CAPS Staff

Cole Anderson, MSW

he/him

Certified Social Worker

Residence Life Embedded Therapist

Cole Anderson, MSW is a Residence Life Embedded Therapist that provides services in the CAPS office as well as in the residence halls. He completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in Social Work at Utah State University. Prior to starting at CAPS, he worked in public mental health and substance use treatment finding resources to support recovery, leading psychoeducational or skills groups, building communities, and finding ways to overcome barriers to functioning.

His therapeutic direction involves a person-centered perspective that prioritizes each individual’s dignity, lived experiences, beliefs, and culture. He utilizes a generalist approach that values the use of evidence-based therapies such as dialectical behavior therapy, existential therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help guide change. His areas of professional interest are social inequality, trauma, depression, access to services, anxiety, and substance use treatment.

He is a longtime resident of Logan that looks forward to hearing any music you can share with him. He enjoys playing the bass guitar, rescuing neglected house plants, and exploring science fiction worlds in his free time.

Jenny Anderson, MAPP, CSW

she/her/hers

Clinical Social Worker, Statewide/CAPS

Jenny Anderson, MAPP, CSW is a certified social worker and staff therapist with the USU-CAPS Statewide program. She is currently located at the USU-Uintah Basin campus. Jenny joined the CAPS-Statewide team in 2023 after completing her master’s in social work at Utah State University. During that time, she worked for CAPS-Statewide as a practicum student.

Jenny utilizes a strengths-based approach to therapy that emphasizes a person-centered perspective. Her therapy approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). She enjoys the creative process of tailoring these approaches to her clients’ needs.

Jenny’s background includes an undergraduate degree from Ithaca College where she graduated magna cum laude, with a BA in Psychology. She also received a master’s degree in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Lastly, Jenny enjoys spending time adventuring around Utah. She was a member of her college’s crew team and has never lost her love for being on the water.

Justin Barker, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist and the center's Assistant Director/Statewide Director and Assessment Coordinator. He also serves as the liaison to the Center for Persons with Disabilities and the Disability Resource Center.

Justin completed his internship at CAPS in 2011 and re-joined CAPS in 2013 after working two years for Bear River Mental Health. He earned his Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) and Master of Science degrees in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland and his undergraduate degree from Utah State University.

Justin's primary areas of clinical interest are in providing individual psychotherapy and psychological assessments/testing (e.g., cognitive, academic, personality, neuropsychological). Regarding psychotherapy, Justin utilizes an integrative approach that weds psychodynamic and interpersonal process theories with CBT, DBT, and ACT interventions.

His personal interests include sports (primarily basketball), listening to music, and gardening. He spends most of his free time with his family.

Dawn M. Bates, Ph.D.

she/her/hers

Licensed Psychologist

Res Life Embedded Psychologist &
Coordinator of After-Hours Services

Dawn M. Bates, Ph.D. . is a licensed psychologist. She is an embedded psychologist in Residence Life and Coordinator of After-Hours Services.

Dawn earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with a minor in Women’s Studies at New Mexico State University, her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Michigan State University. She completed her internship and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Idaho’s Counseling & Testing Center and returned there in 2021 to work as a staff psychologist for almost two years before coming to CAPS and USU. She also spent 4 years as an embedded psychologist at the University of Iowa in University Housing & Dining.

Dawn’s approach to therapy comes from a feminist therapy foundation, using a client/person-centered approach and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions. She believes that clients are the experts in their own lives, and she strives to collaborate on how to best address their difficulties. She focuses on each client as a whole person who is influenced by their identities, culture, family, society, work, school, and social relationships. Her clinical interests include grief, anxiety, sex and sexuality, gender issues, and LGBTQA issues.

Dawn enjoys baking, reading, and cats. She is working on getting back into hiking now that she’s in beautiful Utah and would love to start fencing again and spending more time on her roller skates.

Charles Bentley, Ph.D.

he/him

Licensed Psychologist

Psychology Practicum Coordinator

Charles Bentley, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist. He is the center's graduate assistant and practicum coordinator, as well as the liaison to the Huntsman School of Business, Admissions & Registrar Offices, Housing and Residence Life, and Veterans Resource Office.

Charley earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from Utah State University, and his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He completed his APA accredited internship at the Salt Lake City VA Health Care System. Prior to joining the CAPS staff, Charley worked for several years as a primary therapist and assistant director of patient services in residential treatment for eating disorders.

He is committed to a generalist approach to psychology, and is particularly interested in the interaction of personality and psychopathology and well-being and in interpersonal group therapy. Charley’s approach to therapy carefully considers individual’s ongoing readiness for change, focuses on common factors of relationships that contribute to positive outcomes, and integrates interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral approaches including “third wave” versions such as acceptance and commitment therapy and dialectical behavior therapy.

In his free time, Charley enjoys fly fishing with his partner and three dogs, playing adult league hockey, and skiing in lovely Utah powder.

Eri Suzuki Bentley, Ph.D., CGP

she/her

Licensed Psychologist

Director

Eri Suzuki Bentley, Ph.D., CGP is a licensed psychologist and a Certified Group Psychotherapist (CGP) by the International Board of Certified Group Psychotherapists. She is the liaison to the Latinx Cultural Center, Office of Equity, Residence Life, Student Involvement and Leadership, and Greek Life. She co-chairs JED Campus Steering Committee, which oversees a university-wide strategic plan and implementation for suicide prevention and mental health promotion. She also chairs Aggies Think Care Act, a large university committee that works to promoting USU’s Principles of Community.

Outside of USU, Eri serves on the Board of Directors for American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA), and also serves as a co-chair of the Conference Workshop Committee and the Special Interest Group Task Force for the organization.

She joined the center's staff in 2008, after completing her doctoral internship at Washington State University Counseling and Testing Services. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from Utah State University, and her bachelor's degree in psychology from Humboldt State University.

Her areas of clinical interest are group therapy, trauma, identity development, and multicultural issues. She works with clients collaboratively with attention to their stages of change, personal goals, and identity. Her therapy approach integrates interpersonal and humanistic approach with emotion-focused work and cognitive-behavioral approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.

Eri was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and has lived in the U.S. since college. She lives in Logan with her family of two dogs and a human partner. Her approach to wellness includes dog time, friends, fly fishing, gardening, theatre arts, and baking.

Alex Calder, Ph.D.

he/him/his

Ph.D.

College of Education Embedded Psychologist

Alex Calder, Ph.D. completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami in 2024. Alex has a collaborative and warm approach to therapy. He prioritizes co-creating a space where people can be their authentic selves while working through their struggles. He appreciates working with issues related to trauma, relationship concerns, gender and sexuality, multicultural counseling, substance use, shame, family of origin concerns, identity development, individuation, anxiety, and depression.

His personal interests include calisthenics, nutrition, and anything outdoors, especially skiing and hiking. Some of his hobbies include reading, computer programming, and gardening.

Joey Cohen, M.S.

he/him

Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Residence Life Embedded Therapist

Joey Cohen M.S. is a licensed associate mental health counselor and is the residence life embedded therapist at CAPS. He joined the team in 2023 after completing his masters degree at the University of Wyoming. During this time he worked at the University of Wyoming’s counseling center as a counseling intern.

Joey’s clinical interests include concerns related to post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating and body image, relationships, self-worth, sexual and gender identity, and sex therapy. While he uses a flexible humanistic approach with each client to meet their unique needs, Joey favors an internal family systems (IFS) and Adlerian approach to therapy. Additionally, he has been trained in written exposure therapy and gender affirming care. Prior to working at CAPS, Joey served on a reproductive healthcare board and a domestic and sexual violence prevention cohort.

Outside of work, Joey enjoys spending time with his friends and family, playing pickleball, hiking, camping, and watching sports. His favorite self-care activities are spending time in the sauna, lifting, and baking.

Jill Ferrell,Ph.D.

she/her

Psychologist

Group Program Coordinator

Jill Ferrell,Ph.D. is a psychologist who graduated from Utah State University Combined Clinical/Counseling/School Psychology Doctoral program 2023. She has worked at USU CAPS for 4 years as a graduate student therapist prior to joining the USU CAPS team as a staff psychologist and group program coordinator. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Brigham Young University Counseling and Psychological Services in summer of 2023.

Jill was trained as a generalist and works with students who present with various mental health issues. Her specialty areas include group therapy, anxiety, relationship and interpersonal concerns, identity exploration, faith exploration, self-compassion, grief, sexual health, and adjustment to new life situations and circumstances. She tends to take an individualized and co-created approach with her clients to use language and understandings that fit with client’s perspectives, experiences, and belief systems. She tends to pull intervention and understandings from theories of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). Jill is also trained in Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT). She works with a medical alert dog, Rivkah, a young Golden Retriever, who is not available to be pet, but enjoys sharing the therapy room with clients. She believes that greater non-judgmental understanding of thoughts and feelings can connect individuals to what is most important to them, reduce unnecessary suffering, and provide meaning to unavoidable pain in life.

Jill grew up in both Utah County and rural middle Tennessee and has lived in Logan since 2015. She loves small towns, open spaces, and believes the landscape of much of Southwest Montana matches the landscape of her heart. She likes to be outside, working with dogs and horses, and creating nature-based art and folksy music.

Monique Frazier, Ph.D.

she/her

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

REACH Peer Program Coordinator

Monique Frazier, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been in private practice in Logan since 2000 and joined the CAPS team in 2018. She is the REACH Peer Coordinator and a liaison for the Athletics Department, Academic Success Center, Student Support Services, and the Interfaith Initiative. Monique completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Utah State University in 1998.

Monique was trained as a generalist and treats a wide variety of mental health issues. Her specialty areas include the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, young adult issues, women's issues, eating disorders, and borderline personality disorder. She favors an individualized approach based on unconditional positive regard/acceptance, genuine empathy, and therapist transparency and genuineness. From this foundation, Dr. Frazier uses an eclectic blend of cognitive-behavioral (CBT), dialectical behavior (DBT), interpersonal, emotionally focused (EFT), collaborative couples, (CCT) and transactional analytic therapy (TA) techniques.

Monique grew up in rural North Dakota and has lived in Logan since 1992. She balances work with spending time with her husband, two sons, and friends at home, in the outdoors, and playing sports. She enjoys volleyball, mountain biking, pickleball, cooking, gardening, volunteer coaching basketball, and relaxing with her three cats.

“I love my job and working with clients. It's deeply rewarding and meaningful to form partnerships that promote emotional, physical, and spiritual health and strength. I truly care about my clients and am committed to understanding and connecting in positive ways as well as providing high-quality, evidence-based treatment.”

Amy Kleiner, Ph.D.

she/her

Licensed Psychologist

Associate Director/Training Director

Amy Kleiner, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the center's Associate Director/Training Director and liaison to the College of Humanities & Social Sciences and USU Inclusion Center. She joined the center staff in 2005 after completing her predoctoral internship at CAPS.

She earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2005. She earned her master's degree in counseling psychology from Northeastern University in 2000. Her bachelor's in psychology is from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.

Amy's primary areas of professional interest include: models and stages of therapeutic change, counselor training and supervision, White privilege, Racial Identity development and Trauma. She conceptualizes clients from an integrative approach, specifically focusing on phases of the therapeutic change process, common mechanisms of change, and client readiness for change. She also works from multicultural framework with attention to intersection identities and how that impacts our relationships and mental well-being.

Amy lives in Logan with her husband, four daughters, two fluffy dogs and two adorable lop-earred bunnies.

Mark Nafziger, Ph.D.

he/him

Licensed Psychologist

Biofeedback Program Coordinator

Mark Nafziger, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and the center's clinical coordinator and liaison to the Quinney College of Natural Resources, BIT Team/VP of Student Affairs Office, Center for Community Engagement, Campus Safety & Emergency Management Offices and USU Campus Police. He is also a member of the university's Behavior Intervention Team (BIT).

He came to CAPS in 1990 after completing his Ph.D. at Ohio State University and his pre-doctoral internship at Notre Dame University's Counseling Center and the Oaklawn Psychiatric Hospital. Mark also does volunteer work for the State of Utah's Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team.

His therapeutic orientation combines cognitive behavioral, existential and Buddhist mindfulness perspectives. Mark's professional interests include psychological trauma, and the interface between psychology and wellness/healthy living.

He is also an avid gardener, who enjoys hiking, tennis and racquetball, music, traveling and playing with his four grandchildren.

Clark Ripplinger, Ph.D.

he/him

Licensed Psychologist

Clark Ripplinger, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist working for the Statewide Campus system mainly in the Salt Lake, Tooele, and Utah county areas. He earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Brigham Young University in 2019 and a M.S. in Psychology: School Counseling from Utah State University in 2014.

His clinical background includes a post-doctoral fellowship with Psychological Assessment and Treatment Specialists in American Fork, UT, a pre-doctoral internship at Texas State University Counseling Center, an externship with the Brigham Young University Accessibility Center, and a practicum at BYU's Counseling and Psychological Services. Clark has also worked as a secondary education teacher and school counselor in Salt Lake County.

While trained in several therapies, Clark frequently uses a humanistic, client-centered approach. He believes that providing clients with empathy, genuineness, and unconditional positive regard will help clients work through their problems on their path toward self-actualization. His clinical interests include shame, trauma, relationship issues, identity development, and LGBTQIA+ issues.

In his personal life, Clark enjoys being active through playing pickleball or volleyball with his friends, cooking for his dinner group, and playing games with his family.

Caroline Robbins

she/her

Staff Assistant

Kiarra Fonnesbeck

she/her

Staff Assistant