Behavioral Health

Phillip Archibald is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing at the North Logan clinic. He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. He was later accepted to Boston University School of Social Work, where he earned a Master of Social Work. Phillip sought several internship opportunities, including working with the Wyoming Department of Family Services, a concentrated program, and equine-assisted psychotherapy. Throughout his schooling, there was an emphasis on the impact of trauma upon the individual.

Following school, Phillip entered into community mental health care in Wyoming. He has worked with teenage male clients in the past, providing substance use treatment and dual diagnosis care.

Phillip loves working in an outpatient platform to provide a well-rounded basis of services. He has come to Health West to continue his work as a mental health counselor.

Phillip can be found outside of work enjoying time with his wife, one of his seven children, or entertaining his 13 grandchildren, all of whom he is proud of. He enjoys camping, hunting, fishing, and caring for his orchard and garden. Phillip is a retired United States Navy Seabee with a career full of achievements and deployment to a combat area.

Phillip is also licensed to provide virtual visits to patients in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Dallen graduated from Idaho State University in 2016 with a Masters in counseling. He also played basketball for the University of Alaska and enjoys time with his family.

Cassandra is an LCPC currently working as a school-based psychotherapist with Health West. She loves working with kids to help them discover new coping skills and to learn how to build healthy relationships. In her free time, she likes to be on adventures with her family or in the kitchen baking treats for friends.

Shannon attended Idaho State University for an undergraduate degree in social work and received a master’s degree in social work from Boise State University. He has professional experience in the development and implementation of behavioral strategies at school and home for children with disabilities. His experience in teaming up with families to resolve struggles they may be having is the most rewarding part of his job. Since joining Health West, he has enjoyed helping individuals and families to find hope and identify solutions together.

Shannon is bilingual and speaks English and Spanish.

Doty has worked in different areas of the social work field since 2006. She has experience working with substance abuse and addictions, dual diagnosis, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. She was more recently trained in alternative and complementary chronic pain treatments, as well as brief therapy techniques. Doty works with children, couples, families, and groups.

Currently, she is working alongside primary care providers to ensure that Health West patients are getting comprehensive, holistic care. When not at work, she loves the mountains and being outdoors, traveling, creative crafting, and spending time with family and friends.

Jacob Comstock was taught the importance of helping others at a young age and grew up wanting to be just like his dad. His dad worked three jobs to take care of his family; one of which was lawn care.  When he was 14, Jacob told his dad he didn’t want to mow lawns for the rest of his life. Rather than take offense, Jacob’s dad told him he’d better go to college and get better grades than he was at the time. Jacob took his dad’s words to heart and set himself on a path to go to school and find a way to help people, just like his dad.

Jacob earned his undergraduate degree in social work from Idaho State University and his graduate degree in social work from Walla Walla University. He enjoys helping patients make progress in their treatment and seeing them discover that they are capable of doing better. He primarily works within addiction, trauma, depression, and anxiety and utilizes modalities such as dialectical behavioral therapy, mindfulness, accelerated resolution therapy, and solution focus brief therapy.

Jacob grew up in Pocatello, ID and enjoys learning new things, playing video games with his children, listening to music, and spending time with his wife.

Alyssa Cruz is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Idaho. She holds a Master of Counseling degree from Idaho State University and an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Universidad de Valladolid Yucatán.

Originally from Belize, Central America, Alyssa speaks both English and Spanish fluently. She holds previous experience working in both private practice with various mental health disorders, as well as in the non-profit setting working with underserved populations and clients with complex trauma histories. As a former high school counselor Alyssa enjoys working with teens and children and has training in both play therapy and TF-CBT.

Alyssa is passionate about making mental health accessible and bringing awareness to the importance of prioritizing our psychological and emotional wellbeing. The aspect she enjoys most about counseling is learning about each of her clients’ unique stories and helping them discover their inner strength to overcome the challenges they face and reach their personal goals.

In her free time Alyssa loves being cozy at home with a good book, playlist, video game, or movie. When not at home she loves to travel to new places, try new cuisines, and learn about different cultures.

Emily Hauser is a licensed master social worker providing therapy at Health West Chubbuck and integrative wellness care at Health West ISU. She graduated from Idaho State University with her master’s degree in social work and has lived in Southeast Idaho her entire life. Her hobbies include spending time with her dogs, all things outdoors, gaming, and spending time with her sisters. She has a variety of experience working with those in crisis and was drawn to Health West due to its mission to help the underserved and its emphasis in teamwork for patient care. She loves working with a wide range of people and needs.

Bryce recently graduated from Idaho State University and is an LMSW. Bryce works in our Preston, N. Logan, and Brigham City Clinics.

Michael Ludwig graduated from Idaho State University in 2004 with an undergraduate degree in social work. He received his Master’s Degree in social work from Walla Walla University in 2007.

Lyn earned a double major in Psychology and English Literature at Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia. She then moved to Pocatello and attended Idaho State University, earning her M.S. in Psychology in 2007 and then her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2010. She practiced therapy and completed psychological testing in the area before joining the Health West team in 2013.

Lyn practices general clinical psychology, seeing clients a variety of mental health concerns including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, panic, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, PTSD and trauma-related disorders, personality disorders, relationship issues, and so on. She is skilled in several forms of evidence-based practice including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, exposure-based therapies, interpersonal therapy, and emotion-focused therapy. While she primarily sees adults, she will occasionally see children recommended to her, particularly for anxiety and mood-based difficulties.

Lyn has a passion for connecting with others and assisting them in changing the ways they view themselves and their hopes for the future. While she treats many psychological diagnoses, she finds great satisfaction in helping individuals recover from traumatic experiences and anxiety.

Lyn was born and raised in rural Kentucky. She has lived in the area since 2003. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, hiking, camping, and spending time outdoors.

Amanda is an LCSW and ACADC with Health West. She began her career here in 2015 and enjoys attending concerts when she can.

Dave began working with Health West in 2021 and is an LPC who works with elementary school patients in School District 25.

Steve started with Health West in 2022 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. He works with elementary and middle school patients in Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25.

Daniel Park is a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a bachelor’s in social work. He graduated with his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boise State University in 2013.

Amy recently joined the Health West team in 2023 and in an LMSW. Amy speaks 3 languages and is an Idaho State University Alum.

Julia Phelps is a Licensed Professional Counselor for Health West. She says she often hears patients say things like “I’ve never told anyone this before …” or “when I’ve tried to talk to other people about what’s going on, they don’t really understand.” Statements like these highlight the stigma around mental health. There are not many places that people feel safe speaking about their experiences in mental health and not many places that people feel understood. It is Julia’s mission to create a safe place for every patient to share their experiences and to always do her best to understand. She considers it an honor to work with patients and walk with them through their darkest and happiest moments while empowering them to grow.

Julia earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of Idaho and her Master of Counseling degree from Idaho State University. She is currently enrolled at Idaho State University working on her Masters of Spanish Literature degree. She speaks both English and Spanish and is particularly passionate about mental health in rural and underserved communities as well as Latinx and Spanish-speaking mental health. Julia is from Pocatello and enjoys spending time outside with family, friends, and her dogs. She enjoys cooking, baking, running, yoga, skiing, travel, knitting, and photography.

Dr. Danielle Richner is a licensed psychologist providing therapy and psychological assessment services. She attended Idaho State University, earning her M.S. in Psychology in 2019 and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2022. Dr. Richner began at HealthWest during her doctoral program, where she was a student extern for two years. She completed her residency at the Salt Lake City VA Healthcare System before returning to HealthWest, completing her postdoctoral fellowship in 2023.

Dr. Richner employs a variety of evidence-based treatments to best meet individual needs, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused and brief therapies, interpersonal therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy, among others. She currently sees adolescents and adults for a wide variety of presenting concerns, and has particular interest in health-related interventions, trauma, mood, and anxiety disorders, and working with LGBTQ+ populations.

Dr. Richner was born and raised in Boulder City, Nevada. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology from University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. She then worked as a full-time ski instructor in the Lake Tahoe, CA area before moving to Pocatello for graduate school. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and traveling. She can often be found in the mountains – biking, skiing, or running with her two dogs.

Verena Roberts, PhD, is the Director of Behavioral Sciences at the Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency in Pocatello, Idaho since May 2015. Dr. Roberts also sees patients as part of the behavioral health team at Health West ISU, and she is the ISU Site Director for the Idaho Psychology Internship Consortium.

Dr. Roberts attended ISU as an undergraduate and graduate and earned her doctorate from ISU. She then completed her internship at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan in Denver. She subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Integrated Primary Care Psychology at the Colorado Health Foundation in Denver and later a second fellowship in Behavioral Science Education. During her time in Colorado, Dr. Roberts worked for Denver Health and Kaiser Permanente in integrated primary care but missed Idaho and hence moved back in 2015.

Dr. Roberts strives to provide a welcoming and accepting environment working with individuals from all backgrounds including the LGBTQIA population but mainly focuses on adults to geriatrics. She will occasionally see teens for anxiety and depression related issues only. She addresses a variety of mental health concerns including but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders such as general and social anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, interpersonal and relationship issues, etc. as well as behavioral health concerns around binge/overeating, and behavioral management of other health issues including weight loss, sleep issues, etc. Dr. Roberts also supervises formal psychological assessments.

Dr. Roberts is well versed in a variety of therapeutic evidence-based techniques such as brief and solution-focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, exposure-based therapies, interpersonal therapy, and emotion-focused therapy.

When working with patients, Dr. Roberts enjoys getting to know each person and helping them grow and achieve their goals in a non-judgmental, supportive environment and ultimately help each patient live a fulfilled life. She recognizes that each person has the potential to grow and values the trust that is put into the therapeutic relationship. She focuses on developing specific goals and tools for each patient’s needs.

Dr. Roberts originally grew up in Berlin, Germany. She enjoys travel with her family and has traveled in Europe and the US extensively. She also enjoys good food, spending time with her horses and generally loves the great outdoors in Idaho.

Cindy started her career and as an LCPC here at Health West in 2019. She works with women and children at our OB/GYN and Pediatric Clinic. In her spare time she enjoys kayaking and live music.

Stephen Walker currently practices at the Evanston Community Health Center. Stephen grew up in the Salt Lake Valley and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2013 with a Master’s Degree in Social Work. After graduating, he moved his family to Rock Springs, Wyoming. Stephen has worked in the mental health and substance use disorder field for the past six years. Stephen has experience working with adolescents and adults in addiction/substance use disorders, trauma treatment, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), depression, anxiety, and various other mental health struggles. He believes in every person’s capacity to heal and make helpful changes to build a life and relationships that bring joy and fulfillment.

In his personal time, Stephen enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. He enjoys camping, playing at the park, gardening, and taking care of their many animals, including chickens, ducks, goats, fish, a parakeet, and a dog. He is also an avid reader and loves to expand his knowledge of helping others in the most effective ways possible. If you are lucky, you might even get him to sing.

Stephen is also licensed to provide virtual visits to patients in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.

Barbara has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Excelsior College in Albany New York, a Master of Social work from Eastern Washington University, and holds the advanced licensure of Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She continues to study the field of psychology to better assist her patients who are in distress or simply want to improve their quality of life.

Barbara is very curious about human thought processes. She has worked in a variety of areas and jobs which provide her a rich level of life experience to draw from. Empathy and trust are important when working with patients who come to her for help. She enjoys working in small rural areas where she can help people get a better understanding of how our minds work.

Dr. Kendra Westerhaus, earned her doctorate in clinical psychology in 2012 from Idaho State University and was licensed the following year. She specializes in providing therapy and assessments for children and adolescents. Prior to working for Health West, Kendra spent six years in private practice at a local mental health clinic.

Dr. Westerhaus chose the field of psychology because she enjoys helping people become the best versions of themselves that they can be. Because children are still malleable, that is where Kendra believes she can make the biggest difference. Dr. Westerhaus is a past president of the Idaho Psychological Association and is an active member of the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Westerhaus was born in State College, Pennsylvania, and attended undergraduate school in Cleveland before moving to Pocatello in 2005 to work on a Ph.D. in clinical psychology at ISU. She has traveled extensively, including throughout the United States and Europe. She also visited Thailand a few years ago, where she took classes on Thai cooking. In her spare time, Dr. Westerhaus enjoys spending time with her family, singing in a community choir, crafts, and enjoying Idaho’s great outdoors

Jennifer Whitten, PCSW,  is a Green River, Wyoming native who has recently returned to Sweetwater County after residing in Louisiana for 15 years.  She graduated from the University of Louisiana Monroe in 2020 with a BA in Social Work and completed her Master of Social Work degree at Louisiana State University in 2021.  She has experience working within the juvenile justice system, college wellbeing & accessibility setting, and in pandemic and natural disaster response.  She believes that individuals are more than their experiences and that every person, given opportunity and support, can overcome adversity and deserves the chance to live their best life possible.  She enjoys partnering with individuals in focus on the whole person in developing their strengths, overcoming challenges, and growing in their unique life experiences.

Jennifer resides in Green River with her three children.  She enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, exploring and traveling, creating artistically, reading, and college football.  She strives to be a lifelong learner and continuously explore and develop knowledge that will help others through both direct service and advocacy.  She is excited to be back in the area and looks forward to serving her home county through offering caring, compassionate mental health services.

Brittany graduated with her Master of Social Work from Michigan State University in 2014 and her Bachelor of Social Work from Grand Valley State University. Brittany uses a wide variety of evidence-based therapy models, whichever best meets her clients’ needs and goals. Several common therapy models she utilizes include Adlerian psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She also likes to take into account whole health, meaning mind, body, and spirit. She is passionate about helping people achieve their goals and understands coming to therapy can be difficult or scary. Brittany strives to provide a supportive, open, and non-judgmental environment. Brittany enjoys working with adolescents, young adults, adults, and families with a variety of issues. Brittany is originally from Michigan but has been in Pocatello for more than six years and now considers it home. In her free time Brittany enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family/friends, and having fun whenever possible.

Nathan Zurcher is a native of Cache Valley, Utah. He graduated from Utah Valley University and then went on to graduate from the University of Utah with his Doctorate of Nursing Practice. He is specialized as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He has experience working in the mental health and substance abuse fields.

He is skilled in caring for individuals in all stages of life. He has a passion for genuinely connecting with others to help them live fulfilling lives. Nathan’s practice focuses on enabling mental, emotional, physical, and behavioral well-being by utilizing a recovery-based approach.

Nathan enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family. Nathan practices at our Providence clinic and is also licensed to provide virtual visits to patients in Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho.