Meet our Team
Bryan Independence Center Staff
Stephanie Bianco
PLADC
Steph is a provisionally licensed alcohol and drug counselor who works mainly with adults, facilitating psychoeducation, group therapy and individual therapy. Steph also provides substance use evaluations to those seeking substance use services. Steph’s approach is person-centered recovery and uses cognitive behavioral therapies, motivational interviewing and 12-Step Recovery and Schema Therapy to help people reach their recovery goals. Steph also uses other modalities to help individualize treatment for the individual. Steph is passionate about helping those achieve what they believe recovery looks like for themselves so they may have a life worth living.
Sharon Marshall-French
MA, LIMHP
Sharon is a licensed independent mental health professional with a master's degree. She helps adult patients through group and individual therapy sessions. She also conducts substance use assessments as needed. Through her person-centered therapeutic approach, Sharon integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing to help clients reach their recovery goals. She also includes additional therapeutic modalities to tailor treatment to the unique needs of each person. Sharon is deeply committed to supporting individuals to help them realize to their personal recovery goals and lead fulfilling lives.
Alix Jacob
PLMHP, PCMSW
Alix is a provisionally licensed clinical social worker and a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner. Her practice is grounded in person-centered and trauma-informed care. She is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive space where individuals feel seen, heard and respected. She brings empathy and deep respect for each person's lived experience, fostering authentic and trusting therapeutic relationships. Her approach integrates mindfulness, emotion regulation and distress tolerance skills. Alix meets clients where they are, honoring the healing process to build resilience, and support their unique journey toward lasting recovery and well-being.
Megan Kroeker
PLMHP, PLADC
Megan is a provisionally licensed clinical mental health counselor, and provisionally licensed alcohol and drug counselor. She also received a bachelor's degree in music therapy. She leads a variety of psychoeducation lectures, therapy groups, individual and family sessions and recreational music groups. Megan provides therapy to adult clients, specializing in dual diagnosis, and provides substance use education on the adolescent partial care unit. She caters to each client’s unique needs through a holistic approach.
Nicole Larsen
LIMHP, LADC
Nicole provides therapy to adult clients, specializing in dual diagnosis. She has worked in substance use and mental health for 17 years and enjoys working with adults who struggle with a dual diagnosis. Nicole has a passion for helping clients who have chronic mental health issues and has additional training in DBT.
Annette Marvin
LIMHP, LADC
Annette provides therapy mainly to adults. She is a licensed mental health provider and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. Annette has worked in the addiction and mental health field in various positions for over 25 years. She meets the clients where they are to help them work toward their goals. She is also a certified therapeutic recreational specialist.
Stephanie McLeese-Griffin
LIMHP, LADC, LPC
Stephanie oversees all clinical and operational functions of the intake process for clients accessing substance use services at the Independence Center. She has experience in providing therapy services to adolescents and adults specializing in co-occurring disorders and severe and persistent mental illness. She also has additional training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and enjoys taking a person-centered approach to care.
Islam Mohamed
PLMHP
Islam is a licensed mental health practitioner who works with adults. She provides psychoeducation and several types of therapy. These include group, individual, and family sessions. Her approach focuses on the individual's needs. Islam specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing. She also teaches skills based on dialectical behavior therapy to aid recovery. Islam's goal is to connect with people where they are in life. She dedicates herself to helping others and respects each person's unique story.
Michelle Nelson
LIMHP, LADC, PC
Michelle joined the team in the role of admissions counselor with more than 30 years of experience. Michelle is a licensed independent mental health practitioner (LIMHP) and licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC). Areas of specialty include co-occurring disorders working with severe and persistent mental illness and addiction, domestic violence, sexual abuse, adolescent issues, crisis intervention and trauma-informed care. She is passionate about the person-centered approach to care, destigmatizing addiction and mental health issues, and she helps develop effective services for all experiencing health challenges.
Carrie Osborn
PLMHP, PLMFT
Carrie is a provisionally-licensed mental health practitioner who specializes in marriage and family therapy, individual and group therapy, and substance use evaluations. Carrie provides treatment to address the complex layers of addiction and relational health. She understands that while addiction is a unique and individual journey, it is also a family disease. She is dedicated to helping both individuals and their loved ones heal the collective bonds affected by substance use. Her approach is rooted in person-centered and trauma-informed care, drawing from a diverse range of frameworks including narrative and attachment theories, solution-focused therapy, CBT, DBT, and internal family systems, alongside Level 1 Gottman Method training. Carrie provides a warm, supportive space for self-exploration and authenticity. She is passionate about helping clients peel back life's layers to reconnect with their true selves and achieve lasting, meaningful change.
Ryan Rabstejnek
PLMHP, PLADC
Ryan is a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner (PLMHP) and a provisionally licensed drug and alcohol counselor (PLADC). He provides individual counseling, group therapy and psychoeducation services. His focus is to help guide clients to develop personal awareness, emotional regulation and values-driven behavior. Ryan strives to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients can build practical skills and insight to promote lasting change.
Michelle Sarafian
LMHP, LADC
Michelle provides individual and group therapy to adult clients. She has been a mental health practitioner for 20 years. Her special interest and training is in providing treatment for people experiencing chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities, grief and loss, and substance use disorders.
Maddie Schwerin
PLADC
Maddie is a provisionally licensed alcohol and drug counselor who provides psychoeducation, group therapy, and individual therapy to mainly the adult population. She has previous experience in mental health crisis response work and incorporates trauma informed and person-centered care in her counseling philosophy. Maddie is passionate about working with individuals who experience alcohol and substance issues. She believes everyone’s recovery journey is unique and enjoys helping individuals work towards their path to recovery.
