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Saprea > Saprea Retreat > Meet the Saprea Retreat Team

Meet the Saprea Retreat Team

From the time you click Request an Application to the moment you arrive at the retreat location and then throughout the online course, our expert team of licensed therapists and case managers will guide you through your experience with kindness and empathy.

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Intake Clinical Team
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Sarah Burton, C.M.H.C.

Intake Clinical Manager

Sarah earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Utah State University and her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix. She has over 15 years of experience in the mental health field primarily working with women and adolescents. Sarah’s post-graduate training includes Motivational Interviewing, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Substance Abuse Treatment, and Psychodrama.

Sarah has worked with women in a residential substance abuse treatment setting. This experience gave her the passion to assist women with acknowledging and honoring the healing power they have within themselves. She feels grateful and honored to be a part of Saprea’s mission.

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Katie Wilson

Clinical Intake Specialist
Katie has four years of experience in the field of substance abuse and trauma. She has worked in drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers where she taught groups on relapse prevention, family healing, and self-care. She has a passion for working with others and using her past experiences to assist in the healing process. Katie is a mother of three and enjoys time with her family, camping, hiking, and exploring new places.
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Sam Hawkes

Clinical Intake Specialist

Sam is currently a full-time student at Utah Valley University, completing her bachelor’s degree in Marriage and Family Science. She values the importance of creating and maintaining a healthy family dynamic and is passionate about establishing safe environments for children. Sam is honored to represent a cause that promotes awareness and healing and firmly believes in the power of advocacy for survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Having a love for service, she desires to be helpful and supportive of others in whatever capacity needed. Sam greatly admires the power of self-compassion and will strive to always exemplify this throughout her career. In her free time, she enjoys boxing, listening to music, spending time in the sun, and working towards her goals.

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Lisa Allison

Clinical Intake Therapist
Lisa earned her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Birmingham Southern College and her Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Montevallo. She has over 15 years’ experience in the counseling field and enjoys combining her theatrical background into her practice as she knows that the arts can be very healing. Lisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a certified addiction’s counselor and a certified clinical trauma professional. She is excited to join the team at Saprea as she has a passion for working with women, instilling hope and empowering them on their healing journey. In her free time, Lisa enjoys hiking with her 3 dogs, birdwatching, listening to podcasts and reading.
Clinical Team
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Betsy Kanarowski, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.

Chief Clinical Officer
Betsy is committed to helping individuals, families, and communities effectively understand and navigate the many aspects of sexual trauma healing, and she is a strong advocate for education regarding sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities. Betsy is an experienced therapist, trainer, and educator with over 20 years of experience as a mental health professional. Being part of women’s unique healing journeys is especially close to her heart. Betsy is honored to have worked with survivors of domestic violence, women struggling with addiction, and in women’s services in medical settings.

Betsy received her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Utah, her master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver, and her bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Wyoming. She is a licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.) and certified sex therapist. She loves the outdoors, travel, reading, and spending time with her family and ridiculously spoiled dog.
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Saria Karhunen, L.C.S.W.

Senior Retreat Manager
Saria has over 20 years of experience as a mental health professional dedicated to helping those who struggle with trauma, addiction, and developmental disabilities. She received her master’s degree from Brigham Young University in Social Work and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Family Sciences and Art History, graduating magna cum laude. She is a licensed clinical social worker (L.C.S.W.) and completed post-graduate training in Motivational Interviewing and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Prior to her work with Saprea, Saria was a Program Manager at Foothill Treatment Center, a residential treatment program serving women and men struggling with substance use disorders. She was born and raised in Finland and moved to the United States when she was nineteen. Her passions include travel, opera, food, cats, reading, yoga, hiking, and camping.
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Jarretta Mahalko, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

Clinical Therapist
Jarretta earned her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science at Utah Valley University and master’s degree in Social Work at Brigham Young University. Jarretta’s clinical experience includes working at the Utah County Department of Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Treatment in the Day Treatment Program. Jarretta also worked at the Utah State Prison in the women’s in-patient mental health program. She has completed training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and has completed post-graduate certification at the University of Michigan in Sex Therapy.

She had the privilege of growing up in the military and has lived in some interesting and unique places. This fostered her ability to respect and love different cultures, traditions, and peoples. As a child she used to love to watch people and their behavior with curiosity. She was also the one who always brought home every stray animal to love. As an adult, she has transferred that passion and compassion to facilitating growth and empowering women. She loves her family, the beach, and her dog, Harley. She is passionate about her work with Saprea and is excited to do all she can to help trauma survivors heal.
Photo of Kristen Grant, a clinical therapist at Saprea

Kristen Grant, L.C.S.W.

Clinical Therapist

Kristen earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and her master's degree in social work from Brigham Young University. Her clinical experiences include working in a residential program for young adults with autism as well as working at community mental health clinics. Most recently before joining our team, she worked with children, adolescents and adults with a focus on healing from trauma and working towards a secure attachment. Kristen is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused CBT, Sand tray, and Play therapy.

Kristen has enjoyed her opportunity to work with a variety of people throughout their healing journey. Through these experiences, she has gained a passion for helping others find their voice and heal. Kristen approaches therapy with a client centered approach to help clients unlock their internal strength and feel empowered. Outside of work Kristen enjoys traveling, being outside, reading, and playing with her dog.

Case Management Team

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Julie Cattani

Case Manager Supervisor
For 21 years, Julie proudly held the full-time title of COO for the Cattani Clan. From PTA president to room mother, volunteer to chauffer, she enjoyed each moment with her children. Her previous experience includes working with cancer patients at a rehabilitation clinic and Director of Operations for a company that produced halftime shows for college bowl games. Julie is grateful to be engaged in a work that promotes hope and healing in the lives of beautiful, deserving women. She finds it a privilege to learn from the examples of many brave survivors. In her spare time, she loves nothing more than spending time with family and running on trails in the beautiful Utah mountains.

Online Course & Healing Webinar

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Breeann Allison

Online Course
Breeann joined Saprea as an education coordinator in 2018. Currently she works as a member of the Research and Program Development Team, a co-teacher for the Saprea Healing Webinar, and the manager of Saprea's online course. She is also the author of Saprea's Reclaim Hope Workbook and co-author of Why Do I Still Feel This Way: Changing Your Relationship with the Trauma of Child Sexual Abuse. She has worked in publishing for seven years, first as a curriculum developer at Gibbs Smith Education and then as an editor at FranklinCovey. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature with a minor in editing from Brigham Young University. On the side she enjoys writing mediocre fiction, spoiling her nieces and nephews, and defending the sacredness of the Oxford comma.
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Jessica Bradley

Clinical Therapist

Jessica is passionate about meeting clients where they are on their healing journey; she believes in the power and potential of the individual to heal and find peace. As a therapist for over ten years, she has worked with people of various cultures, ages, and trauma backgrounds, including survivors of child sexual abuse. Prior to joining the online course team, Jessica worked for nearly four years as a clinician at the Saprea Retreat. 

Jessica earned her M.S. in clinical mental health from the University of Phoenix and her B.S. in psychology with a minor in Spanish from Brigham Young University. She is a licensed clinical mental health counselor trained in trauma-sensitive yoga (TS yoga) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has lived in Uruguay and Mexico and spent many years as an educator prior to becoming a therapist. 

In addition to her work as a therapist, Jessica loves spending time with family and friends, exploring the outdoors, learning languages, traveling, laughing, and having new adventures. 

Logistics Team

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Lacey Larson

Logistics Manager
Prior to her work at Saprea, Lacey worked at a residential treatment center for women with drug and alcohol dependence, domestic violence, and sexual trauma. Lacey has held many positions that focus on her main passion: helping others. She has a degree in Psychology and Human Services. Lacey has volunteered with United Way and Primary Children’s Medical Center, assisted with first responder training, and loves volunteering in her children’s school classrooms. In her free time, Lacey loves to have adventures with her two cute kids. She also loves jogging, hiking, camping, and traveling.
Hannah Taylor

Hannah Taylor

Hospitality & Logistics Specialist
Hannah has four years of experience working in classrooms with children with disabilities, and recreationally with children living in lower income areas. Just before joining the Retreat Team, she worked with youth in a residential treatment facility. Hannah's passion is serving the community, and she is excited to help improve women's lives through teaching art journaling and vision boarding classes at the Saprea Retreat. Some of her favorite activities include dirt biking, playing racquetball, camping, and skiing.

Culinary Team

Colby Hall the executive chef at Saprea Retreat in Utah

Colby Hall

Executive Chef
Chef Colby studied culinary arts at Utah Valley University and has worked in the culinary industry for over 12 years. With experience in all aspects of food service from working at fine dining restaurants to catering events he has always loved the power that food has on people and humanity. Colby loves to cook modern but accessible food that you feel like you could incorporate at home.

Colby believes food can become a deep part of someone's life to help connect with others and their cultures. His goal at the retreat is to provide food that will be healthy, nourishing and fun. He wants to introduce new food while serving some familiar favorites as well. Colby lives in Sandy, Utah, with his wife, Shannon, and their Shiba Inu puppy, Amaya. His hobbies include soccer, gaming, and crying when the Utah Jazz lose.
Photo of Madison Threet a cook at the Saprea Retreat

Madison Threet

Culinary Cook
Madison was born and raised in Utah. She attended Utah Valley University and received her degree in culinary arts. She has been working in the industry for 5 years. Madison loves to cook with comforting, fresh, and healthy ingredients. She has learned the healing powers of food and loves the joy food can bring. She wants to share that with others.

Madison worked in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center where she developed a love for working with those who are on a healing journey. She feels thankful for the opportunities she had to work with such people, and the opportunities she will continue to have in the future. Madison loves listening to music and going to concerts. She also loves the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, fishing, and camping with family and friends.