Professional counselors and therapists specializing in addressing PTSD, sexual assault and other traumas.
Mat-Su Mental Health provides trauma counseling in Wasilla, Alaska, supporting teens and adults across the Mat-Su Valley in working through past experiences, triggers, and ongoing stress responses with evidence-based care.
Trauma happens when life experiences elude a person’s natural ability to process something in a healthy way. When someone’s system becomes so overwhelmed with threat, that their sense of safety and belonging in the world is compromised. This threat can at times be to their physical person, such as when one is in a car accident or a natural disaster. Or, it can be a mental or emotional threat, such as the loss of a loved one.
Trauma can occur in circumstances of abuse (physical, sexual, mental, emotional), when one has witnessed or been exposed to domestic violence, situations of loss or grief, car accidents, natural disasters, house fires…all kinds of things can be traumatic.
Mat-Su Mental Health providers in Wasilla are adept at navigating symptoms that often result from traumatic experiences and are here to help.
Why clients choose our Wasilla office
Real feedback from clients who have received counseling at our Wasilla office.
“I’ve never felt so safe opening up about personal trauma. This has been one of the best experiences I’ve had in therapy.”
— Client, 2024
“I feel very comfortable both in the space and with my therapist. I’ve never felt judged, even when I needed extra support.”
— 2025 Client Review
Currently rated 4.9 out of 5 stars in google business reviews
Locally voted in 2025 as a top mental health clinic in the “Best of the Valley” competition by the Mat-Valley Frontiersman Newspaper.
Meet our team of trauma counselors in Wasilla
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Dr. Abegail Millard - PsyD
Abegail has been serving clients in the mental health field since 2017, and has experience working with people across the lifespan. She enjoys carrying a diverse caseload, and has worked with an array of clients across a variety of settings. As a 10-year Veteran of the United States Coast Guard, she is especially passionate about providing psychological support to Veterans, and Active Duty personnel. She is thrilled to call Alaska home, while taking advantage of every opportunity for adventure. When not at work, you will find Abegail practicing yoga, paddle boarding, ice fishing, or entertaining friends and family.
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Erika McGough - LPC
Erika has been working in the mental health field since 2016, and brings experience in working with individuals across the lifespan and in various different settings. She is most passionate about supporting postpartum mothers and moms navigating parenting in early childhood, and also enjoys working with women transitioning through major life adjustments, dealing with depression and anxiety, or experiencing family and relational stressors. Erika also enjoys working with children and teens. When not at work, she can be found spending time with her family, in her mini backyard ‘urban homestead,’ or exploring and capturing the landscapes of Alaska via photography or painting.
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Haidyn Simmons - LPC
Haidyn is dedicated to guiding her clients through their unique journeys toward healing and personal growth by fostering a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their thoughts and emotions.
Originally from Louisiana, Haidyn moved to Alaska two years ago and has fallen in love with the state’s breathtaking natural beauty and her community. In her free time, you can find her reading, spending time outdoors with her pets, practicing yoga, or enjoying a good cup of coffee with friends.
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Jennifer Dotur - MS
Jen is a pre-licensed clinical mental health counselor with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She has worked in the mental health field for over 20 years and is passionate about walking alongside individuals and couples navigating anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, PTSD, and relationship challenges. Jen is especially attuned to life’s complexities and brings curiosity, warmth, and compassion to her work. Outside the therapy room, she enjoys time with her family, teaching classes in homeschool and charter school communities, exploring creative expression, and collecting meaningful quotes—one of her favorites being, “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” – Rumi
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Kelly Jordan - MA
Kelly Jordan is a pre-licensed clinician who works with women, teens, and adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, relational conflict, identity development, and life transitions. She is especially passionate about helping women and teens heal from complex trauma—including survivors of sex trafficking—and offers a steady, compassionate presence rooted in empathy, empowerment, and safety.
Originally from a small ski town in Colorado, Kelly has lived across the country but now calls Alaska home. She loves spending time with her family, spoiling her dogs, and enjoying the seasons—whether that’s hiking in the sun or curling up by the fire with a book and coffee. She also loves partner dancing and finds joy in the creativity, connection, and movement it brings.
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Mary Kuepper - LPC-S
Mary has over a decade of experience working in community based mental health. Though she has worked with people across the lifespan, she specializes in work with kids, teens and families, as well as in maternal mental health. Mary is passionate about giving people the tools they need to not only function well, but to thrive in their everyday life. Though not native to Alaska, she has fallen in love with the abundant resources of this beautiful place. When not working with clients, Mary can be found adventuring, hiking and exploring. She loves to fly fish our local creeks, dig in the dirt of her backyard garden, and get in quality time with her friends, and beautiful family.
What can you expect from trauma counseling
At Mat-Su Mental Health, you can expect a comprehensive approach to treat the troubling symptoms you’re dealing with. Whether distress related to a single incident trauma brings you in, or you have a more complex history, you and your provider will work together to better understand how unresolved elements from your past, impact your present. Therapeutic inventions will most likely include the use of cutting edge modalities, such as EMDR, Brainspotting or Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, all modalities that address trauma on a nuerobiological level.
As we are always working to offer care in wholistic and comprehensive manner, other areas of focus when addressing sytmpoms of trauma will likely include, but are not limited to:
Psycho-education and brain based science to help you understand what’s happening with trauma on a physiological level.
Coping skills to support you in managing difficult symptoms when they arise.
Ongoing discussion and evaluation of lifestyle choices that may be contributing to or exacerbating your symptoms. Areas of exploration may include:
Sleep
Diet/ nutrition
Supplementation
Exercise/ movement
Connectedness (time with family, friends)
Play
Time in nature
Self care
A practical and effective self-care plan to support you in managing your symptoms prior to them becoming overwhelming and unmanageable.
Can specialized trauma counseling really help?
It’s worthy of noting that trauma comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Yes, there are “Big T traumas”, such as war and assault and all the terrible things you think would qualify. But there are also “little t“ traumas, such as repeated incidents of shaming, chronic feelings of being unsafe or uncared for due to having an alcoholic parent, or totally bombing a speech in the 9th grade that left you feeling exposed and vulnerable and stupid. That speech experience, for example, might keep one from public speaking opportunities in the future. Or, it could be even more insidious, like keeping someone from speaking up in team meetings at work, because just the thought of sharing an opinion evokes the exact same physiological experience of panic, shame, and vulnerability that became embedded in that person’s nervous system during that 9th grade speech.
Trauma is awful, and it can impact a person’s life in all kinds of ways. Much like anxiety and depression, it is not a respecter of persons, and does not discriminate. If not addressed, trauma can lead to a cascade of issues that can be incredibly disruptive and debilitating to one’s health and happiness. If you, or someone you love is dealing with troubling symptoms that may be rooted in a traumatic experience, please reach out. Our providers in the Valley would be honored to come alongside you as you work towards healing, health and wholeness.
How long does Trauma counseling typically last?
The length of time an individual is in counseling is situation specific and can vary. However, we at Mat-Su Mental Health are passionate about giving our clients the tools and skills they need to thrive and function well. We will cast a wide net at the onset, looking for all the contributing variables. We will build skills for managing symptoms and explore root causes that may be underlying your distress. We will take as little or as much time as you need, but we will do our very best to get you back about the business of living your life.
You don’t have to carry trauma alone
Ready to get started? Call or email us today. Our contact info is at the bottom of this page.
Once you reach out, our on-boarding admin will contact you to gather information regarding your specific situation. They will explore with you what provider will likely best meet your needs, and support you in getting set up in our electronic health record.
Mat-Su Mental Health uses Simple Practice, a medical record and portal system that will allow for confidential and HIPAA compliant messaging that ensures your privacy. You will be sent a portal link that directs you to online documentation to be completed prior to your initial session.
This is a great time to ask any questions you might have. After all, where you go for support is your choice, and we want you to feel empowered to assess whether or not we are the right fit for you! Here at Mat-Su Mental Health, our providers believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential in the process of creating change. These initial conversations are important in assessing fit, as therapy is not “one size fits all.”
Our MSMH office is conveniently located in Wasilla. Feel free to arrive a few minutes prior to your scheduled session to grab a cup of tea and relax before session begins. We look forward to meeting you, and are honored you have chosen us to do this work alongside you.
“I was nervous to start therapy, but I’m really glad I did. It made a meaningful difference for me.”
— Former Client, 2025
FAQ’s
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Trauma counseling focuses on helping individuals process and recover from difficult or overwhelming experiences. Therapy is paced carefully and designed to help you feel safe while working through what you’ve been through.
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Trauma counseling focuses on helping individuals process and recover from difficult or overwhelming experiences. Therapy is paced carefully and designed to help you feel safe while working through what you’ve been through.
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Trauma therapy can help with a wide range of experiences, including past abuse, accidents, loss, medical experiences, or other events that felt overwhelming or difficult to process at the time.
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Many people wonder this. If something continues to affect your thoughts, emotions, or sense of safety, it may be worth exploring in therapy. You don’t need to label your experience in a certain way to begin getting support.
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Trauma can show up as anxiety, intrusive thoughts, difficulty sleeping, emotional numbness, irritability, or feeling constantly on edge. Everyone experiences trauma differently.
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No. Trauma therapy moves at your pace. Building a sense of safety and trust is an important part of the process, and you are never expected to share more than you feel ready to.
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Therapists may use a variety of evidence-based approaches depending on your needs, such as EMDR, cognitive-based therapies, or other integrative methods that support trauma recovery.
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Each counseling session typically lasts 50 minutes. We also offer extended sessions upon request.
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Yes, we provide online counseling through a secure HIPPA compliant telehealth platform. You can book these sessions just like in-person appointments.
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Yes. Trauma can affect people long after an experience has passed. Therapy can help you process those experiences and reduce their impact over time.
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Getting started is simple. You can contact our office by phone or through our website, and we will help connect you with a therapist who fits your needs.

