Meet Our Team
We are a diverse team of experts, and are dedicated to the health and wellness of each one of our young adult clients and families. We are at the forefront of health and wellness of college students and young adults, providing personalized guidance to fulfill their goals. Contact us today and see what we can do for you.
Dan Hanks, M.Ed, Ed.S, LPC
Founder
Northwest College Support was founded on the values of truly treating young adults as individuals. Dan focused on the needs of college-aged students who needed more support to be successful. By combining advanced educational approaches with state of the art therapeutic strategies, NWCS grew into the leading therapeutic college support program.
Dan graduated from the University of Idaho, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a School Counselor and School Psychologist. Dan is working with students, families, and teams to develop new paths to individual success.
Bernie Zimmerman MBA, LCPC
Director
Bernie joined Northwest College Support to expand the nationally recognized program and help develop the Gemba Boise Gap Program. He is the former Chief Operations Officer for Cherry Gulch and Novitas Academy. He is a former Professional Member of IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association). Bernie is registered with the State of Idaho as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and as a Counselor of Marriage and Family Therapy Supervisor. He received his Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) from Boise State University. Bernie has been married to his high school sweetheart, Krista, for 28 years, and together they have three young adult sons.
Amee Hardy, LCPC
Director
Amee started her career backpacking with foster teens in Idaho's wilderness, and fell in love with helping teens and young adults navigate the world. She pursued her degree in counseling, and went on to work with people in many settings including in-patient psych, therapeutic boarding school, wilderness therapy and community agencies. Amee received her bachelor's degree in education from University of Idaho and her master's degree in counseling from Boise State University. Amee is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a clinical provider for Social Thinking, holds an attachment certification, is trained in the Trauma Resilience Model and the Community Resilience Model, and is a facilitator for Arbinger's Outward Mindset and Outward Leadership.
Jennifer Barringer, MA, LCPC
Clinical Director
Jennifer has been a LCPC since 2003. She moved to Idaho from Alaska in 1994, received her BS in Psychology from Boise State University, and went on to receive her Master's in School Counseling, as well.
Jennifer has significant experience working with adolescents and their families, as well as the eating disordered population. Her diverse experience ranges from 24-hour care to outpatient counseling. Jennifer is a process therapist who works towards solutions, emotional growth, and mood stabilization to help her clients overcome obstacles and live a more personally balanced life.
In her spare time, she loves camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors with her husband, daughter, and dog, Grizzy Boy.
Sidra Beckett, LCPC
Therapist
Sidra is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a Master's of Science Degree. Graduating in 2013 from Northwest Nazarene University. Sidra has spent her entire adult life working with adolescents and young adults. Direct from high school, working in the Boise School District on a special education team for students with emotional disability, she fell in love with the population of children who flew under the radar and spent more energy on avoiding adults than meeting the expectations of a school system. After a decade of IEP meetings, 504 management, and counseling program development, Sidra moved into the clinical world at St Luke's Children's Hospital. Working again amongst a team and adolescents, this time adding the family system into the skill set. The ability to look at each client and family holistically through a lens of developmental theory is where Sidra is most comfortable and competent.
Elizabeth Young, LPC
Therapist
My career began by backpacking through the local Idaho desert with teens in residential Wilderness Therapy. Seeking more skills and tools to help people heal and grow, I obtained a master’s in counseling from Gonzaga University followed by an LPC license in Idaho state. I have experience working with differing outpatient populations, from ages 5 to 71. I have found my passion in working with adults in all stages of life.
Transitioning from adolescence to adulthood includes many challenges and changes. It is my desire to help young adults navigate this stage of life in ways that can help them develop their strengths and promote resilience. In my work with this group, I use approaches based in person-centered, acceptance and commitment, solution-focused, and reality therapies. I strive to help these individuals gain insight and practice new skills around how they relate to themselves, to other people, and to the circumstances in their life with a sense of hope and empowered choice.
I am a Washington native who recently moved to Boise with my Idaho born-and-raised husband. I enjoy running, hiking, cooking, and connecting with friends and family.
Bryant Kusy, LCPC
Therapist
Bryant began his helping career in a University Counseling Center both with career assessment and biofeedback, and then in Early Intervention, 0-3. Since that time he obtained post-graduate training in Early Childhood Attachment and Reflective Supervision, known as Infant Mental Health which he practiced for 12 years. During this time Bryant co-founded a non-profit serving vulnerable families in NM, went on to add to his trauma-informed care with EMDR and later the Trauma Resiliency Model, and provided a wide range of professional trainings across NM, including professional boundaries, PPD (maternal mental health), and supporting teen parents while they completed their diplomas.
He loves working with young adults on the spectrum, couples who may benefit from the Gottman’s research and Susan Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy, and persons of all ages struggling with depression. Bryant has worked in hospitals, alongside educators and in private practice. Most recently he delved into supporting other helpers (EMTs, Physicians, Nurses and other Therapists) to manage the “cost of caring,” the occupational hazard that is Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). In 2022-23 Bryant leapt at an opportunity to give back to his alma mater, the College of Idaho, teaching full time as a Psychology Instructor. Bryant joins Cultivation with 20 years of enthusiasm for the next 20 years of helping others stand free within themselves.
Amanda Stewart, PMHNP
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
I am a board certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). As a PMHNP, I hold a master’s degree in nursing with specialized education and training in psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. I am able to prescribe and manage psychiatric medications and use brief solution focused therapies. My approach to pharmacotherapy is judicious and thoughtful. I am credentialed with most major insurance panels.
My style is relational-- authentic and supportive--and my approach is holistic, meaning that I believe a person’s mind, body, spirit, emotions and environment are interconnected and influence lived
experience. I strive to engage with patients and develop a unique and sensible plan to manage chronic mental health problems, deal with life’s unexpected stress, and overcome obstacles to personal wellness or growth.
For current clients of Amanda, use this link to access the patient portal:
David Soon
Residential Manager
David was born and raised in Waipahu, Hawaii, and moved to the states during his senior year of high school. As a lover of learning, David is trained in: Arbinger Institute, Collaborative Problem Solving, 3A+, Ruler, Suicide Level Prevention (Jason Foundation), Social Thinking, Child Youth Care Professional Certificate (CYCP). David has over 10 years experience working in residential settings with a wide variety of populations.
David loves the Hawaiian culture and food, as well as sports, learning new things, and learning to navigate a smooth sailing ship.
Cole Sewall
Residential Manager
My name is Cole Sewall, I’m married to my wife Lori and I’m a father of two amazing kids, my nine year old boy Kalen and five year old girl Christen. I’ve lived in Idaho my entire life. My interests include hiking, snowboarding, camping, hunting, wake-boarding, and anything to do with the outdoors.
I am a Residential Manager at Gemba. Prior to Gemba I worked for 13 years at Cherry Gulch Therapeutic Boarding School and Novitas Academy for 3 years another Therapeutic Boarding School for high school students. I had many roles and my last role at Cherry Gulch and Novitas Academy tha last was the Residential Director. Over the years I have developed many skills in the residential field. I have completed several facilitator trainings and certifications which are as follows. Licensed by Satori S.A.M.A certified facilitator, Licensed Facilitator In The Arbinger Institute Model, CPI Certification, Certified Youth Care Practitioner and C.R.M Trauma Informed Care facilitator certification. I’m proficient or familiar with a vast array of intervention programs. These include de-escalation techniques, crisis prevention programs, leadership strategies and residential treatment best practices. I love working with struggling youth and now young adults and creating programs and systems to get our boys engaged in treatment and skills in life.
Mitchell Cushman
Educational Coach
Mitchell received his BS in Education from Idaho State University in 2018. Since joining the professional field he has worked in multiple settings of the healthcare industry. When he moved to Boise in 2002, he found a passion for mental health work with both adults and adolescents in the in-patient field. His aptitude of communicating with residents both in- and out-of-crisis helps students of the program handle the difficulties and complexities of college work,as well as other educational and vocational goals.
Mitchell is originally from a small town in East Idaho, where he grew up around farm animals and the outdoors. As an adult, he still finds comfort spending time hiking, fishing, and camping with friends and family. He also enjoys spending time at the dog park with his two dogs, Branch and Olive. He joined Kung Fu San Soo in middle school and earned his second-degree black belt in Kung Fu San Soo, which provided him with a sense of self-respect and self-control. Working with young adults, he hopes to encourage the same traits in their personal and professional lives.
Jamie Jackson
Education Coach
Like many young adults, college was a pivotal point in my life; I began to learn more about myself, and what I wanted for my future - both personally and professionally. And I’ve always had a strong interest in helping others, especially those with mental health issues and learning difficulties. So, to be able to assist these young adults while they navigate this formative phase of their lives, to come alongside them as they discover their unique strengths and tap into their passions has been incredibly rewarding. I began my career as a high school social studies teacher, but quickly realized that the most important part of the job for me, making connections and building relationships, could not occur when I had over 150 students. NWCS was appealing as they prioritize relationships. They understand without this foundation, little work can be done. This field allowed me to combine my love for education and passion for mental health awareness. I received a Bachelor of Arts in History and Social Studies Education from Colorado State University. I also hold a teaching license in Secondary Social Studies in Washington and am working to renew my license in the state of Colorado.
Traci Hanks, MS
Admissions Director
Traci grew up in Puyallup, Washington. She attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where she earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in psychology and a minor in philosophy. She continued her education with a Masters of Science in Psychology, and certification in Industrial- Organizational Psychology. Traci lives in Coeur d’Alene. She enjoys boating on Lake Coeur D’Alene, rooting for the Gonzaga Basketball team, hiking, x-country skiing, and yoga. Traci worked as an academic coach for seven years. In that time she has coached college students with a wide range of challenges towards academic success. These challenges have included serious health issues, mental health disorders, and learning disabilities. Traci has also worked with students dealing with general life issues such as cultural dissonance, grief, and the common problems of adjusting to college life. Recently, Traci has also worked with students in Special Education programs in schools, and run after-school programs for at-risk youth. Traci values education, and the idea of life-long learning. She strongly believes in helping to ensure that all students have a positive experience in their schooling.
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