We don't hear hard,

We hearHope!

(907) 903-7123

About Border Counseling Services LLC

Our Vision

Border Counseling Services LLC provides a safe healing space where both children and adults are able to express their feelings openly, learn about themselves, and most of all discover how unique and valued they are. We believe “the first step to healing is awareness” and we honor our clients for asking for help by establishing with them the greatest level of trust and acceptance.

Our focus of therapy is a Person Centered Approach that includes highly qualified trauma informed care and knowledgeable interventions blended with a premier level of compassion that is specific to each client’s individual case, needs and life circumstances.

We understand that if a person has not felt adequately loved through their life experiences and environments their response is to feel helpless and defenseless. To deal with the anxiety of these feelings a person takes the energy for self-development and put it towards protective behaviors. With the use of thorough assessment tools we assist client with understanding how protective behaviors can be transformed into skills and abilities. We specialize in the diagnosis of PTSD, anxiety and other mood related disorders and social skills development. For children a whole family approach is used and we assist primary care givers with parenting skills that focus on both caregivers and children feeling loved and respected.

Ultimately our final goal would be that our clients become responsible for the ownership of their healing and behaviors and continue on a life time process of self-healing, awareness and growth.

Psychiatrist

Dr. Michael Alcorn

Dr. Alcorn is a board-eligible psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of adults, children, and adolescents. His medical degree is from the University of Southern California, he earned his Adult Psychiatry residency from UCSF Fresno, California, and completed his child fellowship at the University of Southern California.  He held multiple Honor Awards throughout his educational process dating back to 1995.  He holds both dual licensures in Alaska and California.  Dr. Alcorn worked in one of the busiest psychiatric emergency departments in the nation while training in Los Angeles County.  He served as a psychiatrist for the United States Air Force for 5 years after completing training.  He has spent the last 7 years working in a variety of inpatient settings in Anchorage including consultation work at AK Regional Hospital.  His unique military background allowed him to assist with the opening of the Chris Kyle Patriots Hospital where he has also served as the primary psychiatrist for the last 7 years.  Dr. Alcorn has served our community by providing psychiatric services for children and adolescents in both acute and residential settings in Anchorage and Palmer.  Dr. Alcorn is not only a doctor but also a dedicated and experienced educator.  He proudly assists the next generation of therapists and mental health providers as a teacher and a presenter.  He has and continues to supervise nurse practitioners, physician assistants, child psychiatry fellows, and medical students.   

Dr. Alcorn brings a high level of excellence to our practice with his experienced psychiatric care.  Dr. Alcorn uses a highly professional approach to the care of his patients while maintaining a sense of sincere compassion and caring that allows his patients to feel comfortable and heard.  His approach to treatment is to assist his patients with knowledge through education so they can develop a better understanding of themselves while being able to make their own self-informed decisions.  After a thorough assessment, if medication is necessary, he believes in educating patients on all treatment options.  Dr. Alcorn wants all his patients to feel that they are valued partners in their own care. 

Counselors

C. Elaine Border

I don’t hear hard,
I hear HOPE!

C. Elaine Border is a licensed professional counselor who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s Degrees at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She was a highly qualified teacher for the Anchorage School District before pursuing a further career with helping children with their emotional needs. Elaine’s master’s degree internships were in both school counseling and community agency work, specializing in grief. She combined both these career goals when going to work for Anchorage Community Mental Health as a therapeutic counselor in a title I ASD school.

Elaine has worked with children with autism, severe emotional disturbance, anxiety, conduct disorders and social skills problems and has been able to successfully involve and integrate parents in the therapeutic care of their children. She later transferred to The Family Services Unit of Anchorage Community Mental Health where she worked with children and families who had experienced complex trauma. Some of her experienced involved working closely with OCS and foster families for clients who were in the foster care system.

Elaine is a highly trained trauma informed therapists who uses play therapy, integrated fila play which includes parents into therapy, Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment using motor sensory play to assist with body regulation. Elaine also works with adults who have experienced sexual abuse, rape, and high levels of disturbed family attachments in childhood. She has specified training with grief counseling and is a qualified certified EMDR therapist. Elaine strives to assists her clients with resources using ongoing training techniques and current psychoeducation. She has been an advocate for clients by attending IEP meetings and collaborating with other professional services to provide full case management and care for all her clients.

Elaine’s vision to help others goes past just her private practice as she volunteers her time to help the city of Anchorage by serving on the board of Akeela House and also supports the ongoing efforts of the Downtown Hope Center.

Heather Frye

Heather Skelton-Frye is a Licensed Profession Counselor (LPC) for the State of Alaska.  Heather graduated with her Master of science counseling psychology in April of 2020 from Alaska Pacific University and a Bachelor of Human Services in May of 2018 from the University of Alaska.   She also has an associate’s in Applied Science obtained in 2016 from the University of Alaska. 

As quoted by Heather’s previous supervisors “Heather was born to work with adolescents.” Heather brings a high level of energy, professionalism, and quality of care to our adolescent and young adult clients.  She has worked with youth at the Alaska Military Youth Academy, and McLaughlin Youth Center and is a proven passionate advocate for her clients, and understands the needs of the youth of today.  While at McLaughlin she used her creativity to design groups that brought a sense of safety and improved trust for her clients. 

But adolescence is not her only passion, Heather is a well-rounded therapist that also knows how to work with adults who have experienced all issues related to trauma and life change.  She has experience working with clients who have personality disorders, Co-occurring issues and she specializes in all matters related to PTSD while using her training in EMDR.   She has extensive knowledge of working with military families and first responders. 

Heather has a unique perspective of therapy that focuses on the possibilities, not the problems. She creates a safe and person-centered therapeutic experience for both teens and adults.   Heather listens well to her clients and knows how to build individualized treatment plans for each client and family.  Her therapeutic intervention help supports personal growth that propels clients to overcome and reach their life goals. 

Heather Tichenor

Heather is a Licensed Profession Counselor (LPC) for the State of Alaska. Her energetic, fun-loving, compassionate personality is a perfect fit with our office model.  Her high level of professionalism and quality of care has brought an element of excellence to our staff.  Heather holds degrees from Union Institute & University Cincinnati, OH Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Psychology (Mar 2018), Liberty University Lynchburg, VA Master of Science (M.S.) Forensic Psychology (Jul 2019)  She is gifted in working with couples and is a highly qualified provider who has experience working with both individuals, couples, and families. Heather has extensive experience with clients who suffer from PTSD and with first responders.  Heather comes to Border Counseling Services after working at Chris Kyle Patriots Hospital and the Alaska National Guard.  She holds certifications in both EMDR and Grief Counseling.  Heather’s passion for working with people who have experienced loss brings an additional ability to meet our clients where they are in their grieving process.  She knows how to walk with her clients through all stages of grief. 

Heather specializes in a full range of therapeutic techniques which range from EMDR, Internal Family Systems, DBT, and reality therapy.  She blends all these techniques into a person-centered approach that creates a connection with her clients in a supportive environment.  Her gentle compassionate demeanor draws clients to her as she assists them with knowledgeable therapeutic techniques that she uses outside the box to personalize individual care.  She describes herself as quirky and can relate to people across all spectrums of life and issues.  Heather loves Alaska and especially the Alaskan Native populations.  She is extremely culturally sensitive and knows how to attune to the needs of clients with warmth and genuineness.

 Heather has the ability to work with people with multiple co-occurring diagnoses, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and personality disorders. Her knowledge and competency extend to doing both individual and group sessions.  Heather can assist her clients in overcoming dependencies and adjusting to life changes.   

Lisa Hoover

Lisa Hoover is a Licensed Profession Counselor (LPC) for the State of Alaska. She has a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling, certifications as both a Rehabilitation Counselor and a CRC Associate Professional Clinical Counselor and she is just months away from becoming a fully licensed professional counselor in the state of Alaska. Lisa’s experience spans working with the acute care clients of API, substance abuse clients and assisting women who were escaping domestic violence and sexual assault.   It is with great honor that Elaine Border is taking on the final stages of Lisa’s supervision, as she steps into the realm of private practice and fully integrating all her years of experience with both children and adults in the mental health field. 

Not only is Lisa experienced with adult clients, she also has a life time love of children and brings her 13 years of teaching experience as a Licensed Professional Elementary School teacher into her therapeutic skills.  Lisa has also been a Program Director, District coordinator and Adjunct Professor.  She has coordinated, implemented, and evaluated intervention programs for English Language Development, as well as designed, and implemented Supplemental Instructional classes for parents and adult learners improving their lives.  Due to her tremendous teaching experience Lisa will also be part of our facilitation team to assist parents through teaching Parenting with Love and Logic classes. She uses all her skills in her therapeutic approach by teaching children regulation, supporting parents with parenting skills, and assisting children across all levels of therapeutic care. 

Lisa’s therapeutic style is one of supporting and walking with clients in their own journey toward wholeness.   Lisa wants her clients to know that they are not alone and she creates a therapeutic space where clients feel safe enough to understand themselves and how they can interact with the world around them in the best possible way by knowing and valuing who they are.

About

Mental Health is as important as physical health, with that understanding we are here in Anchorage to help create a healthier Alaska.

Specializing in dealing with emotional trauma our methods bring about restoration, healing and growth.

More About Us

Parenting Classes

  • Avoid un-winnable power-struggles and arguments
  • Stay calm when your kids do incredibly upsetting things
  • Raise kids who are family members rather than dictators
  • Help your kids learn from mistakes so they don’t repeat them

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CONTACT

Border Counseling Services LLC 471 W. 36th Avenue, Suite 110 Anchorage, AK 99503


Phone: (907) 903-7123
Fax: (855) 952-3836
Email: info@bordercounseling.com

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We are proud to announce the addition of psychiatric services!Read More