Staff Spotlight – Kristie Neklason
(From the 2020 printed newsletter)
Kristie Neklason, YES Director of School-Based Behavioral Health, began at YES as a professional counseling intern from Seattle University 33 years ago, and like some of her colleagues, never left.
Kristie’s work at YES has always focused on the intersection of Substance Abuse and Mental Health, and the unique struggles that suffering and recovery from co-occurring disorders present. Kristie’s superpower is encouragement and what she most values in her work as a therapist, mentor, manager, and community partner, is witnessing the positive transformation of youth and families, staff, and systems. Kristie helped create and facilitate the YES/Moyer Foundation Partnership Camp Mariposa program. Mariposa means Butterfly in Spanish; an apt symbol of transformation.
Kristie initially worked in the specialty counseling area of sexual abuse survivors. She then continued in the substance abuse treatment department working in the schools including BEST High School (now Emerson) and Northstar Middle, at the Northshore Public Health Teen Clinic and with King County Juvenile Drug Court. The combination of those experiences has informed her work as a therapist and clinical supervisor and equipped her to form and oversee both the Co-occurring Treatment Program and the School-Based Behavioral Health Support Program operating in the Bellevue and Lake Washington School districts.
Team of Experts
The YES team consists of licensed Masters-level therapists, including dually-certified Substance Use Disorder Specialists, and psychiatrists.