Skip Sub Menu
Counseling Center Staff
Our dedicated team is here to support you every step of the way.
Each member of our staff brings a unique blend of experience, expertise, and empathy to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Learn more about Drake University's Counseling Center staff below.
Jackie K. Robinson
Office Manager, She/Her/Hers
Jackie has been our Student Health Center office manager for over 15 years. She remains dedicated to assisting our students in scheduling health and counseling center appointments.
Kayla Bell-Consolver, MS, LMHC
Director and Therapist, She/Her/Hers
Kayla identifies as a proud Black, lesbian, cisgender. woman and community mental health advocate. She has worked in the mental health field since 2016. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at Drake University in 2016 and received her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Drake University in 2019. She is a QPR Gatekeeper instructor, which is a suicide prevention practice that teaches you effective ways to prevent suicide. She is formally trained in EMDR, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Level 1 Internal Family Systems Therapy, and places an emphasis on the approaches that are most comfortable for therapy participants. Kayla specializes in trauma informed approaches, especially as it relates to racial and LGBTQ+ related trauma and historically oppressed/discriminated populations, inner child work, and shame/low self-esteem.
She believes that individuals often have the tools within themselves to heal and utilizes therapeutic tools to help individuals uncover this to enhance their sense of self and ability to feel secure, confident, empowered, and peaceful within their lives. Kayla has experience in PTSD, borderline personality traits, depression, anxiety, stressors related to discrimination, relationship issues, low self-esteem, and grief and loss. In her free time, Kayla enjoys dancing, content creating, playing the clarinet, playing basketball, lifting weights, and spending time with loved ones.
Kayla is a certified One Iowa approved inclusive provider for the LQBTQ+ community.
Tyler Jacobs-Lewis, MS, NCC, LMHC, tCADC
Therapist, He/Him/His
Tyler has worked in the mental health field since 2017. Tyler graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He received his master's degree in clinical mental health counseling in 2022 from Drake University. Tyler's clinical interest areas are Trauma and Grief. Tyler is TF-CBT and EMDR trained. Tyler believes in understanding a client and their whole story. Therapy is collaboration, exploration, and learning. Through these tenets, clients can feel safe to explore their story on their terms. In his free time, Tyler enjoys hanging out with family and friend, traveling, listening to music, watching tv, and hanging out with his cats.
Tyler is a certified One Iowa approved inclusive provider for the LQBTQ+ community and Certified in Drug and Alcohol Abuse .
John Roarick, MSW, LISW
Therapist, He/Him
John’s desire in counseling is to assist students with identifying variables that impact their wellbeing and promote feelings of positive self-worth. John values authenticity and aims to create a space where students feel accepted, heard, and understood. He uses a variety of modalities including EMDR, DBT, CBT, and psychoeducation to support students with achieving their therapeutic goals.
John has worked in the field of counseling, mental health , and social work for more than ten years. He has experience working with individuals with a range of diagnoses and concerns that vary from mild to complex. John feels fortunate his professional experience includes significant time working with individuals from various racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds and individuals from the LGBTQ+ community.
In his free time, John enjoys spending time with his daughters and loved ones. He makes time for learning, watching sports, listening to Spotify, creative outlets, and conversation with friends.
Steffany Bergmann, MSW, LMSW
Therapist, She/Her
Steffany is eager to work with diverse communities. Her passion lies in helping people navigate the various challenges that life can present. As a graduate from the University of Iowa with a degree in social work and an LMSW, she specializes in resilience and trauma perspectives.
Steffany is determined to empower individuals to overcome obstacles and equip them with tools for their future well-being. Her therapeutic approach focuses on guiding clients through significant life changes—moments that can bring both joy and unforeseen challenges.
She looks forward to assisting people dealing with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and grief. Steffany is able to offer counseling in English or Spanish.
Steffany enjoys engaging with others, has a penchant for all kinds of movies (with horror films as her favorites), loves dancing, and values the opportunity to travel and explore the wonders our world has to offer.
Emma Caster, MS, tLMHC
Therapist, She/her
Emma believes that therapy should be driven by client goals and rooted in mutual respect and understanding. She strives to reduce power imbalances in the therapy office in order to decolonize therapy practices. She uses a strengths based approach that focuses on the unique abilities and gifts we all possess to drive personal and community growth. She focuses on creating a welcoming sensory environment in her office and allows accommodations for clients to maximize their comfort. She enjoys incorporating play to ease relationship building and reduce the pressure to talk.
Emma has worked in the mental health field since 2017. She received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Drake University in 2023. She is trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Play Therapy and Gender Affirming Care. Emma’s areas of clinical interest are Trauma, Anxiety, and Gender and Sexual Orientation Identity Exploration.
In her free time, you might find Emma at the Varsity Cinema, walking her dog with her wife, sipping an iced coffee or playing board games with friends. She also enjoys going to live stand-up comedy shows and concerts.
Betsy Wilson
She/her, Therapist Intern
Betsy received her master’s degree in higher education from the University of Georgia in 2016, and she is currently working on her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling at Drake. Betsy has worked on college campuses in a variety of roles over the past 10 years, and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve at Drake in this capacity.
Betsy believes that people matter and there isn’t anything that someone has done or will do that changes their value. Betsy is grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside people and work towards their goals together. Betsy has experience in depression, anxiety, PTSD, relationships issues, low self-esteem, and grief and loss.
In her free time, Betsy enjoys spending time with family and friends. She can often be found at a local Touch-A-Truck event or on a walk in the neighborhood with her husband and 2 young kids.
Amari Love
She/Her, Practicum Student Intern
Amari's passion for Mental (Brain) Health began prior to her journey at Drake but has been exponential since then. She graduated with her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Drake University in 2021. She is currently finishing her Masters in Clinical Mental Health & Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, while working as an Academic Advisor in the College of Arts & Science. As a Black woman who is queer-identifying, Amari finds that she is comfortable working with folks who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ Community, those who experience anxiety, depression, needs assistance with coping, grief and loss, folkx of marginalized identities, and those who have experienced childhood trauma.
Amari has the pleasure of serving as an active member on the Physical & Mental Health Committee for the Des Moines Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. In addition to this, she has been certified in QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer- aiding Suicide Prevention) and previously volunteered as a Violence Intervention Partner.
In her spare time, Amari loves to play volleyball, blast music, be creative (make art, building new things, writing poetry, DIY projects etc), cook, organize and napping.
Heather Watson MS, LMHC, NCC, IADC
Bulldog Recovery Facilitator, She/Her
Heather is the owner of Harmony Within Counseling LLC, specializing in addiction recovery and trauma healing. She recognizes the profound impact of generational trauma, particularly within marginalized communities, and believes in the transformative power of introspective exploration and self-expression. Utilizing a person-centered approach, Heather provides gentle guidance to help clients manage depression and anxiety arising from grief, relational challenges, and everyday pressures. Her commitment to fostering resilience and well-being empowers individuals to uncover their strengths and achieve lasting healing in a supportive environment.
University Calendar 
University News
November 20, 2024
