T.O.C. | The Overwatch Collective
501 (c) (3) Non-Profit and Podcast Funding Therapy Sessions and Supporting Mental Health among First Responders, Military, & Families
EIN: 87-2060176
California Therapists & Psychologists
Destiny Morris, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Destiny Morris, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 140334) specializes in trauma work in first responders. She works with individuals, couples, and teenagers. She believes in the importance in having a safe and confidential space to explore challenges that come up in life or in the field. She works with clients who are struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, relational issues, and personality disorders.
Destiny has the personal experience of being a first responder partner as well as being the daughter of a first responder. She has been trained in EMDR therapy as well as first responder counselor certified.
Alongside empathy and compassion, she believes humor is a coping skill that can be helpful. Destiny sees clients via Telehealth in the state of CA and can be reached directly at 805-743-3453 or at destinymorristherapy@gmail.com or her website www.destinymorristherapy.com.
Deana Kahle, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Deana Kahle, M.S., Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) received her graduate degree from California Baptist University and trained with The Counseling Team, International serving those who serve since 2011.
As a first responder to first responders, she has provided critical incident stress management (CISM) for many major mass casualties throughout the country. Deana has the privilege and honor of providing services to agencies such as the U.S Forest Service, Federal Air Marshal Service, and the California Highway Patrol.
Her professional experience has focused on the treatment of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and grief. In addition to psychotherapy and stress management services, Deana provides subject matter expert training and keynotes on the topics of resilience, wellness, and peer support. She is passionate about her mission “to alleviate suffering one person at a time”.
Visit www.aboveboardconsulting.com for more information.
Tracy Alvarado, AMFT, APCC
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT 121334) & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC 15099)
Tracy Alvarado, M.S. is a dual Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT 121334) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC 15099). She has clinical experience working with First Responders and their Families. Additionally, Tracy is trained in CBT Interventions, EMDR Therapy and Critical Incident Stress Management Debriefs.
Clinical scope of practice is Client Centered Counseling, bio-psycho-social assessments, and trauma informed care. Furthermore, Tracy’s skills go beyond clinical knowledge and technical ability as she is a spouse of a United States Marine and the mother of a one-year-old son. This is all important to note as she firsthand understands the primary parent role around the responders shift work and how that may impact family life.
Tracy predominately see’s clients via Telehealth in CA and can be reached directly at Tracy.Alvarado@hiu.edu
William N. Kelly, LMFT
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
I’m Will Kelly, and I’m on a path of servitude to fellow Men... Brothers... Fathers... Kings. I have a strong desire to usher men into themselves and learn to embrace the Strength within Vulnerability. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) dedicated to cultivating intimate spaces for Men to fully BE and acknowledge their truths without shame or judgment.
As a whole, we Men have NO guidance on how to connect with our thoughts and emotions and how to communicate them to others. We have been emasculated in many ways through various sources and we are often lost in our minds to which we have no connection.
I represent the part of you who observes without judgment and delivers knowledge and as a King, you take this knowledge and govern your Inner Kingdom with divine order and blessing. Your Inner Warrior will act swiftly under this order with clarity to protect the little boy within who is connected to the pleasure, joy, and playful opportunities this life has to offer...and what he has to offer this life.
Sincerely,
William N. Kelly, LCSW (CA,NC), LCSW-C (MD), MVF-CSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Matt McNichol, LMFT,
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Matt, a retired LEO after 15 years, is now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 142991) and is almost at the 3,000 hour mark in order to test to be a licensed therapist in California.
After successfully passing FTO, Matt experienced two tragic calls for service which he shares and believes led him to his PTSD. Matt experienced some challenges of finding a culturally competent therapist, but was finally able to be matched and ultimately attended the West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat (WCPR) put on by the First Responder Support Network.
From Matt: "I am retired after 15 years of law enforcement and come from a first responder family with several family members being either fire fighters or police officers. After medically retiring I went to USF and I am now an associate marriage and family therapist and work with first responders as well as children. I am trained in EMDR and Brainspotting and can see clients in person or on zoom."
You can contact Matt at:
Cairn Resilience Counseling
851 Cherry Avenue #225 San Bruno, CA 94066
650-409-7349 or mcnichol@crc-therapy.org
Haley Palos, AMFT, APCC
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist & Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Hailey Palos, M.S. is a dual Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (Registered MFT #126447) and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (Registered PCC #9838). She has years of clinical experience working with First Responders and their families. Additionally, Hailey is trained in trauma-informed interventions and works with individuals, couples, and families.
As a therapist to First Responders and a wife to a first responder, Hailey has seen and experienced the many transitions that come with these careers and the frequent incongruence/imbalance that can happen between work life and home life. Figuring out how to make these careers work for you and your family is a process that is unique to you and one that often requires some support. In working directly with First Responders, Hailey comes alongside at any point in the job (including during training and following critical incidents) to debrief, develop resilience and/or integrate coping skills for the job and at home.
Hailey values an integrative, explorative, and collaborative process that focuses on your individual experience and personality. This means she utilizes a combination of treatment modalities as they best fit you; including, CBT, DBT, experiential therapy, emotionally-focused therapy, trauma-informed practices, etc. We get creative by adapting tools to fit you. Hailey is a trauma-informed therapist, she is also trained by Postpartum Support International and will be completing EMDR training in December 2023.
You can reach Hailey via email at palospractice@gmail.com or by text/call to 916-272-5025. More about Hailey can be found at palospractice.com.
Chelsea Sterling, LPCC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Chelsea is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC 10584). She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of San Diego. Her clinical experiences include providing individual therapy, group therapy, crisis counseling and psychosocial assessments through work in short term acute residential treatment (START) programs, outpatient mental health clinics and an alcohol treatment facility.
She is a certified Domestic Violence Counselor. She has facilitated the following groups: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Mental Health and Sobriety, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and Seeking Safety.
She has led critical incident debriefings, defusings and Wellness Day presentations for the SD Police Department and SD Fire Department. Her clinical background includes work with the following populations: first responders and their families, underserved populations in San Diego, including adults with serious mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders, members of the LGBTQ+ community and adults with intellectual disabilities in a social work role.
Chelsea values the importance of person-centered therapy based on a person’s strengths and values. Her therapeutic approaches include integrating eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive-behavioral, supportive, person-centered, solution-focused brief therapy and dialectical behavior therapy. She works with adults. Her approach is rooted in creating a comfortable space to explore a client’s concerns and partnering together to generate changes in thoughts, communication and behaviors that can create mental wellness in their lives.
You can email Chelsea directly at: chelsea@chelseasterlingcounseling.com or send us a message.
Maggie Hernandez, AMFT
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Have you struggled to find a culturally-competent therapist who can hold space for what you’re dealing with? If you are looking to rediscover joy after living through incredibly difficult experiences, and want a relaxed environment with a straightforward therapist who treats you with compassion and respect, let’s talk. I understand starting therapy can feel overwhelming, and I know firsthand how strong the stigma around getting mental health support is. I offer you a space that is collaborative, nonjudgmental, and above all, confidential, and I blend empathy and warmth with humor and genuine curiosity to create an environment where my clients can heal from trauma, rediscover their strengths, and go on to experience post-traumatic growth.
My clinical focus is counseling first responders, combat veterans, those coping with addiction, survivors of mass-casualty events, and sexual trauma survivors. As the wife of a firefighter/paramedic and daughter of a US Navy veteran, I have personal experience with the unique challenges first responders and military members face, and I understand how those challenges can affect various aspects of not only your life, but the lives of those who love you. I consider it a privilege to work with those who selflessly serve our communities and the partners who support them.
Everyone’s needs are unique, so the therapy process looks different for each client. My therapeutic approach includes integrating eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), solution-focused brief therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and internal family systems. I see clients by Telehealth in CA, and if you’re local, we can meet in-person in Ventura. You can reach out to me directly either by email at mindmatterswithmaggie@gmail.com, or at 805-669-7892.
Ericka Paez, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Brain Health Coach
Ericka Paez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Nevada (LCSW-C 10720-C) and California (LCSW 114412) as well as a Certified Brain Health Coach through the Amen Clinics. As a military veteran who served in the 82nd Airborne, spouse of a military veteran turned first responder, and now spouse of that first responder she brings a multilayered, experienced approach to understanding what you're going through which often helps demystify from multiple angles. Her belief is that mental health is brain health and it all starts with understanding.
Ericka takes a 'whatever works' approach to therapy and believes in a holistic approach to brain health. She will dive into all the factors that can impact the way our brain works and create a detailed and individual plan to move forward including psychoeducation on brain health, science-based explanations of why we do what we do, and why certain treatments are helpful in addressing symptoms, to connect the dots for many of her clients in a way they've not experienced before. She most often uses cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, solution-focused therapy, and others in her work.
Ericka's focus is anyone who wants to know if they can improve their functioning and understanding through the Amen Way is welcome for a consultation. Her experience lies with those who are military veterans, first responders, spouses and partners for both of those areas.
She is also a former Division 1 athlete and blended families, divorce proceedings, being the parent of small children and an adult child, and chronic illness are all areas that resonate with her or she has direct experience within her own life and/ or family. PTSD is her main thing and she honors those who come to her to move through that and find the other side.
She welcomes clients who want to establish a connection with a provider before a crisis or serious occurrence happens so she encourages potential clients to think of her as a mentor or coach in areas of life such as increased stress, new family dynamics, promotions at work with new stressors, feedback on new or long standing relationships in order to fine tune before a bigger problem develops, processing how society is viewing your work (specifically, police but can be others). When trust develops in the smaller moments, it won't be so overwhelming to access her if, and when, stuff hits the fan!
Ericka's communication style is pretty direct, and she doesn't beat around the facts. She can flex to support those in various stages of change from looking to start to find answers, those ready to change, those stuck with other therapists, and those who think that sometimes therapy feels hokey! Working with her often feels like a breath of fresh air and she often hears "You're like a mind ninja!" or "How do you know that about me?" and has been called 'The Brain Mechanic.'
The main focus for each client is to increase self determination and capacity for decision making through an educated approach to their mental health. While she may have thoughts in her mind about what that may be, she will look to you to discuss what goals you are seeing her to work towards.
Specialities; Therapy Types; Methods: Child/Parent Psychotherapy,
Coaching, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Cognitive Processing (CPT),
Dialectical (DBT), Holistic, Mindfulness Based, Motivational
Interviewing, Solution Focused, Solution Focused Brief (SFBT),
Somatic, Supportive, Trauma Focused
Focus Areas: Addiction, ADHD, Alzheimer's, Anger Management,
Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Career Counseling, Children, Chronic Illness, Chronic Impulsivity, Chronic Pain, Chronic Relapse, Coping Skills, Depression, Family Conflict, Grief, Impulsivity, Impulse Control Disorders, Infertility,Job Stress, Life Coaching, Life Transitions, Men's Issues, Mood Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive (OCD), Parenting,
Peer Relationships, Pregnancy, Prenatal, Postpartum, Relationship Issues, School Issues, Self Esteem, Sleep or Insomnia, Stress,
Substance Use, Suicidal Ideation, Trauma and PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Weight Loss, Women's Issues
Jill Boyle, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Jill Boyle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT 46971), with over 17 years of experience in the field. She specializes in providing therapeutic support to first responders, military personnel, and individuals struggling with trauma, substance use, depression, and anxiety. Jill's client-centered approach, combined with her warmth, empathy, and collaborative style, creates a safe and supportive environment for healing and personal growth.
Jill's extensive experience includes working in various settings with a focus on serving individuals in the military and first responder communities. She has provided outpatient counseling for the Navy, assisting service members and their families. Additionally, she has worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center, specifically catering to veterans, where she gained valuable insight into the complexities of substance use disorders and their correlation with trauma. She is also a clinical partner with The Headstrong Project, providing therapeutic services to active duty service members and veterans.
Jill's therapeutic approach is client-centered, empowering individuals to take an active role in their healing journey. She believes in establishing a collaborative therapeutic relationship, where clients feel understood, validated, and supported. Through evidence-based modalities, Jill helps clients process traumatic experiences, develop healthier coping mechanisms, and cultivate resilience. Jill is a certified provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
As the wife of a first responder, Jill understands firsthand the unique challenges and demands faced by both responders and their families. This personal connection fuels her passion and dedication to supporting those in similar circumstances, fostering an environment of understanding and compassion.
Jill is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and a Registered Telehealth Provider in Florida and South Carolina. Learn more at www.jillboylemft.com.
Diana On, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Diana On is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in CA. Her specialties include PTSD and ADHD. Diana is a former emergency child abuse investigator and continues to support other first responders. Diana’s brother, Eric, is currently on active duty in Kuwait and serves as a physician’s assistant.
Hi, I’m Diana and I help people with trauma recover from the impact of their experiences. I am also a former first responder and understand the complexities of having to find ways to heal while being of service to others. Years ago, I worked as a child abuse investigator and discovered that helping others can come at a cost and that cost, for some, is one’s mental health.
In certain careers, there is a complicated relationship of being personally fulfilled and taking great pride in the work being done while having to reconcile the toll that it can take on one’s own well-being. Constant exposure to traumatic situations and crises can lead to burnout, vicarious trauma, and compassion fatigue. It can look and feel like overwhelm, anxiety, panic attacks, withdrawal and depression but there may be more going on. It might be PTSD.
While I have training in trauma informed care, it’s further supported by my own lived experiences. I focus on developing safe, nurturing and authentic relationships and believe in partnering with you in your journey.
If you are interested in learning more, let’s connect. You can also read more about me and the services I offer at my website: www.dianaonlcsw.com
I hope we can work together. I’m here to support you.
Warmly, Diana
Kate Van Dyke, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Kate is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT License #116159) who currently is working only via telehealth (sessions over video). She does plan to be back in person in the future, but for now, she can see anyone within the state of CA while doing telehealth. Kate has both a personal and professional understanding of working with first responders and some of the challenges they experience related to their work as she has several in her family, including her husband. As a wife of a first responder, Kate has a unique and first hand knowledge about some of the challenges unique to first responders and their partners; she is passionate about working with them both individually and in couple’s therapy.
In working with Kate, clients have the opportunity to process difficult things seen on the job, implement stress management techniques, improve communication skills between partners and identify workable and actionable systems for personal and family self-care and connection. Kate is approachable and direct in her work as a therapist, she sees therapy as a collaborative process – one which honors your expertise on your life and experiences and values you as her teammate in the therapeutic relationship, as therapist and client work toward their goals. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as Narrative Therapy in her work with clients and she has had 8 years of experience in both community mental health clinics, co-occurring substance abuse clinics, and private practice settings. Kate’s work is grounded in the belief that we all have the capacity to learn, grow, and understand ourselves more fully. She appreciates that to achieve that deeper understanding of ourselves that can lead to more fulfilling lives, we sometimes need a supportive environment and a skilled guide along the way.
Other experience and areas of focus in Kate’s practice include: infertility, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, communication and relationship struggles, major life changes and transitions, and grief and loss. She is accepting new clients and would love to hear from you if you are interested in getting started! It can feel daunting to do the work to find a therapist that feels like a good fit. Kate can offer a free 15-minute consultation call in order for you to get more of a sense of how she works.
For further information on Kate and her approach, her website can be found at https://www.katevandyketherapy.com and her direct email is katevandyke.lmft@gmail.com.
Brian Laurence, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Brian recognizes that everybody's experiences are different and oftentimes challenging. He is honored to work with all who are struggling to navigate life's difficulties, including our first responders and others who work in the helping professions. By considering therapy, you are taking the crucial first step on the path to change
Brian is the son of a career firefighter, a US Army veteran and honorably retired as a police lieutenant after a combined 33 years in military and civilian law enforcement. His experiences with fellow veterans, first responders, survivors of violent crime, families in crisis and the seriously mentally ill in the community inspired him to become a licensed psychotherapist. He holds a BS in Psychology and MA in Public Administration from CSU East Bay, an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from California Southern University, and has been licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in California since January, 2021. He has experience working with teens, adults, couples and groups in community, county and faith-based settings. His specialized training includes: Certified Clinical Trauma Professional; Gottman Method Couple’s Therapy (Level I), Managing Grief and Loss; and, Parent Project-Changing Destructive Adolescent Behavior. Brian believes in taking a collaborative, strengths-based approach with his clients and uses a variety of techniques to help them achieve their goals.
Brian is extremely proud of his two adult children and has been married for over 32 years to his wonderful wife Dianne, who helps with managing the practice. He values his faith, family and fishing the rivers of the Sierra Nevada.
If you would like to schedule a free 15 minute consultation with Brian, or have any other questions, please complete the brief form using the Contact button at the top of this page and we will connect with you as soon as possible. Thank you.
"I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become." -C.G. Jung
Natalie Montenegro, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Natalie is a bilingual, LMFT with over 15 years of experience in the mental health field. She works with individuals, teens, and couples. She specializes in working with first responders, healthcare professionals and maternal wellbeing. Treatment focuses include trauma, depression, anxiety, acculturation difficulties, and phase of life difficulties.
Natalie has direct experience being a law enforcement spouse and has a sister that is a dispatcher. She has been trained in Brainspotting and often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in conjunction with Brainspotting to facilitate the processing.
Natalie believes that "discomfort is the price of admission for a meaningful life" (spoken by Susan David). Together, we work toward achieving clarity, alignment and forward movement toward personal, progressional and inter-relational goals. By leaning into the chaos that is life, we learn to reframe our thinking, leading to a more empowered, centered, focused you.
Natalie works in-person (Antelope Valley area) and virtually throughout California and can be reached via phone at 818.275.4957, via email at natalie@montenegromft.com or via website at https://www.montenegromft.com
Caylin York, AMFT & APCC
Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Caylin York, M.A. is a dual registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (#139204) and Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (#13742) at Abundant Life Therapy. She works with clients who are chronically operating under high pressure environments such as first responders. Her vision for each client is to learn how to live outside of survival mode and know there is a way to a fulfilled life.
Her healing philosophy is inspired by the Japanese art form Kintsugi. Kintsugi is the practice of preparing broken pottery with a sealant mixed with powdered gold. A tender hand took what was once worthless, mended it with hope, and something more valuable than before is created.
After growing up in a Law Enforcement home, she knows the unique lifestyle that comes with the first responder career. She works with
First Responders and their family members by meeting them where they are at, helping them process their experiences, and teaching them effective coping skills.
She uses an integrative approach with
modalities tailored to the needs of each client and situation. Some of
these include: CBT to help change unhelpful thought patterns, DBT to increase distress tolerance, and trauma-informed practices to help
clients feel safe to share their heaviest burdens. Caylin integrates
Christian spiritually and Biblical values at the clients request.
You can contact Caylin at caylin@caylinyorkcounseling.com or text her at 916-297-2614. More about Caylin can be found at
caylinyorkcounseling.com.
Tiffany Atalla, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Tiffany Atalla (MFT #4788) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 18 years of professional experience. She has years of experience as a Director for First Responder health companies to include: First Responder Wellness, Shift Wellness and The Counseling Team International. She is passionate about helping First Responders and their families to improve their lives overall through wellness therapy and empirically based modalities to include: EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Training and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Tiffany is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Nationally Certified First Responder Counselor, Fraternal Order of Police Approved Clinician and a Community Resilience Model and Prepare Enrich Trainer Educator. Previously, Tiffany served as the Clinical Director of First Responder Wellness and was instrumental in the development of the trauma treatment/substance misuse program. Weekly she leads the Post Traumatic Growth group sessions and the Critical Incident Debrief Process groups. Tiffany is a Polyvagal Equine Institute and EAGALA Certified Equine Assisted Psychotherapist and enjoys facilitating the clients experiential and narrative growth through Equine therapy sessions as well. She established the national standard for Equine Therapy with First Responders by founding the Optimum Resilience program certification..
Tiffany earned her B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Marriage Family and Child Counseling from the University of San Diego. Before joining the treatment team at First Responder Wellness, Tiffany worked as a clinician for the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team in San Diego. During the 40 hours a week in a police unit, Tiffany learned a great deal about the needs of the law enforcement community, while gaining valuable hands-on emergency response experience. She also continues to work with a specialized First Responder EAP teaching and training departments in peer support and mental performance training. She also has her own private practice.
Tiffany started as a therapist for high risk youth in juvenile diversion and substance use cessation programs, became a supervisor for a program with Child Protective Services and then worked as a Clinical Director for an inpatient adolescent mental health and adult dual diagnosis treatment programs. She has an extensive background as both a culturally competent clinician for First Responders, Veterans and Recovery principles.
Her genuine understanding for First Responder family life comes from her own life experience as she is married to an Anaheim Fire Captain and they have two children together.
Tiffany is actively involved with First Responder family wellness in her spare time. She founded the Southern California Fire-wives Connect group, is a Co-Founder of a Fire Family Support Services group and helps lead First Responder Spouse Retreats (Sage Retreats).
She also enjoys volunteering with Canine Companions for Independence. She has a Facility Dog from Canine Companions for Independence named Bey, that is trained to work with First Responders and has over 43 commands that assist in her client’s treatment. Tiffany has both a passion for people and animals and loves helping her first responder clients heal and grow.
Bey is a Canine Companions expertly trained Facility dog, that works with Tiffany Atalla MFT.
She has been trained in over 40 commands designed to motivate and inspire clients and support their treatment. Bey is a source of calm, unconditional love, and attention. She loves belly rubs, high fives and shaking the hands of all of our clients. Bey at work is capable of a block command to create space when client is triggered, lap and visit and other social connection commands, as well as appropriate pressure, touch and intervention.
As with all CCI Dogs, Bey was provided free of charge, and her role is to be in support and service of those that serve.
She can be reached at Bestsolutionstherapy.com or (949) 436-4278 bestsolutionstherapy@gmail.com.
Meet Our Psychologists!
The primary role of the psychologist is to help people process challenges in their lives. They often help individuals navigate conflict, resolve internal struggles, and address mental health conditions. These wonderful psychologists are licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited professionals. They are here to help guide and support you through your healing process. We also have registered psychological associates who are pursuing their career as licensed psychologists.
If you are (or you know someone is) a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist and you want to be a resource to our first responders, military, and their families and spouses / significant others, please send us an email to: toctherapistoutreach@gmail.com !
David Bond, Psychologist
California Only
David Bond is a licensed psychologist (#PSY32595) specializing in counseling and training emergency first responders. He hopes to guide clients towards being strong, present, and resilient.
David is currently the Clinical Director at Focus Psychological Services in San Diego. In therapy, he utilizes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Rapid Resolution Therapy (RRT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). He has conducted numerous critical incident stress debriefings and defusings following traumatic events.
He retired from law enforcement after 27 years at the rank of captain. He served as a reserve in the United States Marine Corps from 1984-1990.
He is a consultant with the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT), the San Diego District Attorney's Office, and the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS). He is also an adjunct professor at Miramar College instructing in-service officers. In those capacities, and through his private company, DGB Counseling and Consulting, David has trained hundreds of first responders on mental illness awareness, de-escalation techniques, and active listening skills.
You can email David directly at: davidbond.focus@gmail.com or send us a message.
Dr. Melissa Matuszak; Registered Psychological Associate
California Only
Dr. Melissa Matuszak, Ph.D., CCISM is an associate professor, researcher, and author with a doctorate in psychology and is a registered psychological associate (State of California, #PSB94026633) pursuing her psychologist license. A former forensic investigator, Dr. Matuszak holds a Certificate in Human Performance through the United States Sports Academy, a Certificate in Fundamental Neuroscience through Harvard University’s HarvardX, and Certificates in Psychology for High Performance Sports and Neurobiology & Sport Performance through FC Barça’s Innovation Hub. Dr. Matuszak is currently a student at the Trauma Research Foundation, obtaining her certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr. Matuszak holds her certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CCISM) through the University of Maryland and is a member of ICISF with a Certificate of Specialized Training in Emergency Services.
Dr. Matuszak is currently pursuing her CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) designation through the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), working underneath the supervision of Dr. Sean Swallen. This certification requires advanced educational and experiential knowledge in performance psychology and hundreds of hours working directly with athletes, tactical athletes, and performers.
Dr. Matuszak works with tactical athletes (at no cost) to identify and apply translational evidence-based performance research to facilitate peak performance, based upon a client’s specific goals, such as performance restoration (returning to a normal performance level) or performance enhancement (reaching a new level of professional performance consistently).
Dr. Matuszak can be reached at Dr.Matuszak@proton.me or (872) 678-1013, and can work with clients virtually from anywhere, or with clients in-person in Southern California.
Dr. Brooke Bartlett, Psychologist
California, Idaho, & Florida
Brooke Bartlett, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and the owner of Center for Trauma, Anxiety, and Stress (CTAS). She has over 10,000 hours of specialized training in the evidence-based treatment of posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and additional stressors at some of the most renowned institutions in the country. In addition to being a trauma specialist, Dr. Bartlett is highly specialized in working with first responders and military members. She spent several years as a clinician at VA hospitals across the country treating trauma-exposed combat veterans. She also spent over 5 years as an embedded clinician in one of the largest public safety departments in the U.S. During this time, she was on call 24/7 for critical incident response, provided consultation to command staff, assisted in developing suicide prevention and peer support programs, and held weekly therapy sessions with personnel and their family members. In addition to her clinical specialization, Dr. Bartlett also has an extensive research history examining mental health and resiliency among first responders and military veterans, with over 20 publications in scientific journals, a published book chapter, and numerous presentations at national and international conferences. Dr. Bartlett is a culturally competent clinician who is well-versed in the cultural and occupational demands of public safety and military service professions.
At CTAS, Dr. Bartlett provides services exclusively for first responders, military members, and their loved ones, including individual and couple therapy, clinical consultation, and assessment. Another major focus of her work is assisting public safety agencies in the development of effective mental wellness programs through peer support program development, wellness trainings, and critical incident response. Dr. Bartlett has the utmost respect and admiration for those who serve our communities, our citizens, and our nation, and she is honored to dedicate her professional efforts to serving those who serve others.