Kristen Enblom, MS, LCPC – Chair
Kristen is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor located in Helena. She enjoys assisting others with discovering new interpretations and approaches to navigate their life journeys. She utilizes authentic and holistic approaches to emphasize the importance of emotional health as a part of overall health and wellbeing. Kristen’s areas of passion in mental health include Perinatal Mental Health, Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, and Women’s Issues. She frequently attends conferences and workshops to ensure knowledge of the most recent research, treatment options and guidelines, and methods to best serve her patients.
Krissy Gillispie, LCSW – Vice Chair
Krissy is an LCSW offering mental health therapy in Helena, MT. Her area of focus and passion are in trauma and loss/grief and women’s health. She is a co-creator of Merging Rivers, whom she operates with Kristen Enblom. She is a mom to numerous dogs and mules. She likes to spend her free time focusing on her passion for bodybuilding and packing in the backcountry with her mules. Her purpose in life is to empower individuals to be vulnerable, grow, and build belonging. Outside of the wilderness, you can find her in the gym, her garden, or reading to provide the best care for her clients.
She developed a passion for perinatal mental health and advocacy due to her own experience with depression and trauma. Her diagnosis of a birth defect (unicornuate uterus) resulted in infertility. That diagnosis also resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. She lives today childless not by choice and offers a voice to those also learning to navigate this journey.
Best word to describe her? BOLD.
Samantha Blank – Treasurer
Dr. Samantha Blank is a business owner, chiropractor and a birth doula in Helena, MT. She specializes in prenatal and pediatric chiropractic, but enjoys working with all ages. As a birth doula, she feels honored at every birth she gets to support. In her spare time, you can find her exploring nature with her husband and their two sons.
Ashley Crtalic, MS, PCLC – Secretary
Ashley has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Following graduate school she worked for 8 years as a Lead Researcher for a small private forensic office as well as a Rehabilitation Counselor for people who had sustained serious injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and burns.
Following her own postpartum experience she became interested in perinatal mental health and after attending several perinatal mental health conferences decided to pursue a clinical counseling license to work with this population. Ashley currently is a license candidate and has her own private practice working with perinatal clients, parents of neurodivergent children, and couples.
Adriana Reyes de Merkle, MSW – Advocacy Lead
Adriana is a counselor for Green Flag in Bozeman, helping English and Spanish-speaking children or adults learn about their mental health. Adriana is also an advocate for Haven connecting survivors to resources in the community, and is a proud Thrive CAP mentor to an elementary and high school student. During their free time, Adriana enjoys dancing and spending quality time with their husband and dog.
Aubrey Reed, LCSW – Liaison
My name is Aubrey Reed, I am an LCSW in Missoula who is passionate about all things related to Perinatal Mental Health. I am trained and specialize in Perinatal Mental Health, Postpartum anxiety, pregnancy loss, pregnancy trauma and identity after birth. I have a small private practice and works at a community mental health center full time in Missoula, MT . I have worked over 10 years in Mental Health . I also have a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and am passionate about organizational development and growth and is a side passion of mine. My favorite job by far is being a mommy to a 10 week old daughter and spending time with my amazing husband.
Rebekah Orr, MS LCPC – Website Administrator, Social Media/Marketing Committee Chair
Rebekah Orr is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Helena, Montana that is passionate about supporting families navigating perinatal mental health concerns as well as grief and loss. Rebekah is also a trained doula and uses her birth work expertise to provide prenatal consultation and postpartum care services in the Helena community. When she is not providing support services to her community, Rebekah can be found bonding with her new baby, enjoying the Montana outdoors with her husband, homemaking and songwriting.
Joanna Strub, LCSW, PMH-C – Membership Committee Chair, Stakeholder Commitee Chair
Joanna Strub is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Perinatal Mental Health Specialist with 15 years of clinical experience. Prior to going into private practice, she spent most of her career in a hospital setting, most recently working at The Women’s Specialists Clinic of Bozeman Health in Bozeman, MT. There, she provided therapy to pregnant and postpartum people through The Meadowlark Initiative of Montana Healthcare Foundation. Joanna also worked as a Clinical Social Worker in the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado. Now, Joanna has a private practice in Bozeman where she is continuing her work with the perinatal population. She is passionate about her work and looks forward to serving on the PSI MT Board to continue to bring awareness to this population.
Leah M. Ore, LCSW – Climb Organizer and Fundraising Committee Chair
Leah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who specializes in working with prenatal and postpartum women, individuals experiencing anxiety and depression, and those coping with the effects of trauma and disruption. Her approach to therapy is strength-based, feminist and anti-racist, guiding individuals to embrace and honor themselves. She also uses relational and attachment-based techniques to build trust, safety, and security that clients can take from their sessions into their lives and other relationships.
Theresa Lee – Training & Scholarships Committee Chair
Theresa Lee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her Master Degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University in 2004. She has experience providing social work and mental health services in many settings. Currently she has her own private practice, Helena Hope & Healing INC in Helena, Mt.
When not at work you can find Theresa on the lake boating, camping, volunteering, or relaxing at home with her husband and English Bulldog.
Theresa suffered from postpartum depression after the loss of her first son. She experienced postpartum anxiety with her second son. Theresa wants to help others with similar experiences to be able to get the help and support they need without judgement.
Her board position is Education and Scholarship Committee as she is passionate about education and increasing the resources and providers with specialty training to better serve residents of Montana.
Carson Ziegler – Diversity & Inclusivity Committee Chair
Carson Rose is a pmads survivor, postpartum support international volunteer, and certified lactation educator. A mother to two children with a passion for the outdoors, learning, and bringing awareness to perinatal mental health.
Kody Ramler, LCSW – At Large
Kody Ramler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently operating a private practice in Montana. With advanced training in trauma treatment modalities, she specializes in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, depression and anxiety. She is also a Pediatric Sleep Specialist and works with families all over the world navigate challenges related to sleep. With her support, parents are provided the knowledge and tools to help their children sleep better while also improving their own physical and mental health. Kody lives in Helena where she enjoys spending time on the river, the ski hill, and everywhere in between with her husband and their three very active boys!
Stephanie Bauch – At Large
Stephanie has been a Registered Nurse since 1999. She has devoted her nursing career to caring for families and children of all ages. As a mother to 3, she has a passion for working with families to ensure they are supported and have the tools they need to succeed even during the most challenging times. She has certifications in both Perinatal Mental Health and Case Management to help best identify patient and family needs and help her patients navigate Healthcare and Community Resources.
Jessica Liddell – At Large
Jessica Liddell (she/her) is an Assistant Professor at the University of Montana School of Social Work. Her work focuses on pregnancy and childbirth, reproductive justice, community engagement, and making healthcare systems more equitable. Her current research explores the use of doulas to improve health outcomes, and in particular mental health. Her experience as a doula and as a mother have contributed to her passion for promoting research and interventions which promote birth justice for all people.
