live music. Megan is bilingual (English/Spanish) and is licensed by the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers.
Kelsey Jaeckel
Kelsey Jaeckel is a Professional Counselor Associate and licensed School Counselor with more than a decade of experience in K–12 education, spanning elementary, middle, and high school settings. The past two years have been focused on providing mental health counseling for individuals, couples, and families. Additionally, she is a part-time school counselor at an elementary school in Central Oregon and a part-time instructor for the MCOUN Program at OSU–Cascades. Earlier in her career, she worked in family, business, and community mediation and conflict resolution in North Dakota. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology along with a Certificate in Conflict Resolution in 2010, and a Master of Science in Counseling in 2014 at OSU-Cascades in Bend.
Kelsey works with couples who are experiencing conflict, tension, and disconnection in their relationships and/or with themselves. When clients are first referred to her, they often feel exhausted, defeated, and alone. Through their work with Kelsey, clients rebuild the understanding, communication, and trust it takes to feel safe, seen, and connected again. Her counseling approach is relational, culturally responsive, and grounded in experiential learning.
Kelsey specializes in Person-centered and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and works collaboratively with clients to be more connected to their authentic self, more confident in living true to their values and dreams, and to develop coping and communication skills that create positive, respectful, supportive, and reciprocal relationships with others in their personal lives. Additionally, she is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), CBT for Insomnia, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-informed Care, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Crisis Response, and Collaborative Problem-Solving Techniques.
Kelsey grew up in a small town in Wisconsin near the shores of Lake Michigan. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family traveling, hiking, swimming, cycling, cross-country skiing, backpacking, paddling, and watching movies.
Samantha Blaine
Samantha Blaine (she/her), who goes by Sam, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who offers telehealth services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Eastern Oregon University and earned her Master of Social Work from Walla Walla University in 2023. Her education and work within rural co-occurring treatment agencies shaped her understanding of how systems impact individuals and their communities, deepened her value for humanistic care, and fueled her drive to empower others.
Sam primarily works with adults experiencing PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, mood disorders, and other concerns. She has particular passion for supporting LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, women recovering from unhealthy relationships, artists feeling stuck or uninspired, and those struggling with low self-esteem. She believes therapy is not a one-size-fits-all and takes a person-centered approach, integrating the unique needs of each client with evidence-based therapies, theories, and philosophies, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Attachment Theory, Systems Theory, Relational-Cultural Theory, Existential Therapy, and more.
Sam aims to create a space where clients can get curious about themselves, explore the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, process the impact of distressing experiences, explore self-compassion and self-leadership, and develop coping skills that support meaningful change. Clients have described her as non-judgmental, flexible, and easy to talk to. She encourages clients to show up exactly as they are, painful emotions, laughter, favorite cuss words, and all.
Outside of work, Sam can be found gardening and talking to the bees, absolutely crushing loved ones during a board game, mastering new crafts, or kissing her animals on the forehead.
Marci Tucker Billing Services
Marci Tucker brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with insurance and billing. Prior to beginning services with East Cascade Counseling Services Marci is available prior to your beginning services with East Cascade Counseling Services, to check benefits and assist you in understanding your specific health insurance coverage. If you have questions about your insurance, benefits or a statements from us at any point, please call Marci directly at 541-420-4460, or email her, MLTINSBILL@msn.com.
