As the only group practice in the Columbia Gorge, our team is uniquely positioned to provide high-quality, equitable mental health services
to our clients and community partners.
ABOUT US
ACC offers an innovative group practice model that provides:
Accessible mental health services for youth, adults, families and couples
Peer to peer supports through individual sessions and groups
Community agency consulting to best support a mental health lens to care
A flexible, non-hierarchical, equitable approach to a group practice for therapists to best serve the community while honoring their own needs
LOCATION
In order to keep our rates as low as possible, we currently do not have an office space for our group practice clinicians (exceptions being Kay, who has an office in White Salmon, and Brooke, who sees clients in Trout Lake one day a week). We are all able to meet clients virtually or in the community.
RATES
All of our providers offer a complimentary 15 minute consultation for new clients. We offer sliding scale rates as our case loads allow; please reach out to your provider of choice directly to inquire about current availability! We do not accept insurance, but we are actively pursuing avenues for funding in order to offer even lower cost counseling.
All interns and associate level therapists are supervised and/or clinically supported by a licensed therapist.
MEET THE THERAPISTS
Kay Alton
Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Consultant
Kay founded ACC in early 2024 after leaving a lifetime of nonprofit work, most recently as the Behavioral Health Director for CultureSeed in White Salmon WA. Kay is passionate about providing accessible care and is honored to be co-creating this innovative group practice model alongside her colleagues. As a mother, wife and youth worker for over 20 years Kay specializes in working with parenting, partnership and adolescents. She is a referral therapist for survivors of domestic and sexual violence through Center for Peaceful Living and works with employees of Washington Gorge Actions Programs. Kay also provides services to youth in Juvenile Hall at Northern Oregon Correctional Facility. Kay offers in person therapy at her office in downtown White Salmon. Learn more about Kay’s counseling style HERE.
Education & Certifications
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, 2024
Masters of Social Work, 2012
Masters of Education, Youth Development Leadership 2005
RYT 500, Advanced Yoga Training, 2014
Specialties
Adolescents
Transitions towards adulthood for teens
New moms/moms with young children
Postpartum depression
Anxiety and panic attacks
Trauma
Vicarious trauma and burn out for human services professionals
Fee
$160 per session individuals
$200 per session couples (starting in April)
Brooke Jefferson
Pre-Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Brooke approaches therapy with genuine eagerness to hear your story, the desire to know your internal world better, and a commitment to exploring - together - how best to foster growth and healing in your life. She will meet you whole-heartedly with compassion, curiosity, and the belief that the wisdom to heal already exists within you. For her, it’s an honor to walk alongside you in your wellness journey, and you can expect her to meet you wherever you are in the process with a warm and nonjudgmental stance. Brooke offers support through an integrative, feminist, Health at Every Size (HAES), and trauma-informed lens. Her work is rooted in social justice, and she strives to create safety in the therapeutic container for every person regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, size, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, and background. Brooke often uses modalities such as somatics, parts work, Gestalt, and mindfulness, though ultimately her approach will be tailored to your unique needs and goals.
Education & Certifications
Naropa University, MA, Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling, est. completion May 2025
Georgetown University, BA, Political Science, Women’s & African Studies, 2012
Body Trust® Provider in Training, est. completion February 2026
DAYA Foundation, RYT 200, Yoga Training (in progress)
Specialties
Eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image
Dissociation
Trauma
Anxiety, panic, and depression
Life transitions and navigating change
Spirituality
Adults and adolescents
Fees
$90 per session
Brooke is now offering in-person sessions in Trout Lake!
Clare Stanfield
Peer Support Specialist
Clare believes we are all intuitive experts of our own bodies, desires, and goals. We may need support in recognizing what we already know. She grew up along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland in a rural community surrounded by big cities. Growing up, she found community in her dog, her mom, and her friend, Sophia. She lived through her parents’ divorce and sexual abuse at home and in her romantic partnerships when she was older. Today, she identifies with the word “survivor” and all the messiness that comes with that.
Clare constantly feels in awe of the landscape of the Columbia Gorge after not seeing a hill until she was 18 years old. She holds her lived experience by the water, in the mountains, and as someone who has survived suicidality, panic attacks, and the complex impacts of trauma as some of her deepest knowledge. Similarly, she considers the times she connected with a peer on what’s happened in her life as some of the most connected, safe, and validated she’s ever felt.
Education & Certifications
Appalachian State University, B.A. Psychology, 2018
Portland State University, Masters in Social Work, with macrosystems focus, 2024
QMHA II, 2024
Certified Youth and Adult Peer Support Specialist in OR, 2022
Trauma-informed, strengths-based, and person-first training (ongoing)
Specialties
Youth and young adults
Overall well-being
Disordered eating
Sexual and physical abuse
Depression, anxiety, and grief
Experiences of strife around climate or political atmosphere
Queer people in the Gorge (and everywhere)
Citizenship (and various levels thereof)
Just people!
Fees
$55 for 45 minutes / $65 for 60 minutes
Leah Salmon
Social Work Associate
Leah approaches the therapeutic relationship with a deeply held belief that individuals are the experts in their own lives and that, through collaboration and curiosity, a path of discovery to inner wisdom and strength is possible. Much of Leah’s professional experience has centered around teens and families who are navigating complex problems. She operates with the knowledge that those problems are always intertwined with personal, cultural, and institutional factors, and she seeks to empower her clients to change these conditions where possible. Leah strives to cultivate a strong therapeutic relationship or alliance that encourages her clients to build internal and external resources that may pave the way toward finding their voice and implementing attainable solutions to address their needs.
Education & Certifications
Masters of Social Work, Portland State University, 2023
Qualified Mental Health Provider (QMHP), 2023
Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) in OR, 2023
Licensed Social Work Associate Independent Clinical (LSWAIC) in WA, 2024
Specialties
Adolescents, young adults, and adults
Folks managing trauma
People living with depression and/or anxiety
Grief and loss
People that have lived/are living through interpersonal violence/abuse
Queer folks!
Fees
$100 per session