Sheryl Blake, LICSW, practices counseling at the Highlands and Newcastle primary care clinics through Valley’s Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP). She has experience and specialized training working with diverse populations, children, youth, families and adults with a broad range of issues. Her therapeutic style is collaborative and strength based, using tools from cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, compassion-focused therapy and mindfulness techniques.

Sheryl graduated from the University of Washington in 2010 with a master’s degree in social work.

Jennifer Braden, MD completed her medical training at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and residency, and fellowship at the University of Washington. Prior to psychiatry, she worked in public health as a medical epidemiologist.

Dr. Braden enjoys the breadth of psychiatry but has a particular interest in mental health problems in individuals with chronic pain, other chronic medical conditions, and substance use disorders. She has also been involved in research focused on chronic pain, opioids and mental health. She provides psychiatric consultation in several of Valley's primary care clinics as part of the Behavioral Integration Program (BHIP).

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Dani Blythe Dutro graduated from Arizona State University in 2009 with a master's in Counseling, and a certificate in Integrative Healthcare. She has experience and specialized training working with people suffering from trauma and symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Ms. Dutro worked in private practice with veteran and active-duty military clients before joining Valley Psychiatry and Counseling Center. She has a special interest in working with people who suffer from anxiety and stress, who want to learn how to be more present in their lives.

When not working directly with clients, Ms. Dutro can be found training or volunteering with her Therapy Dog.

Please call 1.800.469.3979 to find out if your health plan is accepted by our clinic.

Jamie Friddle, LMHC, is a Washington-state licensed mental health counselor. He received a Master of Arts in psychology and theology from Seattle University in 2013.

In practice, Jamie treated adult individuals with chronic mental illness at Sound Mental Health's Bellevue and Capitol Hill campuses, and worked with couples and individuals in private practice and at Samaritan Center of Puget Sound. Jamie achieved Level 1 certification in Emotionally Focused Therapy and is certified in Lifespan Integration and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, which emphasize the use of imagination and the body in treatment of trauma. He enjoys a psychodynamic practice at Psychiatry & Counseling Clinic that is informed by interpersonal, existential-humanistic, and somatic-oriented psychologies.

Jamie has a special interest in treating incidental and relational trauma and the mood, anxiety, and identity disturbance these can cause. He also has a research interest in the function of spirituality in psychological growth.

In his personal life, Jamie enjoys nature, art, and food of all kinds.

Please call 800.469.3979 to find out if your health plan is accepted by our clinic.

Michelle Hillar LMHC, was born and raised in Spokane, WA. She has lived in Western Washington for about 25 years and has her bachelor's degree from WSU in Social Science and her master's degree from Seattle University in Therapeutic Psychology. Michelle is also an LGBTQ specialist and has worked with adults, adolescence and children during her career, with an emphasis on anxiety, depression and OCD.

Approach:
Michelle strives to treat each person with care and compassion with whatever they bring to the table. She feels that meeting a person where they are is the best way to form a solid relationship and can ensure the person feels heard and understood.

Joanna Leung, PhD, received her doctorate in clinical-community psychology from the University of South Carolina. She completed her internship at Temple University Hospital and post-doctoral fellowship in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at UMDNJ. Dr. Leung worked in private practice and at a bariatric center for several years in Iowa before joining Valley Psychiatry and Counseling Center in April 2015. She has a special interest working with patients who suffer anxiety and mood disorders, and wish to become more mindful in their lives.

In her free time, she enjoys time with her husband and her full time position as a mother to her three sons and dog.

Please call 1.800.469.3979 to find out if your health plan is accepted by our clinic.

Dr. Nam Nguyen is an outpatient psychiatrist at Valley's Psychiatry & Counseling clinic and is also a consulting psychiatrist at the hospital.

He is a board-certified general adult psychiatrist. He completed residency at The University of Texas, Medical Branch. After finishing residency, he worked as an attending psychiatrist at the inpatient psychiatry unit at St. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma.

Please call 800.469.3979 to find out if your health plan is accepted by our clinic

Rejoice Opara, MD is a general and adult psychiatrist. She completed her residency training at the University of Washington.

Dr. Stern is the Behavioral Scientist for the Valley Family Medicine Residency program.

Her professional interests include family therapy, medical ethics, and the relationship between nutrition and mood disorders.

Please call 1.800.469.3979 to find out if your health plan is accepted by our clinic.

Johanne graduated from Central Washington University in 1992 with a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. She has worked in a variety of outpatient mental health clinics before coming to Valley Medical Center's Psychiatry and Counseling Center in 2004.

Johanne has experience working with adults with a broad range of issues. Of particular interest to her is working with clients who have experienced trauma, depression, and anxiety. In her free time she enjoys baking, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Please call 1.800.469.3979 to find out if your health plan is accepted by our clinic.

Minjing Wu is board-certified in psychiatry. She has experience in both private and community mental health practice. Her interests include women's and ethnic minority's mental health issues. She speaks three Chinese dialects.

Please call 1.800.469.3979 to find out if your health plan is accepted by our clinic.