Counseling team in Bettendorf, IA

Meet Our Team

Compassion Counseling Inc. is staffed with highly qualified behavioral health professionals whom have many years of experience and expertise.

Sasha T. - Bettendorf & Muscatine, IA - Compassion Counseling Inc

Sasha Trice, LMHC

Sasha is an experienced licensed therapist who is compassionate, relatable, and empathetic. Sasha received a BA degree in psychology and received a master’s degree in Education from Western Illinois University in 2010. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Iowa and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois. Sasha has over 9 years of practice and experience in community mental health, working with the early childhood population (ages birth to 5), school-aged children, adults, and families. Sasha specializes in counseling related to issues of trauma, parental and relational stress, self-esteem, adjustment disorders, anxiety, depression, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, multicultural concerns, and more.

Sasha believes in the power of relationship and connection, and strives to provide a positive, accepting, and strength-based environment for clients. Sasha utilizes Adlerian theory, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Conscious discipline techniques, and Theraplay principles for therapeutic practice. Sasha provides a warm, caring, nurturing, and compassionate environment to enhance the feeling of emotional safety and acceptance for everyone she encounters.

Favorite Quote:

“Try to be the rainbow in someone’s cloud”

Maya Angelou

Erica Willits, LMHC

Erica earned her master’s degree from Western Illinois University in counseling. Erica earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Illinois University. Much of her clinical experience has been working with school aged children in community mental health. She also has experience working with adults with varied areas of concern, such as anxiety, depression, grief, women’s issues and self-esteem.

Erica would like to create an accepting environment to work through life’s challenges. She believes that therapy is a collaborative process, where we work together to generate change, achieve goals and engage in personal growth.

Favorite quote:

"Believe you can and you’re halfway there."

-Theodore Roosevelt

Sonya W. - Bettendorf & Muscatine, IA - Compassion Counseling Inc

Toshia J. - Bettendorf & Muscatine, IA - Compassion Counseling Inc

Toshia Johnson, LMHC

I'm an experienced mental health therapist, licensed in Iowa with over 17 years of experience. I graduated from Western Illinois University with a Master’s of Science in Agency Counseling. I see therapy as a collaborative process between a client and a therapist and enjoy working with clients who desire to know more about themselves and are open to the possibilities that a strong therapeutic relationship can develop. Creating a sense of empowerment, self-worth, and self-understanding is what I hope to build with my clients. I have worked extensively with children, families and couples from diverse backgrounds, in such areas of concerns including ADHD, mood disorders, multicultural issues, trauma, family of origin issues, marriage/relationship difficulties and just plain life.

My counseling style is warm, honest and interactive. I believe in treating others with respect, sensitivity, and compassion and my approach combines cognitive-behavioral, solution focused, and mindfulness counseling. It takes courage to ask for help, but if you are willing to take that chance, I am here to support and empower you.

I am available in our Bettendorf office for appointments.

Favorite Quote:

"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation."

-Plato, Greek philosopher

Debbie James, LMHC

Debbie is a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa and has her national certification through the National Board for Certified Counselors. Originally from the Chicago area, Augustana College brought her to the Quad Cities. There, she earned her BA Degree with majors in Social Work and Spanish. After 30 years of work experience in the field, she earned her MS Degree in Counseling from Western IL University in 2012.

The bulk of her career has been in corrections and restorative justice programming, working with clients facing many stigmas, including mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence and those with criminal histories. She helps empower people to gain insight and skills, using mindfulness techniques to bridge these two. She assists them in exploring and making effective choices in their lives. Her theoretical foundation consists of cognitive behavioral, solution focused and reality therapies. However, she adapts her approach to best meet the needs of each individual she is privileged to work with.

Debbie’s specialties include working with adults in the areas of stress and anger management, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, grief and loss and self-esteem. She listens with her heart and provide a comfortable and safe space to share. She encourages those she works with to take life one day at a time and they often hear her say that it may even need to be one minute at a time. Debbie is a positive person, uses positive psychology and reinforce strengths in all, helping clients build on successes. She promotes wellness and a healthy lifestyle, enjoying long distance running in her free time.

Favorite Quote:

"As you move through life, leave a wake of kindness…"

-Margaret Hale

Debbie J. - Bettendorf & Muscatine, IA - Compassion Counseling Inc

Pennee R. - Bettendorf & Muscatine, IA - Compassion Counseling Inc

Pennee Reyman, LMHC

Pennee graduated with a BSW from the University of Iowa and earned her MSEd in counseling at Western Illinois University with a certificate in Marriage and Family counseling. She is certified through the National Board of Certified Counselors and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Iowa. She spent seventeen years in a community mental health setting prior to employment with Compassion Counseling. Her clinical experience has been primarily working with individuals (18 – 80 yrs) and couples. Pennee’s theories of practice include Cognitive Behavioral, REBT, Choice, and Solution-focused therapies in areas of anxiety, depression, adjustment, aging, grief and loss, self-esteem issues, co-occurring issues and maintaining sobriety, and relationship dynamics.

Pennee believes that the foundation of therapy is a collaborative relationship that feels safe and accepting and includes respectful challenges, emotional support, and positive changes. She believes changing how you think changes how you feel.

Favorite Quote:

“You live what you believe.”

- anonymous

Katherine Zerull - LISW, LCSW

Katherine graduated from St. Ambrose University with a B.A. in Psychology in 2010 and a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) in 2012. Katherine began her career as a Mental Health Therapist for children followed by working as a Case Management Social Worker at a hospital prior to working as a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner/Intensive Outpatient Program Clinician for adults with the UnityPoint Health Robert Young Center for many years. Katherine’s treatment focuses include Coping Skill Building, Self-Compassion Practice, Psycho-Education, CBT, DBT, and TFCBT. Katherine works with adults dealing with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, grief, trauma, attachment, etc.

Favorite Quote:

“Hope is not always soft and lovely. She is not always cascading rivers and sunlit skies, dancing. Hope knows there is work to be done. There are roads to be traveled. Turns to be made. She is bare bones and deep waters. She is weary and weak. She is barely a glimmer. She shakes when she speaks. This is where hope lives. Smothered in sweat. Full of war. And on the verge of crumbling into the sea. Yet, there she is, quietly breathing.”

- Bare Bones by Ullie-Kaye