CATHY VON HIPPEL, PH.D.

Dr. Cathy von Hippel grew up in Alaska, left for college and graduate school, then returned, and has worked in private practice in Alaska for over two decades. Dr. von Hippel grew up hiking, cross-country skiing, and flying in the backseat of a Cessna 180. In 2018, with her colleague Danielle Allen, Dr. von Hippel developed Alaska Telepsychology to serve urban and rural Alaskans, by reducing barriers to treatment. Dr. von Hippel helps stuck youth and adults to develop actionable, concrete plans for achieving goals. She helps patients to progress steadily toward their best functioning in love, family, and work. Dr. von Hippel also works with parents to scaffold their children’s development toward confident independence. She sub-specializes in evaluating diagnostically complex cases, using a multi-disciplinary and multi-reporter approach that integrates information from patients, parents, primary care providers, educators, occupational therapists, speech therapists, etc. Areas of expertise include psychological testing and treatment of: neurodevelopmental disorders, executive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression.

Sammy Mack, Ph.D.

Dr. Sammy Mack is a lifelong Alaskan who enjoys hiking, skiing, and exploring Prince William Sound with her husband, daughters, and gigantic malamute tiny dachshund Miles. Her roots in the field of psychology are in Applied Behavior Analysis, working with children who experience Autism Spectrum Disorder. She provides individual psychotherapy for teens and adults and conducts multidisciplinary psychological evaluations. Dr. Mack incorporates elements of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness into her work. Areas of expertise include psychological testing and treatment of: neurodevelopmental disorders, executive dysfunction, anxiety, and depression.

Miles, pictured left, enjoys commercial fishing in the Prince William Sound and going to work with Dr. Mack.

STEPHANIE BIRDSALL, PMHNP

Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. In her early career, she was inspired by the power of medical providers to improve patients’ quality of life. This led her to return to school to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Since 2012, she has worked with teens and adults in a variety of team-based treatment settings. While she considers herself to be a generalist, Stephanie has a particular interest in women’s mental health.

Stephanie moved to Alaska in 2003 and instantly felt at home. She now lives on an island off the coast of Maine where she spends her free time biking, paddleboarding, and otherwise herding her two children. Stephanie regularly travels to Alaska, where she hikes and skis as much as possible.

Kierra Brecht, Ph.D

Dr. Kierra Brecht has lived in Alaska for over 15 years and earned her doctorate at the University of Alaska. Dr. Brecht works with adults of all ages to navigate life’s hardships and to live meaningfully. Her therapy style is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Solution Focused Therapy. She is also trained in Prolonged Exposure for PTSD and CBT for insomnia. Dr. Brecht is a committed foodie and horticulturalist, and in her free time concocts raspberry-infused cakes, maintains an indoor greenhouse, and chases her corgi puppy.

Mary Palko, LPC, CDCII

Mary Palko has worked in mental health settings in Alaska for more than 20 years. Mary works with children, teens, and adults. She focuses on developing concrete coping skills for managing anxiety, depression, grief, the transition to adulthood, and family issues. Additional areas of expertise include ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, LGBTQIA+, hearing impairment, and relationship building. Growing up in a military family, Mary lived in Europe and many locations around the Lower 48. Mary remains an avid traveler! Her spare time also involves wilderness exploration both in and out of Alaska, mountain climbing, backcountry skiing, biking, and surfing.

AURORA SIDNEY-ANDO, LPC

Aurora was born and raised in Mexico, is fluent in Spanish and English, and has lived in Alaska for 12 years. She earned a masters degree in counseling and a Ph.D. in humanistic and transpersonal psychology. Aurora works with children, teens, and adults, emphasizing the goodness in people, common needs, and rational problem-solving. Her psychotherapeutic approach orbits around cognitive-behavioral and solution-focused therapies, and the expressive arts. Aurora is EMDR certified. She has expertise in trauma, the transition to adulthood, cross-cultural issues, and the creative arts. Aurora is an avid traveler and an accomplished painter and illustrator. Aurora has innovated novel methods to engage children in expressive art therapy via videoconferencing.

SUSAN R SCOTT, MS, LMFT

Sue has been spotted in a blizzard, at night, rescuing a kitten in the middle of the Glenn Highway. She worked on fishing boats, in medical practices, and in engineering firms before becoming a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Sue specializes in mood disorders, trauma, marital/relationship problems, health-related problems, disabilities, career change, and substance abuse. She incorporates cognitive behavioral therapies, mindfulness training, and EMDR into her work. Sue has taught psychology classes and supervised students. At home, she relaxes with her wildly charismatic dogs and controlling cat. Her hobbies include animal rescue, fishing, gardening, watercolor painting and photography.

HANNAH ENGLISH, LCSW, MPH

Hannah grew up in New England and spent much of her childhood traveling. She earned a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health through the University of Alabama. She has worked in school, hospital, and outpatient settings with adolescents and young adults. Hannah lives in Sitka, where she has learned to love rain and beading. She enjoys hiking, camping, and biking — in the rain. She also enjoys traveling out of the rain. Hannah helps patients to optimize their strengths, self-regulate under stress, and challenge, then correct, their thinking errors.

Marlene W. Reinert, LCSW, LPC-S, CCAT

Marlene originates from Chicago, where she developed and led therapeutic wilderness experiences for city youth.  Gobsmacked by the transformative impact of this work, Marlene began participating in an international group that promotes adventure therapy globally.  Marlene moved to Sitka, Alaska to live near family.  She joined Alaska Telepsychology in 2024, where she works with teenagers and adults.  Her theoretical approach is grounded in psychodynamic, humanistic, adventure, and strength-based theories. Marlene leverages warmth and genuine interest to help patients tolerate vulnerability, practice authenticity, and improve their self-regulation and problem-solving.  She is an avid paddler known for her taco dip.

Danielle Allen, Practice Manager

Danielle Allen is from the Pacific Northwest and has lived in Alaska for over a decade. Danielle has worked as an administrator in both medical and mental health clinics, and understands the health needs of Alaskans. Her administrative expertise includes insurance billing and HIPAA-compliant telepsychology platforms. She travels internationally, and loves meeting people from different backgrounds. Her favorite things include her family, dogs, and making people smile.

Sutton Contreras, administrative assistant

Sutton grew up in Alaska. As a young adult, she spent five months volunteering with youth in China and realized that she loves helping people. Sutton channels her humanitarian tilt through her work at Alaska Telepsychology and in her role as a mother of three. Sutton loves to bake, camp, and travel all over the world - especially where there are beaches!

Karli Loyd, administrative assistant

Karli was born and raised in Kansas. She has worked in the front office of various healthcare settings. Karli has three children, one puppy, two horses, and a husband who is a competitive roper on the rodeo circuit. Her favorite things are friends, family, teaching her boys to ride and lasso sheep, and the fabulous outdoors.