Meet Our Caring and Qualified Staff
Learn more about the staff at Valley Community Counseling. Our staff are certified in different areas and practices to help you, no matter what you're struggling with. If you're interested in joining the Valley Community Counseling team, please scroll to the bottom of this page for contact information.
Administrative Staff
Carla De Jong - Administrator
Carla DeJong is an administrator and co-owner of Valley Community Counseling. Carla has been at VCC for over 15 years! In her free time Carla enjoys camping, watching sports, baking, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Marcia Young - Office Administrator
Marcia Young is our office administrator at Valley Community Counseling, taking on many roles and responsibilities. Marcia is in charge of billing insurance, among countless other vital tasks! Marcia enjoys spending time with family, crafting, reading, and a variety of outdoor activities.
Carlene Scott - Office Assistant
Carlene Scott handles our clinical wait-list and scheduling. She enjoys spending time with her husband, kids, and grand kids. Carlene also enjoys taking care of her animals.
Counselors
Jacqueline Cardinet LMSW
Jacqueline Cardinet LMSW earned her bachelor's degree in social work from Boise State University. She enjoys spending time with family, kayaking, and playing with her four paw child.
Christine Chugg LMSW
Christine Chugg has recently joined the VCC staff and is now providing counseling as an LMSW. Christine specializes in play therapy. Her hobbies include sewing, reading, quilting, painting, and photography.
Karen Hall LPC
Karen Hall Karen Hall has recently joined Valley Community Counseling as an LPC. She has spent 32 years working in education at various levels as a teacher and school counselor. Karen has been an LPC for 12 years. She enjoys working with a variety of clients, both young and old and has a passion for helping others find their internal strength. She enjoys hiking, spending time with her family, traveling, and being with her dogs. Karen loves to cook for family and work crews on the family ranch.
Rachel Jolovich LPC
Rachel Jolovich earned her Bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon University and taught first grade for 4 years. She has since earned her Master’s degree in counseling from Northwest Nazarene University, with an emphasis in trauma and play therapy. Rachel enjoys traveling, hiking and camping, reading, art, and spending time with her family.
Mary June Mano LPC
Mary June Mano LPC has over 5 years of experience working as a BI in schools and in the community. She earned her M.S. in Marriage, Couples & Family Counseling from Northwest Nazarene University. She earned her B.S. in Psychology, B.A. in Communications, and a minor in International Studies from Idaho State University. Mary June was born and raised in Taiwan and enjoys meeting and helping people from all backgrounds. She loves game night, animals, hot springs, food, traveling, and her baby.
Hilber Nelson LCSW
Hilber Nelson LCSW is a counselor specializing in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) since 2015. Hilber enjoys working with individual clients (ages 15 and up). In his free time, Hilber enjoys painting and traveling. A couple of his incredible paintings hang in the hall here at VCC. He accepts EAP, Medicaid, insurance, and private pay.
Kelsie Robinson LCPC
Kelsie Robinson, LCPC, is the co-owner of Valley Community Counseling and has over 20 years of experience in the counseling field. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and worked in the school system for 6 years teaching and coaching before pursuing her counseling degree from Northwest Nazarene University. She enjoys working with clients of all ages dealing with a wide array of issues. She has extensive experience in trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and family and school issues. She enjoys spending time with family, hiking, camping and helping out with their family ranch.
Case Managers
Lisa McLinn
Lisa McLinn is a case manager and HI in a local school. Lisa has a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from BSU. After years of working in the legal system, she decided to return to working with children. Lisa is a local and enjoys spending time with her son and family.
Developmental Disability Program
Heather Barnes - DDA Director
Heather Barnes, M.Ed. is the DDA director at Valley Community Counseling. She has spent most of her life studying Human Behavior, Psychology, Social Work, and Education. She has over 20 years’ experience working with children and adolescents. In her free time, she enjoys white water rafting with her family.
Heidi Mattson - DDA Administrative Assistant
Heidi started working at Valley Community Counseling in 2005. She previously worked at O’Leary Jr. High School for 8 years as a para educator, working with kids who needed a little extra help. Her love for helping others brought her to VCC. Heidi has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. She loves spending time with her “grand nuggets”, cooking, and crocheting. Heidi is married to the love of her life and the President of a motorcycle club, The Snake River Bros. They are active in raising money for local charities and families in need
Dlyla Alexander
Dlyla Alexander has worked with children of many ages. She has loved to see them grow and reach new goals every single day. It has inspired Dlyla to continue into this field. In her free time, Dlyla has a podcast with her best friend. She also enjoys her sticker making business.
Lizzet Corona
Lizzet Corona was born in Los Angeles, CA and moved to Idaho in 2021 after graduating with a BA in Psychology from UC Merced. She started her career as a CBRS and has also worked within a school district, helping those who need it most. Lizette is recently married and aspires to get her masters soon.
Cassandra Cuellar
Cassandra Jensen recently earned her associates in Early Child Education and is pursuing a bachelors in Psychology with an emphasis on Child Advocacy. She is very passionate about the work that she does, and puts her all into every child that she works with. In Cassandra's free time she enjoys yoga, running, and playing card games with her wife.
Carson Hess
Carson Hess loves to be creative. He enjoys photography, painting, and graphic design. Carson has found a passion for working with kids while doing this job. He has his associates degree from CSI, and is working towards a BA in Secondary Education.
Ashlynn Hicks
Ashlynn Hicks enjoys traveling, and reading. However, most of all she loves spending time with her family and all of her animals.
Taylor Hines
Jeffery "Taylor" Hines is currently a lead CBRS at Oregon Trail Elementary for the FAST program. He attained his Bachelor's degree in Family and Child Science from New Mexico State University. Taylor has worked with clients of all ages; dealing with substance abuse, gang intervention, school, community, and family issues. In his free time Taylor enjoys hiking, snowboarding, playing basketball, airbrushing, spray painting, and spending time with his family.
Makenzie King
Makenzie King originally joined VCC to attain volunteer hours for her BSU Social Work course. She is currently working on earning an associate degree in Social Work. Makenzie has always loved working with kids, so VCC is a perfect fit! In her free time, Makenzie enjoys spending time with her four kids and fiancé, and planning her wedding.
Allie Lively
Allie Lively is a special education teacher in Castleford. She graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2020 and is currently earning a Masters in Mental Health Counseling. Allie enjoys working with children and teens. She has a background of working with children with many different disabilities. Allie enjoys boating with her family and friends; she also enjoys going to the mountain in Pine.
Ginny Meredith
Ginny Meredith taught 1st grade for 10 years, and received her Masters in Education from Northwest Nazarene University in 2014. Ginny loves working with kids of all ages. She has a passion for helping children develop the love of learning and love of life. In her spare time, Ginny enjoys spending time with her family playing games, laughing, and having fun. Spending time outside and in the mountains is where Ginny loves to unplug and get rejuvenated.
Opal Marie Oldfield
Opal Oldfield's son was diagnosed with autism at 16 months old. This is what started her journey of getting her RBT license and working with kids. Opal enjoys spending time with her family, four-wheeling, camping, hiking, and swimming.
Quincey Robinson
Quincey Robinson earned her associate's degree in Health Science from the College of Southern Idaho. She also completed the medical assistance program there as well. Quincey loves to spend time working with kids. She loves camping, fishing, playing volleyball, and spending time with her dog Oakley.
Carson Steffensen
Carson Steffensen grew up in Idaho Falls with his amazing parents and four crazy brothers. Carson's favorite hobby is going boating with his friends and family. He is currently in a Business Management program at CSI.
Christa Tackett
Christa Tackett graduated with a Bachelors degree in Family Consumer Science and a Masters degree in Education. She has taught in Twin Falls for over 16 years. She enjoys working with kids. When Christa is not working she can be found with family, watching her kids play sports, and coaching
Jessica Thomas
Jessica Thomas is a mother of five children. She has been teaching preschool for the past five years and loves children. Jessica earned her Bachelors degree from BYU, where she majored in Therapeutic Recreation. She loves non-traditional forms of therapy. Jessica enjoys reading Historical fiction, riding her bike, and watching her kids play sports.
Katie Westfall
Katie Westfall is from Salmon, Idaho and moved to Twin Falls in 2021. She graduated with her associates degree in Early Childhood Education in 2023. Katie loves working with people of all ages and abilities. She loves playing volleyball, hiking, camping, with friends and family, and anything with yummy food.
Shawn Wildman
Shawn Wildman likes to spend as much time as he can riding dirt bikes. He plays guitar in the CSI jazz and marching bands. Shawn has 20 years of experience with adults in DDA programs. These experiences are what led him to earn a degree in Social Work and why he chose to work at VCC.
Melissa Denaughel
Melissa Denaughel is a CBRS and HI in a local area school and has two years of experience in TCC and CM. Melissa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Boise State University and plans to seek a Master’s degree in Social Work or Counseling. Melissa is an Idaho-born native from the Mini-Cassia area. Melissa enjoys working with individuals of various backgrounds and all ages. She loves being a grandma, spending time with family and friends. In her spare time enjoys reading, journaling, baking and cooking, scrapbooking and crafts, camping and the outdoors, ATV off-roading, and traveling as often as possible.
