Our Ash & Birch Team

 Christie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with over 25 years of experience in social services and behavioral health. Her background is in the field of developmental/intellectual disabilities where she lead the integration of wraparound planning and positive behavior support to engage and empower youth and families and reduce the need for out of home placement.  She is also a cofounder of Green Zone, a dynamic model of emotional support for individuals and caregivers.

Christie believes strongly in the inner capacity of all humans to grow and heal in mind, body, and spirit from trauma or challenges faced in life. Due to our interconnected nature, this healing capacity is deepened and broadened through the assistance and support of others. She seeks to hold a safe space through the therapeutic relationship to allow for the development of greater understanding and appreciation of self. Through this process, people begin to make meaningful changes and courageously act in ways that reflect their values and wholeness.

She is deeply fascinated with the human experience and the many avenues of finding expression and meaning as well as methods to cope with adversity and develop resiliency. She strives to support people to develop their own path to a fulfilling life based on individual strengths, values, and beliefs.

Christie specializes in treatment for the spectrum of anxiety, mood and eating disorders; disordered eating; and trauma.  She provides mindfulness-based, somatic, LGBTQ+ affirming and exposure therapies. These include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills Training; Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for anxiety disorders, including OCD; Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) for eating disorder recovery and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for anxiety, depression and trauma. 

Kelsey has been a non-diet and weight-neutral Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) for over a decade. She is also a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDS) through the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). Kelsey recently graduated with her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern New Hampshire University and became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHCA).

As a dietitian, Kelsey has been honored to serve adolescents and adults struggling with eating disorders. She has worked in various settings such as eating disorder treatment facilities, home infusion, and pediatric specialty clinics. Kelsey's nutritional philosophy incorporates a Weight-Neutral approach, Intuitive Eating, Body Liberation, Division of Responsibility, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) and a Non-Diet approach. 

As a mental health counselor, Kelsey believes in creating a supportive and empathetic environment where clients can feel safe to explore their thoughts, feelings, and body sensations. Kelsey integrates different therapeutic approaches such as Narrative Therapy, Self-Compassion, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),  Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) and last but not least laughter. She has experience working with individuals with anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders/disordered eating, trauma, life transition, and self-exploration.

Kelsey is also very passionate about supporting new dietitians joining the field and has serves as a dietetic preceptor for Eastern Michigan University.  

Kelsey focuses on creating a trauma-informed, collaborative, affirming, and inclusive space for all walks of life! 

Sandra Pearce is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with 7 years of experience working with adolescents and adults. She is a compassionate registered dietitian specializing in disordered eating, pregnancy-related concerns, postpartum health, and reproductive health. She embraces an Intuitive Eating and Weight-Inclusive approach, helping individuals foster a positive relationship with food and their bodies. Sandra provides evidence-based, personalized nutrition guidance to support overall well-being,

With multiple years of experience in the bariatric field, Sandra understands the complex relationship with food that many individuals face after bariatric surgery. She believes in the importance of healing that relationship, guiding individuals toward a sustainable, nourishing approach to eating that supports both physical and emotional well-being.

 From May through October, Sandra offers nutrition counseling in our Seeds of Strength community garden, where she partners with our therapists and the program’s gardener to combine evidence-based guidance with the healing power of nature. These sessions help individuals reconnect with growing and preparing food while building resilience and supporting mental health for those navigating challenges such as depression, OCD, eating disorders, and PTSD. Sandra also provides flexible care through virtual and in-office sessions during this time. 

Kelly is a Mental Health Intern at Ash & Birch Counseling. She holds a Master of Science in Psychology with a focus on child and adolescent development and is pursuing a second graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Capella University to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). She currently holds a licensure as  an Agency-

Affiliated Counselor and certified as a Substance Use Disorder Professional Trainee. 

Kelly’s clinical interests include anxiety, body positivity, chronic illness, depression, relationship issues, self-esteem, self-harm, spirituality, addiction/substance abuse, suicidal ideation, and trauma. 

Her therapeutic approach draws from a variety of evidence-based modalities, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Art Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), the Gottman Method, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered, and Strength-Based practices.

Kylie is a Mental Health Intern at Ash & Birch Counseling. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and is currently pursuing her Master's in Social Work at Walden University to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Kylie is also a certified Substance Use Disorder Professional. 

Kylie is passionate about supporting individuals navigating addiction/substance use, trauma, body image, disordered eating, anxiety disorders, OCD and co-occurring mental health disorders. Her clinical interests also include compassion fatigue and recovery resilience. 

Kylie’s therapeutic approach is grounded in Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. She values a strengths-based, person-centered framework that emphasizes collaboration, empowerment, and building on each client’s existing skills and resources. 

 Tammy Bower is a Movement Coach at Ash & Birch Counseling with over 13 years of expertise in personal training, exercise science, and nutrition. She is dedicated to helping adults safely integrate movement into their lives at every stage of recovery and wellness.

Early in her career, Tammy focused on weight loss, but she soon recognized the harm of that model. She has shifted to a weight‑neutral approach that emphasizes health, resilience, and self‑acceptance rather than numbers on a scale.

Tammy’s integrative style blends Safe Exercise at Every Stage, Functional Movement Training, Corrective Exercise, Strength & Conditioning, and Intuitive Eating. Through this framework, she empowers clients to reconnect with their bodies, build confidence, and foster long‑term health.

Whether guiding someone through eating disorder recovery, enhancing athletic performance, or supporting lifestyle change, Tammy creates a compassionate and structured environment where movement becomes a tool for healing and growth.