Our Local Roots
Community Involvement
Great Basin Behavioral Health, founded in 2013, is determined to provide premium therapeutic services that positively impact the members of our community.
Our founders have been determined from day one to create an agency that impacts all of the residents of the Reno/Tahoe area, both directly and indirectly, one client at a time.
By Locals, For Locals
Our community is important to us, and making a big difference is goal one. Founders Rudy von Ravensberg and Chris Edwards were both born, raised and educated in Reno, Nevada. In fact, most of our staff are from the area and a majority graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. Northern Nevada is our home and we are committed to improving the life of all members of our community.
Giving Back
We believe giving back is at the core of our mission and drives us to work hard every day to simply do good and pay it forward. Some of our more recent commitments to our community include:
- Establishing the Great Basin Behavioral Health - Jason Walenta Memorial Scholarship through the University of Nevada, Reno. This scholarship has provided financial support to graduate students preparing to work in mental health since 2015.
- Developing an agreement with the University of Nevada, Reno and other academic institutions to train student interns during their final year of study, while providing access to care for those without insurance coverage and who would otherwise be without services.
- Providing both educational and financial support to our schools, local non-profit organizations, and local athletes.
- Great Basin has historically donated to Swope Middle School as a Gold Sponsor, sponsors families in need during the holidays through the Children's Cabinet and the Childrens Cancer Foundation, and has paid our staff to volunteer at Casa De Vida's House of Hope.
- Great Basin regularly donates to the Crisis Call Center as a means to provide 24/7 crisis support for our local community.
- Great Basin's Anjie Silveira provides her time annually and at a significantly reduced cost teaching sexual health, interpersonal boundaries, and bullying prevention at Mountainview Montessori in Reno, Nevada.
Measurement and Evidence Based Care
Great Basin Behavioral takes quality care to the next level through our current partnership and involvement with the Leadership and Organizational Change for Implementation study being funded by the National Institute of Mental Health!
As part of this study, our agency leadership is being trained over an 18 month period by a collaborative team headed by Boise State University and also involving the University of California San Diego and the University of Central Florida.
Being one of only 21 agencies nationwide chosen for this study, Great Basin will be implementing and utilizing Measurement Based Care (MBC) as a means to support our use of Evidence Based Practice, such as CBT, Prolonged Exposure, and DBT. The utilization of MBC, such as the Outcomes Questionnaire Analyst (OQ-A) has been demonstrated to improve quality outcomes and reduce negative outcomes by 40%-75%!
Of course, involvement in this study is completely voluntary for our clients. Please ask us more if you are interested in learning about MBC, the OQ-A, or our involvement!
About Our Founders
Rudy von Ravensberg, PsyD, LMFT
The founder and co-owner of Great Basin Behavioral Health, Dr. Rudy von Ravensberg is a Native Nevadan and a two time graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno.
Rudy completed his PsyD at California Southern University, with a focus on the modification of lifestyle as an adjunct to CBT and uses his knowledge as a basis for interventions for agency programs, as well as his clientele.
Further, Rudy has Trained with Aaron and Judith Beck, Robert Hindeman, Amy Wenzel, and Alan Miller while completing Core 1 and 2 CBT Intensive Training, as well as training in CBT, CPT, and PE for trauma with the renowned Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Philadelphia.
Rudy is a Nevada Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, was previously a Board Certified Counselor through the NBCC (self resigned), and a health and wellness enthusiast. Additionally, Rudy has completed training as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and completed the NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist certification program.
Rudy lives in Reno with his spouse and two kids, enjoys trail running, weight training, CrossFit, beekeeping, camping, travel, and a good book.
Chris Edwards, PsyD, LCSW
The co-founder and co-owner of Great Basin Behavioral Health, Chris Edwards grew up in the Reno/Tahoe area and graduated from UNR. He completed his graduate degree in Hawaii and is published in various journals regarding Native Hawaiian youth and substance use.
In early 2015, Chris began doctoral studies at California Southern University in order to further his understanding and integration of lifestyle and behavioral health issues, with specific focus on the use of CBT to address anxiety disorders and trauma. Chris completed his doctorate in early 2021 with his dissertation, titled QSLR Examining Evidence on Formal Recognition of CPTSD and Treatment Approaches.
Chris is a Nevada Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been comprehensively trained in Prolonged Exposure Therapy by Dr. Foa at the University of Pennsylvania as well as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy by Dr. Alan Fruzzetti with the University of Nevada Reno and Harvard Medical School. Further, Chris has completed Core 2 Intensive Training in Anxiety disorders with Amy Wenzel, PhD, as well as training in CBT and Cognitive Processing Therapy with Alan Miller, PhD, from The Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Chris and his wife enjoy domestic and international travel, as well as everything outdoors for fun, especially camping in the woods while listening to a good audiobook or playing his banjo well into the evening.
Our Clinical Team
Anjie Silveira, PsyD, LMFT, LCADC, NCC, Clinical Manager
Anjie Silveira is our Clinical Manager and is licensed as both an LMFT and a LCADC in the State of Nevada with years of experience working with both adolescents and adults in a variety of capacities and in numerous levels of care, including acute, residential and outpatient practices. Further, Anjie is an AAMFT approved supervisor and is the primary supervisor for our clinical interns at Great Basin.
Anjie completed her Masters in Counseling and Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy at the University of Nevada, Reno. After graduate school, Anjie completed an Advanced Graduate Certificate in Addiction Treatment and Prevention Services at UNR. More recently in 2021, Anjie completed her doctorate, with a focus on trauma relative to the law enforcement population.
Anjie has completed several trainings focusing on CBT, including a multi-day intensive through The Beck Institute with a focus on anxiety. Furthermore, Anjie has training in risk assessment and working with trauma, as well as in Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD and DBT through several years of supervision with Alan Fruzetti, PhD, as well as training in Cognitive Processing Therapy with the Beck Institute.
In addition to the above, Anjie is also a Certified Positive Discipline Parenting Educator and has led parenting groups based on this philosophy.
Anjie enjoys spending her time outside, is an accomplished plant lover, ultra trail-runner, skier, globe trotter and backpacker.
Diane Schroder, MA, LCPC, LSC, RPT, Clinical Supervisor
Diane is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who received her Master’s in Counseling with a double emphasis in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling. Diane works with children, teens, and adults. In addition, she is a Licensed School Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT). She finds it rewarding to work with both children and adults who are experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief & loss and has attended comprehensive training in CBT, DBT, Prolonged Exposure, and Cognitive Processing Therapy. She utilizes Child-Centered, Gestalt, Sand Tray, and other interventions with children.
As a long-term resident of the Reno/Tahoe area, Diane loves the outdoors and spending time with her extended family. Diane loves to travel with her husband, enjoys walks with her dog Toby, and explores her creativity.
Rachel Martinez, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Rachel attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she received her bachelors and masters degree in Social Work. During her own teen years, Rachel recognized the importance of mental health and made it her goal to give back to others. Following graduation from UNR, Rachel continued her career focusing on direct work with children, adolescents, and their families in residential placement.
Rachel primarily utilizes and has been intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and both CPT and PE for trauma and is always open to new learning opportunities to best support her clientele. Prior to her graduate training, Rachel advocated and worked with teens at risk of dropping out in Washoe County School District which allowed her to have a closer look and understanding of the difficulties several teens and families endure.
Self care, physical, mental, and emotional health are huge priorities for Rachel and she continues to practice these daily. In her free time, Rachel enjoys weightlifting, yoga, crafting, baking, walking and playing with her dog, spending time outdoors, traveling, and of course Netflix.
Janet Laxalt, MSW, LCSW
Janet completed her MSW at the University of Kansas, with a concentration in advanced clinical practice after her completion of a bachelors in Social work with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Subsequently, Janet worked in numerous environments related to mental health, including acute hospital work as a case manager, in a group home working with dual diagnosis individuals and their families, as well as a therapist in residential and outpatient environments. Further, Janet worked as the executive director for a local group home for adolescent boys.
Janet has lived in the Reno/Tahoe basin for 25+ years and could never consider leaving the Sierra Nevada mountains. Further, Janet loves her work and holds dear her family history of aiding others with life challenges, including growing up as the daughter of a prominent French psychologist, while raising a daughter who now practices therapy in Portland, Oregon.
As a Great Basin practitioner, Janet lends significant attention to lifestyle choice, spirituality, social and relational issues, while utilizing empirically proven methodology, such as CBT, CPT,and PE (intensively trained), in her work. In her free time, Janet enjoys her family, her dog Biscuit, spending time outdoors, traveling, enjoying theater, music, volunteering, and opportunities to broaden her personal growth through new experiences.
Lisa Millar, EdS, LMFT
Lisa enjoys working with families, couples and individuals and uses an eclectic blend of theories to help people with anxiety, depression, grief/loss, relationship and communication problems, and family difficulties. Further, Lisa has been intensively trained in both CBT and DBT and has significant experience working with at risk adolescents in outpatient settings, as well as juvenile detention system and residential treatment. Further, Lisa has been trained in CPT and PE for trauma by the Beck Institutes's Alan Miller, PhD. In 2022, Lisa completed a certification course involving grief in children, teens, and adults.
Spending much of her life living in the Reno/Tahoe area, Lisa received both her Masters and Educational Specialist Degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her Professional paper and research addressed the issues of at risk adolescent females with a program to help with restorative justice for a community.
In addition to her work with Great Basin, Lisa enjoys golf, boating and water sports with her husband. Her loves of her life include her three grandchildren and two dogs!
Heather Kaminsky, MSW, LCSW
Heather was raised near Chicago and moved to Reno with her husband in 2017 (sight unseen!) and has since fallen in love with the area. Upon arriving in Reno, Heather began work at the Crisis Call Center where she provided crisis intervention services for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Heather then began working for the Crisis Call Center's Sexual Assault Support Services Program, providing advocacy for survivors of interpersonal violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault. Through working with individuals at the Crisis Call Center, Heather gained a passion for trauma informed care and learning how an individual's experiences shape their story. She then pursued an opportunity to coordinate a grant through the Office on Violence Against Women on UNR's campus which aimed to reduce domestic violence and sexual assault on the campus through outreach and education. During that time, Heather completed her MSW at UNR and pursued her ultimate goal of Clinical Social Work.
Heather believes strongly that the therapeutic relationship is one that is based in providing clients with an intentional space to turn curiosity and self-reflection into growth, understanding, and behavior change. Heather believes in a trauma informed approach that seeks to create connections between our past experiences, core beliefs, and their impact on our everyday lives. Heather is interested in becoming more familiar with trauma informed therapeutic approaches such as Cognitive Processing Therapy and Narrative Therapy. Heather was intensively trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) through the renowned Beck Institute and has trained other practitioners in the use of CBT with comorbid anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
Outside of work you'd likely find Heather spending time with her two dogs and husband, learning about and caring for her house plants, and going to see live music as much as possible. She is known to travel far and wide to catch concerts all over the country, and believes that it's impossible to be upset while dancing!
Molly Cole, MA, LMFT
Molly grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Global Politics and Economics in 2005. After graduating, Molly moved to North Lake Tahoe to enjoy the beauty of the lake and the Sierra Nevada. Molly moved to Reno in 2016 and completed her degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from UNR in 2021.
One of Molly’s greatest passions is the practice of yoga and mindfulness. She has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and teaching yoga, meditation and mindfulness practices for 10 years. Being from the volunteer state, Molly also values giving back to her community. For four years, Molly has volunteered and worked for Urban Lotus Project, bringing yoga to at-risk youth in Reno. Molly has experienced that using connectivity of the body, mind and spirit, e.g. mindfulness, can help us heal and grow on a whole other level.
Molly enjoys working with youth and adults of all ages and uses a client-centered and mindful approach in her work. She believes in holding space for people to be themselves, celebrating their strengths and working through individual challenges. Molly is interested in better learning and familiarizing herself with CBT and DBT and existential therapeutic approaches.
In her free time, Molly hikes, bikes, paddles, and plays in the outdoors with her husband and their dog, RayRay. She loves to read, rock out to music, prepare and eat delicious meals and spend time playing cribbage with friends.
Zoey McKenna, MA, LCPC
Zoey was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She worked throughout her undergraduate studies at UNR as a teaching assistant, studying the psychology of trauma, eventually earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. After graduating, she worked within the Washoe County School district with children across classroom and counseling settings. More recently, Zoey has earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from UNR.
Zoey enjoys working with teens and adults and uses a client centered, creative approach when working with clients. She enjoys incorporating music, art, and journaling into work with clients. She continues to familiarize herself with CBT, DBT, and narrative therapies, with hopes of integrating nature-based tenets into her work.
Zoey is a BIG movie buff and in her free time, enjoys reading and playing with her puppy, Dodger. She enjoys camping and spending as much time outside and at the lake as possible.
Lindsay Nance, MSW, LCSW
Lindsay was born and raised in the Reno/Tahoe area, growing up in the outdoors and exploring the Sierra Nevadas. She studied at the University of Nevada, Reno, obtaining an undergraduate degree in psychology and later obtaining a Master of Arts in social work initially inspired by work with children living in foster care. In her free time, Lindsay enjoys spending time outdoors with her dog, snowboarding and touring, hiking and exercising at the gym. She loves reading, playing her guitar and singing, and spending time with family and friends.
Lindsay has over a decade of experience working with children, adolescents and families. Lindsay comes to Great Basin Behavioral Health with a desire to address the needs of the community with intention, drawing on her experience in short term psychiatric care.
Lindsay’s approach to counseling is one that focuses on a client’s application of personal strengths and the importance of self-determination to a fulfilling life. Lindsay hopes to foster acceptance and self-respect coupled with a growth mindset by focusing on mindful awareness, and skill building to break down self-limiting behaviors, thoughts and beliefs. She provides clients with the tools to move through life with insight, confidence and self-sufficiency with treatment that integrates cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavioral and gestalt methods. Lindsay is intensively trained in DBT and runs one of Great Basin's DBT Skills groups weekly.
Maintaining a mindset of growth herself, Lindsay values that there is always something new to learn and is interested in becoming a better clinician through feedback, self reflection, education and collaboration with peers.
Mark Friedlander, MA, LCPC, NCC
Mark was raised in Las Vegas Nevada and moved to Reno for his college education in 2011. Mark obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2015 and his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling in 2021. Throughout his life Mark has worked in human services helping individuals from a wide range of cultures. Mark’s first job at the age of 16 was with the Easter Seals of Southern Nevada, a company that helps support individuals with intellectual disabilities make a living and lead a fulfilling life. Once in college, Mark worked as a behavioral tutor for individuals with Autism before transitioning to provide support for troubled adolescents at a residential treatment facility. He has also spent time working in the foster care community here in Reno and has provided psychosocial rehabilitation to adolescents with various emotional and behavioral concerns.
One of Mark’s greatest passions in life is providing support to those in need. He believes strongly in a person’s autonomy and the ability to overcome any obstacle preventing them from becoming their best self and feels honored to have the opportunity to assist in that process. He primarily utilizes an evidence-based, Cognitive-Behavioral approach to assist his clients in changing maladaptive thinking patterns and discovering who they truly are and has been intensively trained in the use of Prolonged Exposure in the treatment of trauma. He also emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and living in the present moment as essential tools for living a healthy and meaningful life. His treatment is tailored to the individual and is strength-based so his clients can find their own unique solutions for dealing with the many problems life presents to us now and in the future.
In his free time, he enjoys being active and getting outside. His other greatest passion is playing Lacrosse, but he also enjoys reading, snowboarding, traveling, and attending shows with live music.
Kristi McCune, MSW, LCSW
Kristi was born in Klamath Falls, Oregon and moved to Reno, Nevada when she was 7 years old and eventually graduated from Wooster High School. Upon completing her bachelors back in Oregon, Kristi completed her Mastrs degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2018. After graduation, Kristi finished post grad Training and becomes a.Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Kristi has taken many clinical trainings over the past decade, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Certification as a Clinical Trauma and PTSD Professional, and completed trainings in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
In her free time, Kristi enjoys playing and watching sports of every kind of which softball/baseball is my favorite. Kristi loves music and enjoy spending time traveling to listen to her favorite bands/singers and playing her own guitar. Further, Kristi spends as much time with her family as she can and regularly gets together with them for family game nights.
Somakhanden "Soma" Park, MS, LMFT , LCPC
Somakhanden Park was born and raised in Stockton, CA. She graduated from A.A. Stagg High School in May 2010 with a passion for working with animals. While pursuing a biology degree at California State University, Stanislaus, she wanted real-world experience to expand her working knowledge of the field. As local opportunities were scarce, she decided to study abroad in Accra, Ghana and dedicated her time to her internship at the Accra Zoo working with endangered primates. It was during her internship with the West African Primate Conservation Action that she developed a love for behaviorism, rehabilitation, and intimate interactions.
Thrilled to put her fresh and once-in-a-lifetime experience to use back at home, she changed her major to psychology to further her studies in behaviorism. To her surprise, her last semester as an undergrad would introduce her to the world of counseling. She found that mental health, wellness, and helping families improve their relationships was much more of her calling to make an impact on her community.
Following graduation in December 2015, she volunteered at youth shelters and adult day centers, and worked with children with autism—all of which validated her newfound love for mental health and working with children and families. She later received her Counseling Psychology, M.S. degree at California State University, Bakersfield in May 2019. Since then, Soma has worked with children, teens, adults, and families with struggles ranging from substance use, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, ADHD, opposition-defiance, and sexual abuse.
Soma uses an integrative blend of person-centered, solution-focused, and mindfulness theories, where she believes that people are the experts of their own lives; have the skills and resources to improve their relationships with others and themselves; and can increase their abilities to regulate their emotions and decrease their stress.
Soma believes that engaging in self-care is most productive for self-preservation and wellness. Outside of her clinical work, she is most likely tending to her indoor garden, snuggling her three dogs and one cat, trying new restaurants with her husband and family, creating an itinerary for her next trip, and watching reruns of The Office, Brooklynn Nine-Nine, or New Girl.
Colleen Odom, PhD, LCPC Intern
Madelyn Wargowski, MA, LCPC Intern
Madelyn Wargowski, MA, LCPC Intern
Colleen was born and raised in San Francisco, California; she attended U.C. Berkeley where she attained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social welfare. She then enrolled in a master’s program at Cal State Hayward where she subsequently earned her master’s degree in counseling as well as a specialist degree in school psychology.
After searching for a job far and wide, Colleen took a position in the Washoe County school district as a School Psychologist. She has lived and worked in Reno, Nevada for almost thirty years.
After a few years, Colleen went back to school to pursue a Doctoral degree while she continued to work as a school psychologist.
In 2010, she earned a Ph.D. in Special education with an emphasis in teaching children with emotional and behavioral disorders. She also worked part time as a teacher at the University level part-time while she pursued her degree.
Colleen has worked with children of all ages but has spent a lot of time with adolescents. She also has a great amount of experience helping children with disabilities and their families. Colleen utilizes mindfulness techniques as well as behavioral approaches in her practice.
Colleen is married and has three young-adult children with whom she loves spending time. She enjoys camping, going on walks, attending sporting events and listening to music. She also loves her pup Daisy Mae, a chihuahua mix, and her grand doggy, Leonidas.
Madelyn Wargowski, MA, LCPC Intern
Madelyn Wargowski, MA, LCPC Intern
Madelyn Wargowski, MA, LCPC Intern
Madelyn was raised in Wisconsin and moved to San Francisco in 2012 where she found a career in social justice advocacy work. After 8 years in the city, she moved to Reno to be closer to big nature and began working towards a career in mental health counseling. She completed her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University in 2024.
Madelyn’s humanistic perspective on therapy is rooted in the belief that every person has an inherent capacity for self-healing and personal growth. She fosters a warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment to honor each client’s unique perspective in order to facilitate meaningful change and help clients achieve their personal goals. Madelyn takes a client centered, narrative approach to her work and aims to help clients rewrite their personal stories and find new meanings in their life experiences. By examining the narratives that shape their identities, clients can gain insight into their past, present, and future, ultimately empowering them to work through their stuck points in order to live more fulfilling and authentic lives.
Outside of the therapy room, Madelyn enjoys playing in nature, bringing nature into her home through an (over)abundance of houseplants, practicing yoga, taking on DIY house projects, and saying “yes” to adventures with her high-risk-tolerant husband. These activities not only enrich her own life but also inform her therapeutic practice, providing fresh insights and inspiration for helping clients navigate their unique journeys.
Makayla Terelak, MS, LCPC Intern
Madelyn Wargowski, MA, LCPC Intern
Makayla Terelak, MS, LCPC Intern
Makayla is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Intern who is passionate about working with children ages 4-18, young and middle aged adults.
Makayla appreciates integrating her teaching background into counseling and focusing on teaching communication skills to children, adolescents, and parents who are struggling with family dynamics, relationships, and self esteem issues. She is also passionate about inner child work for adult clients who are looking to heal from past traumas and negative experiences that occurred as children.
Makayla's intention is to create a safe space where together she can embark on a healing journey to find her clients favorite version of themselves.
Makayla was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. Home means Nevada, however, she LOVE'S traveling when she can. Makayla has visited 11 countries and plans to add to her list as a life goal.
When not in the office or adventuring overseas, Makayla can be found reading a great book on the couch with her puppy. She is a nature enthusiast and enjoys all things outdoors, especially hiking and camping. One of her guilty pleasures is anything Disneyland or Disney related!
As Makayla continues on he path of education within the counseling world she is pursuing a Registered Play Therapist credential. Furhter, Makayla is presently growing her knowledge of inner child work, DBT, and CBT.
Jessica Hanneke, MSW, CSW Intern
Jessica Carmazzi, MSW, CSW-Intern
Makayla Terelak, MS, LCPC Intern
Jessica is a Licensed Master Social Worker and Licensed Clinical Social Work Intern in the State of Nevada. She is a Northern Nevada native who received her Bachelor of Art’s degree in Psychology in 2013 from the University of Nevada, Reno. After 9 years working in the affordable housing development industry, she graduated with a Master of Arts in Social Work in 2023 and started a new career following her passion.
Jessica views therapy as a collaborative relationship which can help one to develop self-awareness and skills to manage difficult emotions and life situations, increase self-esteem, and enhance satisfaction with your life. Jessica utilizes a person-centered approach and draws from a variety of therapeutic modalities to create a treatment plan that resonates for each individual client.
Jessica utilizes aspects of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Existential Therapy, Positive Psychology, the Gottman method, Trauma-Focused CBT, and Family Systems Therapy.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys anything related to the great outdoors, traveling, cooking extravagant meals, reading, and spending time with her husband, son, and two rambunctious cats. Jessica is also a Certified Reiki Practitioner and enjoys exploring spiritual practices and mindfulness-based activities.
Rebecca Morrison, MA, MFT Intern
Jessica Carmazzi, MSW, CSW-Intern
Jessica Carmazzi, MSW, CSW-Intern
The daughter of a child psychologist and originally from Marin County, CA, Rebecca moved to Reno/Tahoe to ski and work then decided to make the area her home by attending UNR and graduating with her BS in Elementary and Special Education and teaching locally for over a decade.
Durning her time as a teacher, Rebecca discovered her true passion, working with students and their families, returning to UNR and earning her MA in Counseling and Educational Psychology.
During my internship with the University, Rebecca discovered her love to work with adult individuals as much as adolescents and families, though she will always have a special affiliation for teens as they navigate the complexity of life through such a fresh lens and all the challenges that brings.
Rebecca enjoys working with clients who are interested in change and willing to explore options that may include exercise, getting outside and finding their joy in places they may not have expected to find it by exploring new experiences and be willing to allow themselves the opportunity to grow.
Her theoretical orientation is CBT and DBT, which she uses to develop and implement strategies that address the symptoms that cause distress while we work to explore the root cause of the symptoms. Further, Rebecca enjoys using Narrative Therapy in her work which allows us to process and rewrite our stories by recognizing and focusing on our strengths and applying those strengths to our current life experiences.
Rebecca is a proud parent of two amazing daughters, and has a grandson who will be starting UNR this coming fall making him the third generation UNR student in our family. Further, Rebecca is married and has two dogs and a cat, chickens and a fish pond on a very small piece of land. For fun, Rebecca has been a trail runner/jogger for over 30 years, ran the RTO for three years in a row, loves the river and the mountains, and enjoys skiing.
Jessica Carmazzi, MSW, CSW-Intern
Jessica Carmazzi, MSW, CSW-Intern
Jessica Carmazzi, MSW, CSW-Intern
Jessica grew up in Reno and graduated from UNR with a bachelors in Psychology and masters in Social Work. Jessica has experience working with adults re-entering the workforce, first-generation college students, and children/adolescents where she provided tailored support to help individuals navigate career transitions, academic challenges, and personal growth, fostering confidence and resilience along the way.
Jessica is passionate about collaboration, working closely with clients to help them achieve their goals and unlock their full potential. She is committed to continuous learning and expanding her expertise to provide the best support possible. Jessica is actively working to strengthen her knowledge and application of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), while also looking forward to exploring and learning other therapeutic approaches, continuously enhancing her skills to provide effective and compassionate therapeutic support.
Outside of her professional life, Jessica enjoys watching movies, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She loves a good game night, anything Disney, and enjoys yoga. Jessica values the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle, prioritizing self-care alongside her professional commitments.
Jessie Stringer, MA, CPC-Intern
Jessie Stringer, MA, CPC-Intern
Jessie Stringer, MA, CPC-Intern
Jessie moved to Virginia City, Nevada at age 8 where she grew up and graduated from high school. At that point, Jessie became passionate about sports and played basketball, volleyball, and softball throughout high school.
Post high school, Jessie continued to play volleyball for a year in college, and most recently moved on to coaching volleyball for the last couple of years at the middle school and high school levels in Reno.
Jessie met her husband in 2013, moved to Northern AZ in 2015 for about 8 year to finish an undergrad in interdisciplinary studies, then started her career as an elementary school teacher for 5 years in Arizona and Nevada.
After having 2 children, Jessie moved back to Reno in 2022 to be closer to my family. For fun, Jessie loves spending time with family camping, swimming, skiing, or making a floor bed for movie night in her living room.
Depression Therapy
Jessie Stringer, MA, CPC-Intern
Jessie Stringer, MA, CPC-Intern
Brittany was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. During her college years, Brittany moved to Massachusetts and then Colorado to finish her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and later received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Chamberlain University.
Brittany feels most grounded when she’s outdoors with her husband and dogs. She loves cooking, crafting, reading, gardening, and participating in adaptive sports. Brittany’s journey into therapy has been shaped not only by academic training, but by real-life experience, especially navigating the world after her own life-altering injury. That lived perspective fuels her work and deepens the empathy she offers every client.
Before becoming a therapist, Brittany worked as a paraprofessional in special education classrooms, supporting students with autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, and behavioral challenges. Further, Brittany worked in the Reno area’s adaptive recreation community, helping adults with spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders, injured veterans, and others with significant physical disabilities access sports and nature again.
Our Admin Team
Carrie von Ravensberg, CPA - Office Manager
Carrie has lived in the Reno area since 1999 after relocating to Northern Nevada to study accounting at the University of Nevada, Reno. Upon graduation, Carrie worked in public accounting and has spent a majority of her career working in health care finance at several major local hospitals as a CPA.
In 2017, Carrie left her career in the corporate accounting world to join the team at Great Basin and take the lead on managing day to day office and finance management of the company.
In her free time, Carrie enjoys spending time outdoors camping, hiking and backpacking, as well as CrossFit and, above most anything else, getting lost in a good book. Despite growing up in Montana, Carrie is very committed to our local community and finds it difficult to imagine leaving the beautiful Sierra Nevada region.
Kristin Nicholson
Kristin hails from the bay area of California and moved to Reno in 1980, graduating from Edward C. Reed High School in Sparks. She attended Truckee Meadows Community College, graduating with a Certificate of Achievement in Dental Assisting, Nursing Assistant and Emergency Medical Technician.
At the suggestion of her high school counselor, Kristin's medical career started when she was 16 years old as a nurses aide in a Los Angeles nursing home. That is where her passion for helping people started. A large part of Kristin's medical career was spent at Reno’s trauma center.
For relaxation, Kristin likes to take day trips with her husband and spend time with her 2 adult sons, daughter-in-law and her new grandson! As an American history buff, she loves to walk through old cemeteries reading and photographing headstones. She also enjoys having coffee with friends, deer hunting (with a camera) and just being outdoors!
The mountains are calling…I must go! (John Muir)
Taylor Lowery, Lead Admin
Taylor was born and raised in Reno, NV and has lived in the Reno/Sparks area her whole life. At 17, Taylor taught herself how to play guitar and began to pursue her passion for music. Singing and playing whenever she got the chance, even auditioning for shows such as The Voice and America’s Got Talent. (Now she just plays for fun).
After graduating from Reno High, Taylor attended Paul Mitchell the School Reno where she earned her cosmetology license. After five years of doing hair , Taylor decided it was time for a career change and that’s when she joined the healthcare community and hopes to continue to grow and learn in the filed of Mental Health.
In her free time, Taylor enjoys playing with her two cattle dogs (Scout and Georgia) and her two cats (Guinevere and Lilith). She loves playing with her son and watching him grow and learn. Her favorite things: reading books of all kinds, watching scary movies, working out with her best friend and singing whenever and wherever she can (mostly Taylor Swift). If you can’t find her at home she is most likely in Disneyland, traveling back east to visit her cousin in Boston or going to another concert.
“Have courage. Be kind.”