Access is an outpatient behavioral health clinic. We serve people of all communities and currently offer two locations in Boise and in Nampa. Our desire is to help improve the quality of daily life for our clients.
Access Behavioral Health Services is a for profit agency that serves the public without regard to race, creed, age, national origin, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status or inability to pay. The owners have been in the field of human services for a combined 30+ years. At Access we pride ourselves on providing best-practice client-centered services.
Staff Directory
We value our employees as they are the most important resource. Our employees are highly trained, supervised, and receive ongoing levels of support during their employment. We hire people from a wide range of backgrounds to meet the individualized needs of our patients. We are always seeking out new dynamic individuals to add to our treatment team. We strive to make Access Behavioral Health Services a welcoming place to work and we believe that is reflected in our employees attitudes towards their work.
Pamela went to Boise State University and earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1988. She worked for St. Alphonsus for 20years and loved being a nurse. In 2002, she graduated from Idaho State University with a degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She started working right away in psych. Even though she continures to work at St. Al’s her heart is with her new chosen career.
She loves her job. She really enjoys working with families. Pamela treats complex clients and loves working with patients as whole people, addressing all aspects of their life with them. She gets excited when they improve.
Pamela started working at Access BHS in April 7, 2006. Her first office was literally the broom closet. She used to have to move the one and only chair clients could sit in so that she could open the door.
Pamela enjoys watching Access come from there to the thriving dynamic business it is today. The only thing that has not changed is the compassion and caring for the clients. What a journey this has been so far. She looks forward to many more years and successes.
Dr. Cheryl Botting-Hammack has a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology. Through the years she has provided therapeutic services to clients of various ages and backgrounds.
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Before I became a nurse I was a support worker taking care of patients with learning disabilities. Most of the patients I took care of would fight, bite, and scream at staff. However, when we were together we would laugh for hours and we developed an amazing relationship. I realized I had an aptitude for caring for people who were considered challenging and that’s when I decided to go to nursing school.
I graduated with my Bachelors in Nursing RN from Idaho State University in 2010 and worked at a psychiatric hospital as my first job as an RN. I later left psych nursing to work at a local hospital in town as a float nurse where I would take care of patients with various diseases. After working for several years and seeing the same population with psychiatric needs at the hospital l decided to go back to school to get my Masters in Psychiatric Nursing. I graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane in 2017 with a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing. I have now been practicing in Boise for a few years now and have experience in working with teens, adults & elderly.
As a provider I treat a person not a diagnosis. The best part of my job is when I get to make a positive impact on people and help them get their lives back on track, even if it is just to their baselines.
Dr. Megan Gierhart is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist.
I graduated from Boise State University in 2004 with a bachelor
Daniel Hardin is a licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a Masters of counseling degree from Idaho State university. He has experience with a diversity of Clients that includes a broad age range (8-70), various cultural perspectives (issues concerning integration into the dominant culture of southern Idaho), and sexual identities. His areas of expertise revolve around how spirituality affects mental heath and GLBT life/relationship issues. He has worked with clients that experience a wide spectrum of mental health issues. Dan is humanistic in his approach to clients. He uses a strength-based model to increase a client
Rebecca earned a Bachelor
David is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. He graduated from Boise State University with a Masters of Counseling Degree. His personal approach is based on an Existential framework, it is a humanistic worldview with the importance of searching to be truly authentic and genuine. He embraces counseling with the assumption that every person has a unique inner world and it is how we deal with challenges makes us who we are. David focuses on developing awareness, assets, promoting a rational thought process and finding personal balance. His style is semi-directive, positive, honest, and easygoing. David is passionate about social justice issues, the healing role environment plays in our lives, and ways to find peace daily. When not counseling, David finds time to run, enjoy the outdoors, travel, watch live music, ride his cruiser, and taking in a flick.
Vanessa began working in community mental health in 2006 after completing a Psychology degree with a minor in Addiction Studies at Boise State University. She remained working in community mental health providing psychosocial rehabilitation and case management while managing the program until 2011 when she was promoted to the Director of Psychosocial Rehabilitation. She later assumed the director role to include Case Management in 2013 and then opened and directed peer support services in 2013.
Throughout the years Vanessa has participated in several volunteer positions which embrace the concepts of recovery and advocacy, these include Vice President and co-founder of Peer Wellness Center, Vice President of the Recovery and Wellness Behavioral Health Board sub-committee, and years of volunteering at the homeless day shelter. She completed her masters in social work specializing in mental health and addiction at Simmons College in 2017.
After completion of her masters degree Vanessa began working as a mental health counselor in our Clinic Department and soon took the role of Director of Substance Use Disorder Program. Vanessa supervises several SUD providers while continuing to see clients herself.
Misty is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who earned her Master
It was fate that brought me into the psychiatric field. I graduated with my RN from BSU in 2004, and ended up taking a job at a psychiatric hospital. I fell in love with the field instantly and quickly familiarized myself with a variety of populations and settings. I returned to school and received my masters in psychiatric nursing through Stony Brook University in 2009. I began working as a psychiatric nurse practitioner for several agencies in the valley. I have experience working with children, adolescents, and adults, at all levels of care.
My treatment philosophy is centered around the idea of individuality and symptom management. I treat a person, not a diagnosis. I believe patients deserve a professional who is well versed in psychopharmacology, while at the same time able to be genuine and help them feel understood. As your provider, I will join your team as we face your challenges together.
I have spent over 20 years living in Boise. When I
Jen graduated from Boise State University in 2015 with her Bachelor
Anabel is a licensed Professional Counselor. Her favorite color is pink. She graduated from Boise State University with a Masters of Counseling degree, emphasis in Addiction Studies. Her personal approach to counseling is based on an Adlerian framework, with a humanistic worldview that values the importance of environmental influences that should mandate a holistic perspective on treatment. Anabel strives to specialize on dual diagnoses cases that deal primarily with severe mental illness. She approaches counseling the the assumption that people are motivated in life by having a sense of purpose, belongingness and worthiness, not only in society, but in life. Anabel focuses on individual
Kelly
Cara Ruiz is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters of Counseling degree in Mental Health from Idaho State University. Her experience is with a diverse array of populations. Cara’s approach stems from a Mindfulness-Based and Cognitive Behavioral therapy with consideration of systemic and humanistic factors. She focuses on helping clients define their self-concept through a semi-directive, mindful, CT focused, honest, and goal oriented style.
Cara is passionate about overcoming personal traumas, healing, boundary setting, effective communication, and promoting higher levels of life satisfaction. She believes that upholding a judgement free, supportive, and encouraging atmosphere
Laura Scuri grew up and attended schools in Eastern Idaho. She moved to Boise in 1987 and graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor
Kim earned her nursing degree at Boise State University. She completed her Masters in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing at Stony Brook University. She started at Access in 2008 and enjoys the positive energy of our busy office. Kim provides medication management for clients from pre-school age to seniors. She works Tuesday through Friday and has early morning hours available for clients who prefer to come in before work or school.
Lindsey Stenshoel, NP-C, MSN, BSN, is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She is originally from Sandpoint, Idaho, and attended the University of Idaho (Go Vandals!) before graduating Magna Cum-Laude with her nursing degree from Boise State University and continuing on for her Masters degree in Nursing from Idaho State University. When away from Access, Lindsey enjoys traveling, golfing, skiing, and spending time with her family and friends. After traveling to 17 countries, so far, Iceland is her favorite destination.
My name is Gina and I am a Licensed professional counselor in the state of Idaho. My journey in this field started 15 years ago working with children and families in the state of New Mexico as an investigator for CPS. Realizing the need in my community I chose to further my education and assist families in the healing process with a goal of bringing them together. I graduated in 2016 with my Masters in mental health counseling from Idaho State University and made a commitment to continue the work I have been so passionate about, which is helping individuals heal and grow from their struggles.
I take my role as a therapist very seriously and
My favorite things to do are camping, reading, fishing, and hanging out with my Husband and two daughters. I love exploring all the outdoor beauty that Idaho has to offer. But I am not a fan of the
Nikki Tangen has lived in the Boise area for her entire adult life, and most of her childhood. She graduated from BSU with a degree in Special Education with endorsements in working with children with mild, moderate and severe disabilities. Nikki began working with children with disabilities in 1995. Her goal in life is creating a community where people with disabilities can live happy, fulfilling lives in their own homes. This is both a professional and personal goal as she is a volunteer guardian for a young woman who struggles with both developmental and mental health disabilities. After working many years for different private agencies and The Federation of Families, she opened a behavioral health clinic with her business partner, Laura, to create a work environment for both her employees and patients to flourish to their full potential. When not at work, Nikki is raising her two boys, eight chickens, honey bees, dogs and cats. Nikki was a foster parent for the State of Idaho for many years and although she no longer is a foster parent she continues to work with at-risk children in her home. When Nikki is not running around to music and swim lessons she enjoys our Boise community and will often be found attending local events and enjoying our amazing outdoor recreation areas.