Our Staff
Chelsea Kuzmak-Aho
Chelsea earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Northern Michigan University and her master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Michigan. She is passionate about working with children, individuals and families. Chelsea is a trauma informed clinician that uses a strength based perspective and a variety of treatment methods to create a person centered approach for her clients. She is trained in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). She is also certified in perinatal mental health.
Vince Beltrone
Vince is our Office Assistant. He is a Master of Social Work student at Northern Michigan University with a graduation date of May 2023. He received undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Geoscience in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Vince is passionate about the healing possibilities available through mindfulness and non-dual experience. He is fascinated by cultural landscapes, our sense of belonging, and our personal relationship with the natural world. In his spare time, he enjoys searching through NOAA climate data, picking the acoustic guitar, and getting his body moving outside.
Kayla Bigelow
Kayla earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Northern Michigan University. Kayla has a background in substance use disorders and is a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC). Kayla has experience in treating anxiety and depression and takes a holistic approach to treat the whole person. Kayla believes in the importance of relapse prevention, acceptance, self-care, and behavior change. In her free time Kayla enjoys spending time with her family, collecting gnomes, and believes she would dominate on Family Feud if given the opportunity.
Jennifer Boyer Dewitt
Jennifer works with us as a Social Emotional Consultant. She holds degrees in Communication Disorders and Special Education, and will be graduating with her Masters of Social Work in May 2023. She is endorsed as an Infant Family Specialist with the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health and as a Professional Development Specialist with the Council for Professional Recognition. She has over 20 years experience working with young children and families in their homes with trauma informed strength based practices, and is passionate about supporting families and the service providers working with them.
Shelley Brandow
Shelley is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her degree at Oakland University. She is originally from Oakland County, MI and has now lived in Marquette for 11 years. She has 20 plus years of experience working with severe mental illness in lower Michigan and the U.P. She has 7 years experience with co-occurring disorders as well as 4 years working at NMU with students on improving their mental health and coping skills. Shelley specializes in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which focuses on mindfulness at its core. She was the supervisor of a DBT team and has utilized DBT with all populations. Shelley enjoys working with people to learn new skills and challenging current and old thoughts and behaviors.
Chloe Burke
Chloe received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, MI in December of 2018. Her passion for holistic healing and wellness started when she began her National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) protocol training and became an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist (ADS). From there, she began to study energy work through the Healing Touch program and completed levels one, two and three. Chloe believes in the body’s ability to heal itself and is eager to help those seeking to reach their ideal level of wellness, wherever they may be in their journey. In her free time, Chloe enjoys skiing, hiking with her dog, live music and relaxing with loved ones.
Kelly Cantway
Kelly is our Human Resource and Office Manager at Suunta Integrative Health. She has over a decade of management experience including several years in Human Resources. She helps to support our staff and clients and loves to promote a warm and welcoming environment. In her spare time, Kelly enjoys dancing, a variety or outdoor adventures, spending time with her husband and daughter, as well as caring for her dog and three chickens.
Melissa Copenhaver
Melissa is licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner, a Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP). She has completed trainings in Eye Movement Desensitization, Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She has worked with families for over 20 years and holds endorsement as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Mentor. She has also completed training as a sexual assault nurse examiner for adults and children, healing touch 1,2&3 and auricular acupuncture.
Rainbow Edgar
Rainbow is a Master of Social Work student at Northern Michigan University, scheduled to graduate in May 2023. They strive to honor each person's unique experiences by using an eclectic, trauma-informed therapy approach. They enjoy implementing art and creativity in the therapeutic process. They believe art is a pathway for exploring experiences that words fail to capture. Rainbow is passionate about celebrating neurodiversity, destigmatizing mental health conditions, and challenging societal narratives about normalcy. Their areas of interest and experience include trauma-related dissociation, identity, the LGBTQIA+ community, digital wellness, and many more yet to be discovered.
Al Gray
Al received their bachelor’s degree in both Philosophy and Sociology from NMU in 2018 and is on course to graduate with a Master of Social Work degree in May of 2023. They aim to utilize a comprehensive person-centered, trauma-informed approach to maneuvering life’s challenges, recognizing that each person has a unique story to tell. Al’s areas of specialty and experience include the LGBTQIA+ population, sexual health and well-being, anxiety, depression, substance use recovery, and grief and loss. Their life mantra is that everyone is different and everyone belongs. In their free time they enjoy hanging out with their wife and dachshund and remaining curious about what life has to offer.
Courtney Jukkala
Courtney holds a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Northern Michigan University and a Masters in Social Work from Michigan State University. Endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist with the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health, she enjoys working with children of various ages and their families in areas of depression, anxiety, trauma, and parenting. Courtney also has several years experience working with pregnant women, infants, and young children to promote positive relationships, attachment, and social emotional development of children. She has completed trainings in a variety of evidenced based practices including Eye Movement Desensitization, Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Born and raised in Marquette, Courtney enjoys immersing herself in the beautiful outdoors and culture that this area has to offer with her family.
Angie Kates
Angie received her MSW from NMU in May of 2022 after receiving her bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Health Studies from MSU in 2008. Before turning towards social work, Angie spent fourteen years in a wellness-focused career becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Holistic Wellness Coach, Certified Natural Chef, and Certified Pilates Instructor. Angie’s passions for mind-body approaches to healing and for helping others led her to social work and she enjoys using her MSW to help build a bridge between her body-focused health career and mental health. While Angie enjoys working with a wide range of people, she specializes in trauma work using her training in EMDR and passion for somatic interventions to help people process past traumas while reconnecting with their bodies and healing the tension that lives there. She loves to spend time outdoors, especially any activity that involves Lake Superior, and is always eager to seek a new adventure.
Courtney King
Courtney has received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Social Work from Northern Michigan University. She utilizes various evidence-based therapy models and mind-body practices to assist individuals, children, and families in navigating challenging times. These approaches help create a person-centered practice where clients can gain tools and coping skills to meet their goals successfully. Courtney enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and relaxing with her dog and loved ones in her free time.
Nathan Michels
Nathan is a licensed professional counselor who has been practicing counseling psychology for over a decade. Trained at Michigan State University and Eastern University and uses a variety of humanistic and client centered therapy skills to explore each person's abilities and abundance. Nathan believes in the healing power of the body, mind and spirit to restore with appropriate time and guidance. Growing up in Marquette, MI has directed his interests in adventure and finding places that inspire him. He trusts in the hidden mystery of what it means to repair and grow with the support from others.
Rachel Nye
Rachel is licensed as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She holds a doctorate from Northern Michigan University, a masters in nursing from the University of Wyoming and a bachelor of science in nursing from Northern Michigan University. Rachel is working towards a post graduate certificate as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner through Saginaw Valley State University. She has extensive experience caring for obstetric and newborn patients. She is also a seasoned nurse educator. Rachel, along with her certified therapy dog Molly, spend time providing animal assisted interventions locally. Rachel and colleagues have done research on the impact of animal interventions on stress and anxiety levels. Rachel enjoys kayaking, walking with Molly and spending time with her family.
Jessica Olson
Jessica is a master's level social worker. She received her Bachelors of Social Work (2006) and Masters of Social Work (2022) from Northern Michigan University. Jessica trusts in the power of the mind-body connection to healing. She utilizes a person-centered, collaborative, and strength based approach to aid clients to find their individual "life worth living." She utilizes a variety of trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches, including motivational interviewing, to assist individuals to achieve their unique goals and dreams for wellness. In her free time, you can find her somewhere out in the world chasing her next (big or small) adventure. Jessica currently serves adolescents, families, and adults.
Emily Paavola
Emily is a registered nurse trained in the John Barnes technique of Myofascial Release. Emily has worked for several years as a nurse in the emergency department and is also trained as a sexual assault nurse examiner. A native of the UP, Emily enjoys activities outdoors with her husband and four kids.
Ashley Provost
Ashley is a licensed master’s level social worker in the state of Michigan and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist with the Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. Ashley earned her bachelor's degree in Social Work from Northern Michigan University and her master's degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. Ashley is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work at the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago. She is endorsed as a Infant Mental Health Specialist. Ashley is certified in Parent Management Training Oregon (PMTO) trained and in a variety of evidenced based practices such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and psychodynamic therapy with a special focus on treating complex trauma and attachment conflicts. Ashley currently serves children, families, and adults.
Gwen Storm
Gwen is a licensed master social worker and certified Infant Mental Health Specialist. She sees individuals, couples and infants & young children with their caregivers. Experience & special interests include parenting, attachment, grief & loss, & religious transitions.
Nisha Tebear-Coolman
Nisha is a licensed MSW. She earned her BSW at Northern Michigan University and her MSW from Western New Mexico University. Nisha has worked with various populations from infant mental health, community advocacy, adults with serious mental illness, homeless services, post adoption and foster care services, as well as clinical supervision. Since 2000 when she started working with families in crisis she had a passion for family treatment. Nisha also has a passion for working with individuals and families of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nisha is trained in CBT, DBT, MI, TFCBT, EMDR, she has her infant mental health endorsement. She puts a high level of value into coordinating care with other providers as well as holistic care of all those who she serves.
Daisy
Daisy is our beloved therapy companion at SIH. She likes to come to work with her mom, Kelly so that she can see all of the friends that visit our clinic. Daisy hopes to get her therapy dog certification in the near future, but I still has some wiggles to work out as a young pup. She especially loves to greet folks coming and going at the clinic and is known to give the occasional snuggle to anyone who may need a furry hug. Perhaps you'll get a chance to meet Daisy and see all the love that she has to give.