FCS Directors and Admin
Jennifer Michelle LCPC, CEO
Andrea Thompson LCPC Executive Clinical Director
Andrea Thompson LCPC Executive Clinical Director
Jennifer is a LCPC specializing in counseling services around in; trauma, marriage and family, grief, depression, anxiety, survivors of physical and sexual abuse, adolescents, and adults. Jennifer supports clients using a systemic and solution focused approach. To do this she looks at the entire system in and around a client’s life, gathers information, and then a team approach is used between client and counselor to create the best environment and solutions for healing. She graduated in 2006 from Northwest Nazarene University with a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. Since that time Jennifer has received her endorsement as a Nationally Certified Counselor and is a Registered Supervisor in Idaho. In addition, she is Part 2 trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has authored several articles and is in the process of writing a book.
Andrea Thompson LCPC Executive Clinical Director
Andrea Thompson LCPC Executive Clinical Director
Andrea Thompson LCPC Executive Clinical Director
Andrea works mostly with individuals 10 years of age and older. . Andrea has experience working in the past with CBRS programs as well as in the counseling field. Andrea has a very kind and compassionate heart which has proven very successful in helping her clients achieve their goals in counseling. She graduated from Idaho State University in 2010, with her Masters of Mental Health Counseling. Andrea practices counseling from a Gestalt perspective which believes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. She also uses a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction which incorporates mindfulness exercises to treat a number of issues, not just stress. Together the counselor and the client make the perfect team to make the best attempt to accomplish the goals set out by the client.
Jessica Housel Chief Operating Officer
Andrea Thompson LCPC Executive Clinical Director
Jessica Housel Chief Operating Officer
Jessica began working at Family Counseling Services in February of 2019. Jessica graduated from Boise State University in 2013 with a degree in Business Administration. Jessica’s goal is to make every experience with FCS a stress free and satisfactory experience.
Jessica is responsible for the day-to-day operations of FCS and ensures that all systems, resources and team members are in a place to achieve the goals of the company. Jessica takes pride in working alongside FCS team members to create alignment with company goals and working to meet key targets of the organization.
“Coming Together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” -Henry Ford
Clinical Team
Andrea Thompson LCPC Supervisor & QAP Director
Tabitha Lower LPC Supervisor in Training
Tabitha Lower LPC Supervisor in Training
Andrea works mostly with individuals 10 years of age and older. . Andrea has experience working in the past with CBRS programs as well as in the counseling field. Andrea has a very kind and compassionate heart which has proven very successful in helping her clients achieve their goals in counseling. She graduated from Idaho State University in 2010, with her Masters of Mental Health Counseling. Andrea practices counseling from a Gestalt perspective which believes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. She also uses a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction which incorporates mindfulness exercises to treat a number of issues, not just stress. Together the counselor and the client make the perfect team to make the best attempt to accomplish the goals set out by the client.
Tabitha Lower LPC Supervisor in Training
Tabitha Lower LPC Supervisor in Training
Tabitha Lower LPC Supervisor in Training
Tabitha is an LPC and has experience in play therapy, expressive arts, and sand tray, and uses an eclectic approach. Using these approaches allow clients to access more silent parts of the brain.
“Play is the work of childhood.” ~ Mr. Rogers
When working with adults and trauma survivors Tabitha works from the Internal Family Systems theory. This theory allows Tabitha and her client to work with the client’s inner child and their different parts to gain a better understanding on how the client interacts with their world. Her approach to counseling is motivated by respect, openness, and collaboration. Tabitha is trained in EMDR, specializes in Sand Tray, and is working towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist.
Adam Burwell - LPC
Tabitha Lower LPC Supervisor in Training
Nicole Hill - Counseling Intern
Adam is an LPC. After a 12-year teaching career, he has decided to transition out of the classroom and work with people on an individual level. As a teacher, he saw the importance of maintaining a strong sense of self and how one’s social and emotional states can impact many areas in their life. He is interested in working with children and adolescents but is also hoping to gain a broad range of experience through his time as an intern at FCS. He loves being able to partner with clients to effect the change they desire for their lives.
Nicole Hill - Counseling Intern
Shanell Wallentine - Counseling Intern
Nicole Hill - Counseling Intern
Nicole is currently working on her master's degree in Counseling at Northwest Nazarene University. She has experience working with a wide variety of clientele as a CBRS provider and Case Manager. Throughout her time as an outpatient provider, she has gained knowledge and competency in seeing clients with PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and grief. Nicole is interested in working with children and adolescents, but is looking forward to seeing clients of all ages at FCS. She is an accepting and empathetic person who believes that each client has individual needs and perspectives. Nicole strives to create a safe space for clients to share and process their emotions without fear of judgment.
Shanell Wallentine - Counseling Intern
Shanell Wallentine - Counseling Intern
Shanell Wallentine - Counseling Intern
Shanell is passionate about helping individuals navigate difficulties they face in life. Her approach is empathic, compassionate, and solution-focused offering a way for individuals to find hope and meaning in their life. She is a master’s level graduate student at Northwest Nazarene University in their counseling education program with an emphasis in acceptance and mindfulness-informed therapies, trauma, and play therapy. She graduated from Brigham Young University–Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marriage and Family Studies in 2017. As a wife and mother of seven children, the last 35 years have given her insight and experiences that when combined with her training has prepared her to work with people of all ages as well as couples and families.
Matalynn Eager - Counseling Intern
Shanell Wallentine - Counseling Intern
Shanell Wallentine - Counseling Intern
Matalynn has practicum and internship experience working with clients of various ages and multicultural identities. Most of this experience has involved helping kids with anxiety, autism, grief, and anger management. She also previously worked in respite care, providing services to children on the autism spectrum and their families. Matalynn is currently a Northwest Nazarene University graduate student working on her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. Her emphasis area is play therapy, and her approach is primarily client-centered. She is also passionate about mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Matalynn aims to work with clients to build strong therapeutic alliances unique to each individual. Her continuous goal is to make counseling a space of acceptance where clients can safely share their stories, be authentic, explore values, and increase self-compassion.
CarolBirdzell - Counseling Intern
CarolBirdzell - Counseling Intern
CarolBirdzell - Counseling Intern
Carol is working to complete her graduate degree in psychology, emphasizing Professional Clinical Counseling at The University of Massachusetts Global. Carol fell in love with the science of psychology when she was first exposed to it as an undergraduate at Boise State and believes that her life has come full circle now that she is settling into a career in it. She has been working as a licensed midwife since 2014 and decided it was time to transition her career to one that will enable her to live a more balanced and healthy life. Carol’s holistic and individualized approach to caring for people that was cultivated over her years as a midwife will undoubtedly carry over to her relationships with counseling clients.
Carol’s passion for people and families in the perinatal period remains strong and she is eager to continue to work with people in this time of their lives, however she is also excited to work with other populations, here at FCS. Carol takes an integrated approach to therapy to best meet the needs of each individual client. In her program she is learning about numerous theories, perspectives, and interventions and has gained competency in working with anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD and grief. Carol’s nature is genuine, open minded, warm, compassionate, and caring.
“You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it.” -Samuel Butler
Community Staff
Marrissa Norland BI, Clinical Supervisor
Cassidy Lazarte BI Provider Clinical Supervisor
Cassidy Lazarte BI Provider Clinical Supervisor
Marrissa has been a resident in Boise for two years. In 2016, she graduated from Concordia University, Irvine with a Bachelor's degree in Education Leadership. She received her Habilitative Intervention certification in February 2019. Marrissa is currently studying at Simmons University to obtain her Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis and test to be a Board Certified Behavior Analysis. Marrissa loves her job and the clients she works with!
Cassidy Lazarte BI Provider Clinical Supervisor
Cassidy Lazarte BI Provider Clinical Supervisor
Cassidy Lazarte BI Provider Clinical Supervisor
Hi everyone! My name is Cassidy Lazarte. I moved to Idaho in 2019 with my husband and we love it here. I have always been passionate about working and caring for those with disabilities. I recently graduated from BYU-Idaho with my bachelors in Family and Marriage Studies. Since I loved it so much I thought why not continue learning? In January 2021, I began my masters program in Aba Therapy and am loving it! In my free time I love spending time with my family, running, and playing the piano! I am so excited to be a part of Family Counseling Services!!
Kennedy Noden BI Tech
Cassidy Lazarte BI Provider Clinical Supervisor
Kennedy Noden BI Tech
Kennedy recently moved to Idaho after finishing college at CSUSM with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She has worked with children and families for years and found her perfect fit here at Family Counseling Services. She has plans to further her education in Psychology in the future. In her free time, Kennedy enjoys being outdoors with friends and family.
Nicole Elmore BI Tech
Debanhi Aguirre-Jimenez BI Tech
Kennedy Noden BI Tech
Born and raised in the Midwest (yes, the "opes!" are true), Nicole and her native Idahoan husband moved to the Treasure Valley a year ago. She misses her rolling hills but is fond of the mountains and all the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Having recently graduated with a B.S. in Counseling Psychology, Nicole is excited to participate in meaningful work through Family Counseling Services. She is passionate about quite a few things, like a good sandwich and perinatal mental health. In her free time, she enjoys reading, doting on her cat, connecting with loved ones, playing volleyball, and being an aunt.
Brandon Johnson BI Tech
Debanhi Aguirre-Jimenez BI Tech
Debanhi Aguirre-Jimenez BI Tech
Brandon is a recent BSU graduate, receiving a B.S. in psychology. Combining this with studies in criminal justice and philosophy, he has found a passion in discovering what makes people tick and why they do what they do. He seeks to leverage this to help those in need reach their goals, improve their lives, and realize their full potential and inherent worth. In his free time, he likes to listen to music and spend time outdoors with his loved ones.
Debanhi Aguirre-Jimenez BI Tech
Debanhi Aguirre-Jimenez BI Tech
Debanhi Aguirre-Jimenez BI Tech
Debanhi is a recent NNU graduate. Graduating with a B.A in Applied Studies with an emphasis on nursing, and minor's in spanish. Debanhi is passionate about helping others while providing excellent results and meeting expectations through FCS. She plans to further her education in counseling in the future! In her free time she enjoys being with family, baking, bookmaking and traveling.
Rob Dennis BI Tech
Erica Faler BI Tech
Erica Faler BI Tech
Rob graduated with a bachelors degree and has experience working with youth in the community and school settings. Rob started working for Family Counseling Services in 2022 and is pursuing his master’s degree with the goal of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor. He spent the first 12 years of his adult life in youth ministry, working all across our country and has spent the last 2 years on a personal growth journey which helped him discover that my passion in his is helping people.
Erica Faler BI Tech
Erica Faler BI Tech
Erica Faler BI Tech
Erica graduated with a bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in marriage and family studies from Brigham Young University - Idaho and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in marriage and family counseling at Northwest Nazarene University. She was born and raised in Mesa, AZ where she previously received her associate’s in music which allows her the wonderful opportunity to also work with teens as a piano teacher, which she has been doing for several years. In her spare time, she lives a glamorous life running her children to their various after-school activities and cleaning the house.