Meet our staff

Teamwork makes the dream work

Chrisann Christensen

Director

Chrisann became a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in 1998, following completion of a Masters of Education in Social Agency Guidance and Counseling from Whitworth University in 1995.  Chrisann spent twelve years working as a milieu staff and therapist in Spokane at an adolescent inpatient treatment center before returning to Dayton.  She then spent two years working as a mental health therapist in Walla Walla before joining Blue Mountain Counseling in June of 2006 as a mental health therapist and crisis responder. Chrisann was a Designated Crisis Responder for fifteen years.  Chrisann has been the clinical director at Blue Mountain Counseling since 2015.

Chrisann currently works with all populations; children, adults, and geriatric.  Using evidenced based practices, Chrisann strives to help clients utilize their strengths and resources to accomplish the goals they set for themselves.  Additionally, Chrisann is working on completing her requirements to become a Substance Use Disorder Professional.

Dimita Warren

Administrative Consultant

Dimita has been with Blue Mountain Counseling since it began business on October 1, 2004.  Dimita started out as the Business Manager and was promoted to Director on January 19, 2010.  Dimita graduated from Walla Walla Community College with AA in 1998 and graduated from Eastern Washington University with a BA degree in business in 2000.  Dimita has worked in the behavioral healthcare field for 39 years.

John G. Hall

Substance Use Disorder Therapist/Supervisor

As a Substance Use Disorder Therapist, I meet with clients to assess their substance issues, Write treatment and recovery plans, Identify recovery interference situations, Educate clients on coping mechanisms, Conduct group therapy sessions for patients, Develop support groups for patients, Track and analyze patient recovery progression, Update the legal system about patient progress, Help clients plan for discharge from facilities, Communicate with clients and family members, Craft patient crisis management plans, Lead outreach addiction education programs, Intervene during emergency situations,  Work with clients to find or maintain employment.

As a Substance Use Disorder Therapist, I have the opportunity to intervene in the lives of people that suffer from the disease of addiction.  I enjoy guiding those individuals on a healthy journey of recovery from addictive substances or behaviors.  This profession allows one to maintain purpose and stability in one’s own life while helping others find a new path for theirs. 

I earned an Associates of Arts degree in interdisciplinary studies from Liberty University in 2013 and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in Addiction and Recovery in 2015. 

I earned my certification in the state of Washington as a Substance Use Disorder Professional in 2015. 

Among many accolades in my 20-year career I am most proud of my appointment as a Kentucky Colonel by the Governor of my home state of Kentucky in 2008.

I am currently serving as the Supervisor of the Substance Use Disorder Department at Blue Mountain Counseling in Dayton Washington. 

In my free time, I enjoy writing song lyrics, playing guitar and drums.  I published my first children’s book in 2005. I also enjoy reading and writing poetry. 

Loretta Graves

Administrative Office Assistant

Loretta is an administrative assistant with twenty-five plus years of experience working alongside executive teams.  She graduated from Columbia Basin College with an Associate of Arts degree with emphasis in business in 2004.  Loretta is inspired daily by her family.  In her free time, she likes to fish for salmon, steelhead, and walleye, walk and spend as much time as possible with her grandchildren. 

Dr. Michael Luce MD

Medical Director

Dr. Luce has been with Blue Mountain Counseling since its start in 2004.  He provides Medical Director oversight as well as Medication Management for Blue Mountain Counseling. Dr. Luce received his MD from Michigan State University, College of Medicine and is Board Certified in Family Medicine.  Dr. Luce retired from Family Medicine but is still very active in his community and provides services for other community partners.  Dr. Luce and his wife, Mary, are big supporters of Dayton and actively volunteer in local community activities.

Morgan Knapp

Behavioral health Activities Coordinator

Morgan moved to Dayton in 2021 and has been at Blue Mountain Counseling since 2022. She has 8 years of experience working with individuals with mental health disabilities and is now the acting Activities Coordinator for Blue Mountain counseling. When she’s not at work she can be found spending time with her family, fishing, camping, or riding dirt bikes.

Paula Montoya

Office Assistant

Paula was born and raised in Dayton Wa., after graduating from high school she moved to Phoenix Arizona where she spent the last 17 years as the Practice Manager for a Behavioral Health Agency. Always knowing she would come back home to Dayton, Paula moved back to Dayton in 2021 and has spent the last year as the Office Assistant for Blue Mountain Counseling.

Racheal Fletcher

Business Manager

Racheal has been with Blue Mountain Counseling since 2016.  When she joined the team in 2016, she was the receptionist and about a year later she took the Administrative Assistant position.  Over the years Racheal has learned the ins and outs of BMC and was appointed to the position of Business Manager in mid-2023.  She is a 2004 graduate of Apollo College, earning her Medical Assistant Certification and has worked in the medical field including clinical and business since graduating. 

Sherri L. Claiborne

Mental Health Therapist - LMHCA

Sherri holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University in Spokane, a Bachelor’s Degree from WA State University in Human Development, and an AA degree in Liberal Arts from BMCC in Pendleton , OR.

Sherri has been working in the mental health field for over twenty years between Walla Walla and Columbia Counties. Her work experience includes serving as a Social Service Director for two long term care facilities, 14 years between two community mental health agencies as a Rehabilitative Case Manager and Mental Health Case Worker, and over four years as a Family Services Shelter Manager at Christian Aid Center.

Sherri’s passion for the field and empathy for her clients are rooted in her personal experience having a mom who lived with Schizophrenia. Sherri provides faith-based counseling, while utilizing Motivational Interviewing, CETA, CBT, and CBTp in the treatment of psychosis, anxiety, depression, and trauma related diagnoses such as PTSD. She delivers a strength’s based and collaborative approach with a focus on whole person care. Sherri is currently facilitating a weekly trauma support group using the Seeking Safety curriculum.

Teresa Rae

Mental Health Therapist - LMHCA

Teresa Rae holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Walla Walla University in College Place, Washington. Her thesis research specialty addressed “rebuilding identity after loss.” Teresa has been a certified health coach since 2003, and has worked in the mental health field for the past 10 years. She has experience working with all ages to minimize symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, sleep problems, chronic pain, transitions and adjustment, identity development, bipolar, and schizophrenia. Teresa is bilingual and can conduct therapy in Spanish. Teresa utilizes a multi-disciplinary, individualized approach, integrating person-centered, narrative, cognitive behavioral, emotion-focused and trauma healing treatments, to enable clients to break through barriers and grow into their best self. Teresa can help you take control of your life, strengthen your coping skills, and give you hope for a healthy future.

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.