About Us

Andra Perryman, LCSW, (she/her)
CEO & Clinical Director

Andra is the Clinical Director of The Next Step, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Clinical Supervisor for the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. She has worked in the field of mental health since 2006. Andra has earned a Masters degree in Social Work from the Loyola University of Chicago's School of Social Work and a Masters degree in Child Development from the Erikson Institute. She works primarily with children and adults suffering from the effects of trauma. Her hope and joy are fueled by her Christian faith, spirituality, and in being a wife and mom. She is a therapist because she believes that your health and healing are possible.

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Carolyn Osenbau, LPC, Clinical Supervisor (she/her)

Carolyn has earned a Masters degree from Argosy University. Carolyn is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in the treatment of children birth to twelve. Carolyn specializes in Client Centered play therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Carolyn is trained in Trauma-Focused CBT and has worked with children and adults with trauma, attachment, ADHD, depression, anxiety and behavioral difficulties. She also provides therapy to adults struggling with loss and postpartum mental health concerns.

Jennifer Nye, LCSW, Internship Supervisor (she/her)

Jen has been working in the field of mental health since 2012. She earned a Masters in Social Work from Governer's State University with additional training in art therapy techniques. Jen has been a licensed therapist since 2019 providing both in-person and telehealth therapy to adolescents and adults. Jen enjoys working with adolescents and adults affected by trauma, abuse, PTSD, anxiety and depression. Jen provides therapy from the lens of mindfulness and holistic health. She does this work because she believes that healing can happen once we open our minds and dare to imagine. When she's not working, Jen is passionate about spending time with her family and expressing herself creatively through interior design.

Stephanie Alamond, LCSW (she/her)

Stephanie graduated with her Masters in Social Work from Walden University. Stephanie is also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as well as Sandtray and Play therapy. Stephanie enjoys incorporating play in therapy with her clients of all ages. Stephanie works with child, teen, and adult clients.

Marvie Sanico, Client Care Coordinator (she/her)

Ashley Ramirez, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor (she/her)

Ashley graduated with her Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Ashley enjoys working with young adults adjusting to next phases of life and those affected by anxiety and depression.  Ashley believes in building a safe environment for a strong therapeutic relationship with clients. Ashley uses a Client Centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing approach. Ashley works with adolescent and adult clients.

Lonnasha Powell Nelson, MS, LAMFT (she/her) 

Lonnasha believes that healing is not linear and looks different for everyone. She creates a space where clients can show up honestly, feel supported, and begin to make sense of their experiences at their own pace. Lonnasha earned her Master of Science degree from Texas Tech University and brings over eight years of experience working with children, teens, adults, and older adults in a variety of roles. She supports individuals, couples, and families. She helps clients navigate relationship challenges, including patterns shaped across generations, life transitions, identity development, and grief. Drawing from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, she supports clients in identifying strengths and building toward meaningful change. She offers an inclusive, culturally affirming space to explore who they are, where they’ve been, and where they want to go.

Kyle Avery, LCSW (he/him)

Kyle graduated from Arizona State University with his Masters in Social Work and has been a licensed therapist for over 6 years. Kyle enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults and utilizes a wide variety of approaches, including Client-Centered Therapy, CBT and DBT and Play Therapy. Kyle has a plethora of experience working with clients who have experienced anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral difficulties. Kyle enjoys building a strong therapeutic and trusting rapport with clients and works hard to ensure his clients feel safe and comfortable and allow them to be their authentic selves

Joel Anderson, Clinical Intern (he/him)

Joel is a clinical intern at The Next Step and a Master of Social Work student at Liberty University. He brings over two decades of experience as a firefighter to his clinical work, offering a unique perspective on the mental health needs of individuals in high-performing and high-stress environments. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Communication from Arizona State University, a Master of Science in Leadership from Grand Canyon University’s Ken Blanchard College of Business, and advanced graduate certificates in Communication Pedagogy and Performance Psychology.

His clinical interests include working with individuals and groups in public safety, athletics, and other high-demand professions, as well as teens and young adults navigating life transitions such as entering college or the workforce. His approach is strengths-based and focused on identity development, resilience, and growth through life’s transitions. He is currently working towards completing his MSW with the goal of becoming a Licensed Master Social Worker and ultimately a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

DeJon Amittai, LMSW (she/her)

DeJon is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a passion for helping people navigate life’s challenges and build meaningful connections. Since 2019, she has worked with individuals experiencing anxiety and depression and has an expanded focus to include couples and family relationships. She has specialized training in women’s and men’s domestic violence, anger management, and decision-making skills, helping her better understand and support clients in navigating family relationships. DeJon earned her MSW from Texas A&M University. DeJon believes in the importance of balance, connection, and self-care, and she deeply values spending quality time with her family. Whether she's outdoors staying active or at home with loved ones, these experiences ground her and inform the compassionate, relationship-centered approach that she brings to her work.

  • Yes, The Next Step is In-Network (INN) with many insurance plans. Our clinicians are credentialed with most policies offered by Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna/Evernorth, and Optum/United Healthcare.

  • No, unfortunately, at this time The Next Step is not In-Network (INN) with Medicare or Medicaid/AHCCCS. Please refer to your plan’s customer service to locate a provider that is right for you.

  • Absolutely! We’re always happy to help. Even if we are not the right provider for you, we can provide you with a list of referrals who may be a great fit.

  • No, The Next Step offers self-pay rates for those who; elect to not utilize their insurance coverage, may be under or uninsured, as well as plans that are Out of Network (OON).

  • Yes, we are happy to provide you with an estimate of your out of pocket (OOP) cost for mental health care. In order to do so, please be ready to provide a copy of the front and back of your insurance card, the legal spelling of the first and last name of the primary insured, and their date of birth. We are only able to provide an estimate and our quote is not a guarantee of how your insurance plan will process the claims submitted on your behalf. You are encouraged to call your insurance plan directly to verify your benefits as well. We are happy to help you ask the questions necessary to have a better understanding of your coverage. All insured individuals are encouraged to independently retrieve a verification of benefits directly from their carrier.

  • This depends on the benefit coverage offered by your insurance carrier. Some insurance plans require your deductible to be met before the insurance carrier pays for services. If your deductible applies, then you will owe the rate set by your insurance carrier. If your deductible does not apply, then you may owe a copay or coinsurance amount set by your plan. A copay is a set rate for each appointment. A coinsurance is when the insurance plan splits the cost with the insured individual and is usually a set percentage of the total cost of each appointment.

  • We ask that you please provide a 24 hour notice of cancellation to avoid a fee. Effective July 1, 2024 the fee for Late Cancellations will be $75. Please access the secure Client Portal to manage your appointment status.