Counseling & Wellness Services Staff
Our professional staff are available to answer questions, discuss wellness issues, provide one-on-one counseling or assist students with referrals to campus and community resources.
** Indicates staff working part-time.
Carla Benson
Client Services Supervisor
(she/her/hers)
Carla Benson has worked at EWU since August 2017. The favorite part of her job is talking with students. She loves spending time with her kids, figuring out which video games her cat likes to watch, and listening to music.
Ellie Davis, M.S.WAMS
Health Education Coordinator
(she/her)
Ellie earned her B.S. in Applied Developmental Psychology from EWU in 2020, and went on to earn her M.S. in Wellness and Movement Sciences in 2023. As an undergraduate student, Ellie worked in CWS as a Peer Health Educator where she developed her passion for student support and access to resources. After completing her Master’s, Ellie went on to work in higher education as a transfer student coordinator, where she met with students to assist with resource connection and transferring their college credits. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her dogs, reading and traveling.
Katie Esler, M.S. **
Psychological Counselor
LMHC, NCC
(she/her)
Katie has a MS in Counseling with specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Washington University and received her BS in Psychology with a minor in Biology from Washington State University.
She has experience working with local college students in their counseling/psychological services department, private solo/group practice experience, as well as crisis response services for Eastern Washington residents (Regional Crisis Line/988/Lifeline). She has worked extensively with people who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, low-income, non-traditional relationships/sexual dynamics, varying risk and severities of mental illnesses, different cultural backgrounds, and the intersectionality between those aspects.
She works from a holistic person-centered mindset in the therapy space, mainly utilizing Person-Centered Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness, Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) modalities.
In her free time, loves to paint/craft, spend time with friends, play video games, and manage her spicy cat, Pepper
Cole Evers, M.S. Psychological Counselor, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Cole has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Biology, and a Masters of Science in Counselor Education with an emphasis in mental health counseling from Eastern Washington University.
During Cole’s undergrad, he spent a semester studying psychology in Australia through EWU’s study abroad program. During Cole’s graduate program, he was a clinical mental health intern at the EWU counseling center.
After graduating with his Masters, he moved to Vancouver Washington working with non-profit mental health agencies. He gained valuable experience working with these agencies and now applies that knowledge to the university counseling setting.
He focuses on interpersonal factors and strength-based approaches to assist clients in their journey. Cole is designated as the EWU veteran resource centers (VRC) liaison and works to create a line of communication and access for students using the VRC. Cole enjoys spending time with his friends and family along with reading, golf, and boating in the summer.
Tricia Hughes
Senior Director
she/her/hers
thughes11@ewu.edu
Tricia's path to her dream job at EWU began with stints in public health and K-12 education. Through these experiences, she designed health communication strategies, implemented evidence-based prevention and environmental programs, facilitated community processes and collaborations, provided professional development, and worked to radiate possibility and positivity. She will try most things once, which places her in fun experiences such as dance-offs and dunk tanks and highlights her sense of humor. She is a self-proclaimed coffee-aholic and dark chocolate connoisseur, who is passionate about physical activity and can be found outside with her family bike riding, skiing, hiking, golfing, or paddling.
Rán Henry, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist, Coordinator of Biofeedback Services
Rán was born and raised in Iceland, with a part time stint in Scotland. She came to the US as an international student and completed her graduate studies in counseling psychology from the University of Northern Colorado in 2008. She has been a full-time clinician with Eastern since 2013. Rán's clinical interests include anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, biofeedback and mindfulness. She draws from humanistic, solution-focused, mindfulness and acceptance based approaches to the therapeutic process.
She feels deeply honored to journey along-side students, as they navigate life's many challenges, and is committed to showing-up for and empowering her fellow humans, while staying curious and humble in the process.
Rán loves hanging out with her family (which includes, her husband, two sons, daughter, and Golden Retriever, Charlie), traveling and being in the outdoors, whether that's finding new trails to explore, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming in random lakes, gardening, or just watching the clouds float by. She aspires to pick up her passion for the arts again, some day.
Robert Henry, D.O.**
Consulting Psychiatrist
Dr. Henry has been with the Counseling Center for the past 13 years. He starting working in the Spokane area after graduating from the University of Washington residency program in psychiatry.
Dr. Henry really enjoys working with the student population. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors and sailing.
Marissa Jenks-Barajas, M.S.W. Psychological Counselor
Marissa received her Master of Social Work from thee Advanced Standing Master of Social Work Program at Eastern Washington University in June of 2021. Marissa utilizes a strength-based, person centered, and person-in-environment theoretical framework. Her clinical interests include trauma, self-esteem/self-worth, self-understanding, and emotion regulation. She believes that the way we think and feel is not only influenced by our own personal values and strengths, but also by the people within our environment. In Marissa’s free time you can find her spending time with her partner & friends, playing with her dogs, or working on a crafting project.
Michael McClung, M.S.**
Interim Director for Counseling and Clinical Supervisor
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Michael joined the EWU Counseling and Wellness team in 2022. He began his career in the helping professions working in the substance use treatment field in 2011. He went on to earn his master’s degree in applied psychology from EWU in 2015 and then worked as a counselor in community health. In therapy, Michael works from person-centered and existential approaches – meeting clients where they are at and helping them find their own adaptive and meaningful strategies to take on the challenges of life. He is also both personally and professionally interested in wellness and positive psychology. Michael enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music, playing guitar and drums, cooking, reading, playing pickleball, and getting outside as much as possible.
Emily Migliazzo, M. ED
Basic Needs Navigator & Homeless Outreach
she/her/hers
Emily Migliazzo, M.Ed. (she/her) is a former secondary educator originally from California. She graduated in 2018 with her Bachelor’s in English Education from Long Beach State. After graduating from Gonzaga in 2020, she worked for two years as a language activist and humanities teacher at Salish School of Spokane, the largest off-reservation Language Reclamation program in the contiguous 48 states. She then taught for one year at Cheney Middle School before switching gears to working in higher education at EWU.
She is passionate about mutual aid, equity, and community care and excited to put these passions into practice through helping students navigate basic needs resources to succeed at Eastern.
In her time away from work, she loves hosting, cooking, baking, and reading excessively. During the warmer months, you will find her with her partner kayaking, camping, or attending concerts.
Michael Ochi, Psy.D.
Psychological Counselor
Michael has his Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology and has worked at EWU since 2018. He focuses on individual and systemic factors to collaboratively help clients understand what's currently impacting their lives and learn ways to create meaningful change. Some activities that Michael enjoys, during is free time, include bonsai and gardening, being outdoors, playing games, and spending time with his family.
Myranda Schee Client Services Representative (They/Them)
Myranda returned to Eastern with Counseling and Wellness Services in January 2022 after graduating from EWU in 2020 with their BA in Psychology. Before returning to Eastern, they spent time working with individuals experiencing homelessness as a shelter support staff in downtown Spokane. While a student at Eastern, they helped facilitate the creation of the Gender-Inclusive Floor located within the residence halls, and was graced with the opportunity to serve as the first Community Advisor for this floor.
Myranda’s passions include mental health advocacy, LGBTQ+ activism, working with individuals experiencing homelessness, and helping students in the continuation of their higher education.
When not working, Myranda enjoys spending time with their fiancée, cuddling with their cats, creating art in some capacity, collecting funky socks, and playing video games.
Emily Wilson, M.S. LICSW
Psychological Counselor
Emily earned a BA in Social Analysis with a Minor in Peace Studies from Whitworth University. She earned a MS in Social Administration (Social Work) from Case Western Reserve University. Her passion and experience is in working with people who struggle with disordered eating or emotion dysregulation. In her free time, Emily enjoy traveling the world, reading, kayaking, and playing video games.
Counseling Office
Martin Hall 225
Hours
M-F | 8AM-5PM | Closed 12PM-1PM for Lunch
Wellness Office
URC 201
Phone: (509) 359-2366 | Fax: (509) 359-4283 | Email: cws@ewu.edu
