Student Counseling Center Staff

The Student Counseling Center is staffed by licensed psychologists, a licensed marriage and family counselor, staff counselors and support staff.

Staff Psychologist

Keiko (she/her/hers) holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University. She is originally from Japan and first came to the US as an international graduate student. She has been trained as a generalist clinician to help clients address a wide range of clinical issues, including anxiety, social anxiety, depression/mood concerns, cultural adjustment, trauma, grief and loss, career-related concerns, and relationship concerns. Keiko has clinical experience in university counseling centers where she enjoyed providing therapy services as well as outreach programming to culturally diverse undergraduate and graduate students. She has additional clinical experience in hospital and community mental health settings where she served individuals presenting with chronic illness and trauma. She uses an integrative approach in therapy with a multicultural lens, drawing on humanistic and cognitive behavioral therapies. In her free time, she likes to bake, crochet, hike, and travel.

Staff Psychologist

Amanda (she/her/hers) is a licensed psychologist who earned her PsyD from Pacific University. She is trained as a "generalist" therapist meaning she has worked in a range of clinical settings (i.e. community mental health, group practice, and university counseling centers) and with a range of presenting concerns (i.e. anxiety, depression, trauma, interpersonal relationships). She is passionate about working collaboratively with individuals and communities alike to deepen awareness and help cultivate skills to address factors that impact one's overall wellbeing. Amanda approaches therapy through a multicultural lens and an integrated approach pulling from various therapeutic techniques, but has a home in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She is honored to have the opportunity to work alongside undergraduate and graduate students to help them to clarify their professional and personal values, to foster self-compassion, and strengthen a sense of empowerment to create meaningful change in their lives and their communities. 

Sara Pitkanen
Associate Director of Clinical Services

Sara (She/her/hers) has a Master of Education in Couples and Family Therapy from the University of Oregon and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Sara utilizes narrative and relational-based therapeutic approaches, grounded in the belief in individuals' resilience and inherent strengths. She acknowledges that the challenges and suffering that folks face are often intensified by systemic injustices and societal inequalities. These oppressive structures shape individuals' experiences, impacting their self-worth, resource access, and growth opportunities. Sara empowers clients to recognize and confront the influence of oppressive systems, fostering self-awareness, validating their experiences, and challenging harmful societal narratives. By integrating reflections on these systems, she helps clients tap into their natural strengths, develop insights, and cultivate skills to navigate life's complexities effectively. 

Sara began her time at Pacific University in 2018 in a non-clinical role in the Office of Student Support providing student support, advocacy, and collaborating with campus partners to create systemic change to be more inclusive and responsive to students needs. Prior to working at Pacific, Sara worked as a licensed mental health professional in community mental health, medical, and private practice settings working with a wide range of clients. 

Dean of Student Wellbeing and Director of Student Counseling Center

Laura (she/her/hers) holds a PsyD in Clinical Psychology with a Concentration in Traumatic Stress Studies from Adler University located in Chicago, IL. She is honored to work as a generalist psychologist serving the diverse mental health needs of undergraduate and graduate students while empowering and supporting them to make the changes necessary to succeed at Pacific and beyond. More specifically her passions and expertise include working with students engaging in cultural identity development, experiencing relationship concerns, interpersonal trauma, and bereavement. Laura is dedicated to building caring, collaborative, and transparent therapeutic relationships. Laura also has a strong passion for social justice work, systemic outreach and prevention, and supervision and training!

Angela Surratt
Clinic Coordinator

Angie (she/her/hers) has worked for the University for 16 years and enjoys helping students as they navigate and adjust to life on campus.  In her free time Angie likes to spend time with her grandchildren and likes to camp in her 5th wheel. 

Mental Health Promotion and Prevention Specialist

Graham (he/him/his) has a Master of Art in Teaching from Pacific University and a Master of Education in Couples and Family Therapy from the University of Oregon. He has worked in community mental health, private therapeutic practice, and as a classroom teacher. Graham, working from a background in Narrative and Emotionally-Focused Therapy, believes strongly in the power of the stories we tell about ourselves and the world around us as well as the liberatory power of those same stories. He bakes, hikes, and needlepoints when looking to recharge and also spends time reading and connecting with friends.

Staff Psychologist, Training Coordinator

Jamie (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Psychologist with a Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Pacific University. Trained as a "generalist," she has experience working with a wide variety of social, emotional, and psychological concerns that affect students and has over ten years of experience working in university counseling centers. Jamie approaches her work with clients from a multicultural, client-centered framework and believes in honoring each individual's unique experience and circumstances while addressing oppressive systemic forces that impact daily life. Jamie values collaboration in the therapeutic process to help students gain greater self-awareness, cultivate self-compassion, and make meaningful change. Jamie enjoys university work because she is always exposed to new ideas and because she loves investing in students' personal, academic, and professional development. She enjoys helping people discover themselves and exploring intersecting identities and how those identities impact an individual's values and life trajectory.