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MEET OUR STAFF         

Eunie Alsaker, MSSW, LICSW

My professional training matches my personal philosophy of counseling, as both are grounded in a brief, solution-focused and cognitive-behavioral framework.  I believe the starting place should be the student’s strengths and areas of life that are going well.  These are the building blocks for successful change.  I see us as forming a partnership, where my role is to listen, create a safe place for you, treat you with respect, assist in looking at solutions, and find a balance between support and challenge.   Your job is to join the process and try new ways of thinking and acting.  While the goal of counseling is to ease the problem at hand, I try to assist students in finding tools to better deal with future problems as well.  I truly enjoy working with the college population.  I view most issues as developmental and see college as a time of incredible change, challenge and excitement.  I attempt to take a holistic approach to mental health, believing that wellness incorporates physical, spiritual and emotional aspects.  With this I encourage students to look at their general stress management skills.  While I consider myself a generalist, special interests include: depression/anxiety management, adjustment to college, couples counseling, divorce issues, self-confidence, and grief/loss issues. 

Wayne Theye, Ed.D., NCC

My approach to counseling emphasizes person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, and solution-focused theories. I am committed to creating an atmosphere where you can explore emotional pain, increase self-awareness, address personal growth, and discover your strengths.  I believe that students have inner resources and I try to use techniques that tap into these resources.

For me, the important elements of counseling include empathy, sensitivity to feelings, respect for individual differences, belief in each person's inherent ability for growth, trust in the healing potential of relationships, appreciation of cultural factors, and support for personal empowerment.  I also believe that counseling sessions should be collaborative, goal oriented, and time limited.  I practice brief therapy.

During the college years, decisions about the physical, social, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, and emotional aspects of our lives can have a lasting impact.  I enjoy assisting students on their wellness journey and helping them make decisions in a thoughtful, conscious, and healthy manner.

I am a generalist with a wide range of interests that include depression, anxiety, adjustment to college, stress management, multicultural issues, test anxiety, academic concerns, career decision making, life transitions, conflict resolution, relationship issues, couples counseling, family concerns, and grief/loss issues.  I, also, have special interest in men's issues and gay/lesbian/bisexual concerns.

Lynda Brzezinski, Ph.D., L.P.

My approach to therapy tends to be cognitive-behavioral, client-centered, and solution focused. Additionally, I am very wellness focused in my work. I believe we need to attend to all aspects of our lives -- physical, social, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, environmental, and emotional – to be the best that we can be. You can expect that we will more than likely map out a plan for wellness in our work together!!

For the most part, I take a collaborative approach in my counseling. Although I have expertise and knowledge in the counseling field and human behavior, you are the expert on you. I always try to tap into your own strengths and resources as we deal with the problem or problems that bring you to counseling. With a 5-session limit per semester at the WSU Counseling Center, I am a practitioner of brief therapy. I am not here to fix you or overhaul your personality. Rather, I will help you focus on here-and-now issues, taking a solution-focused approach that seeks skills and strategies to effect positive change (including that wellness plan).

With regard to human behavior, I believe that each person is a unique individual shaped by a unique set of life circumstances and a unique personality. While I do recognize that some problems have a genetic or biological basis, I believe that many problems are simply maladaptive coping strategies…strategies that we developed to cope with life’s challenges that no longer serve their purpose. In our counseling relationship, we will explore the issues that may be contributing to your current distress, determine goals toward positive change, and outline the steps necessary to accomplish these goals. It is my job to support, empower, and challenge you to make the changes necessary to lead a happier and healthier life. I do recognize, however, that some individuals are not willing to or ready for change. Change can be scary! I firmly believe that without change and challenge, we would never need to grow and learn, which, in my opinion, is what life is really about!

I am a generalist and work with a wide variety of issues, including depression, anxiety, adjustment to college, stress, and career/major indecision. I have a special interest and training emphasis in women’s issues and gay/lesbian/bisexual concerns. I am also interested in spirituality and how it can be used effectively in counseling.

Elizabeth Burke, M.A., L.P.

Elizabeth is a Licensed Psychologist and has worked in the Counseling Center since 1979. She has received extensive training in clinical psychology. Prior experience includes high school teaching and work as a probation officer in the Winona County Court Services. She enjoys working with a wide variety of student concerns and consults with faculty and staff. Special interests include adjustment to college, depression, family and relationship issues, and career decision-making.

Pat Ferden, M.S., L.S.C.
Department Chairperson

Pat is a Licensed School Counselor and has worked in the Counseling Center since 1989.  She serves as the chair of the Counseling Center Department.  Pat is a generalist with special interest and training in sexual assault.  Other issues she often assists students with are depression, adjustment to college, and relationship difficulties and grief.  She has taught both at the high school and college levels.  At the University she has worked in the Advising and Retention Area, as well as the Department of Education as a Student Teacher Supervisor.  Her therapy work has been in private mental health facilities, high schools and university settings.  Pat is responsible for the training of resident assistants and security guards in the protocol of responding to sexual assault.  Pat is also very involved in the First Year Orientation at WSU and teaches in the program.  The framework of her work is a “wellness” model encompassing a holistic approach.