Virtual IOP

Born in Clearwater, Florida, Josh Ulrich spent his childhood in Georgia, Florida, Iowa, Ohio, and Arizona before his family settled in California. Attending UC Santa Barbara, he majored in East Asian studies with a minor in Japanese. A decade in sales and business led to burnout, Ulrich says, but he knew he wanted to keep working with people (minus the sales quotas and pressure to “always be closing”). He knew his skills and experience could translate well to the mental health field, so he pursued a master’s in mental health counseling from Argosy University. A licensed professional counselor (LPC) and certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT), Ulrich did his internship at Hospice of Arizona, where his patients were both the dying and the families of those that had died. He also spent seven years at Gila River Indian Reservation at the Gila River Behavioral Health Department. There his roles included mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, and case manager with patients ranging in age from toddlers to elders. Ulrich joined the Meadows Outpatient Center-Scottsdale team in 2017 as a full-time group/individual therapist. He’s previously worked with young adults and sex addiction patients, while he currently runs our Arizona Virtual IOP group. He works with individuals from all over the state, leading them through processing their emotions, thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Today, Ulrich makes his home in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife and two young daughters. A video game afficionado, he grew up playing Atari 2600. Since computer games didn’t compare to the Nintendo and Sega of his childhood, he never got into PC gaming. He still prefers consoles, and it’s a hobby he’s turned into a family affair.

Originally from Philadelphia, Kelly Walch did advanced study in human sexuality education, earning her PhD (ABD), a master’s in social work, and a master’s in education, all from Widener University. She also holds a BA in psychology from Temple University. Walch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, Certified Multiple Addiction Therapist (financial disorders), and Certified Multiple Addiction Therapist (gaming and technology disorders. She is also trained in Post Induction Therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, Brainspotting, and is a Reiki Master. Her vast employment experience includes roles as a family therapist at Gentle Path at The Meadows and a trauma therapist at The Meadows Outpatient Center-Scottsdale. She has also volunteered for a variety of organizations including Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) in Philadelphia.   In her current position as clinical director of Virtual Outpatient Services for The Meadows, Walch provides support, fosters clinical growth, and creates systems for the therapists on the VIOP team. With an Earth-friendly commute that is about 25 feet, she enjoys getting to work from home with her dog, Peanut Butter. She also loves seeing all the patients’ pets when they walk across a keyboard, jump on a lap, or appear in the background — something unique to the virtual environment. When not working, Walch enjoys hanging out with friends and playing games, everything from  Singapore Mahjong, Hand-Foot-Toe (a more complex version of Canasta), and Spades to Dominos, Ticket to Ride, and more. She also loves movies and walking Peanut Butter in local parks in the cooler months.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lisa Miranda worked at The Meadows Outpatient Center-Silicon Valley prior to joining our virtual team, MBH Connect, in February 2022. She did her undergraduate work at UCLA and earned a master’s from California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Miranda entered the mental health field in 2002 and became a licensed marriage and family therapist in 2010. She is also certified in EMDR and trained in Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM). In addition to 10 years in the nonprofit world, working in the community and providing services to underserved populations throughout the Bay Area, Miranda also worked in private practice and in several partial hospitalization and outpatient programs. Other experience includes addressing trauma in school-age kids, teens, and adults for more than 15 years. Frequently told she was “a good listener” and “compassionate” in high school and college, she was inspired to find a way to help people who were suffering, which led her to become a psychotherapist. Miranda is also passionate about healing on a holistic level and appreciates Meadows Behavioral Healthcare’s ongoing commitment to continuously expanding knowledge and skills so everyone can do their best work for those they serve. Facilitating virtual groups in California, she also provides individual therapy, case management, psychoeducation, and coordinates and collaborates with other providers for aftercare planning. One thing Miranda loves about her job is being a witness to healing. “Every person seeking treatment is in their own place on their path,” she says, “and it is a gift to be able to support the healing, growth, and transformation that can happen.” A single parent to a young daughter, Miranda spends her spare time traveling, hiking, and reading. She says she especially loves to recharge her batteries by snorkeling anywhere tropical. Part of how she takes care of herself is by practicing what she teaches, namely taking time for self-care. That includes over two decades of meditation practice, a love of nature, and continuing to learn.

Based just outside of Dallas, Emily Watson facilitates virtual outpatient groups for Texas residents. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, she is a self-described “Navy brat,” growing up in Virginia, South Carolina, and Texas. She earned an AA degree in music from Navarro College, a BA in English with a history minor from University of Texas at Arlington, and a master’s in counseling from Texas A&M-Commerce. As a licensed professional counselor, Watson’s experience includes both inpatient and intensive outpatient settings, helping those with severe mental illness, substance use disorders, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, and self-harm/suicidal ideation. She began working at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare in 2022 and also continues to work in a private practice setting with adults, couples, teens, adolescents, and children. In her previous career as a high school English teacher, Watson loved encouraging students to discover and reach their own personal goals. But during that time, she noticed the difficulties students and their families go through in their daily lives outside of school. Wanting to help others on a deeper level, she decided to pursue a career as a therapist. “I love how group therapy combines the best of two worlds for me: teaching and counseling!” she says. “I like to find creative ways to share psychoeducational material in group while also facilitating a safe, nonjudgmental environment where group members can express themselves, show vulnerability, and unpack personal difficulties in order to process past trauma and conflict.” A single mom of three, Watson loves exploring new places near or far to discover historic areas, museums, or hole-in-the-wall restaurants. She also enjoys going to concerts of various genres, from musicals to opera to rock. Playing the clarinet or piano provide an emotional release, and she loves spending time with her kids, adding, “there is so much joy seeing the world through their eyes. It reminds me to relax and enjoy the moment!”

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Brian Bensing facilitates virtual outpatient treatment for California residents. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music from Biola University and a master’s in music from San Jose State before earning another master’s in marriage and family therapy from Western Seminary. Bensing joined the team at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare in May 2022. A licensed marriage and family therapist, he also maintains a private practice focusing mainly on sexual addiction as well as couples’ therapy. Finding therapy to be very helpful personally while pursuing a career in music, Bensing decided to make a career change. “I really love doing group therapy and seeing how each member contributes to the group and how, due to the level of vulnerability that members have, they create some really strong bonds with each other while in treatment,” he shares. “I find such joy in having a front row seat to watch members stretch themselves and share deeply personal stories and experience real healing as a result.” As a facilitator for MBH Connect, he leads group and individual therapy and provides education around The Meadows Model of treatment, helping patients look at the root causes of addiction and mood disorders and find healing for past traumas. Married with one son, Bensing loves gardening and is partial to roses, dahlias, and mums. He also enjoys reading, CrossFit, and playing with the Cambrian Symphony in San Jose.

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Stacy Klimkowski was born in Bluffton, Ohio, and lived in locations from Sacramento to Seattle while growing up. She earned a BA in sociology with a minor in fine arts from Ashford University and a master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Lipscomb University, specializing in play therapy. A licensed professional counselor in the state of Tennessee with a mental health service designation, Klimkowski is also certified in EMDR and as a yoga instructor. Considering her work a calling, she has always had a desire to offer peace and healing to others while using her gifts and talents to serve her community. A passion for mental health and wellness makes this career path a perfect fit. Klimkowski joined the team at MBH in 2022, and says she loves “bearing witness to the process of growth and change in the lives of others.” She also has a thriving private practice where she sees children and individuals struggling with traumatic events and transition. Married with three teenage children, two very spoiled goldendoodles, and a cat, Klimkowski loves spending time with her family, traveling, cooking, baking, and working out. She also enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking and visiting the ocean as frequently as possible.

Based in Santa Cruz, California, Sara Masoner is originally from Rapid City, South Dakota (think Mount Rushmore), and still has family there. The Air Force kept her family moving around for much of her childhood, and as an adult she’s called everywhere from Texas and Illinois to Colorado and California home. She spent 10 years earning her undergrad degree in order to be a stay-at-home mom before completing a master’s in clinical psychology at Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California. She has since worked at agencies, schools, recovery programs, and in private practice. Most of Masoner’s undergraduate work was in speech and hearing science because she wanted to be a speech therapist due to her own cleft lip and palate. But while volunteering in Colorado as a family advocate for moms at risk her career aspirations took a turn, and she knew she wanted to be a marriage and family therapist. She began working with Meadows Behavioral Healthcare in 2022 as a virtual IOP therapist in our MBH Connect program. “One of my favorite aspects of this work is seeing those small shifts: learning a new skill, making a new connection, or gaining insight that makes for growth,” she says. “I also love the effectiveness of group therapy. Groups are people helping other people while healing themselves.” Married for more than three decades to a software engineer who is also an Air Force brat, they have two adult children: a Marine Core veteran and a student at UCSC studying linguistics/ Japanese. Masoner enjoys spending time with loved ones, biking, and hiking. She also likes working out with martial arts, kickboxing, and weight training, while creative outlets include quilting, crochet, and baking. Secret pleasures are audiobooks (mysteries) and dark chocolate.

A Texas native, Avery Rowles hails from El Paso and is now based out of Denton. This University of Texas at Dallas alum holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in literary studies/economics with a minor in finance and the other in psychology, graduating cum laude from both programs. She also earned a master’s in counseling psychology from Texas Woman’s University. A licensed professional counselor and a certified sex addiction therapist, Rowles is also trained in EMDR and Post-Induction Therapy (PIT), and she has completed a two-year DBT intensive training through Linehan Institute. A homemaker for many years, Rowles ended up in psychology after three people in one week suggested she become a therapist. She ended up loving the field, going on to serve as clinical director of multiple programs, both creating and implementing curriculum as well as monitoring outcomes. She was a private practice clinician for more than a decade when she joined the MBH Connect team in summer 2022. In this role providing virtual outpatient, she enjoys the direct access to patients and connecting with other therapists on the team to go over ideas and staff cases together. A widowed mother of two boys, the family stays busy with sports, regular exercise and activities, looking after their two golden retrievers, reading, going to the symphony, and traveling. Interested in all the sciences, particularly physics and cosmology, Rowles loves following the progress of the James Webb Space Telescope.

Hailing from rural Pennsylvania, Annette Mershimer received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Grove City College and a master’s in marriage and family counseling from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Always curious, she enjoyed talking to people, so she looked for a job where she could talk to people all day. “I really felt like it was a calling to me, I feel like my life has led up to this career,” Mershimer explains. Now, as a primary therapist for The Meadows Virtual Outpatient Program, she leads group therapy, individual sessions, and does treatment planning with patients, teaching people strategies to feel less shame about themselves.   A true believer in this work, Mershimer says Pia Mellody’s work has changed many lives, hers included. She joined the MBH team in 2022, working at The Meadows Ranch and The Meadows Outpatient Center-Scottsdale before moving to virtual treatment. In her free time, she enjoys art, photography, hiking, and being outdoors.

Karen Wiener grew up on the beaches of Southern California and still makes her home on the coast. A graduate of Pepperdine University with a master’s in clinical psychology, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist in both California and Oregon. Her resume includes everything from social worker and therapist to clinical supervisor and director, reflecting broad experience that spans settings, populations, and diagnoses. Weiner has worked in inpatient, outpatient, and secured units helping individuals, groups, couples, and veterans to address trauma, chronic mental health issues, and co-occurring disorders. Wiener says that from the time she was young she has wanted to have a positive impact in people’s lives. Motivated by her own life experiences, she is passionate about helping to guide others through their own life challenges, by providing support and encouragement along the way. She joined Meadows Behavioral Healthcare in 2022 and enjoys collaborating with clients and co-workers to build rapport in virtual treatment settings. Wiener shares her home with a beloved Maltese mix. When not working, she enjoys her Peloton, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. Her favorite place to be? Hawaii.

From Prior Lake, Minnesota, Emily Pieper now makes her home in Washington State near her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. She earned a master’s in co-occurring recovery counseling from Metropolitan State University in St Paul, Minnesota. She also holds a BS in psychology/counseling from Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minnesota. Her practical experience includes working in private practice, community mental health, outpatient, and residential co-occurring settings, providing both group and individual therapy services. Pieper has worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including addiction, PTSD, depression, anxiety, self-worth/esteem issues, women’s issues, domestic violence, and chronic health. She’s also done volunteer work including facilitating recovery meetings within the county jails and serving as a domestic violence crisis line advocate.   Always intrigued by human behavior, understanding how the mind works, and wanting to be of service to others by encouraging the development of life skills, Pieper joined the Meadows Behavioral Healthcare team in 2023. In her role as a virtual therapist, she facilitates group therapy, ongoing treatment planning, and conducts individual sessions, implementing the Meadows Model. She also provide support and person-centered care while creating a safe environment for patients to build a relationship of trust with group members. In her downtime, Pieper enjoys the theatre, spending time with family, walks, bird watching, and reading.

Raised in West Texas’ Permian Basin, Sally Pratt attended Lubbock Christian University, earning an MS in clinical mental health counseling. She also holds an MS in psychology from the University of Phoenix. With a passion to help people overcome obstacles in life, she’s always been a person that people came to when they needed someone to talk to, offering patience and understanding. Pratt went back to school at 40 to get her master’s in counseling and gain the therapeutic knowledge to assist people further in their lives. During her internship, she worked in an intensive outpatient and partial-hospitalization setting, finding group work very beneficial to patients. Past experience includes Sante Center for Healing and her own private practice. Pratt joined Meadows Behavioral Healthcare in 2023. In her current role in Virtual Outpatient Services, she assesses and assists patients in the therapeutic milieu using the Meadows Model, conducting individual, family, specialized, and group therapy.   Married for 20 years, she has an adorable fur baby, Lucy, and enjoys reading, crocheting, and being with family. A former professional poker player, Pratt occasionally still finds time to play with friends.

In order to provide needed administrative services for The Meadows Virtual Outpatient Services, Matalyn Hopkins relies on past roles in office management, customer service, and marketing. Originally from Fayetteville, Georgia, she holds an associate degree and calls her current job a dream position. Primary responsibilities include administering wellness checks, overseeing drug testing, and tracking attendance, but Hopkins’ favorite part of the work includes helping people become better versions of themselves. In her free time, you can find her hiking, practicing yoga, traveling, or photographing nature.