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
Texas Therapists
Kristi Carter Weil, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker
Kristi Carter Weil is a Licensed Master Social Worker (TX 103804) and retired police officer, now working as a therapist and instructor in Texas. Kristi met her husband on patrol over 20 years ago and has been a first responder spouse since 2004.
During her career as an officer, Kristi earned her Master Peace Officer Certification, Instructor Certification, and Mental Health Peace Officer Certification. Kristi also developed the mental health and crisis intervention training curriculums, and instructed officers and recruits on best practices for serving citizens in mental health crisis. Kristi was the police department’s first Mental Health Response Officer assigned to serve with a co-responding mental health professional and served on the Peer Support Team.
Through her personal experience with critical incidents and secondary trauma exposure during her 20-year career as a police officer, Kristi was inspired to launch a second career as a social worker to serve her community in a new capacity. Kristi earned her B.S. at TCU and her M.S.W. at UTA. Kristi is LGBTQ+ affirming and specializes in working with trauma survivors, people struggling with addiction, as well as first responders, and their spouses. She is trained in CISM, as well as EMDR and CPT therapies. Kristi provides trauma-informed, strengths-based interventions to help her clients achieve their goals.
Visit www.fwcg.org for more information or email Kristi at kristi@fwcg.
First Watch Consulting Group, LLC
682-344-9114 | kristi@fwcg.org | www.fwcg.org
Stephanie Miller, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
As a 10-year veteran, former Law Liaison, and certified Hostage Negotiator, Stephanie is uniquely familiar with the stress and trauma first responders and veterans encounter. She has spent her career specializing in complex trauma working with survivors of sexual assault and abuse, domestic violence, combat trauma, vicarious trauma, dissociative disorders, PTSD, self-harm, suicidal and homicidal ideation, and psychosis. Her passion is to create a safe space where individuals can begin to heal while walking alongside them in their journey. Her focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths through self-exploration and awareness in a neutral and safe space. Stephanie’s approach to treatment can best be summarized in the words of Maya Angelou, “I cannot change what happens to me, but I can choose to not be reduced by it.”
Stephanie’s background includes working in acute inpatient treatment centers for adults and adolescents, substance abuse treatment, group and individual therapy, court ordered treatment, and crisis intervention. Additionally, Stephanie has worked as a Victim Advocate for the United States Air Force for over 8 years helping survivors of military sexual trauma to recovery and find their voice. Stephanie holds bachelors degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice, and a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling. She is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Forensics and is in the final stages of completing a research study focused on exploring psychological impact on sexual trauma survivors who have support from a victim advocate. She is also trained to conduct testing and evaluation for Autism, ADHD, substance abuse, trauma, and several other areas of evaluation to provide robust and holistic assessment and treatment. She uses a combination of CBT, ART, ACT and psychoanalytic approaches to treat clients and incorporates mindfulness and meditation as well as psychoeducation to provide empirically based holistic treatment. Her areas of research interest include qualitative and quantitative work with first responders, veterans, sexual trauma survivors, and those with complex trauma to identify and advance alternative and holistic forms of treatment and healing. Stephanie is independently licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Arizona and Texas and currently pursuing licensure in Idaho.
Ashley Stakes, LPC-A
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate
Many first responders struggle to put on the uniform day in and day out; feeling helpless that the 911 system will never change plus the frustration of disconnection between dispatch, field, and administration only feeds the discontent. There are so many things we can't control: calls, call volume, and sometimes whether the patient lives or dies. Its no wonder first responders have some of the highest burnout rates. I know this first-hand because I burned out of EMS. All the way out. I am here now as a counselor to help first responders manage and treat the feelings of burnout to increase longevity in the profession. I don't only work with first responders, I also have a passion for veterans, recovering addicts, and anyone who wants to improve their relationship with themselves. Life is too short to be at war with your mind any longer and everyone deserves inner peace. If any of this speaks to you, please give me a call. I have plenty of openings as well as plenty of contacts to direct you to the right clinician if I discover we are not the right fit.
Mica Istre, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Maria “Mica” Salazar Istre graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with her Master’s in Counselor Education. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Maria has a heart for helping people overcome the obstacles, traumas, and patterns that continue to hold them back from living life to the fullest. As a veteran Marine spouse and family member of law enforcement officers, she understands the unique culture of veterans and first responders. She is a Certified First Responder Counselor (CFRC) and strives to provide the highest quality of care to those who serve our community.
Through her work at a sexual assault center, she has gained clinical experience providing bilingual counseling services to Latinx victims. She has dedicated her time as a counselor in serving the highly marginalized and systemically oppressed in various clinical settings. As a Las Vegas native and child of immigrant parents, Maria is passionate about bridging the gap for ethnic and linguistic minorities in the Acadiana Area. It is this passion that led her to open Tree of Life Counseling and Consulting, the only multiculturally focused group counseling practice in the region.
Maria's specialties include trauma recovery (PTSD and Complex Trauma) for events such as sexual assault, childhood abuse, combat trauma, etc. She has received over 200 hours of trauma training throughout my years as a counselor and approaches counseling through a trauma-informed lens. Maria is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET), Trauma Resolution Therapy (TRT), and has received training from Ashland Theological Seminary in Formational Prayer (Inner Healing). She is currently working towards her EMDR certification, which adheres to EMDRIA's highest level of care and expertise, and is an evidence-based and highly effective trauma treatment.
Maria accepts BCBS, Aetna, UHC, UMR, Humana, and Tricare (OON) insurances. She is licensed in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, and Florida. To schedule an appointment call (337) 703-2806 or email info@treeoflifecoun.com.
Dr. Brooke Bartlett, Psychologist
PSYPACT Psychologist
Brooke Bartlett, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and owner of Center for Trauma, Anxiety, and Stress Inc. (CTAS). A nationally recognized trauma specialist, Dr. Bartlett is also a highly specialized first responder and military psychologist with over 10 years of hands-on training and experience providing a wide range of culturally competent mental health services. She has an extensive research history examining first responder and military metal health, with over 20 scientific publications, dozens of national and international conference presentations, and a published book chapter. In addition to her clinical and research work, Dr. Bartlett is frequently featured in a variety of first responder-focused media outlets, including CRACKYL Magazine, industry podcasts, and more. Driven by a deep passion for serving those who serve others, Dr. Bartlett founded CTAS to deliver comprehensive evidence-based services that are accessible, effective, and rooted in cultural competence. She is available to provide culturally competent therapy to first responders in 42 states.
-All states except: Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico, Louisiana, Iowa, New York, & Massachusetts