Our Counselors

Hi, I'm Sarah. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the founder of Bigfoot Counseling. I work with people experiencing trauma and addiction, and I believe healing is possible, even during life's hardest moments.

After earning my degree in psychology with an emphasis in addictions, I went straight into graduate school and received my master's degree from the University of Idaho in 2010. Since then, I have had the privilege of helping people navigate challenges, discover strengths, and create meaningful change.

In 2020, during a global pandemic and while receiving treatment for thyroid cancer, I took a leap of faith and opened Bigfoot Counseling. It was a season that taught me a great deal about courage, resilience, and hope.

The name Bigfoot came from a joke with a friend, and it stuck. It felt like the perfect fit for a practice rooted in the Pacific Northwest.

My approach is compassionate, practical, and informed by trauma research. I often use EMDR to help clients work through difficult experiences and move forward with confidence. I believe people are stronger than they realize, and sometimes healing begins when someone finally sees their own worth.

When I am not in the office, you will usually find me fishing, hiking, camping, reading, attending concerts, exploring new places, or trying my hand at gardening. I love spending time with family and friends, and I am completely devoted to my three dogs, also known as "the boys."

If there is one thing you should know about me, it is that I will be in your corner. I believe in my clients, sometimes long before they believe in themselves. I have always rooted for the underdog, and there is nothing more rewarding than watching someone discover their own strength and realize they are capable of more than they ever imagined.

My goal is simple: to believe in you until you are able to believe in yourself. 

Michelle is a dedicated Licensed Professional Counselor and the Operations Director at Bigfoot Counseling. She brings expertise in both organizational leadership and mental health counseling. Michelle holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Eastern Oregon University. This combination allows her to bring a distinctive perspective to both counseling and leadership, with a strong understanding of the role emotional well-being plays in personal and professional growth.

Michelle takes a holistic approach to supporting individuals and teams. With a passion for fostering personal growth, resilience, and workplace well-being, she integrates proven leadership strategies with compassionate counseling techniques to help clients navigate challenges, strengthen emotional intelligence, and achieve their goals. Whether working with individuals in therapy or leading teams toward positive change, Michelle focuses on creating environments that support empowerment, growth, and meaningful transformation.

Drawing from her understanding of mental health and organizational dynamics, Michelle is committed to using evidence-based practices to create a safe and supportive environment. She helps individuals build resilience, strengthen mental wellness, develop effective coping strategies, and work toward greater balance and empowerment in both their personal and professional lives.

Michelle is also trained in EMDR therapy and trauma processing and works with adolescents, teens, and adults.

Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. They enjoy backcountry snowshoeing, fly fishing, spending time in the mountains, and boating on the lake. At home, Michelle enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with the family dogs.

Hi. I am Adrienne.  I was born and raised in Ireland — the land of stories, conversation and relationship. I bring a deep respect for the narratives that shape both our professional and personal lives. My journey has led me from weaving the complex stories of business to exploring the lived experiences that define our everyday human existence. As a phenomenological psychologist, I work with individuals and families navigating career and life transitions, helping them uncover the meaning within their experiences and adapt those insights to design their futures. Drawing from over 20 years of client-centered professional and personal work, I support clients in mastering decision-making, emotional regulation, and authentic growth. Together, we honor the past, navigate the present, and create pathways to a future that feels truly your own.  

I find joy in quiet, creative moments. I love caring for cut flowers and visiting public gardens, which bring me peace and inspiration. Recently, I have rekindled old interests—watching movies, cooking soups, reading, and drawing—activities I may not be great at, but genuinely enjoy. I am also fascinated by folklore and ancient female artifacts, which connect me to deeper stories of the past and spark my curiosity. 

Hello, my name is Brieann Knott, and I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Idaho and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington in 2009 and my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Walden University in 2024. My goal is to provide a nonjudgmental, client-centered space where we can work together as a 

team to navigate the challenges you are facing.

Before transitioning into clinical counseling, I spent eleven years as a first responder and worked with the 988 Suicide Hotline. These experiences shaped my passion for mental health and gave me a deep understanding of what it means to face a crisis. I bring that same resilience and dedication into every session we have together.

I believe that therapy is a collaborative process. You are the expert on your own life, and I am here to provide the tools and support to help you heal. Whether you are navigating the heavy weight of trauma and PTSD, managing anxiety and depression, or walking through grief and life transitions, we will move at a pace that feels safe for you.

To help you reach your goals, I draw from several proven therapeutic methods, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI). 

Outside of the office, I believe in the importance of balance and connection. I’m a big fan of spending time with my family and our pets (my cats and dogs are excellent co-regulators!). I also find my own "reset" by reading, playing board games, staying active at the gym, and enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Hi, My name is Stephanie Mace, and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Idaho. Today, you are one step closer to a new you where you feel empowered and on a positive path toward growth and wellbeing. I am full of hope that change is possible, and I want to share that with you.

My clinical approach is shaped by a unique history of service—first on the decks of Navy ships and later on the front lines as a firefighter. In those high stakes environments, I learned that even in the most difficult crises, people possess an incredible and often untapped reserve of strength. My mission as a social worker is to help you navigate your own internal struggles and guide you toward a life of stability, purpose, and resilience.

I utilize a strengths-based approach, which means our work starts with what is right with you. Together, we will identify the survival skills and natural abilities that have helped you endure your hardest days and repurpose them to help you thrive. While we cannot change difficult situations from the past, we can work together to help your brain and body process the “fragments” of information—those triggers or unconscious reminders—that often hold us back in more adaptive ways. To support this healing process, I utilize several approaches designed to stabilize your internal system and empower you as the leader of your own recovery.

A cornerstone of my practice is Internal Family Systems (IFS), where I view the mind as a system of “parts,” much like a crew or specialized team. In this model, some parts act as “Managers” to maintain control, while others act as “Firefighters” to reduce emotional pain when it becomes overwhelming. Through IFS, we work to unburden the parts of you that carry trauma, allowing your Core Self—your seat of calm, curiosity, and compassion—to take the lead once again. By understanding these internal dynamics, we move away from labeling behaviors as problems and toward a model of self-leadership and internal harmony.

To support self-leadership, I utilize Motivational Interviewing (MI), which ensures that change is driven by your own values and wisdom. I use MI to help you uncover your own “why,” tapping into your internal drive to break long standing patterns and move in a new and fulfilling direction.

Ultimately, our work is a strengths based collaboration where we shift the focus from “what is broken” to “what is built to last.” By applying these complementary therapy techniques and the wisdom already within you, we will uncover negative perceptions or “lies” that may be holding you back from a more meaningful life. If you are looking for additional support and knowledgeable guidance to assist in your healing journey, or if you are ready to move in a new direction, I look forward to working with you. You have already survived 100% of your hardest days—let us work together to help you begin to thrive.