Our Team
Our team brings together different experiences and approaches with a shared commitment to compassionate, collaborative care. Get to know the clinicians and staff who support our clients in Salem, Silverton, and throughout Oregon.
Jennifer Helms, LPC
Jennifer is the owner of Jennifer Ann Counseling and a licensed professional counselor who offers a collaborative, strengths-based approach to healing. She supports individuals, couples, and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and relationship challenges, with attention to the connections between mind, body, and lived experience.
Her work draws from EMDR, DBT, CBT, narrative therapy, and expressive approaches tailored to each client’s needs. Jennifer has a special passion for supporting first responders and their families, helping clients build insight, regain a sense of control, and move toward meaningful change.
Andrea Bellows, LCSW
Andrea works with children, adolescents, adults, parents, and families navigating anxiety, depression, grief and loss, identity, foster care and adoption, parenting challenges, and family conflict.
She brings a warm, collaborative style grounded in attachment and family systems perspectives, integrating CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, strengths-based care, and person-centered practice. Andrea is committed to helping clients reclaim authorship of their story and move toward meaningful, sustainable change.
Jessica Simoni, Professional Counselor Associate
Jessica offers a collaborative, down-to-earth approach to counseling. She helps clients recognize patterns that are no longer working, explore new possibilities, and build a path that reflects their needs and values. Her work integrates CBT, DBT, solution-focused, and strengths-based strategies within a client-centered, trauma-informed framework.
Angie believes healing grows when people feel heard, seen, validated, and understood. Through a trauma-informed approach, she helps clients explore emotional distress, strengthen coping skills, and reconnect with hope, joy, and a stronger sense of self. She creates a supportive therapeutic relationship where clients can feel safe, respected, and empowered.
Angie Eller, Professional Counselor Associate
Emily Villarreal, Professional Counselor Associate, CADC I
Emily works with clients ages 5 and up navigating ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, and social-emotional challenges. She draws from CBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, Sand Tray, and Play Therapy. Her experience also includes addiction, co-occurring concerns, and youth athletes. Emily offers an affirming space where clients can feel heard, build on their strengths, and work toward meaningful change.
Jonathan Breland, LPC
Jonathan works with children, youth, young adults, and adults, including people experiencing significant or persistent mental health challenges. He draws from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, and trauma-informed care to support stability, connection, and progress. Jonathan approaches counseling as a partnership, honoring each client as the expert in their own life and goals.
Racheal Guzaitis, Professional Counselor Associate
Jonathan works with children, youth, young adults, and adults, including people experiencing significant or persistent mental health challenges. He draws from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Attachment-Based Family Therapy, and trauma-informed care to support stability, connection, and progress. Jonathan approaches counseling as a partnership, honoring each client as the expert in their own life and goals.
Melissa brings more than a decade of experience supporting people affected by trauma, mental health concerns, substance use, and co-occurring disorders. Her compassionate, person-centered approach incorporates CBT, grounding, mindfulness, and trauma and addiction interventions. She works with adults, couples, and families to build practical skills, strengthen healthier patterns, and support lasting well-being.
Melissa Willhoft, CSWA, MAC, CADCIII
Nikki Alderete, LCSW
Nikki holds master’s degrees in Social Work and Public Policy from UCLA. She has extensive experience supporting teens and young adults, including people with foster care experience, across residential, intensive outpatient, inpatient psychiatry, and private practice settings.
Her collaborative, flexible approach draws from DBT, CBT, EMDR, somatic practices, psychodynamic therapy, and Advanced Collaborative Problem Solving. Nikki makes room for both processing past experiences and developing practical tools for current challenges, shaping counseling around each client’s goals and needs.
Savreet Kaur-Rai, Professional Counselor Associate
Savreet earned her master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from George Fox University. She supports children and families navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, and behavioral concerns. Her approach integrates DBT, CBT, narrative therapy, strengths-based strategies, and mindfulness. Savreet creates a nurturing space where clients can feel supported and empowered throughout their counseling journey.
Michelle Williamson, Office Manager
Michelle is often the first person clients connect with at Jennifer Ann Counseling. She offers a warm welcome and helps people connect with clinical support. She coordinates administrative support for our clinicians, keeping the team organized so they can focus on client care. Michelle values collaboration and the shared support that helps our team and community thrive.
Tracy works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families, considering each person within the context of their relationships and life experiences. Her compassionate, collaborative, strengths-based approach helps clients develop insight, improve communication, regulate emotions, and strengthen connection. She combines practical tools with greater self-awareness and hope to support meaningful, lasting change.