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!

Danica Branch, Honolulu mental health counselor for trauma, anxiety, relationship challenges, and more.

Danica Branch, MHC Intern

Kailua Office

After earning my bachelor’s degree in psychology with distinction from U.H. West Oahu, I began my master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Bellevue University. I’m currently in my final semesters and set to graduate in November 2025.

I grew up on the island of Guam, where healing often happened in kitchens, on porches, or while walking near the ocean with someone who really listened. That spirit still lives in the way I show up as a therapist—warm, curious, and grounded in relationships. I don’t believe in fixing people. I believe in walking beside them as they untangle what hurts, remember what matters, and reconnect with the parts of themselves that have always been resilient.

I work with people navigating anxiety, trauma, codependency, relationship challenges, and big life transitions. Some of my clients are exhausted from holding it all together on the outside. Others are just beginning to ask the harder questions about their patterns, their pain, or their purpose. Whether you’re new to therapy or you’ve been on this journey for years, you’re welcome here.

Sessions with me are thoughtful and collaborative—sometimes messy, sometimes structured – always real. I pull from a range of approaches depending on your needs – including psychodynamic therapy, somatic awareness, mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) principles – to name a few.

I believe therapy should honor your cultural background, lived experiences, and the way your nervous system responds to the world. That includes considering the physical factors that may influence mental health, and being mindful of how healing looks different for everyone.

Alongside my clinical training, I’ve received additional education in crisis response, disaster mental health (including first response to the Lahaina fires), psychedelic integration, and body-based interventions for trauma and stress. My work is guided by both science and story, intuition and education.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply ready to do things differently – I’d be honored to sit with you in that. Let’s begin—at your pace, on your terms.

Jaclyn Whittington, MHC Intern

Kailua Office

I am originally from Atlanta, GA but moved to the beautiful island of O’ahu in 2021. I received an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a B.A. in Psychology from Austin Peay University. What brought me to the counseling profession was both seeing the growing need for compassionate, accessible mental health support in our society and experiencing that need firsthand within the military community. As a military spouse of 20 years, service members and their families hold a special place in my heart, and I have witnessed the unique challenges they navigate every day. At the same time, my passion for counseling extends to individuals from all backgrounds. I am committed to providing a supportive, inclusive, and nonjudgmental space for people of all walks of life as they pursue healing, growth, and greater well-being.

Taking the first step towards therapy can feel scary, and asking for help isn’t always easy. In my counseling room, you’ll find compassion, empathy, and a safe, nonjudgmental space to explore your thoughts and emotions. I view therapy as a partnership—together, we’ll clarify your goals, understand your challenges, and create a plan that fits your life. Your insights and strengths guide the process, and my role is to support you, gently challenge you when helpful, and walk alongside you as you navigate change.

I offer individual and couples therapy for a wide range of concerns. My approach is holistic, recognizing that emotional well-being is shaped by your relationships, environment, physical health, and past experiences. I integrate person-centered therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and the Gottman Method for couples, providing care tailored to your unique needs. I also offer faith-based counseling, by request. We’ll approach the work with compassion, intention, and collaboration. You matter deeply, and you never have to navigate this alone.

Vineta Gleba, MHC Intern

Honolulu Office

Aloha! Thank you for being here. My role as a counselor is to walk alongside you with care and compassion towards your goals and the life you envision for yourself. I carry a holistic approach towards healing. Our pasts affect our daily lives. When we are able to work through the woundings of life, then we are able to live a life truly authentic to ourselves.

I was born in Ukraine and grew up in Oregon. In spring of 2023, I moved to Oahu, Hawai’i. I’ve also lived in Panama and Australia. Through my diverse life experiences, I bring a multicultural and open-minded perspective to counseling. I am currently earning my master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and set to graduate in May 2026.

I primarily work with teens, adults, and elders who are facing a variety of life’s challenges from navigating life transitions, depression, anxiety, relational problems to recovering from trauma. In our first sessions we will connect to the outcome you’d like for yourself and dive deep into the heart of the issue. Through therapy with me, you’ll connect with your inner strength to help bring clarity and power back into your life.

My approach to therapy is grounded in person-centered care, with effective techniques from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). I also pull from attachment theory, mindfulness, and solution-focused therapy. My background is in working with survivors of sexual trauma. In therapy I create a safe, open, warm, caring, and nonjudgemental holding space for you to be authentically yourself. I am passionate about helping you live an empowered life. Working with you would be an honor as we journey towards your wellness together. I offer in-person and online sessions and am flexible to work around your schedule weekdays and some evenings. Here’s to you for taking the first step!

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.