Our Staff

We are excited to announce psychiatric medication management services are now available at About Balance Mental Health! 

Cija (pronounced Kia) is a Family Nurse Practitioner certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.  She is a native Idahoan who obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Boise State University and her Master of Nursing at Northwest Nazarene University.  She is a member of the Idaho Behavioral Health Planning Council to help identify and meet psychiatric, behavioral, and mental healthcare gaps.  Cija enjoys working with patients suffering from major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, schizophrenic disorders, and depression.  She loves helping clients reach a state of remission.  She believes strongly in whole-person wellness; that a person's optimal health will not be achieved until their psychiatric, mental, and emotional health needs have been addressed.     

Melissa is an LCSW that moved from Minnesota to the Treasure Valley in 2010 with her spouse and 2 children. Melissa earned her Bachelors and Master degree in Social Work from the University of North Dakota and is currently attending Idaho State University in pursuit of her Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in information management and technology.

Melissa has primarily worked in various positions in the field of Child Welfare for over two decades. Currently, Melissa works full-time as a Child Welfare Education Specialist with the Family Resource and Education Center at Eastern Washington University through a contract with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Child and Family Services Program and part-time as a child/adolescent trauma-focused therapist with About Balance Mental Health. Her specialty areas include: Foster Care, Reactive Attachment Disorder, parenting issues, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Childhood Trauma, and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Vicky is a Licensed Master Social Worker.  She was raised in Los Angeles, California, and moved to Boise, Idaho two years ago.  Vicky has a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in social work.  After working in the business for many years, Vicky wanted to pursue her passion in social work. 

Vicky enjoys working with children, adolescents, the LGBTQ community, and adults. Vicky believes in working from a warm, empathetic approach to create a safe and non-judgmental space where clients can learn, grow, and achieve shared goals.  Approaches used by Vicky might include play therapy, mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, dialectical behavior techniques, Adlerian and narrative therapy.  Vicky looks forward to working with her clients to help support them on their personal journeys. 

Bonnie is an LMSW who was born and raised in Idaho.  She became a Clinician later in life after having the privilege of raising her children.  Bonnie enjoys working with children through adults, she likes to use creative arts in session including music, creating art, and play therapy.  In addition, Bonnie brings an extensive knowledge of the disability field to our office.  She believes that she will never know everything but will learn something new daily.  She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Techniques, Person Centered Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and psychoeducation.  Within those frameworks she sprinkles in Art, Music, and Play Therapy.