Meet The Team
Clinical Director & Founder,
Licensed Professional Counselor
Sarah Leavitt
I’ve been working in the mental health field in Anchorage, Alaska since 2007.
Through my private practice, I met clients with eating disorders and became interested in the complexity of my client's experiences and the ways food has power in people’s lives. I started Counseling Anchorage to provide Alaskans with a team of experts who could offer collaborative care, health, and healing for those with eating disorders.
In addition to training and overseeing our clinical team, I provide therapy for individuals with eating disorders. I’m working to become a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.
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Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Katherine Sweetman
My name is Katherine, and I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and Certified Eating Disorder Specialist.
I am a food enthusiast, and a firm believer in an all-foods-fit, no-guilt, pro-health approach to eating.
I am a non-diet dietitian specializing in intuitive eating, and I practice from a health-at-every-size approach. That means I help my clients focus on health-promoting behaviors rather than the number on the scale.
I advocate for an all-foods-fit approach to food, and I fully believe that all foods can be included in a healthful approach to nutrition.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Cathy Holt
I am a licensed professional counselor in Anchorage, AK, and have been working with individuals finding their way through trauma and adversity as a licensed therapist since 2016.
As a trauma therapist, I have noticed a significant increase in eating disorders, self-harming behaviors, anxiety, and depression across all ages over the last several years. The high number of people describing their challenges around self-acceptance, self-confidence, and overall resiliency reflects many people's struggles in our world today. With compassion, experience, and my connection to the team here at Counseling Anchorage, I look forward to working with clients as we create their own unique path that will lead them to a sense of joy and wholeness.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist, and Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional.
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Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Jade Hartley
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and former chronic dieter who has discovered an all-foods-fit approach to healthy living. I use an intuitive eating perspective to help guide clients through their healing journey. I apply scientific understanding to help clients achieve meaningful, sustainable behavior changes and meet their goals.
I strive to create a welcoming and inclusive space for clients. I invite them to explore concerns, stress, and shame surrounding health, eating, and body image. I am compassionate and empathetic, and I value my clients' stories. I collaborate with clients to help find core issues, connect the dots, and shine a light on pathways toward personal goals.
I grew up in Anchorage and received my Bachelor's Degree from the University of Anchorage, Alaska. I have been married for 18 years and have a 17-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son. I am passionate about nutrition, female empowerment, and advocating for others. I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, listening to music, watching TV, and reading.
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Licensed Professional Counselor
Melissa O'Neill
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor working remotely with Alaskans. I am a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Approved Supervisor and have worked in the eating disorder field since 2013.
I believe in the healing power of connection to self and others. I believe that all bodies are good bodies, no matter their size, shape, color, abilities, or otherwise. And I believe every human can and deserves to find recovery from their eating disorder. I employ compassionate, contemplative, and intuitive reflection in my work, recognizing the inherent goodness in each of my clients and their capacity to live a full and meaningful life.
In addition to working with individuals and families experiencing eating disorders and related issues, I have my Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision and am a Clinical Faculty member at Adams State University. I also offer supervision to clinicians seeking their Certified Eating Disorders Specialist credential.
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Pre-Licensed Professional Counselor
(Under supervision by Cathy Holt, LPC-S)
Melissa Wentzel
I graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2021 with a Master’s in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I provide counseling under clinical supervision to individuals across the lifespan, couples, and families as I work toward licensure as an LPC. I have worked in the Mental and Behavioral Health, Prevention, and Health Equity fields for over two decades. I have a background in trauma work, eating disorder care, women’s healthcare, supporting LGBTQ2+ individuals, and working with neurodiverse children and adolescents.
I believe we all have the capacity to experience connection, fulfillment, peace, and joy in our lives and that there is no part of the self that is unwelcome or unworthy of love and care. So many of us travel through life believing we are insufficient and unwanted, feeling alienated and alone. I strive to create a therapeutic environment rooted in self-acceptance, self-compassion, and empowerment, where all parts are welcome, even those that are most challenging for us to embrace.
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Pre-Licensed Professional Counselor
(Under supervision by Cathy Holt, LPC-S)
Katie Ogin
I graduated from the University of Anchorage Alaska in 2020 with my Master’s in Clinical Psychology. Since then I have worked with teenagers and young adults in both residential and outpatient settings. My approach to mental health is rooted in a client-centered foundation that utilizes CBT and mindfulness to help individuals challenge thought processes that aren’t serving them and to help us find ways to access what life has to offer in the present moment. Most importantly, I am here to provide a safe space to facilitate the exploration of past and present life events and assist in processing difficult thoughts and feelings.
Navigating the ins and outs of nutrition can be complex and challenging. We live in a diet culture that pushes messaging leading many of us to have strained relationships with food, eating, body size/shape, and weight. My office is a safe space for clients to explore this relationship and how it impacts their day-to-day life and overall well-being.
Pre-Licensed Professional Counselor
(Under supervision by Cathy Holt, LPC-S)
Claire Swanson
I earned my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of Alaska Fairbanks. I employ a humanistic approach paired with psychodynamic psychotherapy to aid individuals in understanding their internal psychic structure and increasing self-awareness. I rely on a trusting and collaborative relationship to shed light on the
driving forces of a client's behaviors, thoughts, and emotions.
I believe that individuals can make meaning and find purpose by strengthening their understanding of self and connecting with the unconscious. I feel a pull to work with folks suffering from eating disorders as I recognize the way that our current culture has negatively impacted perceptions of health and well-being. I aim to support clients toward self-acceptance by understanding underlying beliefs about self and moving towards acceptance through self-compassion and listening to your body cues, mind, and spirit.
Administrative Assistant
Lulu Blackwood
As a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant with a deep commitment to supporting mental health providers, I am honored to serve as the primary point of contact for Counseling Anchorage.
I complete new client intakes, oversee phone calls, faxes, and emails from clients and external providers, along with handling various other administrative tasks.
For inquiries or assistance, please feel free to contact me at the email listed above or call (907) 280-8083. I am here to help and look forward to speaking with you!