About us

Counseling & Connection

We are a group of therapists and licensed psychologists focused on the wellness, empowerment and growth of the Neurodivergent & LGBTQIA+ communities. We provide psychological evaluations, individual and group therapy, and life coaching & skills support.

Kristen Cook (Co-Owner)

LPC, NCC

I totally understand the challenges in finding the right therapist with whom to divulge your world’s inner workings – I do. So, I think it’s only fair to be as candid as possible in revealing myself as a therapist and human being.

 

I am a Queer ADHDer. I spend my life outside of the office with my wild and beautiful kids and partner. I love to adventure in the mountains and I also love to cuddle up on the couch – both bring me joy and comfort. I struggle with large crowds, fluorescent lights, persistent whining and the vastness of the ocean.

 

As a Gen-Xer who came out in my 20s, I struggled greatly with my identity and sense of worth relative to the messages I was hearing from the world around me. I have experienced dark places; I believe that my growth and healing is a testament to good therapy. I believe in this work and in our resilience as human beings. We are truly fellow travelers.

 

I hold the experiences you share with me as sacred, and I am grateful to be in a position to walk with you in your healing and growth. That said, I enjoy laughter and unfiltered exchanges that may or may not involve colorful language and the acknowledgment of shared experiences. There is nothing that you might bring to my office that won’t be met with love and compassion – you need not hold back for fear that it may be perceived as strange or terrible or that it may simply paint you in a less-than-positive light. I am human, too – I am also striving to live better, to evolve – and I am deeply honored to be a part of your journey.

 

We all deserve a professional partner in our personal growth. While we aren’t friends in the traditional sense – I hope that you will experience the same trust and comfort to lean on our therapeutic relationship to continue to heal and grow.

 

Trauma-informed, ND & Queer-Affirming Individual & Group Therapy for Teens & Adults

 

Modalities:

  • EMDR
  • Psychodynamic
  • Somatic-Attachment Therapy
  • DBT
  • Eclectic
Kristen Cook LPC, NCC
Whitney Wilson, LCSW

Whitney Wilson (Co-Owner)

LCSW

As a social worker, I love helping clients recognize their innate goodness and worth. I specialize in helping LGBTQ+ kids and adults, as well as parents of LGBTQ+ youth, find healthy perceptions of themselves so they can strengthen their relationships with themselves and the world around them and know themselves as peaceful, whole, and safe. With a particular focus on attachment and trauma, I have been able to help many individuals and families pair learned skills and perspective shifts with their inherent power and worth to make lasting change in their lives. Together, we’ll develop healthier thought patterns, explore emotions and identities, and figure out what it means to just be ourselves in this world.

 

As a parent, I understand the massive shift in oneself when we begin our parenting journey—I get why that can cause a change in our sense of self, and how unplanned detours can push us out of balance. I know the struggle of staying in touch with who we are—whether it’s in the early years of parenting, or we’re adjusting to changes in the family structure, or we’re adapting to someone’s change in gender identity or expression. I love supporting parents and their kids through life’s unique challenges to restore the family’s balance.

 

My clients would describe me as warm, nurturing, and curious. I never ask someone to be something they’re not—I meet you where you’re at, and your authentic self is not only welcomed in our shared therapy space, but embraced.

 

When I’m not in the therapy office, I love spending quality time cooking with my wife, playing with my three kids, and snuggling with my cats Rex and Livi.

 

Trauma-informed, ND & Queer-Affirming Individual Therapy for Kids, Teens & Adults.

 

Modalities:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Play Therapy
  • Attachment-based Therapy
  • Trauma-focused Therapy
  • Eclectic

“The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss - an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc. - is sure to be noticed.”

Kierkegaard

Michele Nordquest

PLPC

I didn’t become a therapist because I have life figured out. I became a therapist because I am endlessly curious about people, why we become who we become, what we learn to do to survive, and what happens when we finally realize we’re allowed to choose something different.

Before becoming a counselor, I served in the Air Force and spent many years working in the medical field before eventually realizing that the part of healthcare I cared most about was the human part. I went back to school, changed careers, and found work that feels so much more like home.

 

Outside of the therapy room, my life is full. I have a big family/live-in community, a house that is rarely quiet, animals, plants, projects, deep conversations, ridiculous conversations, and usually several people trying to figure out what we’re having for dinner. I love gardening, creating things, spirituality, good food, and conversations that somehow move from completely inappropriate laughter to existential questions about life in under five minutes.

I believe all people make sense in context. Families, relationships, culture, identity, trauma, attachment, and the roles we learn to play all shape us. Sometimes the things we dislike most about ourselves began as very intelligent ways of surviving.

 

I’m warm, curious, direct, and very human in the therapy room. I laugh. I use colorful language. I’ll sit with you in the hard things, but I may also lovingly point out when you’re doing the thing you told me you wanted to stop doing.

 

I believe healing requires both compassion and accountability. You don’t have to become a perfectly healed version of yourself. I’m much more interested in helping you become more fully you.

 

Trauma-Informed, Neurodiversity-Affirming & LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy for Children, Teens & Adults

 

Modalities:

    • Family Systems
    • Humanistic / Person-Centered Therapy
    • CBT
    • DBT
    • Somatic & Trauma-Informed Approaches
    • Eclectic / Integrative Therapy
Michele Nordquest, PLPC
Lexi Kasel, LMSW

Lexi Kasel

LMSW

Have you ever felt misunderstood, or unsure of how to manage the big emotions that come with daily life? Whether you’re navigating life’s stressors, adjusting to life transitions, or dealing with neurodivergence, anxiety, or depression, I aim to help you feel grounded and empowered. Many of my clients often share that they don’t feel heard or accepted – I’m here to change that. My goal is to be the kind of person I wish more people had: one who listens, affirms, and helps them make sense of what they’re feeling.


I bring a warm, straightforward approach that keeps therapy focused and supportive. Together, we can build goals and move toward real change without losing sight of your lived experience. I use a variety of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help you reframe negative self-talk, reduce overwhelming thoughts, and build on the skills you have as well as introduce new ones.


Therapy with me is honest, real, and goal-oriented. We’ll look for growth even in daily challenges and help you build confidence in your ability to thrive – one practical step at a time. If this sounds like what you’re looking for, let’s take that first step together – call to schedule a free consultation! 

 

LGBTQ & ND Affirming

 

Modalities:

  • CBT
  • DBT
  • Person-centered

Kathryn Plautz

PLPC

Life transitions can feel like stepping onto a moving sidewalk going the wrong direction—new schools, jobs, relationships, identities, and expectations can all bring excitement, uncertainty, and plenty of stress. I enjoy walking alongside clients through those moments with warmth, humor, curiosity, and a steady reminder that they do not have to figure everything out alone.

As a lesbian woman, I especially value creating affirming space for LGBTQ+ clients and others navigating the unique barriers that can come with intersecting identities. My style is trauma-informed, person-centered, and grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy, which means we can explore both what you have been through and the practical tools that may help you move forward.

 

Therapy with me is collaborative, compassionate, and a little bit like unpacking a very overstuffed backpack: we sort through what feels heavy, notice what has been useful, and decide what you actually want to carry into the next chapter.
Whether you are feeling anxious about change, stuck in discomfort, or simply ready for support that feels real and down-to-earth, I would be honored to join you in the process.

 

 

LGBTQIA+ & ND Affirming

 

 

Modalities:

  • Person-centered
  • CBT
Kathryn Plautz, PLPC
Aries Washington LPC, SEP

Aries Washington

LPC, SEP

I am a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) who is passionate about holding space for people as they figure life out. I care about helping folks get to know themselves in an honest way—to see value in all parts of who they are, and to feel like they have a say in how they move through the world.

 

I believe that sharing the tender, complex, and still-developing parts of yourself takes vulnerability — and trusting someone to hold that space requires courage. Because I believe that, I want to show my vulnerability to you and share a bit about myself, as I would not ask you to do anything I would not do.

 

I’m a queer, biracial, neurodivergent woman and a retired Division I athlete. From my own lived experiences, I’ve come to know the weight of expectations and demands on— who you’re supposed to be, how you’re supposed to show up, and what success “should” look like. I understand what it’s like to move through the world carrying pressures and rules—whether from family, culture, sport, or society—and to question where you fit within all of that. I understand being shaped by the message that you always have to be tough, to keep pushing, and hold yourself to high standards—no matter the cost (even if there were rewards). I also understand the grief that can come with change—especially when our roles, identities, or performances begin to shift. I get how hard it can feel to let yourself slow down, to change, and to soften—especially when strength has been your way of surviving.

 

These experiences shape how I show up in the therapy space—with compassion, acceptance, authenticity, curiosity, and deep respect for you and what you have been through. You can expect me to show up with care and intention—to walk alongside you with presence and support. You can expect collaboration, tenderness, humor and honesty. You can expect to have a space where you don’t have to pretend. You can expect that we will navigate your journey at a pace that feels right and respectful of your needs.

 

I believe something truly meaningful happens when you feel genuinely seen, and I look forward to meeting who you are! You deserve space to unpack what you’ve inherited, what you’ve survived, and what you’ve learned to believe about yourself.

Trauma-focused, neurodiversity and queer affirming therapy for young adults and adults (Bipoc, Lgbtgia, athletes and other populations).

 

Modalities

  • Somatic Experiencing
  • IFS-Informed
  • Psychodynamic
  • Acceptance and commitment/mindfulness approach
  • Eclectic

Focus areas

  • Trauma
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Life transitions and stress
  • Identity and parts work
  • Self exploration
  • Perfectionism

Talk to us

The Fellow Traveler Collective provides therapy for children, teens, and adults with Autism, ADHD and the LGBTQIA+ community. 

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