Chief Operating Officer
Education:
• Bachelor’s in psychology, Coe College
• Master’s in social work, Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis
Interests/Specialties: moral reconation therapy (MRT), women’s issues (especially reproductive rights), therapeutic (wellness) courts
Location: Salmon Creek Clinic
Groups and Classes:
• Moral reconation therapy (MRT)
Rachel is the Chief Operating officer for JAMHI and facilitates the weekly moral reconation therapy (MRT) group at the Salmon Creek Clinic. She graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with two minors in gender studies and philosophy. She went on to complete a master’s degree in social work from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and has been a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Alaska since 2008. In 2016 she was certified as a chemical dependency counselor (CDC I). As an undergrad she volunteered at a crisis line and in graduate school she worked at Planned Parenthood. Both of these experiences have impacted the type of work that she is drawn to. Her first job post-graduation from her Master’s program was in Craig, Alaska on Prince of Whales island. She worked there as a clinician at an agency similar to JAMHI for two and half years before the agency had to suddenly close. Afterward she moved to Anchorage where she worked as a clinician for a non-profit counseling center. That model was very different. Two and a half years later in 2010 Rachel moved to Juneau to take a job with JAMHI as an intake specialist. Since then she has taken on additional responsibilities and eventually became the COO in July of 2021. Rachel says that she is still learning everyday what it means to be the COO and is thankful for the longevity at JAMHI to learn and grow.
Though Rachel has been trained in several treatment modalities, the one that she uses most often is MRT. She is interested in women’s issues (especially reproductive rights) and therapeutic (wellness) courts. Rachel is an eternal optimist who can find, recognize, and appreciate the smallest amount of progress. She can find something positive in even the most challenging and difficult situations and likes to tap into her funny side which she thinks is important when helping people consider different aspects of decision making.
Rachel grew up in Kentucky and lived in Iowa and Missouri for higher education. She moved to Alaska after completing her Master’s degree. Rachel has been in the pen pal world for decades, is an avid reader, enjoys volunteering, and loves to travel. She considers petting other people’s cats a great joy.