Staff

The Bergeron Wellness Center counseling staff includes three full-time counselors, one part-time counselor, and two graduate-level counseling interns. Each counselor has a generalist background with specific areas of interest and expertise. They provide short-term mental health counseling for students, as well as referrals off-campus for longer-term counseling as needed. They work closely with the nurse practitioners and psychiatric nurse practitioners to support the holistic health of the student body.

If you would like to make an appointment with one of the counselors, please call The Bergeron Wellness Center at 802.654.2234.

Erin received her master’s in Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. Erin’s career has spanned working in Schools (Elementary, Middle, High School and Alternative Ed), in Community Mental Health, as a Psychology Instructor at CCV, Winooski (Introduction to Psychology/ Social Psychology), and working at the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation with first generation college students.

Erin’s intention is to welcome, support, educate and encourage emerging adults in their pursuit of well-being. She offers strength based supportive counseling to aid in the adjustment to college, the understanding of developmental issues, skills to manage emotional experiences and guidance as students pursue academic, social, athletic, spiritual, community justice, and extracurricular endeavors. Erin draws upon relational interpersonal skills, an inclusive and empathic style, counseling aptitude, and professional and cultural experiences to provide an open space for exploration and possible growth.

Erin’s lens is eclectic however her bent is to Cognitive Behavioral, Mindfulness-based, Narrative, and Positive Psychology. Erin supports students to connect with other resources on and off campus to strengthen personal, academic, or other skill sets. She feels honored to be a witness to the personal growth processes of, and privileged to work with, Saint Michael’s College students.

Erin Altermatt, MA, LCMHC (she/her)
Mental Health Counselor
she/her/hers pronouns
ealtermatt@smcvt.edu
802-654-2234

Kathy has been a mental health professional since 1993 when she earned her MA from Antioch New England Graduate School. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. She has spent her career working with young adults and their families.

Kathy has been a part of the Saint Michael’s College counseling team since 2010, and the Director since 2014.  She loves her work here at the college and particularly enjoys supporting our diverse population of young adults to develop a compassionate understanding of themselves while developing the skills they need to address whatever challenges they are facing.  In that work, she encourages the recognition, understanding and enhancement of their many strengths.

In her free time, Kathy enjoys walking, hiking, biking, gardening, swimming, and participating in any type of team sport.  She also loves to read, cook/bake, ride her motorcycle, explore, and spend time with her family and friends.

Kathleen Butts, MA, LCMHC, LADC
Director of Counseling
she/her/hers pronouns
kbutts@smcvt.edu
802.654.2310

Sarah has been providing mental health services to young adults since 1994.  She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, an Apprentice Addictions Counselor and an Expressive Arts Therapist. She has a master’s degree in Expressive Arts Therapies from Lesley University and a BA from Brandeis University. Prior to joining the SMC counseling team in 2014, Sarah was in private practice at the Adams Center for Mind and Body, specializing in helping individuals with eating disorders.  She has also served as drug and alcohol prevention and intervention counselor at Williston Central School CSSU school district. Sarah uses a student centered approach, focusing on student’s goals, while encouraging personal expression and personal choice.  She is particularly interested in supporting students to work through issues with stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, communication skills, substance use and relationships.  She is very excited to be part of the Bergeron Wellness team and to help support SMC students reach for their dreams.  Sarah is currently working towards EMDR certification.

Sarah Klionsky, MA, LCMHC, AAP
Assistant Director of Counseling, Internship Coordinator
she/her/hers pronouns
sklionsky@smcvt.edu
802.654.2555

Noah received his Masters in Social Work with a certificate in trauma practice from Simmons University in 2020. During his clinical internships, Noah worked as an outpatient therapist in community-based settings and in college counseling at Wellesley College. Most recently, Noah worked as a Behavioral Health Clinician for an organization in Boston, MA which serves LGBTQ+ youth of color. Noah’s approach seeks to incorporate clients’ racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds into treatment whenever possible. As a social worker, he views clinical issues through a person-in-environment lens and understands how systemic oppression impacts overall mental health. Noah has experience working with survivors of partner abuse, people experiencing suicidality, people carrying trauma, and people with intersecting marginalized identities. He aims to help students explore issues with transition to a new environment, identity, relationships, stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and developing a positive vision for their future. While he tries to always keep treatment attuned and tailored to the individual, his treatment style draws from Narrative Therapy, Relational Cultural Theory, trauma-informed approaches, and person-centered therapy. He is trained in EMDR.

Noah O’Leary, MSW
Mental Health Counselor
they/them/theirs or he/him/his pronouns
802.654.2234

Bridgette Akins is the Coordinator of Wellness Outreach and Education, SBIRT Interventionist and certified health and life coach. She takes pride in her Southern roots and Northern boots. Born and raised in east Tennessee, she now resides in Vermont after layovers in upstate NY and eastern North Carolina.

Bridgette uses Motivational Interviewing along with her coaching techniques to engage students in meaningful conversation and support. Meeting students where they are, sometimes literally, allows the opportunity for contemplation and often change.

Striving to live out her purpose, she encourages students to do the same.  

Bridgette Alpha Akins
Coordinator of Wellness Outreach and Education
she/her pronouns
bakins@smcvt.edu
802-654-5230

Dan (all pronouns are welcome) is a clinical mental health counseling intern in their last year in the University of Vermont’s Masters of Counseling program. Dan has experience as a crisis call specialist answering 988 and other suicide and crisis hotlines and as a behavior interventionist in therapeutic educational settings.

Dan strives to center students and the therapeutic relationship by meeting people where they are at, welcoming any and all intersections of identities and lived experiences, and prioritizing trauma-informed empathy and curiosity.

When Dan is not in a student or intern role, they enjoy playing Dungeons & Dragons, songwriting, hiking, playing trivia and puzzle games, trying out new sports, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Dan Miller
Mental Health Counseling Intern
All pronouns welcome

Vie is a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Intern from the University of Vermont. Over the past six years, Vie has been teaching inclusive and affirming adult dance classes in Vermont that center around body positivity, empowerment, and building supportive community. They are passionate about social justice advocacy and allyship which was represented in their work as Co-Chair with Pride Center of Vermont. They look forward to continuing advocacy work within their professional role as a counselor in Vermont.

Vie works to create a welcoming and inclusive space for students. They integrate a person-centered and collaborative approach to support students on their mental health and wellness journey. Vie’s therapeutic approaches are trauma-informed, strength and resilience based.

In their spare time they enjoy reading, cooking, teaching dance, running in the woods, playing with their frisky cat, and spending time with family and friends.

Vie Mazur
Mental Health Counseling Intern
pronouns: they/them