Haylee Bladen, LCSW, CCATP-CA, Clinical Director
Haylee earned her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. She is enthusiastic about mental health education & prevention. Haylee is a Certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Anxiety Treatment professional and is also trained in
eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). She works to inspire youth to reach and own their full potential through skills based groups and therapeutic interventions. She enjoys program development and curriculum writing and has created several healing and transformative workbooks for teens as well as an abundance of school based and online programs helping youth and families gain emotional wellness tools. Her goal is to make emotional wellness services more accessible and fun! She specializes in anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, emotion regulation and self esteem issues. Haylee has been in the social work field for over thirteen years. She has worked in many areas such as school based mental health, youth in custody, foster children, step families, substance abuse, hospice patients, refugees, victims of trauma and more. She is proud to be the founder of WholeKids Emotional Wellness and currently serves as the Clinical Director. She also serves as a field instructor for students in the University of Utah & Denver University MSW programs. She enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, riding her bike and eating peanut butter cups!
Makenzie Combe, LCSW, Clinical Services Supervisor
Makenzie graduated with her master's degree in Social Work from the University of Utah and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Makenzie is also a Certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Anxiety Treatment professional. With her knowledge and experience in the field, Makenzie has assisted clients dealing with a wide range of issues, including substance abuse, sexual abuse, sexual reactivity, troubled youth, trauma, domestic violence, sexual addictions, anxiety, and depression. She is deeply committed to fostering growth and development in her clients, helping them realize their full potential and achieve positive changes in their lives. Makenzie brings a fresh and modern approach to therapy, providing a safe and supportive environment for her clients to feel heard and understood. In her free time, she enjoys pursuing her hobbies of baking, reading, and eating popcorn.
Sarah Mendez, CSW, Therapist - Sandy Clinic
Sarah Graduated with her bachelor’s in Psychology and continued her education at the University of Utah to receive her master’s degree in Social Work. During this time Sarah has worked with a wide range of individuals from kids to adults who have experienced anxiety, depression, life transitions, abuse, and trauma. She is passionate about giving space for her clients to feel all their emotions while helping them find healthy coping skills using evidence-based modalities such as CBT and DBT. Sarah has a genuine love for working with children and their families and helping them build and empower one another and make a positive change. Sarah believes that we are truly never done learning and is committed to progressing her skills and knowledge within her practice. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys working out, being outdoors, and spending time with her family.
Alex Nielson, CSW, Therapist - Logan Clinic
Alex graduated from Southern Utah University with her bachelor’s in Family Life and Human Development with double emphases in both Family Services and Early Childhood Development before continuing her education at Utah State University to receive her master’s degree in Social Work. Alex has worked with a wide range of individuals, including kids with different abilities such as autism, down syndrome, and cerebral palsy, and kids and adults who have experienced anxiety, depression, grief and loss, life transitions, challenging behaviors, and trauma using a wide range of evidence-based modalities including Trauma Focused-CBT, DBT, SFT, MI, CPT, narrative therapy, and play therapy, and loves finding ways to incorporate games, art, and other experiential techniques. Alex is passionate about working with kids and their families and empowering them to connect to and accept all their emotions, increase self-esteem, see their strengths, find their voice and gain the skills they need to be successful. In her spare time, Alex enjoys traveling and exploring the world, being outdoors, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends.
Sara Pulsipher, CSW, Therapist - Sandy Clinic
Sara graduated from BYU’s Masters of Social Work program in 2021. She is a big believer that everyone is the hero of their own story, and she knows that a lot happens on the way to a happily ever after. Sara works with her clients to help them learn to navigate through all of their emotions, both big and small. She uses concepts from evidence based modalities (such as CBT, ACT, and DBT), and she encourages her child and teen clients to identify health coping skills that they can get excited about using. With her younger clients Sara enjoys using art, games, sensory and movement activities to help them work through their challenges and remember their skills. Sarah's goal is to help all kids and teens in her office feel seen and heard and make strides for healing. She has worked with clients managing a wide range of challenges, from anxiety and ADHD to depression and eating disorders. She specializes in helping families and individuals overcome toxic perfectionism. She enjoys reading, spending time with family, and going on adventures.
McKenzie Anderson, CSW, Therapist - Sandy Clinic
McKenzie graduated with her bachelor of Social Work degree from Utah Valley University and went on to get her masters of Social Work at Utah State University. During that time she gained experience working with children, teens, and adults who had experienced abuse and trauma. In her undergrad she facilitated therapy groups and worked with children individually to regulate emotions. She has run therapy groups for women survivors of abuse, responded to crisis calls, and counseled children and teens. She has assisted clients in dealing with ADHD, victimization through abuse, life transitions, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, she has experience with DBT, TF-CBT, experiential therapy, solution focused therapy, and mind-body bridging. McKenzie focuses on the strengths that each client brings to the session and draws on those to empower each client. In her free time McKenzie loves to be out on the water kayaking, exploring national parks, or spending time with her nephews.
Sabrina Saini, CSW, Therapist - Sandy Club
Sabrina is a passionate professional dedicated to the well-being and development of children and families. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies, with an emphasis on Child Life, and a minor in Psychology from the University of Utah, she has gained a strong foundation in understanding the intricacies of child development and the importance of nurturing family environments. Building upon her undergraduate education, she pursued a master's degree in Social Work, which has equipped her with advanced knowledge and skills in providing comprehensive support to individuals and families in need. Her genuine love for working with children and their families fuels her drive to make a positive impact on their lives. Throughout her academic journey and professional experiences, she has developed a keen interest in addressing trauma, anxiety, and depression in children. By utilizing evidence-based approaches and a compassionate approach, she strives to create a safe and supportive environment where children can heal, grow, and thrive. Recognizing the vital role that families play in children's lives, she is committed to working collaboratively with parents, guardians, and other caregivers to promote holistic development and strengthen family dynamics. She believes in the power of teamwork and effective communication to foster resilience and create lasting positive change. She has a genuine passion for her work and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by children and families, she is dedicated to providing the highest level of care and support. She is excited to continue her professional journey, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves. In her spare time Sabrina loves to read, spend time in the backyard with her two German shepherds, and her husband. Her hobbies are cycling and horseback riding.
Haref Montalvo, LCSW, Therapist - Sandy Clinic
Haref earned her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah in 2009. She has spent over a decade working with survivors of trauma and violent crime as a forensic social worker. She also has experience working in the medical field in addition to practicing clinically. Haref is bilingual and bicultural. She is Spanish-speaking and has extensive experience working with the Latine and immigrant communities. She strives to help children be seen for the whole individuals they are. She works to foster positive, trusting, relationships with clients where they can feel safe to be imperfect and express their needs. Haref believes childhood is a critical stage of life that has implications into adulthood. She is passionate about helping kids and teens develop long-lasting skills, and the capacity to resiliently handle challenging situations, not only to improve their present lives, but to help them grow into adults who can enjoy better mental health, healthy relationships, and meaningful lives. Haref uses a variety of therapeutic approaches including, CBT, DBT, ACT, Mindfulness, and Polyvagal. She is dedicated to ongoing learning and professional development. In warm weather, Haref enjoys the outdoors, particularly kayaking as well as hiking and camping in the Utah desert. In cold weather you will find her cozily inside. Additionally, Haref loves traveling, cooking, eating, engaging in creative activities, and has, on occasion, been referred to as a “plant lady.”
Alyse Yoder, CSW, Therapist - Sandy Clinic
Alyse graduated with a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. She is passionate about working with kids, teens, and young adults who have experienced trauma, mental health challenges, and are learning to build skills to navigate and thrive in their environments. Alyse has experience working with individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, trauma, behavioral issues, and other challenges. She emphasizes holding space for all emotions and thoughts, while utilizing a strengths-based and person-centered approach. Alyse works to build supportive and trusting relationships with her clients and strives to help them feel empowered and heard. Outside of work, Alyse loves to read, explore the outdoors, and walk her dogs.
Marie Young, CSW, Therapist - Layton Clinic
Marie earned her bachelor’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. Working with children and families is her passion. She has experience in counseling, play therapy, school social work, children’s group work, as well as teaching classes in abuse prevention, at-risk behaviors, and parenting education. She feels privileged to assist others on their personal journey of growth. Her office is a safe space where clients can listen to their inner voice, heal, and tap into their unique potential and abilities. Marie utilizes several therapeutic modalities including CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness. She has experience working with children and teens dealing with anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, abuse, and trauma. Marie lives by her motto, “Life is a classroom and not just a test,” because she believes countless lessons and opportunities arise daily; it’s when we embrace the opportunities given us that we begin to thrive. Marie is also a wife and mother of five children, and together they love playing games, riding bikes, and kayaking.
Anna Guter, CMHC, Therapist - Sandy Clinic
Anna earned her Masters in Counseling with a Child/Youth Specialization from Western Seminary in Portland, OR. She is passionate about helping kids and teens explore their emotions and experiences through play and other creative therapeutic modalities. She has experience working with children, teens, and families experiencing addiction and recovery, trauma, behavioral issues, suicidal ideations, grief and loss, emotion regulation/distress tolerance concerns, and relationship challenges. Anna works to help clients stabilize their sense of self, by helping them to understand and build the skills necessary to thrive in their environment, with their emotions, and in their relationships with others. She believes that an important step towards healing and health is changing behaviors in your life that are creating suffering for yourself or others, while also accepting yourself the way that you are. She strives to help kids and teens work toward setting healthy boundaries, honoring their emotions without judgment, and getting comfortable with balancing two ideas or feelings that appear very different from one another. Anna works to help give her clients the autonomy to control their healing process in a comfortable, supportive, and fun environment. When she is not working, Anna is an avid book reader, enjoys cooking, and exploring with her partner and cuddly Labradoodle.
Erin Jasperson, LCSW, Therapist - Sandy Clinic
Erin graduated with her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah. She is passionate about helping teens and kids navigate difficult emotions and experiences by utilizing creative therapeutic modalities. She has experience working with teens struggling with anxiety and depression and worked for the Division of Child and Family Services as a caseworker where she worked with children and families who have experienced intergenerational trauma and abuse. She loves witnessing clients become more connected and attuned with themselves and their emotions as they engage in the therapeutic process. She strives to create an environment where clients feel safe, supported and heard. She loves helping clients and their families on their journey towards growth and healing and believes it is possible. In her free time, she loves eating chocolate, being outdoors and napping!
“Erin is very friendly and personable and really connects with my child. She plays games, gives my son fun worksheets and also gives him homework. I love the creative ways that she connects with him is helping his mental well-being.” -Mother of client
Tricia Van Tassell, LCSW, Therapist - Sandy & Tooele Clinics
Tricia earned her Bachelor of Psychology from Utah Valley University in 2013 and her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Utah in 2020. Tricia has worked in residential treatment centers with youth struggling with depression, suicidal ideation, and other cognitive and behavior disorders. Tricia uses several therapy modalities including CBT, DBT, and Mindfulness. Tricia is always excited to learn new ways to treat clients. She has experience working with children and teens dealing with anxiety, depression, adjustment issues, and trauma. She believes all children deserve to be happy and wants to help them learn skills to tackle the challenges life throws at them and be successful in their lives. In her spare time Tricia enjoys watching movies, baking and cooking, reading books, and spending time with her family.
“Tricia has been amazing working with both of my kids. Both my boys are very comfortable speaking with her.” -Mother of clients
Alisa Manwaring, MSW-I, Therapy Intern & Group Mentor - Boys & Girls Clubs
Alisa is an alumni of the University of Utah where she was a Beehive Honor and Crimson Mentor during her completion of her undergraduate degree. She is currently working on her master’s degree in social work at the University of Utah. She is passionate about working with children and adolescents struggling with mental health, ADHD, PTSD, and trauma. She has received certification in Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and training in Applied Behavior Analysis. She has worked as a paraprofessional in special education for seven years and as a group instructor for Whole Kids emotional wellness groups at the Boys & Girls Clubs and loved every minute of it. She loves seeing the strength, resilience, and uniqueness that each child has within themselves and believes that they should have the opportunity to heal and grow into their best self. She hopes that each client she works with will feel understood, important, and safe as they recognize their inherent strengths. In her spare time, she loves to travel, read, watch documentaries, paint, and above all, she loves being a mother and spending time with her family.
McKenzie Croy, EMDR Trained, Therapy Intern
McKenzie is currently working on her master's in mental health counseling with a substance use disorder emphasis at Colorado Christian University. McKenzie is trained in EMDR and focuses on trauma. She is passionate about working with kids and assisting them in life challenges. She believes children have a lot to offer the world and have incredible insight that often goes unnoticed. She is committed to listening and caring for the little ones so they know they are valuable and matter. She will be one of their biggest allies in helping them find out who they are created to be. Every child has gifts and talents they bring to this world, and she is enthusiastic about discovering them. She strives to maintain a safe space for kids to be who they are and allow curiosity about the world to be freely explored. She knows it is an honor to walk alongside the next generation to help them with this thing called life.
Katelyn Pearson, MSW-I, Therapy Intern - Logan Clinic
Katelyn is currently working towards her master’s degree in social work. She is going to school at University of Kentucky through their online program. She worked for the Division of Child and Family Services and worked with families experiencing abuse, neglect, and trauma. She hopes to help clients feel empowered, safe, and heard. She loves helping youth explore their emotions and witness progress they make as they build skills to help them in their lives. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies, puzzling, and spending time with family and friends.
Saane Siale, MSW-I, Therapy Intern - Sandy Clinic
Saane is from the Bay Area of California, is of Tongan-descent and is the oldest of four siblings. She loves to sing and dance for fun! She has lived in Utah for the last several years where she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Human Development. Saane has worked with teens for the past five years in the education system and mental health field. She loves working with youth because she believes that they have the capacity and ability to promote goodness within their communities. She is passionate about advocating for all youth regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, sexuality, disability, gender, or religion. When it comes to the mental health field, Saane’s interests include mood disorders, trauma and PTSD, while also working with clients dealing with a wide range of experiences such as anxiety, depression, grief, racial/ethnic identity, self esteem, stress, and suicidal ideation.
Jessica Irvine, MSW-I, Therapy Intern - Boys & Girls Clubs
Jessica is a dedicated and compassionate graduate student with a profound commitment to fostering emotional well-being. She has extensively worked with at-risk youth and the LGBTQ community, significantly shaping her professional aspirations. She is skilled in working with symptoms of anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem, and personal identity development. Her experiences in these spheres have honed her empathetic approach and ignited her passion for helping others navigate the complexities of life. She brings a wealth of practical knowledge and an unwavering enthusiasm to her role. Her drive to provide inclusive and holistic support to individuals seeking emotional growth aligns seamlessly with the values of WholeKids. Jessica’s decision to pursue counseling was deeply rooted in her desire to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds. Her genuine passion and exceptional skills make her an impactful presence in counseling. Her empathetic nature and ability to build trust and rapport create a safe space where clients can explore their emotions and embark on a transformative journey toward self-discovery.
Chelsea Francom, MSW-I, Therapy Intern - Boys & Girls Clubs
Chelsea is currently working towards her master’s degree in social work at the University of Utah. She has worked for the City of South Salt Lake for the past three years, running one of their afterschool programs, serving K-12th grade youth and their families. Many of the youth and families in Chelsea’s program come from low-income households, speak English as a second language, have diverse backgrounds and are members of the LGBTQ+ community. She is passionate about working with children and adolescents struggling with mental health issues and trauma. She loves helping young people feel empowered, safe, and happy. Her goal is to make mental health services more accessible for marginalized youth, and empowering youth of color through counseling services. Chelsea enjoys traveling and eating good food outside of work.
Shanna Lee, Client Care & Billing Coordinator
Shanna Lee is our amazing client care and billing coordinator. With a background in customer service and administrative support, Shanna brings a wealth of experience to her role at WholeKids. Shanna is also a skilled dental hygienist with over 20 years of experience. In her role at WholeKids, Shanna is known for her attention to detail and her ability to streamline billing processes. She is a warm caring voice for families calling in seeking support! Outside of work, Shanna enjoys spending time with her family, exploring new places, and volunteering in her local community. She is known for her positive attitude, strong work ethic, and unwavering dedication to providing exceptional service to her clients.
Jay Bladen, MS, Director of Operations
Jay earned his degree in Family Consumer Human Development from Utah State University, as well as a master's degree in business management. Jay is the Co-Founder of WholeKids Emotional Wellness and serves as the Director of Operations. Jay grew up shy, reserved and terrified of heights. He learned to conquer his fears and finds happiness in empowering others do the same so they do not miss out on life's opportunities. He loves climbing, soccer, enjoying the wide outdoors and spending time with his family.
