Meet our team!

FOUNDER/THERAPIST

Stephen is a licensed psychotherapist and Buddhist teacher (Lama Yeshe Jinpa) who provides his clients with compassionate support and encourages them to bring mindfulness and kindness to their problems, issues and life goals. He blends traditional psychotherapy with alternative meditative traditions to emphasize nonjudgmental awareness, energy and the cultivation of loving kindness.

Stephen graduated from the Professional School of Psychology in 1989. He has had specialized training in Buddhist Psychology, Gestalt, EMDR, Hypnotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Narrative Therapy. He teaches core mindfulness skills and meditation in daily life.

THERAPIST

Colleen specializes in maternal identity development and holds a certificate in maternal mood and anxiety disorders from Postpartum Support International. She works in maternal depression research at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. Colleen also does couples counseling and leads the mindful meditation support group. She has joined Middle Way Health Foundation to help you find inner peace amid the chaos of parenting.

THERAPIST

Marshall is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, De-Hypnotherapist Certified Massage Therapist, Certified Energy Medicine Practitioner. De-Hypnotherapy is the process of getting you out of your trance and residing instead in the authenticity of your being.

THERAPIST

Being attentive and listening actively is a key component of therapy. Karen understands that each client is unique, so she incorporates several different treatment interventions and techniques to best serve her clients. Her primary interventions include biofeedback, cognitive behavioral, interpersonal and solution-focused. Her particular interests are: adjustment disorders, anxiety, chronic pain, depression, relationship difficulties, PTSD, self-esteem, spirituality and trauma. She offers short- and long-term individual and group therapy. She provides a supportive and nonjudgmental environment to discuss struggles and challenges, and encourages each client to embrace and move toward positive changes.

Karen holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and a Certificate in Forensic Mental Health. She welcomes those who have legal problems as it relates to their mental health issues. Karen is also a veteran, having served in the US Army, and has a passion for helping veterans.

THERAPIST AND COUNSELOR FOR OCD & SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDERS

Mr. Ragu is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has been working as a therapist since 2014. He works with a variety of clientele, including children, teens, adults, couples and families. He enjoys working with diverse populations in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, LGBTQ+, sexual orientation, and other backgrounds.

Mr. Ragu’s goal is to first build rapport and connection with his clients using a client/person-centered approach and exemplifying genuineness and congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding. He feels it is important to build safety, comfort, and trust in the therapeutic relationships. Clients need to have a safe and confidential space where they can discuss their thoughts and feelings.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS THERAPIST

As an empathetic and intuitive artist, Laurie approaches each client as a gifted storyteller. By listening with full attention and a big heart, she uses a person-centered approach to help guide the course of therapy. In all respects, she works to honor the wishes of those whose stories she hears and understands. She believes that human expression takes multiple forms, including talking, playing an instrument, play acting, poetry, collage, sculpture, dance, knitting, puppets, cooking and sand tray, among many others.

Laurie’s wish is to help each person who walks through her door to feel brighter, empowered, energized and centered. While she treats all kinds of people, Laurie has a penchant for helping children, teens and women who are facing transitions and want to know themselves in a deeper and more spiritual but playful way.

THERAPIST

Jesus is a trained bilingual Marriage and Family Therapist. Jesus has a trajectory of working with communities facing adverse economic disparities. His work as a therapist is also informed by his early work as a community organizer for disenfranchised communities of youth throughout the Central Valley region of California. In his graduate internship, Jesus worked with children, couples and older adults. In his current work within Yolo County he serves youth in continuation schools, creating bridges with art and culture to complement their needs for healing and coping skills.

COUNSELOR

Patty has served on the Middleway Health Foundation’s board for over 8 years. She has a strong, personal commitment to the foundation's mission to provide free psychotherapy for everyone irrespective of their ability to pay. Patty works full time at a local elementary school in the Natomas School District as a Speech Language Therapy Assistant serving children who have language delays and sound disorders. Every afternoon, she serves the foundation as an administrative assistant. Patty also attends regular training sessions where she is given support and feedback in her role as a volunteer counselor for foundation clients.

COUNSELOR/COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Elke Schlosser recognizes the great need for access to mental health services for the underserved population. Her role as community outreach volunteer for the Foundation and her many years of service to the public through other charities has given her the experience to work with and for others and is the basis of her commitment to mental health care.

COUNSELOR

Michelle is available to meet with people who are having a hard time. She is a kind and compassionate listener who is willing to share her personal experiences, struggles and triumphs, together with ways she’s found to relieve the everyday pressures of life. She is also available to help direct people in need of resources in the community.