Meet the Staff
Wellness Counselling Hawaii

Our Practitioners in Honolulu & Kailua

Courtney Tawata, MHC. Kailua therapist at the Wellness Counseling Center in Hawaii.

Courtney Tawata, LMHC – Kailua Office

I was born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii, and graduated from Capella University with a Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. After completing my education on the mainland, I returned to Oahu with a desire to use my professional skills to serve better the community in which I was raised.

I predominantly provide individual therapy to clients who struggle with a wide range of concerns including coping with depression, anxiety, and/or trauma, facing life’s challenges and transitions, and improving communication and relationship skills. I believe that effective and long-lasting change through therapy is due to the development of rapport between myself and my clients and the establishment of several collaborative and multidimensional systems during sessions.

I utilize a variety of therapeutic approaches that are individualized to each of my clients, based on their needs including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused modalities, and client-centered modalities, in order to help you gain new skills to better handle difficult thoughts and emotions so that it has less of an impact on your life. I will work in a collaborative effort with you to find the right balance between guidance, support, and accountability.

I aim to provide a non-judgmental, safe, and supportive environment, where we’d work together on your journey toward improved mental health.

It’s understandable if you feel anxious or overwhelmed about starting your therapeutic journey, as it takes strength and courage to take the first steps toward change in order to live a happier and more fulfilling life. But I encourage you to not face these challenges alone. Choosing the right therapist is important, and so in our first session, you can expect us to discuss what brings you to therapy, what your best hopes are for therapy, and how I can best help you navigate through these challenges.

Abby Rasay, M.S., MFT-I, Honolulu counselor at Wellness Counseling Center.

Abby Rasay, Pre-Licensed MFT – Honolulu Office

Aloha! I received an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from National University and earned a B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Although I specialize in couples therapy, I strive to work with diverse populations on a variety of worldwide issues. My preferred therapeutic approaches are but are not limited to Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, and Gottman Method. No single approach will fit everyone as every individual is unique, so I aim to create a treatment plan that will meet your specific needs and give you the best care possible.

Additionally, clients will experience healing and gain the tools and resources necessary to strengthen relationships, optimize mental health, and have an overall healthy life balance. My goal is to create a safe and open space for you to feel comfortable in discussing any concerns and issues that you may have and to bring a sense of hope and clarity. I hope to make every session fun, exciting, and memorable, not only through talk therapy but by also providing enjoyable activities throughout each session. I like to think of the client as the expert as you know yourself better than anyone else and I will act as a guide to help you through the process of finding solutions and will leave you with positive experiences.

Each session will start with the reminder that you are in control, feeling empowered and motivated to achieve your desired goals, and you will always have something to take away that is beneficial for you. Clients will gain self-confidence to tackle new beginnings in every aspect of their life. It is not about the destination, but the journey itself, so enjoy the process!

Nicolette Kim, MFT- Intern at the Wellness Counseling Center in Hawaii. Marriage and family therapist, Honolulu.

Nicolette Kim, Pre-Licensed MFT – Honolulu Office

I believe that all of us have the capacity to take back our power and to thrive- not just survive. Sometimes, we feel weighed down by trauma, grief, depression, anxiety; what I call the “noise.” If it’s your goal to identify it, compartmentalize it, and reduce it so that your hopes, desires, and dreams can be more of a tangible reality then I am here for you! This journey is about you and where you’d like to be.

My approach to therapy is to establish a trusting therapeutic relationship with my clients by ensuring that they feel heard, seen, valued, and validated. I believe that you are the expert of your life, and I am here to support you in any and every way possible.

I use tools from solution focused therapy, narrative therapy, emotion- focused therapy, and more to help you get closer to your goals. It is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach, but rather catered more towards your needs. Healing and change is not linear, but it is worth beginning the journey. That’s why I believe the secret ingredient to healing is GRACE. We all need it!

As the oldest daughter of first generation Korean immigrants growing up in a rural Amish county on the East Coast, I was given the opportunity to further deepen my capacity to empathize with those struggling with their identity, to find my voice and place in this world, and to face generational trauma head on. My ability to anticipate others’ needs and articulate those needs immensely supports my capacity to connect with my clients.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Colby College in Maine. Although I am not pursuing this field, my passion for making the world a better place hasn’t diminished. Since moving to Oahu, I have redirected my focus on helping as many individuals as possible. I graduated from National University (previously Northcentral University) with my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with the hopes of doing just that- one starfish at a time. (Here’s the link to the starfish story for reference: The Starfish Story)

I am excited to work with you and helping you to see your inherent and unlimited potential to live your life with hope, joy, and inner peace.

Amber Ashford, Pre-Licensed MHC (Mental Health Counselor) Kailua, Hawaii. Mental health therapist, Oahu.

Amber Ashford, Pre-Licensed MHC – Kailua Office

I admire the courage it takes to seek help and make change, and believe everyone has the capacity for healing. I bring compassion and curiosity to my person centered work with clients. My approach is collaborative, feedback driven, strengths based, and often infused with play, art, and nature therapy techniques.

While the work we do will be as unique as each client, I am most inspired by internal family systems, emotionally focused therapy, solution focused brief therapy, and AEDP. I’ve earned a BA in Child & Adolescent Development, MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and National Board Certification in Counseling. I hold licensure as an APCC in California and CMHCA in Washington.

I was born and raised in the Santa Cruz, SF Bay Area and fulfilled a lifelong dream of moving to Hawai’i in the summer of 2023. My foundational experience supporting families spanned 15 years in an educational setting. Before my career evolved to counseling, I provided parent education, served as a leader and mentor for school faculty, advocated for foster youth in the court system, and designed spaces and events that created opportunities for expression and connection amongst the communities I served.

Witnessing my clients progress while engaged in therapy has been rewarding and inspiring. Transitioning through different stages of life, navigating changes in circumstances and relationships, strengthening compassion and purpose is no easy feat. It is an honor to be in this role. My practice is fully inclusive. Come as you are and let’s collaborate to get you where you want to go.

Owner of Wellness Counseling in Honolulu, Ryan Brimley. Licensed Social Worker, Oahu.

Ryan Brimley, LCSW – Honolulu Office

I grew up in Arizona, and after completing my MSW at the BYU School of Social Work, felt compelled to relocate to the Big Island and moved there in 2015. While there, I worked as an intensive in-home therapist for The Institute for Family Enrichment, providing individual and family counseling for at-risk youth.

I eventually took a job at the Hilo Medical Center as a Medical Social Worker, where I was assigned to work in the Emergency and Behavioral Health Departments. This background provided me an opportunity to gain an intimate understanding of Hawaii’s mental health system and the avenues for accessing care and services for other medical conditions.

Recognizing the gaps in care, and the need for more mental health therapists, I made the hopefully permanent transition into private practice in 2018. I opened Wellness Counseling Center on Oahu in 2019.

As a therapist, my philosophy is rooted in the belief that every individual possesses the inherent capacity for growth, healing, and self-discovery. I approach therapy with a person-centered perspective, which means that I prioritize building a solid therapeutic relationship with my clients based on empathy, respect, and unconditional positive regard.

I also integrate evidence-based techniques and interventions tailored to each individual’s unique needs and goals, drawing from a range of theoretical orientations, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches.

Ultimately, my goal as a therapist is to create a safe and supportive space where clients can explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and develop the skills and insights necessary to live a more fulfilling life.