Meet the Team
Dr. Travis Smith, LPC
Travis Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Doctor of Counseling and Supervision (PhD). Travis received his Master’s in Marital, Couple and Family of Counseling in 2006 and his Doctorate in Counselor Education and Counseling in 2009 from Idaho State University.
Jody Petzoldt, LPC
Jody Petzoldt is Assistant Clinical Director at Great Oak Counseling and a Licensed Professional Counselor who received her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling in 2010 from Southeast Missouri State University. She specializes in relationship and recovery counseling. With a background in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, Jody facilitates the counseling process with a holistic approach based on connection, emotions, and sense of belonging. This, combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques allow for healing and recovery for individuals and families presenting with various issues.
Dr. Jan Ward, LPC, RPT-S
Dr. Janice Ward is a licensed professional counselor who has worked in agencies, clinics, and schools in the Southeast Region for 20 years. In her counseling sessions, she uses Person-Centered and Reality/Solution Focused therapy. Dr. Ward also uses strategies and techniques from a variety of other counseling theories to meet the needs of clients. She is currently in the process of becoming a Registered Play Therapist. Dr. Ward has experience with clients of all ages. Her areas of expertise include but are not limited to; depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, personality disorders, mood disorders, PTSD, crisis, grief/loss, and a variety of childhood issues such as ADHD, reactive attachment disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and others. Dr. Ward also has extensive experience in completing educational evaluations for learning disabilities.
Leah Crask-Ellis, LPC
Leah Crask-Ellis is a Licensed Professional Counselor who graduated from Central Methodist University in 2013 with a Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling. Leah most often approaches therapy from person centered, cognitive behavioral, and mindfulness theories but draws on other theories and practices to best suit her clients. Leah has a variety of therapeutic experiences including inpatient and outpatient settings and addressing concerns such as substance use, serious and chronic mental illness, suicidality, relationship difficulties, grief, depression, anxiety, sexual and gender identity concerns in children, adolescents, adults and couples. Leah has specialized training in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) which are both evidenced based practices for addressing both major and minor traumas, and WPATH Standards of Care for working with transgender individuals.
Andrew Johnson, LPC, NCC
Andrew Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2018 with a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and in 2019 with a Specialists in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Andy Siebert, LPC
Andy Siebert is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Andy graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2019 with a Master’s of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and in 2020 with an Education Specialist in Counseling.
Sheila Cannon, LPC, RPT
Sheila Cannon is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Play Therapist (RPT) who graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and from Southeast Missouri State University with a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and an Educational Specialist in Counseling degree.
Katie Ramirez, LPC, RPT
Katie Ramirez is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Play Therapist (RPT) with a Masters of Arts in School Counseling and an Educational Specialist in Counseling degree from Southeast Missouri State University.
Katie has extensive training in various play therapy approaches with children, adolescents and adults. She is also a certified EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitization Processing) provider. Katie has specialized training on the integration of EMDR and Play Therapy.
Rhonda Hughey, LPC, RPT
Rhonda Hughey is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2019 with an Educational Specialist in Counseling. She is also a certified School Counselor, Psychological Examiner and a Registered Play Therapist.
Morgan Murphy, LPC
Morgan Murphy is a licensed professional counseling (LPC) and received her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling in 2020 from Southeast Missouri State University. In her counseling sessions, she uses Existential and Solution Focused therapy. Morgan also uses techniques from a variety of other counseling theories in order to best meet the needs of her clients.
Kati Knaup, LPC, RPT
Kati Knaup is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a certified School Counselor, Psychological Examiner and Registered Play Therapist (RPT). Kati received her Masters of Science in Education in 2014 from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale and her Educational Specialist in Counseling in 2020 from Southeast Missouri State University.
Doris Irvin, LPC, NCC
Doris Irvin is a Licensed Professional Counselor who graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City (go kangaroos!) in 2012 with a Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and certified Medication Assisted Recovery Specialist (MARS). Doris has spent much of her professional career working at community mental health agencies and with clients who struggle with severe and persistent mental illness, economic hardship, and substance addiction.
Patricia Courtois, LCSW
Patricia Courtois is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Patricia has experience working with children, adolescents and adults and is interested in working with clients who are experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, and life changes. Patricia uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and a person-centered approach. Patricia believes that the client is the expert in their life and that she is the professional that can guide them to a healthier, more fulfilled life.
Ellie Stroder, LPC
Ellie Stroder received her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling in 2020 from Southeast Missouri State University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She also received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Southeast Missouri State University in 2017 and has experience working in Law Enforcement. In her counseling sessions, she uses an Existential lens as well as a variety of techniques from other counseling theories, which include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Person-Centered Therapy.
Rayme Keenan, LCSW
Rayme Keenan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She graduated from social California State University, Sacramento in 2013 and have been working in social services since.
Kim Backfisch, LPC, RPT
Kim Backfisch is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 2019 with an Educational Specialist in Counseling. She is also a certified School Counselor.
Danielle Wash, LPC
Danielle Wash completed her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling at Southeast Missouri State University in 2021 and is a Licensed Counselor (LPC) . In counseling, Danielle uses Existential Therapy, applying techniques from Narrative, Gestalt, and Adlerian Therapy. This allows her to adjust her counseling style to suit the unique needs of every client, meeting them where they are and figuring out where they want to go. Danielle has a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology and Psychology from Missouri State University and strives to better the mental health of her clients to help them age successfully.
Lindsay Chapman, LCSW
(Service clients residing in MO & IL)
Lindsay is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from Saint Louis University 2012 with a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) and received her clinical license in 2019.
Lindsay has been of service to an array of clients facing mental health woes, both in the community and private practice settings. Lindsay, most recently, comes back to her hometown of Cape Girardeau, from providing therapy for folks in Chicagoland.
Laura Emmons, Ed.S, LPC, NCC
Laura Emmons is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in nutrition and dietetics in 2018, her Master’s in mental health counseling in 2020, and her educational specialist degree in 2021, all from Southeast Missouri State University. She specializes in eating disorders and addiction, as well as treating other self-destructive behaviors.
Becky Bomar, PLPC
Becky Bomar graduated in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Development and received her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling in 2021 from Southeast Missouri State University. In her counseling sessions, Becky uses Gestalt therapy which is a humanistic and holistic therapeutic approach. .
Shannon Washington, PLPC
Shannon Washington is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC). She completed her Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling in August 2022. She graduated from Truman State University in 2020 with her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish for the Professions.
Alli McKeever, Counselor-in-Training
Alli is a counseling intern completing her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling at Southeast Missouri State University. Alli completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in 2020. Alli uses a person-centered and cognitive behavioral approach in counseling to help clients with a multitude of concerns. She enjoys reading, yoga, and spending time with friends.
Jarod Farnham, Counselor-in-Training
Jarod Farnham is a Counselor-in-Training completing his Masters of Mental Health Counseling from Southeast Missouri State University in August of 2023. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State in 2020 with a Bachelors in Psychology with Minors in Social Work and Child Development Trauma and Outcomes.
