Health & Wellness Center Staff

Matthew Vaughan, LMHC

Clinical Director of Counseling

Bio: Matthew graduated from Washington State University in 2015 with a degree in psychology and earned his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from University of Phoenix in 2020. He completed his Master’s internship at WWU in 2020 and returned to the WWU Counseling Center in the spring of 2021 as a full-time therapist. Prior to coming to WWU Matthew worked in community health and substance abuse programs. Through this work, he developed a passion for supporting and advocating for young adults from marginalized groups. He seeks to provide a safe and healing space for individuals who are struggling to belong and find purpose in their lives.

Matthew is strongly influenced by the works of Michael White and he takes a post-modern approach to counseling. He is committed to enter every therapeutic relationship with openness, care, and curiosity.

Stephanie Marsh, MSW

Counselor

Bio: Stephanie earned her undergraduate degree from Central Washington University in Psychology and her MSW from WWU. She has been working and volunteering in the community and schools for the past 10 years with an emphasis on school aged individuals. She has been working with the University for the past 5 years. While working here she was also interning at the counseling center for two years and is now working full-time in the counseling center.

Stephanie adores this population and looks forward to helping students navigate their current challenges while in college. She strives to create an inviting atmosphere where students can feel safe and heard. She wants each student to feel like she is an advocate for them and that she is genuinely interested in their well-being.

Tabatha Shadel

Counselor

Bio: Tabatha was born and raised in Bolivia until the age of 15 and her family is originally from Chile; living in different countries has given her a multilingual and multicultural quality that enhances her approach with clients. Tabatha holds a bachelor’s degree from Andrews University and is currently seeking her MSW from WWU. She has worked for WWU as a mentor for a number of years as well as completing a year of internship with WWU Student Success Department. She has enjoyed working with college students and is excited to continue to work with this demographic in this new role. Her main interest is Attachment-based therapy and Sandtray therapy.

Sara Peterson

Counseling & Testing Coordinator

Bio: Sara started her career at WWU as a student of Engineering in 1997. She worked as a Teacher's Assistant in surveying, graded papers for several engineering classes, and tutored engineering students. She co-taught Writing for Engineers with Sylvia Nosworthy over multiple quarters. More recently, she taught Engineering Economy.

Sara is excited to join the Counseling and Testing team and looks forward to helping students start or finish their college careers by coordinating their testing.

Jody Washburn

Counseling Intern

Bio: Jody earned a master’s degree in family life education from Andrews University in 2010, and has a longstanding interest in facilitating spaces for individual and collective healing. She works here at WWU as a professor of sociology, and is also working toward a Masters of Social Work degree. Jody has a passion for walking alongside people as they navigate the push and pull of becoming more and more themselves and cultivating their sense of belonging and connection. Her current research looks at what insights from trauma studies and attachment theory can aid in healing from spiritual harm and/or abuse. In her work with clients, she takes a whole-person well-being approach, connecting people with resources and tools for healing and also working with clients to draw upon their strengths and values as they move toward their treatment goals.