Jeahna Aglugub (she/they)
Dani Clarke (she/they)
Shända De Anda (she/her)
Yvette Donde (she/her/ella)
Alex French (they/she)
Jaiden Grant (she/her)
Robert Hazleton
Zoe Hopping (she/her)
Ava Pierson (she/her)
Matthew Potter (he/they)
Jalena Samuel (she/her)
Knisha Wolfgang (she/they)
Meet Jeahna, Therapist in Training
Hi, my name is Jeahna Aglugub (she/they) and I am a therapist in training at Pacific Lutheran University. Life is hard, but that doesn’t mean you need to face those challenges, or transitional periods, in your life alone! Whatever you come in for, I am here to listen without judgement. If we end up working together, I will look forward to hearing your journey and seeing you grow as a human! I work from a systemic lens, which means I take EVERYTHING in your life into consideration and determine how they may be affecting you.
I earned my BA in Psychology at Saint Martin’s University and, so far, my professional experience has been working with children on the autism spectrum and their families. I grew up in the military and found myself moving across the world and getting to learn about people and their different cultures. I hope to work with individuals, couples, and families from all kinds of backgrounds!
Outside of the therapy room, I love reading! I can easily get whisked away with a good fantasy book and enough free time. I also enjoy going on walks, enjoying nature, and taking photos! Other things I like to do to relax include binge watching TV shows, watching YouTube videos, arts & crafts, or playing video games!
Meet Dani, Therapist in Training
Hi! My name is Dani (she/they), and I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I earned my B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles and have a background working in education with neurodivergent adolescents and teens who have a variety of mental health needs.
I believe that people are shaped by their lived experiences and that everyone is doing the best they can with the resources, knowledge, and circumstances available to them. At the same time, I believe that every person has the capacity for growth, change, and healing. I am honored to be there as clients navigate that process.
I work from a systemic perspective, which means I consider the broader contexts that influence your life, including family relationships, friendships, work, culture, and larger social systems. Together, we can explore how these factors may be contributing to challenges while also identifying strengths and opportunities for change.
My approach to therapy is collaborative, curious, and nonjudgmental. Drawing from a variety of therapeutic modalities, I tailor my work to meet your unique needs and goals. My aim is to create a warm, supportive, and safe space where you can share your story, deepen your self-understanding, and move toward the life you want to build.
Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy playing and coaching volleyball, cycling, dancing, and working on crafting projects.
Meet Shända, Therapist in Training
I invite clients (whether an individual, a couple, a nontraditional partnership/relationship, or a family) to bring their full selves into the safe, nonjudgmental therapeutic space. I believe that healing and growth happen best when people feel genuinely seen, heard, and valued. I am Shända (she/her), and, as a therapist in training, I strive to create a welcoming environment where that can happen.
Many life experiences shaped my path to becoming a therapist. To name a few, I am a spouse, parent, combat veteran, member of the BIPOC community, sister/daughter, and someone who grew up in a non-traditional environment in Alaska. These experiences taught me every person’s story is unique, and resilience often develops in ways that are not always visible to others.
I am passionate about learning from and working with people from all walks of life and using a collaborative approach to help navigate the systems we live and work in to meet clients’ goals. Whether you are navigating a difficult season, seeking greater self-understanding, or working toward personal growth, I would be honored to walk alongside and hold space for you. My goal is to offer a compassionate, inclusive, culturally responsive space where you feel supported, empowered, and valued throughout your journey.
In my free time, I enjoy being part of the community, from gardening, game nights, and bike rides to potluck meals, volunteering, and book discussions. I also enjoy being outside and in nature, journaling, yoga, swimming, dancing, woodworking, painting/drawing, listening to music, reading, cooking, and traveling.
Meet Yvette, Therapist in Training
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist in training who believes that every person brings a unique story, shaped by their relationships, culture, and life experiences. My approach to therapy is grounded in curiosity, compassion, and the belief that meaningful change happens when people feel safe enough to be themselves. I see therapy as a collaborative process where we work together to better understand patterns, strengthen relationships, and build on the strengths that already exist.
As a bilingual English and Spanish therapist in training, I have experience working with high-risk youth, immigrant communities, and neurodiverse clients. My own experiences have taught me the importance of culturally responsive and affirming care, and I strive to create a space where clients from all backgrounds feel respected and understood. I am especially interested in supporting individuals, couples, and families as they navigate life transitions, cultural differences, and the challenges that come with being human.
Meet Alex, Therapist in Training
Welcome! My name is Alex (they/she). I am a queer, episcopalian, white settler from the middle-class suburbs of Pierce County. These identities inform how I show up as a student therapist, and I am always seeking to better understand identities and experiences that I have not lived.
My path to becoming a therapist began in my youth when I felt fed up with the way things were at home and in the world around me. I wondered if my own mental health, and perhaps others would improve under better relational and societal conditions. I now trust that improving relational health ripples into the individual and out to society at large.
Before coming to PLU, I worked as a case manager for youth transitioning out of the foster care system. That experience deeply shaped my commitment to standing in solidarity with young people and helping families honor the dignity of their youngest family members.
As a systemic therapist, I will view you within the context of your relationships (past and present), daily life, community, and culture. I prioritize building a strong therapeutic relationship and will meet you wherever you’re at with compassionate presence. I trust that you are doing your best, and I will try to shine a light on the patterns that may not be working in your life anymore. I will support you in creating desired changes as an individual, couple, or family at a pace that works for you. I invite direct conversations about how oppression may impact your experience, and I hope the work we do together can be aligned with collective liberation.
Outside of work I can often be found gazing at the Salish Sea, greeting my neighborhood cats, reading fiction, or lost in conversation and laughter with loved ones.
Meet Jaiden, Therapist in Training
Hi there! My name is Jaiden (she/her), and I am a graduate student in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Pacific Lutheran University. I am born and raised in Washington and earned my B.A. in Psychology at Gonzaga University. As I went through high school and undergrad, I always knew I wanted a career in helping people, but I never knew what that would look like for me. It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I discovered MFT and felt deeply connected with the work that MFTs do.
As a student therapist, I strive to provide a safe and welcoming space for all clients by approaching therapy with a nonjudgmental, curious lens. Additionally, I approach therapy from a systemic and culturally sensitive standpoint, meaning I view each individual within the broader landscape of their life, exploring how various contexts and external influences shape their unique situation. Deciding to pursue therapy is a huge step in itself, and I look forward to supporting your path towards healing in whatever way feels most authentic to you!
When I’m not in therapy rooms, I enjoy reading, playing board games, watching silly reality TV shows, and hanging out with my cat (I probably got another cat by the time you’re reading this)!
Meet Robert, Therapist in Training
I am rooted in the belief that connection is at the heart of the human experience. Those who we are most connected to can love us the best, but they can also hurt us the most. I practice from this understanding as well as from a systemic perspective, which means that I will be attentive to the cycles and patterns of your life experiences while considering as many relevant contextual factors as possible.
My clinical interests include (but are not limited to) relationship and attachment issues, infidelity, grief and loss, addiction, working with men, and parenting. My personal interests include fitness, following major and lesser-known sports, hiking, reading, playing imaginative games with my toddler, finding new things to cook or bake, pranking coworkers, and simply being outside.
No matter what led you to consider therapy, I would be excited to work with you and honored to be part of your story.
Meet Zoe, Therapist in Training
Hi, I’m Zoe Hopping (she/her) and I am a student working towards my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. I strive to create a supportive, authentic space where clients feel heard, accepted, and empowered in their own experiences. My professional background includes mentoring and advising college students, working with children and families, and supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds in educational and community settings.
My own journey has taken me across the country. I attended college in Long Island before transferring to Cal Poly Humboldt in Northern California, where I received my B.A in Psychology. Living in different regions of the country has taught me that everyone’s journey is unique and that we all have something valuable to learn from one another. I am a creative person who values play, curiosity, and self-expression, which has sparked my interest in play therapy and other creative approaches to healing and growth. I also bring lived experience with neurodiversity and chronic health challenges, which has deepened my understanding of how our identities, bodies, relationships, and environments can shape our daily lives and experiences. I value learning from people whose experiences, identities, and perspectives differ from my own. I view therapy as a collaborative process where I continually learn and grow alongside my clients.
When I’m not studying or seeing clients, you can usually find me reading, admiring my ever-growing collection of stickers, spending time with my cat, hiking, or watching documentaries. I bring warmth, openness, and genuine curiosity into the therapy room, and I hope to create a space where you feel comfortable showing up exactly as you are.
Meet Ava, Therapist in Training
Hi everyone! My name is Ava (she/her), and I am currently a master’s student in Marriage and Family Therapy at Pacific Lutheran University. I received my bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gonzaga University and have lived in Western Washington my entire life. My professional background includes experiences working with young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as in early childhood education as a preschool teacher. I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families and feel especially drawn to working with children.
In the therapy room I strive to create a comfortable, nonjudgmental, and welcoming environment that invites clients to be authentic and feel seen. I value collaborative work and view therapy as a process of joining and finding solutions together. I am particularly committed to being a culturally competent therapist. I feel passionate about working with clients of various religious backgrounds, ages, racial identities, family structures, and those with LGBTQIA+ membership. I take a systemic approach to therapy that draws from different theories and prioritizes the context of each individual whilst also recognizing that every client is competent and has the tools for leading a fulfilling life.
In my free time I enjoy reading, hiking, arts and crafts, and spending time with my dogs. I look forward to meeting you!
Meet Matthew, Therapist in Training
Hi! My name is Matthew (He/They) and I am currently a student in the Pacific Lutheran University Marriage and Family Therapy Program working on my Masters degree. I received my B.A in Psychology from P.L.U as well after getting my AA from Tacoma Community College. I have always had a passion for the community and culture of the Tacoma area since it has been where I’ve lived my whole life. Channeling this energy, I aim to help my clients develop a similar passion for their community whether that is their family, partner, religion or anything in between.
More than anything I value keeping an open mind in the therapeutic space. Reflection can get you far, but teamwork can get you further! I hope to create a warm, empathetic space for couples and individuals alike to explore their identities, roles and histories. As a systemic therapist I value exploring the roles we fill in our lives through culture, heritage and the modern world we live in.
In my free time I like to play music! I am a bassist and used to play in a group, but now I like to listen to whatever niche genres I can find from Kazakh jazz to death metal. When I am not at a concert, I can be found at home with my cat (Millipede) working on my latest sewing project.
Meet Jalena, Therapist in Training
Hi, my name is Jalena (she/her). I am currently in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Pacific Lutheran University. Before this program, I graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University. While in college, I worked in early childhood education, working with individuals and families of all walks of life. Working in education gave me a new and deeper understanding of childhood development and various family dynamics.
From a young age, I had a deep passion to help people. As a therapist in training, I strive to create a safe, comfortable, and compassionate space to support individuals, couples, and families as they navigate life’s challenges. As a therapist in training, I approach therapy with curiosity and openness, holding space for others with empathy and humility. In therapy, I use a systemic and collaborative approach, ensuring we work as a team as we navigate life’s challenges and experiences.
I am looking forward to working with all groups of individuals, especially young adults, couples, families, and all marginalized identities.
In my free time, I enjoy reading fantasy and mystery novels, watching movies, spending time with my family and friends, and staying active, whether that’s hiking, walking, or strength training.
Meet Knisha, Therapist in Training
Hi there! My name is Knisha (she/they) and I’m a therapist in training in the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Pacific Lutheran University. I received my Bachelors in Sociology with concentrations in Gender and Women’s studies, Marriage and Family studies, and Criminology from Western Kentucky University. I have found my home in systemic work where relationships
are considered as a factor in individual mental wellness. I have experience interfacing with families and delivering therapy to youth. I work with individuals, couples, and families of many backgrounds, especially those who are underserved!
Every person has a story, and as a co-author, I want to help them author a story that they can be proud of. We all come from many walks of life, some seemingly easier, some more rough and patchy. I believe regardless of how your walk seems to others, suffering in a broad sense is a trait of human kind. We all have problems, and every issue we feel individually has a relational solution. In a non-judgemental and caring environment, I invite anyone who wants to change, even if they are lacking the tools to do so. Hey, that’s what therapy is for!
I come to therapy as an eclectic, utilizing both modern and post-modern modalities to fit client needs. I approach each client with curiosity and empathy to better understand the needs of clients on a session to session basis. I would love to bring some of my own personality to the table in the way of games (video and analog), music, art, and fashion, but I am also open to client-led activities that stimulate thoughtful and meaningful conversations.
I was born and raised in a small rural town in Kentucky, so don’t mind if I say “y’all” and “yee-haw”! Washington has been my home for almost 10 years, but you can’t take the country out of me. In my free time I’m often in one of my crafting hobbies, hiking or working out, playing games, or watching anime!
Meet Emery, Therapist in Training
Hello! My name is Emery (he/him) and I’m a student therapist working towards completing my Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy; I received my B.A in Psychology at the University of Washington, Tacoma. Firstly, seeking support through therapy is a courageous and sometimes difficult step; I commend you for reaching out! Whether you’re trying therapy for the first time or revisiting the process, I am honored to support you as we explore opportunities for healing and growth.
It is important to me to maintain a space that is warm, receptive, and free of judgement: therapy is a collaborative process where we will build a relationship that allows you to work at a comfortable pace. My approach is grounded in a systemic perspective, which considers how your identity, relationships, and other factors interact to influence your life.
I welcome individuals, couples, and families of all backgrounds and experiences, and I look forward to working with you!