APA Faculty

Any questions regarding the internship program, application process or interview day can be directed to Lisa Koch, PhD at (509) 838-4651 x5020 or at lkoch@smhca.org. lkoch@smhca.org.

Dr. Sowers is the Director of Child & Family Services, Adult Outpatient Services, Intensive Outpatient Services, and Psychological Services at SMH. Dr. Sowers graduated from the University of Southern California in 1993 and was licensed in Washington State in 1994. Dr. Sowers serves as site visitor for the APA’s Committee on Accreditation. A special area of interest pertains to the development and implementation of youth suicide prevention and intervention strategies. Dr. Sowers is a primary supervisor for the internship program.

Dr. Koch is the Training Director for the internship as well as the Psychologist Supervisor for the psychological services division at SMH. Dr. Koch received her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Mississippi in 1999, and was licensed in Washington State in 2001. Dr. Koch oversees the APA internship, psychological testing clinic and court evaluation services. Clinical responsibilities include providing comprehensive psychological assessments to consumers at SMH and community agencies. She also provides consultation with several local Head Start programs. Areas of specialty include children with ADHD, as well as parent training and attachment work. Dr. Koch is a primary supervisor for the internship program.

Dr. Holmes is a staff psychologist at SMH who works primarily with adults. She received her PhD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and was licensed in Washington State in 1989. She moved to Spokane from Missouri in 1989 and worked at Samaritan Counseling Center for twelve years. Dr. Holmes specializes in posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and dissociative disorders. She completes psychological testing with adults, participates in court evaluation at SHMC and is one of the primary supervisors for the internship.

Dr. Echelbarger is a staff psychologist at SMH who also works primarily with children and adolescents. She completed her PhD at the University of Toledo and was licensed in Washington State in 2004. She completes comprehensive assessments for SMH and community agencies as well as for the BEST Program, a partial hospitalization program for children housed at SHMC, and heads up the ADHD screening clinic. Her specialty areas include working with preschool aged children, abused or traumatized children, pervasive developmental disorders, and group therapy for children diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression. Dr. Echelbarger is a primary supervisor for the internship program.

Dr. Forsyth is a staff psychologist and court evaluator for SMH. He is a 1994 graduate of the University of Montana-Missoula clinical psychology program and has been licensed in Washington State since 1995. Prior to joining SMH in 2007, Dr. Forsyth maintained a full-time independent practice conducting psychological evaluations for various DSHS programs as well as providing assessment and treatment services to children, adolescents and adults. His areas of specialization include ADHD and LD across the lifespan and psychological assessment. Dr. Forsyth is one of the primary supervisors for the internship program supervisors.

Dr. Roberts is a full-time court evaluator for SMH. She graduated in 2005 from the counseling psychology program at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She did her internship in the counseling center at Utah State University, specializing in psychological and psycho-educational assessment. Prior to joining SMH in March 2008, Dr. Roberts worked as a full-time adult therapist and pre-commitment examiner for Curry County Human Services in Gold Beach, Oregon. Areas of interest include psycho-educational assessment, identity integration in adults with acquired disabilities and narrative psychology.