Dr. Tami DeCoteau
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. DeCoteau obtained a doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2003 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a specialization in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders for adults, adolescents, and children.
Dr. DeCoteau is a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) practitioner. TBRI is a therapeutic model that trains caregivers to provide effective support for at-risk children. She is also trained in various other trauma treatment modalities including EMDR, EFT, somatic processing, attachment intervention, NMT (neurosequential model of therapeutics), and TF-CBT. Dr. De Coteau has extensive experience working with patients who suffer from complex trauma, neurodevelopmental disorders, grief, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thinking.
Dr. DeCoteau has worked in a variety of outpatient settings and with a diverse patient population, including Veterans and Native Americans. She received the Indian Health Service 2009 Health Professional of the Year Award for outstanding service and the American Psychological Foundation 2010 Early Career Award for providing culturally competent practice techniques for Native Americans and for developing training programs in rural, underserved areas. Dr. DeCoteau was appointed by a member of the U.S. Congress to serve the Commission on Native Children to help address the challenges faced by Native children.
Aside from clinical work, Dr. DeCoteau has given numerous lectures on how trauma impacts attachment and brain development, in-school strategies for working with traumatized children, and historical trauma. She is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara Nation and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Sue Herzog
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Sue has an extensive history with the provision of trauma and trust-based therapeutic interventions for children and adults, who have experienced complex trauma. Sue's training includes certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics through the Child Trauma Academy and EMDR certification through the Maiberger Institute. Sue continues her EMDR training with Ana Gomez through the Agate Institute.
Sue is a graduate of UND's Graduate School with a Master of Social Work. Her previous work experience involves more than twenty years of Social Work services, including case management and clinical therapy at the West Central Human Service Center. She also provided therapeutic services through Dakota Family Services and her own business, Resiliency Clinical Services. Additionally, she taught and coordinated Minot State University's Social Work program in Bismarck for 10 years.
Sue is only offering telehealth appointments.
Dr. Alana Semchenko
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Semchenko obtained a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology in 2009 from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University. She provides outpatient therapy services as well as psychological testing. She specializes in treating adults, adolescents and children with trauma and attachment symptoms, anxiety, and mood disorders.
Dr. Semchenko has worked in a variety of settings with a diverse client population, including young children, foster/adoptive families, Native Americans, and people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. She provides both directive and non-directive play therapy services and utilizes a variety of interventions including Trust Based Relationship Interventions, cognitive behavioral approaches, and EMDR therapy.
Shelley Buffington
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Licensed Master Addiction Counselor
Shelley (Klein) Buffington has worked as a licensed addiction counselor for the past 30 years, primarily serving patient's and families in treatment programs. Shelley obtained her Masters Degree is Mental Health Counseling in 2015 and became trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) to assist her patient's with life distressing events and/or past trauma. She is also trained in Internal Family Systems which helps us explore conflicted parts and how they function with one another to heal the wounded part and restore balance with the core self.
Specialties include addiction, trauma, anxiety, depression, divorce, relationships stress and military issues.
Monica Melchior
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Monica Melchior, LCSW, is an experienced mental health provider with over 20 years in the field of social work. She holds a Master of Social Work from Walla Walla University and offers a person-centered therapeutic approach, informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS) and enhanced by the use of humor to foster a supportive and comfortable environment for healing and growth.
Monica works with clients 15 and older, offering individual and couples therapy. She’s trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and she focuses on helping people navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and personal development. She also specializes in working with law enforcement officers and first responders, understanding the unique challenges they face.
Brandi Schmidt
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Licensed Master Addiction Counselor
Brandi Schmidt holds a Master of Science in counseling from the University of Mary. She is licensed to treat addiction and mental health in the state of North Dakota. She has experience working with a variety of populations to include veterans, incarcerated, homeless, adolescents, couples, and every day people wanting to reach the best version of themselves. She specializes in co-occurring disorders of addiction and mental health, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, LGBTQ+ issues, suicidal ideation, and grief. Brandi is a veteran and currently serves in the North Dakota Army National Guard. Brandi is a 500-hour registered yoga teacher and offers services that collaborate with trauma-informed yoga. Brandi is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy), DBT (Dialectic Behavior Therapy), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), IFS (Internal Family Systems), prolonged exposure, and other evidence-based techniques.
Courtney Govig
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Courtney Govig obtained her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Mary in 2019. She works primarily with young children, foster/adopted populations, adolescents, teens, and early adulthood. She provides nondirective and directive play therapy services while incorporating Trust-Based Relational interventions. She also utilizes CBT and somatic interventions throughout her practice while focusing on mind-body connection. She is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for both kids and adults.
Her specialties include complex trauma, depression, anxiety, parenting strategies, attachment, behavioral issues, suicidal ideation, and autism.
Candace Ell
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor
Candace has been providing counseling in the Bismarck/Mandan area for 15 years. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Addiction Counseling in 2009, and her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2020. Candace has interests in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, drug and alcohol problems, dual diagnosis (addiction and mental health disorders), and personality disorders. She provides counseling to individuals ages 12 and older, families, and couples.
Candace received her EMDR training through Maiberger Institute and uses the interventions to treat a variety of trauma and distressing events. She also provides interventions through CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, and Motivational Interviewing. Additional interventions are integrated with a holistic approach to counseling including the mind, body, and spirit. Candace believes in the empowerment of all people and is driven to provide new skills, perspective, and hope for those experiencing mental health disorders.
Krista Barnes
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Krista Berg has worked for the past 25 years as a social worker in the southwest region of North Dakota, primarily serving those with severe mental health illness. Krista graduated from University of North Dakota with her master's in social work in 2012 and began doing clinical work in 2014. She has provided individual, family and group therapy through outpatient treatment. Krista has provided 10 plus years of crisis intervention services, offering after hours crisis intervention with individuals in their homes, ER, jail, etc. She utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TFCBT).
Krista works in the Dickinson office and works with ages 8 years old through life span and specializes in treating trauma, anxiety, depression, relationships, mood disorders.
Karissa Kautzman
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor
Karissa Kautzman has worked as an addiction counselor since 2014. She completed her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Mary in 2022. She has worked in a variety of levels of care in the addiction field and recently has been focusing on providing mental health services for individuals with dual diagnoses. Karissa uses EMDR (eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing), A.R.T. (Accelerated Resolution Therapy), somatic experiencing, DBT, CBT, and other evidence-based practices to support her clients. Karissa believes in helping her clients heal their inner wounds through the therapeutic process. Her areas of interest include trauma, substance abuse, dual diagnosis, anxiety, and working with parents with children with special needs. She is currently working with individuals ages 10 and up.
Karissa serves on the Board of Directors for Designer Genes, a North Dakota agency that supports individuals and their families with Down Syndrome. She enjoys running, boating, training for new adventures, being an advocate for children and families with special needs, and loves spending time with her family enjoying the outdoors.
Nick Cimarosti
Licensed Master Social Worker
Nick has lived in North Dakota his entire adult life. He lives in Bismarck with his wife (Tomi), son (Vincenzo), Vizsla (Midas), snake (Elmer), and two goldfish (Goldie and Spike). It is important to know these things about Nick…because relationships matter.
Nick has been a licensed social worker since 2011 and is currently in his last semester of graduate work to attain his MSW. His clinical graduate training has been focused on working somatically with people while trying to understand their situations from a trauma-based perspective. After he graduates, he hopes to move into a role as a clinician.
Nick has worked with youth for the last 20 years both in the group care and foster care settings. He has a passion for working with the Standing Rock Nation as that is the tribe from which his wife hails. He has a simple goal he keeps in mind when working with people: approach each relationship with fervent curiosity. All else will fall into place.
When not working or interning, you can find Nick running. He views running as a way to disconnect the mind and heal spiritually. He’s been known to run 50 miles at a time. If the letters R2R2R make sense to you, go find him to chat! He cherishes his time with his family, loves going to concerts and music in general, and looks forward to summer for cross-country motorcycle trips.
Jesus Payan
Licensed Associate Professional Counselor
Jesus is a graduate student at the University Mary counseling program and is looking to complete his master’s this Spring of 2024. Throughout his internship Jesus has been able to gain experience working with trauma and has utilized different modalities including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy. Jesus is a native of Chihuahua, Mexico and aims to utilize his native language, Spanish, to impact and assist Hispanic communities. He has a Bachelor of Science in Exercise and strongly believes in utilizing a holistic approach of care.
Bethanie Krieg
Licensed Master Social Worker
Bethanie Krieg has worked for the last 15 years as a Social Worker in southwest North Dakota, primarily working in school and home setting with children ages 0-12 and their families. Bethanie graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in 2008. She completed her Master in Social Work at the University of Puerto Rico in 2010. While just beginning her clinical path, she has had experience with crisis intervention, skill building, and problem solving. She utilizes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness. Bethanie works in the Dickinson office and works with ages birth through adulthood.
Jen Delzer
Medical Billing Specialist
Jen has been with Decoteau Trauma Informed-Care & Practice since 2017. Her duties consist of credentialing providers with insurance companies, medical terminology, insurance company navigation, submitting insurance claims for payment and review and managing all billable contracts. She is also a notary public for the state of North Dakota. In addition to these work duties Jen has 5 children and a grandson, spends many hours doing crafts and sewing, coaches sports for her children and stays active in many community issues.
Michelle Arnett
Office Manager
Michelle is the Office Manager at DeCoteau Trauma-Informed Care and Practice. Her duties consist of overseeing the admin staff in all three clinics, HR duties, assisting with payroll, grant tracking, managing payment plans, scheduling appointments, and keeping the office organized and running smoothly. She can, and will, create a spreadsheet for everything. Michelle has been with DeCoteau Trauma since November 2021.
She is married and has three daughters. Her home has been taken over by a really fat cat named Penny, and an energetic Corgi named Noodle. In her free time, she enjoys reading, Bobcats hockey, Harley rides, fishing, and concerts.
Marie Perkerewicz
Staff Development Specialist
Marie is the Staff Development Specialist at DeCoteau Trauma-Informed Care and Practice. She has been with the clinic since October 2021. She is responsible for handling our contracts, cultivating relationships with our communities and business partners, and performing outreach duties. She also handles all of our administrative needs for the Garrison Branch.
In her spare time, you'll find Marie reading, crafting, and enjoying the outdoors with her family. She likes to hunt, fish, and go on hikes with her husband.
Amber Martin
Office Assistant
Amber is the office assistant in the Dickinson location. Amber enjoys crafts, sewing, reading, kayaking, camping, and spending time with family. She is a new resident to the Dickinson area and has chosen to live closer to family. She has 2 grown children and 1 granddaughter.
A quote she likes to share is: "Whenever there is a negative in life there is a positive that comes along."