Meet the staff

Jan Berney is the director of the Counseling and Wellness Center and is a licensed mental health counselor in the State of Washington. She earned her masters degree in counseling psychology from Washington State University. Jan has over 20 years of experience providing individual, group and couple counseling and has worked in a variety of settings. She has been employed at Saint Martin’s University since 1999 and her previous counseling positions were held at Catholic Community Services and Carondelet Psychiatric Care Center where her positions included both outpatient and inpatient treatment. Jan has worked as volunteer crisis counselor and advocate with a shelter for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. She is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and has a part-time private practice in Olympia.

Lorelie “Beng” Ligasan has a master’s degree in clinical psychology and over seven years of clinical work experience in the mental health field and has served as a designated mental health professional [D.M.H.P.] in Lewis County. She has had five years of combined experience in teaching and guidance counseling for elementary, high school, and college students. Lorelie is a certified ethnic minority mental health specialist for the Filipino and Filipino-American populations and speaks Tagalog (Filipino dialect). She is also a certified Deafness Mental Health Specialist, proficient in Filipino and American Sign Languages and currently works at Deaf Services Program, Sound Mental Health, in Seattle, WA.

Jennifer Lee is a Master’s Level Intern for the 2012/2013 academic year. She is currently completing her Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Saint Martin’s University with a focus on family systems, career development, and mindfulness. Jennifer earned her BS at The Evergreen State College in Psychology. She considers herself a person-centered therapist and has faith in the strength and healing power of the therapeutic relationship.

Kaj Kayij-Wint is the Counseling Center’s Master’s Level Contract Therapist. She earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling at Saint Martin’s University with a focus in Marriage and Family Therapy. Kaj has been working in community mental health counseling children, teens, young adults, couples, and families. She is an adjunct professor in the Saint Martin’s Psychology and Extended Learning Departments. Kaj is fluent is Swahili and French.

Jason Kilmer has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is currently the Saint Martins substance abuse prevention program coordinator. He also works as a research assistant professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, and has been an investigator on several studies evaluating prevention and intervention efforts for alcohol and drug use by college students. Additionally, Jason is the assistant director of health and wellness in the division of student life at the University of WA. He was the 2004 recipient of the outstanding mid-level professional award for NASPA Region V, was named a research fellow in 2005 by MOST of Us at Montana State University, and was named a senior scholar in prevention in 2006 by Outside the Classroom.