About Us

Hello there and Welcome to the Conifer Wellness page! I am so proud of you for making a big step in your mental health journey by looking for a therapist that works best for you. I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and believe strongly in making sure people have the tools to live their best life. Together we can find resources, coping skills, support systems, and interventions that work best for you. My theoretical approach to therapy is strengths based and I utilize trauma informed cognitive-behavioral techniques during sessions. I believe that we’re on the path towards healing together and you’re leading the way. I am here to help meet your goals and will ask what works best for you throughout our sessions to ensure that we remain on the same page and I am meeting your needs. I believe that everyone is trying their best and strives to provide a supportive space in which we can make progress towards your goals. I use art, games, and music in my therapy practice to talk about the link between our emotions, thoughts, body sensations, and behaviors. I am a total geek and will definitely reference things like Star Wars or Harry Potter in sessions. Outside of work, I enjoy hanging out with my dog, Sunshine, visiting the coast, and tending to the flowers in my garden. Mental Health matters and so do you!

We seek out therapy in order to improve our lives by both creating the life we want and by pursuing the potential of who we could be. Challenges to achieving our potential can be complicated and troublesome and therapy can help to identify the parts that are unhelpful and unworthy of us and to develop a plan with actionable steps to address them. Therapy can assist to determining our strengths, values, goals and priorities as well as to identify what variables are present when happiness manifests. It will also answer the question ‘what am I doing right’?

My studies and practice specialize in depression, anxiety, and trauma related disorders as well as other various mental health challenges. Stress, anger, thinking patterns, healthy living skills (sleep, diet and exercise), interaction and relationships, grief and loss are all areas that I have proficiencies in intervention. My primary modalities of care are evidence-based treatments and strategies to include Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and CBT based approaches such as Exposure Therapy, Behavioral Activation, Problem Solving Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

My goal is to assist you in overcoming the challenges and hardships that life presents by individual care to your needs. Through developing a healthy therapeutic relationship, we have the potential to increase optimism, bolster hope, improve character, become disciplined in order to follow our conscience, and to develop a life that is worthwhile. Your motivation and appetite for change are welcome, and I look forward to begin working with you and in seeing all of the positive consequences that come from you getting your life in order.

“Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.”

• David Bowie

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Jillian earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in

Health and Wellness from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Recently, Jillian has received

her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University, and is in the third year of the

university’s PsyD program, working to attain her doctorate in clinical psychology, with an emphasis in

health psychology (anticipated August 2025). Jillian has had clinical experience working with individuals

from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, races, religious identities, and physical diagnoses, such as

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Jillian uses a number of therapeutic approaches to

personalize treatment for each patient, but has the most experience and education in Cognitive Behavioral

Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Brief

Psychotherapies (SFBT). Jillian wants to help and assist patients in verbalizing, recognizing, and working

through any emotions or traumas that are currently inhibiting any aspects of life. In addition, because of

her interest in health psychology, she also is interested in assisting patients who may be currently

adjusting to a physical diagnosis, such as Diabetes, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Post-Concussion

Syndrome, or other life changing injuries or illnesses, know that achieving a full and meaningful life is

possible.

Hello! My name is Brittany- I grew up on the east coast and received my Master’s in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. Seven years ago, I moved to Portland and have loved calling the beautiful Pacific Northwest home ever since. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and hold my license in the state of Oregon. I believe that meaningful change begins with a strong therapeutic relationship. I hope to earn your trust by creating a space in which you feel accepted, heard, and supported. My therapeutic style is warm, person-centered, humanistic, and trauma-informed. Over the years as a therapist, I have worked with clients around depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, generational trauma, grief and loss, life transitions and stress management, ADHD and neurodivergence, and the LGBTQIA+ community and exploring identity. I utilize therapeutic interventions from CBT and TF-CBT, DBT, EFT, Collaborative Problem Solving, Mindfulness, narrative therapy, and attachment-based therapy based on your own unique needs, struggles, experiences, and goals for therapy. With compassion, empathy and some humor, I am here to walk beside you as we navigate a path towards healing, transformation, and wellness in your life. Together we will identify patterns that exist in your life, build insight and coping skills drawn from your strengths, talk about the hard stuff, and celebrate the unique goodness you bring to the world.

When I’m not in the office you will most likely find me outside in nature somewhere running, hiking, or backpacking, reading a book in my hammock, playing soccer, gushing over my goofy pup, Willie, and spending time laughing with those I hold close to my heart.

Alaina (she/her) earned her master’s in clinical psychology from Pacific University and is in her 3rd year in Pacific University’s PsyD program with an emphasis in Health Psychology. She received bachelor’s degrees from Arizona State University in Psychology and Neuroscience. She has experience working with depression, anxiety, PTSD, complex trauma, life transitions, grief, and ADHD. In addition, she has an interest in working with individuals who are coping with physical diagnoses such as chronic pain, cancer, or diabetes. Her approach to therapy is influenced by orientations including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness. Alaina believes in catering her treatment approach to the individual needs of each client. She aims to create a space where all individuals feel heard and understood.

Rebecca is a 3rd year graduate student in Pacific University’s PsyD program working to attain a doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in health psychology (anticipated August 2026). Rebecca recently received her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Pacific University as well. She is originally from the Bay Area in CA and received her BA in Neuroscience from Pitzer College. She has experience working in community mental health settings treating a variety of issues including depression, anxiety, and trauma. Rebecca’s theoretical orientation is primarily behaviorally based, with experience providing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Mindfulness-based interventions. In practice, she aims to work collaboratively with clients in treatment planning, goal setting, and skill building.  In addition, because of her interest in health psychology, she also is prepared to assist clients in continuing to live full and meaningful lives while adjusting to living with new diagnoses, illness or injury, or chronic pain.

Ian is a practicum psychologist from Pacific University. He’s experienced in providing inclusive and culturally sensitive care for adults suffering from depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, and chronic physical health issues. He uses various therapeutic approaches from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and humanistic therapy.

Shayla is a graduate of Portland State University’s Master of Social Work program. She holds an additional Master’s degree in Health Promotion & Education, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. As evidenced by this collection of degrees, Shayla loves to learn, and her gentle curiosity is a key part of how she engages with clients in the therapeutic setting. Shayla’s style as a therapist is based in providing a calm, engaged, and collaborative nonjudgmental space for her clients. She prioritizes developing safety and rapport in the therapeutic relationship, with emphasis placed on being able to explore and support growth at a pace that feels right for you. She believes change can occur in small ways and large ones, and will meet you wherever you are in the change process. Shayla brings a trauma-informed lens to her work, and views her clients in the context of all that they have experienced. She integrates knowledge of complex systems and histories into her work, and prioritizes understanding the intersecting identities that make you who you are today. Shayla utilizes a variety of evidence-based theoretical models in her work, which allows her to tailor work with each client to the individual needs presented. These approaches include Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Martha Christy Shimeall MS, LPC-Associate, has been working as a mental health therapist for over 20 years. She began her career working with youth in a wilderness setting addressing both substance abuse and mental health disorders. She then worked in various therapeutic roles within a children’s residential psychiatric setting for 10 years, followed by a school setting  for 5 years.

In her current capacity, Martha enjoys working primarily with adults providing CBT and somatic therapy to individuals and groups in an outpatient setting. In addition to her mental health skills, Martha is a 500 level yoga teacher and teaches an on-going community yoga class for Linn Benton Community College. Her passion lies in the integration of the mind-body interface and enjoys assisting clients and students to experience embodied self-awareness.

Dr. Brassell (she/her) earned her PsyD in clinical psychology from Pacific University after completing her internship with Providence Medical Group in Portland, Oregon and is thrilled to be starting residency at Conifer Wellness! She has experience working in a variety of settings including primary care behavioral health, telehealth, community mental health, and college/university counseling. She is a generalist clinician who uses CBT, ACT, and solutions-focused approaches to help patients navigate a variety of social, emotional, physical, and psychological concerns including anxiety, depression, life transitions, interpersonal/relationship distress, identity exploration, trauma, and chronic condition management. She is passionate about fostering caring, collaborative, safe, and transparent relationships with her patients. In doing so, she aims to keep the patients goals at the forefront of the therapeutic process while creating a space where they can gain insight into their own strengths and how they may be able to utilize them in new ways. In her free time Dr. Brassell enjoys cooking, gardening, paddleboarding, reading, and exploring the Pacific Northwest with her two dogs!

Helen earned her B.S. in Human Development & Family Sciences from Oregon State University in 2006, and after working in the Human and Social Service fields for nearly a decade, she attended the University of Southern California where she earned her MSW. Helen has clinical experience working with individuals across the lifespan. She is a Cognitive Behavioral therapist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression, stress management, and grief. Helen is an animal lover who enjoys spending time hiking, paddleboarding, crafting, and yoga.

Kayrene, our Patient Manager, graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Lacrosse in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies. Soon after, she moved to Oregon in search of adventure and clarity. What she found was a growing interest to be involved more directly with advocacy for mental health. Now, Kayrene is studying to become a licensed clinician so she can continue her goal of helping her community heal. In her free time, you can find Kayrene reading, writing, hiking, bartending or competing in endurance events (including an Ironman in 2018).

Bob Olin, our Administrative Manager, has over 40 years of experience as a Customer Representative in multiple fields including Automotive, Security, Photography, Theater and others. Whether in offices, rehearsal spaces, at sporting events, or anywhere his career journey has taken him he has built excellent team building, interpersonal, phone and scheduling skills.  Bob believes that he’s found his calling since joining the Conifer Wellness team. He looks forward every morning to talking with our clients, Clinicians, staff, and anyone who may have a question with kindness, empathy, and a desire to assist them efficiently and with a friendly smile. Bob enjoys music and sports of many kinds, movies, being outdoors, writing, being creative, artistic and spending time with his family and friends.