Clinical Supervisors

Noelani "Noe" Sagapolutele is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) from North Kohala, Hawaii Island. She is a graduate of The Kamehameha Schools and currently lives on O’ahu with her husband, two keiki and puppy, Haupia.  Noe has been a social worker for over 20 years and is the founder of two mental health practices: Onward and Upward Mental Health Studio and Kako’o Hawaii Mental Health Collective.  Her work experience has primarily been with children and families in the Wai’anae and Kapolei areas, although her employment experience has given her the opportunity to serve many different populations — individuals and families — from Kohala to Ka’ena and most everywhere in between.  Noe is deeply committed to inspiring and elevating the importance of mental health for Native Hawaiian, Polynesian and Pacific Islander women and communities statewide.

I am a relational clinical supervisor committed to creating a supportive and collaborative space for mental health professionals. Rather than positioning myself as the sole "expert," I work alongside therapists to explore and understand case dynamics, aiming to find approaches that resonate with both the therapist and the patient. Together, we navigate the complexities of each case to enhance therapeutic outcomes. 

Languages spoken: English 

Kathy Southard LCSW has been in practice for over 20 years. A graduate of Boston University, she is a former member of a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital's psychiatry department. Kathy has experience working with the following modalities: EMDR, CBT, Mindfulness-Based Approaches, Mentalization Based Therapy. Additionally, Kathy is a MAPS trainee therapist, learning more about IFS and somatic methods for healing. My theoretical approach is a mix of psychodynamic, CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness. I am influenced by eastern approaches to psychology and spirituality. There is no way out, but through. My style is active, collaborative, warm, and respectful. I bring practicality, compassion, and creativity to my work, helping you to develop greater skills in coping with stress and sadness. I strive to help people better understand the patterns that contribute to ongoing suffering, often stemming from earlier experiences in life. I became a therapist/ social worker after experiencing the death of my mother. I saw that what was most important in life is connection, love, and helping others. I left the banking world, enrolled in an MSW program, and became a meditation student/instructor. My work in psychiatry gradually led me to see clients individually as a therapist.  My approach as a clinical supervisor will be similar to my approach as a therapist, with more focus on reviewing treatment with clients, but also how to handle transference/countertransference, self-care, coping skills, and reviewing of clinical skills needed. 

Languages spoken: English/French 

From my perspective, supervision is an honor and privilege.  I approach supervision as a customized, holistic, accompaniment toward personal development as a compassionate, competent, ethical professional.  Whether individually or as a group, ideally, it is a journey toward development as one who will, eventually, guide others.  

The two-year supervision toward licensure directly and indirectly involves: 

Ongoing, gradual processes of learning my supervisee’s identity (i.e. her/his cultural context and/or identity, lived experience, hopes and aspirations). 

Developing awareness about self in relation to other contexts (clients, diversity, community, state, profession, self).  

Interactive: listening, exploring, understanding, and indirect learning.  

Exploration of professional behavior, ethics, therapy as it relates to clients’ contexts, micro-mezzo-macro perspectives, tensions between Western and Indigenous approaches as they arise in the supervisee’s work arena (not in a prescriptive manner).

Outside of supervision, the supervisee may choose to receive training in therapy modalities which I support (for example, EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, art therapy, which I’ve received training in, but do not specialize in). 

Languages spoken: English

Michele Navarro Ishiki is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who is the Founder and Executive Director of Piha Wellness and Healing, a non-profit on Maui, they provide emotional support and mental health services to our community. Born and raised in Pāʻia Maui, she spent over 20 years of her professional career in nonprofit and for-profit organizations providing clinical oversight of residential drug treatment facilities and its continuum. She is a founding member of Pouhana O Nā Wāhine, the first federally funded Native Hawaiian Resource Center in Hawaiʻi, created to help Native Hawaiian families address domestic violence. She is also their Board President. In addition to her LCSW, Michele has a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, formerly known as the Myron B Thompson School of Social Work, at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is also certified by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division as a Clinical Supervisor (CCS), and Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC) in the State of Hawai‘i. She is an Internationally Certified Clinical Supervisor (ICCS) and Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ICADC). My approach to clinical supervision is eclectic. By providing a cultural approach, I am also able to blend in my western training to lead those I supervise to their fullest potential as clinical social workers. 

Languages spoken: English

I specialize in working with people experiencing houselessness, chaotic substance use, serious mental illness (SMI), dual diagnosis, and those from the LGBT+ community. My expertise is in following a Harm Reduction philosophy. I am also a certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer, have trained Honolulu Police Department officers in MHFA and Crisis Intervention. I currently work part time at a non-profit, have a private practice, and am an adjunct professor at UH Manoa.

I offer clinical supervision towards licensure from a nurturing standpoint. I am passionate about this field and am committed to providing you a space where you will grow skills and confidence in your foundation towards becoming an LCSW. I have a welcoming style and ensure we cover important topics relating to clinical standards, ethics, and other social work values. My strengths are the rapport I build with clients and the efficiency in my work. I live on Oahu but can offer clinical supervision in the state of Hawaii.

Languages spoken: English/Spanish

As an off-site Clinical Supervision, our supervisions would be centered around professional development which includes anything from exploring self as a professional to developing clinical skills and interventions. I encourage self-reflection to develop an understanding of your lenses or perspectives that influence your approach to working with clients. Lenses are personal, professional, cultural, and socio-political-economic experiences that have shaped your values, biases, and worldview. In addition, we will practice clinical skills to help you develop in those areas. Lastly, we will also cover self-care, boundary setting, stress monitoring to prevent burnout and promote longevity in the field. I like to build a collaborative process in supervision and opportunities to learn from each other. 

My professional career started at the Boys and Girls Club. I also worked with survivors of homicide, practiced in a Latino-based community mental health clinic, and provided Intensive In-Home Therapy to children and families when I was living in Boston University. I moved to Hawaii in 2014 and worked in substance use treatment for 8 years as an Intake Counselor, Team Leader, and Manager. I now work at a group practice called the Center for Healing and Transformation and I'm slowly transitioning into my own private practice. I also teach in the Field Ed Department at UH and a substance use treatment course online for Boston University. Lastly, I contract with Hawai'i Health and Harm Reduction on various macro projects.  

On a personal note, I live on Oʻahu with my wife and 2 kids (5 yr-old & 3 yr-old). A few of my outside interests include hiking, swimming, family beach days, volunteering in the loko i'a and lo'i, socializing with friends and family, and playing pretend with my kids. 

Languages spoken: English/Spanish 

Valerie Willman is a Clinical Psychologist, licensed in the State of Hawaii. She is a Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor by the International Board of Christian Counselors. Dr. Willman earned a Masters in Counseling from Purdue University in 1984 and Ph.D. in Psychology, specializing in Sport and Performance Psychology,  in 1987. She completed a respecialization program in Clinical Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology in 1995, graduating from the University of Oregon Counseling Internship Program, and became licensed as a Clinical Psychologist in 1996. She has been a practicing integrative Christian counselor since earning her Ph.D. in 1987.

Languages spoken: English

I specialize in providing individual and couples therapy, offering a safe and empathetic space for clients to explore their challenges and aspirations. I firmly believe in the importance of seeking help from a Marriage and Family Therapist, as we are uniquely trained to address relational dynamics and family systems, which often play a crucial role in our overall well-being. Living and working in Hawaii's culturally diverse environment has further deepened my appreciation for the importance of cultural competence in therapy. I am committed to providing culturally appropriate care, respecting and honoring the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of my clients. It's a privilege to work in this unique cultural setting, where I have the opportunity to learn from and contribute to the rich tapestry of traditions and values that shape our community.

Languages spoken: English

I am an MSW graduate from Hawaii Pacific University. My career in social work has primarily been working with incarcerated individuals, substance use, and dual diagnosis individual and group treatment. For the last four years I have been focusing on private practice, addressing mental health needs such as anxiety, depression, grief and loss, and DBT groups for individuals with borderline personality disorder diagnoses. 

I previously spent five years as a clinical supervisor for counselors and bachelor and master level students and it has always been a favorite part of my job. I aim to support clinicians in developing both skill and self-awareness. My supervision is collaborative and focuses on reflection, curiosity, and providing a safe and non-judgmental space to develop skills, therapeutic style, and confidence.

Languages spoken: English