Alaska Behavioral Health provides comprehensive outpatient treatment services for adults experiencing mild, moderate and severe mental illness. Our services include:
Christine Alvarez, LPC - Chief Clinical Officer of Adult Services
Christine Alvarez has more than 13 years of mental health experience and has served in a variety of leadership roles including Team Lead of Austin-Travis County Integral Care’s Expanded Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, Director of Multnomah University’s Counseling Center, and Assistant Executive Director of the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Warren County.
Christine is licensed as an LPC in Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and Alaska.
Christine will be overseeing adult services in both Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Sarah Koogle, M.Ed, LPC-S - Clinic Manager, Fairbanks
Sarah has a master’s degree in clinical community counseling. She’s traveled and lived in many states and countries, but has been in Alaska for about 15 years and consider Fairbanks home. Sarah enjoys enjoys the Alaskan summer and all that comes with that: hiking and exploring lakes and rivers. She has worked with a wide range of mental health issues in both inpatient and outpatient care, with adults and children. Her passion lies in the community counseling setting.
Alicia Lamar, M.Ed, - Fairbanks
Alicia enjoys walking, hiking, and gardening. She loves living in Fairbanks in the summers, but is not too thrilled about the winter (though she thinks winter is beautiful!) Alicia started working with us as an intern (when we were called Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services.) She enjoys being part of a great team and working with all the staff and the clients.
Emily McClelland, MSW - Fairbanks
Emily McClelland, Fairbanks Clinician
Emily McClelland has a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Alaska Anchorage and has been with Alaska Behavioral Health since May 2020. She is a life-long Alaskan and enjoys going on walks to soak up the summer sun, reading, and arts and crafts.
Her passion is helping adults with anxiety, depression, substance abuse disorders, PTSD, personality disorders, and other mental disorders to create fulfilling lives. In order to do so, Emily uses a strengths-based approach along with CBT, mindfulness strategies, and other therapies with clients. Emily believes that the most important part of therapy is trust between the clinician and the client so that they can work together towards making positive changes.
Clinical Associates
Amanda Forsting, BA - Fairbanks
Amanda is a Clinical Associate and Clinical Counseling Intern who has worked for Alaska Behavioral Health since 2018. She completed my undergrad with bachelors degrees in Psychology and Sociology, and a minor in Criminal Justice, at the University of Northern Colorado and completed an internship at the Boulder County Probation Department. She began working in the mental health field as part of a Crisis Response Team 2014 in Colorado, continued in Crisis work in Texas in 2015 and moved to Alaska in 2016. Amanda is finishing her Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through the University of Alaska Fairbanks, expecting to graduate in December (2020). She plans to specialize in grief and trauma related modalities while completing my supervision for licensure.
Her family loves to travel and spends most summer weekends sight-seeing around Alaska, camping, boating, fishing, and driving. She also loves reading, photography, music and live theater. Amanda has known she wanted to work in Psychology/Mental Health in some capacity since she was a teenager. She’s drawn to counseling because each new client with their past experiences and hopes for change, growth and recovery is a journey and adventure that they embark on together (similar to traveling with her family.)
Wanda Naffziger - Fairbanks
Wanda has lived in Alaska since 2005. She moved to North Pole, Alaska from Christmas, Florida with her 3 children. She is originally from Los Angeles County California. While growing up, she was a big part of her sister’s life. That sister was diagnosed with a development disability and later in life with Bipolar disorder, and her sister has been an inspiration to her. Wanda also has a son and nephew both diagnosed with mental illness. She has worked in the mental health field for a little over 10 years now and enjoys working with her clients.
She enjoys spending time with her family including her pets, drawing, gardening, and other arts and crafts.
Latest News & Events
Changing Our Name to Reflect Our Growth
06.01.2020
For decades, Anchorage Community Mental Health Services has served the mental health needs of Alaskans. In 2013, we extended operations to Fairbanks with Fairbanks Community Mental Health Services. Over the years, we have created specialized programs, and continued to evolve our treatments to help our clients on their personal journey to wellness and recovery. Our […]
In our November/December 2020 Update, learn how we are expanding services in Anchorage and Fairbanks to reach our most vulnerable community members, meet our new child psychiatrist, and celebrate AKBH clinicians in print! Click here to read the newsletter!
February 10: New Growth Fundraiser for Alaska Seeds of Change & the POWER Center
01.12.2021
We’re taking our annual event virtual! Don’t worry, we’ll bring the same youthful energy and unique flavor to our virtual event that our in-person events have had, even food if you want it. We’d love to see you pop in for a few minutes or stay for the whole event. You’ll have a chance to […]
We are super-excited to announce that the POWER Center drop-in program for youth ages 13-23 will soon be moving to a new bigger location, right next door to its current location! The larger POWER Center will allow us to serve more youth, especially during the pandemic when capacity is restricted. After remodeling, we’ll have expanded […]
Join us for a virtual Meet & Greet with our new child psychiatrist Dr. Curt Wengel on Tuesday, January 12 at 8:00 am. Dr. Wengel is a board-certified psychiatrist who comes to AKBH from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. We’ll talk about the services Dr. Wengel is able to provide […]
November 23, 2020 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Cochran: 907-440-8047, jcochran@akbh.org Expanding Services in Fairbanks Alaska Behavioral Health is pleased to announce the expansion of services being offered to area residents through our two Fairbanks clinics, including longer hours, peer support for adult clients, the addition of child psychiatry, and new outreach services to homeless […]
New Resource for Military Families: Understanding Child Traumatic Stress & Resilience
10.20.2020
Military families are used to adapting to new situations with strength and resilience. But military children may face mental health challenges due to the unique stressors of military life. AKBH clinician Sicely Kluge and former AKBH clinician April McElhenny are members of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Military and Veteran Families Program Workgroup. […]
In our October 2020 update, meet our staff through a new video series, find our about new opportunities for youth at Alaska Seeds of Change, and check out the Steve A. Cohen Military Family Clinic workshops coming up!
Mental Illness Awareness Week October 4-10, 2020 Mental Illness Awareness Week is designated each year raise awareness of the prevalence of mental illness, educate the public, fight stigma and provide support for those living with mental illness. This year, Alaska Behavioral Health is partnering to hold the following events: Monday, October 5 @4:30: Free Zoom […]
In our September 2020 update, meet the Alaskan raising money for Alaska Seeds of Change by hiking, learn about our new Assertive Community Treatment Team, and hear our how community support is helping us support our staff through the pandemic school closures.
Alaska Seeds of Change is offering apprenticeship opportunities for youth ages 16-24. You will have access to job skills development, resume assistance, support to finish school, and mental health care as needed.