Our Staff

Joel is the Chief Executive Officer of First Responder Wellness and has over a decade of experience in the Behavioral Health space. He started his career as a Case Manager and quickly found a niche for integrating experiential and outdoor education into his clinical work. He created Adventure Programming for Extended Care programs and integrated outcome measures to validate the success of utilizing the outdoors to enhance clinical care.

He has grown professionally having different roles throughout organizations including clinical, business development and marketing, compliance, and Executive Level Management. Joel has successfully guided programs through the CARF and Joint Commission Accreditation process as well as State level licensing and certifications. Along the way, he integrated his education in business and clinics to grow programs and utilize outcomes measures to guide that growth. Joel has a passion for clinical and experiential-driven programs. He believes that quality outcomes data collection help guide staff in creating extraordinary programs ultimately leading to successful clinical outcomes for clients.

Joel has a BS in Business and Marketing from California State University-San Luis Obispo as well as a certificate from Saddleback College in Mission Viejo for Human Services.

Dr. Stephen Odom is a notable healthcare and addiction treatment professional with more than 30 years of expertise in the field. He is the founder and Chief Clinical Officer of First Responder Wellness.

He possesses an educational background in organizational behavior, clinical psychology and healthcare administration. This valuable combination allows him to integrate current research knowledge, clinical and administrative practice understanding, and practical, directly relevant experience. Dr. Odom holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior from Covenant College, a Master’s in Experimental Psychology (University of Tennessee), a Master’s in Clinical Psychology (Palo Alto University), and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) with a focus in Healthcare Administration (Capella University). He is also a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of California.

Dr. Odom has served in multiple roles during his career, including CEO & Chief Clinical Officer of New Vista Behavioral Health, a Director’s post of Program Development for CRC Health and multiple Administrative and Clinical Director posts at various behavioral health and chemical dependency treatment centers and hospitals in California, including Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and El Camino Hospital in the San Francisco Bay area. Moreover, Stephen served as a university adjunct faculty member in Psychology and Child Development and continues to work in private practice. Dr. Odom has been coined as a wellness and behavioral health expert with peer-reviewed articles published on mental health, substance abuse and technology; was presented the national Behavioral Health Champion award in 2018; has appeared on The Today Show; the 2016 documentary film California High, and multiple print, radio, and podcast media channels.

Dr. Odom’s focus on First Responder Wellness was born of his family’s career backgrounds with the military, healthcare, law enforcement and public safety, and was honed as he created and led specialty programs for physicians, nurses, first responders and their families. In his distinguished and extensive career in behavioral health and addiction treatment, Dr. Odom’s empathetic and therapeutic approach has allowed him to connect not only with his clinical teams but each first responder who walks through the door.

Devin is the Chief Development Officer and is responsible for the strategic direction of First Responder Wellness. He formulates both short and long term goals to further the overall mission of our organization. Devin comes to us with a tremendous amount of experience in the behavioral health field after founding a residential mental health primary facility. Having achieved long term sobriety since 2010, he now finds a passion for helping others with substance abuse and mental health issues. Devin was drawn to our mission to help First Responders after experiencing first hand several family members that have suffered from post-traumatic stress and alcoholism due to public safety employment.

Michael started working in the substance abuse field approximately 10 years ago. Possessing a B.A in Management from Gettysburg College and a Master’s Degree from New York University, Michael is able to provide the First Responder Wellness team with the proper support and guidance needed to help make it a premier provider of substance abuse treatment. Michael also brings qualities of understanding, compassion, and empathy that are integral in creating an environment of care that is supportive and conducive to working on long-term recovery. Michael has successfully opened and developed substance abuse treatment facilities throughout the Southwest including Texas, Nevada, and Southern California and draws upon these experiences to help strengthen and improve the overall services that First Responder Wellness provides its clients. In his free time, Michael enjoys exploring all that Southern California has to offer with his wife Mary, son Cameron and their dogs Bodhi and Rudy. Michael is also an avid fisherman and enjoys rooting on his beloved New York Rangers, Giants, and Yankees.

Chris joined the First Responder Wellness team in 2014, and is currently the Program Supervisor. His position focuses exclusively on education, counseling interventions, and is a co facilitator of the First Responder Family Program. Chris also oversees the day to day operations of the program and is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC-II). Chris has worked with adolescents, adults, military veterans, first responders and families and held positions as a case manager, counselor, crisis interventionist, residential program manager and currently program supervisor. After battling his own alcoholism and addiction for over 15 years, Chris became sober in February 2006. Seeing the benefits of his own recovery and new outlook on life, he began helping others find themselves and see there is truly a better way to live life. Since entering the field of addiction counseling in 2008, Chris furthered his education as a certified drug and alcohol counselor, certified first responder associate counselor and has become an invaluable member of our team.

Tiffany Atalla is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of professional experience. Her extensive background makes her a culturally competent clinician for First Responders. Tiffany’s role at First Responder Wellness is to provide trauma treatment and education providing EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Training and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

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, The Counseling Team International and 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 mental health and dual diagnosis treatment programs.

Her genuine understanding for First Responders and their 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.

Tiffany 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 clients heal at First Responder Wellness.

Dr. Meghan Marcum is a board-certified clinical psychologist and serves as Chief Psychologist for First Responder Wellness. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Arizona State University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She completed her pre and post-doctoral training in the specialty field of chemical dependency and has also achieved specialized training in treating traumatic disorders with eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Dr. Marcum previously worked in the Neurosciences Institute at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California where she continues to hold privileges.

Rose Maynard is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. She is a Doctoral student at Alliant International University. She received an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliant International University, and a BA in Psychology from Vanguard University. Rose is trained in trauma specific modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Rose comes from a family with a long history of military service and has focused her research efforts on military, first responders, and their families. She is passionate about her work with those seeking healing from their past experiences. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Rose worked for over a decade as a massage therapist and massage instructor. It is with this knowledge of the mind-body connection that she utilizes somatic/body techniques to aid in the healing processes.

Rose works from a place of respect, empathy, and transparency. She views her clients’ trust as a genuine privilege to be able to share in their experiences. She is honored to help first responders gain a deeper understanding of who they are and improve their relationship with themselves and those around them.

Kendal is an associate professional clinical counselor with a range of field experience in working with families and individuals. She first received her BA, in Social Work, from Cal State Long Beach and spent years working with children and adolescents involved with juvenile probation and child protective services. She went on to receive training for crisis response teams and hotline support for sexual assault victims and domestic violence crisis intervention. She spent time working with several police agencies for crisis intervention and worked directly with those affected as victims of crime struggling in the criminal justice system. Kendal spent another decade working directly as a first responder in the field, while completing her Masters degree. Kendal received her MA in Psychology, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2022 and found her way to First Responder Wellness through a series of fortunate events. She is honored to be part of the cultural shift in normalizing first responder mental health needs and care.  

Alena Schuss is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, and she is a Doctoral student at Hope International University. She received an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University, a BS in Business Administration, and a BS in Exercise Sports Science from the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. She also studied Psychology and Sports at the University of Vienna, Austria. Alena is trained in trauma-specific modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Alena is originally from Austria and moved in 2017 through an athletic scholarship to the US. Throughout her doctoral studies, she has focused her research efforts on the military, first responders, and the unique challenges this population encounters on a daily basis. She is passionate about her work with those seeking healing from their past experiences. Prior to becoming a psychotherapist, Alena was a professional triathlete and was traveling through Europe to compete at the highest level. Therefore, she understands the physical and psychological stress from her participation as a professional triathlete in Austria for several years before moving to America.

Alena stands out because of her unmistakable focus on this population, her passion for the work, and her developing expertise in the field as she continues edification through a Doctorate at Hope International University. She is honored to help first responders gain a deeper understanding of who they are and improve their relationship with themselves and those around them. 

Sean comes from a law enforcement family. His father is a retired Lieutenant, and his stepmother is a former Chief of Police. Sean comes to First Responder Wellness after serving 21 years as a police officer in Orange County, California. Sean worked in various assignments during his tenure as an officer and sergeant. These assignments included Gangs, Field Training Officer, Terrorism Liaison Officer, and Field Training Coordinator. Sean’s final position was supervising the Professional Standards Division (PSD) as a Sergeant and eventually as Acting Division Commander just before retiring. In PSD, he learned the challenges of recruiting and retaining qualified employees.

Sean is a California POST-certified instructor who instructed in various subjects for his agency, including Emergency Driving, Arrest, and Control. Sean has served as faculty at the Golden West College Police Academy as an Arrest and Control Instructor. Sean also worked as adjunct faculty for the Golden West College Criminal Justice Department and as faculty in Criminal Justice for Chapman University at Brandman.

In 2007, Sean was investigating a traffic collision when a motor vehicle struck him, resulting in a near-fatal event. After a couple of surgeries and a year of physical therapy, he was able to return to full duty. While Sean’s body was ready, the psychological impact of a near-fatal event was ignored. When Sean retired, he decided to address his mental health and wellness. During his treatment program, Sean realized he could still actively support his partners in a different capacity, therapeutically. Sean immediately returned to school, obtaining his Master’s in Clinical Counseling. Sean looks forward to this new opportunity.

Michael joined First Responder Wellness in 2020 and is currently the Client Care Manager. In this role he is often the client’s first contact with our program and he works closely with our team of team case managers, therapists and treatment team. His team ensures each client is provided with information during orientation to guide them through their first few days, and that clients are also provided with resources to help with their continued success as they transition after program completion. Michael and his team also with return-to-work, workers’ comp, FMLA and other leave of absences, and with our alumni program and outreach.

Michael C. Koch is a former police officer and holds a Bachelor of Science from San Diego State University in Criminal Justice Administration, and he is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC-II). Michael spent 19 years serving the public as a police officer and undercover narcotics detective. He knows what life and death look like, and saw what addiction and untreated mental health issues can do to a person’s life. Michael understands first-dand the culture of being a first responder and experiencing post-traumatic stress, addiction and the stigma surrounding asking for help, and has since dedicated his life to assisting first responders.

In 2012, his career as a police officer ended and his life helping those dealing with substance abuse dependence began. Michael has worked as a counselor for drug and alcohol programs and intensive outpatient (IOP) facilities in the City of San Diego and was program director of a San Diego drug and alcohol detox.

In 2017 Michael became the founder of the First Responder Fellowship in San Diego North County, a confidential 12-step/peer-based recovery group that is open to all first responders and meets once a week. With the goal of reaching out to first responders, Michael started a podcast in 2018 named Positive Connections Radio. This podcast is designed to help break the stigma of mental health issues among first responders and to connect those suffering in silence with confidential help.

Additionally, Michael is a speaker at the San Diego Police Academy, SDPD wellness program, San Diego Fire Department, panel member for the GTA POST Management Course, SDDA Supervisor Investigations, PDATF Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force, and he provides peer support for many first responder agencies.

Scott is a retired Sergeant who spent 23 years in a variety of assignments that included working as a gang & narcotics detective, field training officer, task force officer working meth labs, detective corporal working crimes persons/property, and working as a Patrol Sergeant until his retirement. Prior to law enforcement, he spent 12 years in the Marine Corps where he was an Infantry Platoon Sgt. During Scott’s law enforcement career, he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology.

During Scott’s law enforcement career, he personally experienced many critical incidents, that included Officer Involved shootings and more tragically the loss of a fellow police officer murdered a result of a shooting and another to a suicide. Early in his career he was involved in a shooting and at the time, he realized he didn’t have the resources to address the cumulative negative effects of trauma to our first responders. Several years later, the idea of “peer support” and “culturally competent” therapists and counselors to help address these issues came alive.

Another officer and Scott, along with the support of their department, put together their peer support team and the healing began. With the resources now available, they were able to address trauma issues through critical incident debriefs, referrals to culturally competent therapists, as well as internal support by the peer support members themselves.

Scott’s passion for working with both veterans and first responders with substance abuse and mental health issues, brought him to First Responder Wellness.

Rich Flores is a CAADE certified CATC II who has been working passionately for his clients as a Counselor/Case Manager since 2019. Rich earned certification as a drug and alcohol counselor with the state of CA through Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Additionally, holds certification as a LADC in the state of Minnesota. His journey into recovery began in 2004 when an intervention facilitated the beginnings of “a psychic change.”  

Rich has a true passion for group facilitation and prides himself in the art of active listening – reflection of words, thoughts, emotions, feelings and concise, empathetic paraphrasing. He believes we all need help and support at some point in our lives and views an opportunity to be a part of helping someone discover and better themselves a truly fulfilling gift. 

“Substance use is perhaps often times the only perceived solution for an individual, posturing as the problem. But, can we courageously and with open minded curiosity explore the real reasons why we destroy ourselves and others in our wake?”

Adam Hall has been working in the Workers’ Compensation field and in claims since 2010. Dealing with disability claims and helping people to get the treatment and recovery they need. Adam was born and raised in California and obtained his Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Communication from California State University- Long Beach. In his free time, Adam enjoys playing with his daughter, watching cheesy movies, and going to the beach.

Adam chose to work at First Responder Wellness because he likes the culture and wants to see clients’ get the recovery and treatment they need and to put a smile on people’s faces.

Alex Vernon has been working in the recovery field for over 7 years and has been with First Responder Wellness for 4 years having worked as an Operations Supervisor, Neurofeedback Specialist and now as a Client Care Specialist. Alex was raised on the east coast and worked in EMS in New York City before his own personal journey in recovery took him to Southern California. Alex obtained his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State University Fullerton and is currently working towards this MA degree in Counseling Psychology at National University. In his free time, Alex enjoys hiking, reading, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and riding his motorcycle.

Alex chose to work at First Responder Wellness because he wanted to work with a company that puts clients’ needs ahead of itself and always asks, “What’s in the best interest of our clients”. Alex has found that here at First Responder Wellness.

Dr. Alva is the Medical Director for First Responder Wellness. Dr. Alva is also the CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Pacific Neuropsychiatric Specialists. A single specialty medical group which focuses not only on psychiatric disorders but also on dual diagnosis conditions, which include alcohol and chemical dependence.

Prior to becoming the Medical Director for First Responder Wellness, Dr. Alva was involved in multiple endeavors including detoxification and rehabilitation work both inpatient and outpatient including the VA Medical Center In Long Beach, Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, Chapman Medical Center in Orange, and multiple rehabilitation centers.

Dr. Alva’s focus is on the latest treatments available for psychiatric and chemical dependency. Dr. Alva has over 20 years of experience in serving the medical community in various capacities; as a patient advocate, clinician, researcher and medical director.

Dr. Alva is a member of multiple professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Orange County Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the California Psychiatric Association, the American Board of Forensic Medicine, the American College of Forensic Examiners, the American Board of Psychopharmacology, the California Hispanic American Medical Association, the New York Academy of Science, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Association of Hispanic professionals.

Shantel joined First Responder Wellness in 2021 after doing her psychotherapy rotation with the clinical team; she fell in love with the program and the “magic” that is done here. She was brought on as the Director of Nursing in which she oversees the day-to-day nursing operations of our program. She began her career as an EMT with McCormick Ambulance where she ran 911 calls alongside Los Angeles County Fire Department. Loving the adrenaline, she then began her nursing career 15 years ago as an Emergency Room Registered Nurse where she gained most of her experience; after two decades of emergency and trauma experience, she then shifted to EMS where she worked as the Division VI Nurse Educator for Los Angeles County Fire Department. Here is where she found her niche and realized her passion was to help the men and women who selflessly help others. She later obtained a bachelor’s degree in nursing which furthered her knowledge in research, health promotion, safety, and quality. Her understanding of first responders not only stems from her professional career, but her personal life as well; she comes from a first responder family. She recently graduated, obtaining her master’s in nursing where she completed her degree as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She is excited to continue helping our uniformed personnel with substance abuse and/or mental health disorders.

Sheena Patel, PA-C is a Physician Assistant for First Responder Wellness and has over a dozen years of experience in the medical field. She received her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of California in Irvine and graduated from Long Island University Physician Assistant Program medical school in 2010. Ms. Patel enjoys working with our patients and improving their quality of life by treating a wide variety of mental health issues including PTSD, Insomnia, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Alcohol and Chemical Dependency.

Andrew Johnson, MMS, PA-C is a Physician Assistant for First Responder Wellness. Andrew works in psychiatric and addiction medicine and has a passion for working with first responders. He received his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Prior to becoming a PA, Andrew served San Diego County as an EMT. He later went on to complete his master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Chapman University. Andrew has used his experience as a first responder to connect with his patients and help address any mental health or chemical dependency concerns.

Shannon comes to First Responder Wellness with almost 10 years of working in the field of substance abuse and mental health treatment. She has spent the last 9 years working with clients and families across the nation navigating the waters of mental health and substance abuse. Shannon brings her passion for wellness to those who struggle with addiction, trauma and other co-occurring disorders. Shannon has devoted much of her time to nonprofits, has helped to create family programs and worked for other nationally recognized facilities.

Working for Juvenile Justice in the early 90’s Shannon spent the early part of her career working with juvenile youth offenders. Working with inmates prior to their parole Shannon helped with structuring inmate days, oversaw the work experience program provided within the jail, family reunification building and assisted daily living skills. Moving into an entirely different field after corrections Shannon spent two decades as the Owner and Director of an Early Childhood Enrichment Program on the Central Coast before coming to Orange County. As the mother of five children and 2 grandsons and her first granddaughter she truly knows the joys of a healed family and makes it her mission to give away what was so freely given to her.

Jef Albach studied Psychology at Maryville University in his hometown of St. Louis Missouri. Jef began working in treatment in 2015 starting on the operations side before moving on to do intake assessments and utilization reviews. Outside of work Jef enjoys spending time with his growing family, going to baseball games, and collecting vinyl records.

Jillian comes to First Responder Wellness with years of experience working with the mental health care industry. She has earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus of business, management, marketing and related support services from California Baptist University. With many law enforcement and military personnel in her family, Jillian has a passion for helping our first responders find their way back to a healthy lifestyle and to get them the help that they need.

Katie comes to First Responder Wellness through a deeply rooted passion to help others. Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and as a self-proclaimed “Neuro Nerd”, she has achieved advanced training and licensing through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance in Neurofeedback.

While practicing neurofeedback, Katie realized she not only loves building stronger, healthier brains, but that she also loves building stronger businesses. Around this same time Katie also realized she had fallen in love with her future husband, who happens to be a career firefighter.

As Katie continued on her journey in business and brain health, always on the lookout for a new opportunity, she started to wonder if there might be an opportunity to help first responders. It was through this curiosity that a new passion was born.

Drawing on her professional experience and her passion for brain health, while leaning into her intimate understanding of the “lifestyle”, Katie now dedicates her work to collaborating, partnering, and educating department leaders to build better, stronger departments, a more resilient workforce, and healthier, happier first responder families.

Jeff McGreevy is a Public Safety Advocate for First Responder Wellness. Jeff joined the United States Marine Corps when he was just 17 and began his law enforcement career at 21. He retired in 2020 as a Sergeant from the Oxnard Police Department with 29-years of service. He worked several challenging assignments including patrol, field training officer, community policing, Special Enforcement Unit, SWAT team member for 10 years, and he also worked as a K-9 handler with a cross-trained patrol/explosive detection K-9. He spent a short time on an FBI Gang Task Force and was a Detective working gang and robbery cases. As a Sergeant, he supervised the Neighborhood Policing Team and coordinated his departments Crisis Intervention Team and Peer Support Programs.

Jeff has been involved in officer wellness since 2004 when he was recruited to be a founding member of his department’s trauma support team which later evolved into peer support. Jeff has extensive training and experience in debriefing personnel after traumatic events, Critical Incident Stress Management, coordinating peer support response after critical incidents, and was an instructor for Tactical Decision Making Under Stress training. Jeff leads the Ventura County Peer Support Coalition which brings together all Police, Fire, and EMS agencies together quarterly. Because of his expertise in peer support, he was invited to be a member of the CA P.O.S.T. Organizational Wellness Committee. He also has experience having worked for a nonprofit that provided confidential trauma-informed counseling for first responders and their families prior to joining the team at First Responder Wellness.

Judy is a Public Safety Advocate for First Responder Wellness. Having worked for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for 40 years she has seen firsthand the need for culturally competent, mental health and substance abuse treatment specifically for first responders. Judy is also the current Chief of System Security and Law Enforcement for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro). She retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after 40 years in 2020 at the rank of Commander assigned to Special Operations Division. Her duties included oversight of the Emergency Operations Bureau, the Special Enforcement Bureau, including SWAT, K9, and HazMat, the Transit Services Bureau, the Aero Bureau, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau, and the Joint Regional Intelligence Center, as well as Budget and Personnel responsibilities for the Special Operations Division.

Judy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master of Arts Degree from Chapman University. She is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy (FBINA) and the Cornell University Leadership Development Program. She is recognized as a National Collegiate Scholar for Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. Judy is an active member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy Associates (FBINAA), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and the Fraternal Order of Police. Judy comes from a family of law enforcement. She has a brother who is a retired LASD Lieutenant, another brother who is a retired Compton Police Department Lieutenant and her sister is a retired LASD Sergeant. Judy also has three adult children and a new granddaughter. In her spare time, Judy enjoys traveling, reading, and the company of great friends and family.

Patrick McCurdy has a long-standing passion for helping others, especially for serving those that courageously go into harm’s way to serve others. He grew up in a public safety family. His grandmother was a nurse, and his father, mother, uncle, brother, and wife all served in Law Enforcement.

Patrick grew up in California and his first job was in corrections before he moved to Seattle as a Deputy for the Sheriff’s Office. In his 32 Year career he served in patrol operations, FTO & MPO, was a trainer at the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy, was in a bicycle patrol squad, and in the counter-terrorism team. Patrick also served as a Sergeant in patrol and as the Sergeant of several specialty teams, including metro transit, counter terrorism, explosive detection K9’s, and a special emphasis undercover team.

Patrick saw the toll that exposure to critical incidents and trauma had on his own family as he grew up. His first experience with a line-of-duty death occurred before he was even working in law enforcement, when a patrol officer assigned to work for his father’s squad was murdered on the same street where Patrick and his family lived. Over the years, Patrick lost numerous close friends to the violence, accidents, depression, and addiction that occurred in or because of the job.

Though he had taught officer survival skills for many years, Patrick quickly realized that tactical, physical, and legal survival were only pieces of the whole puzzle, and the most important piece, emotional survival, was missing. The once ‘invincible warrior’ began to realize that he had significant gaping holes in his own armor that were having a negative impact on him and his family and that he wasn’t actually ‘invincible’ after all.

Patrick became a member of the Sheriff’s Office Peer Support Team as a peer support counselor, critical incident debriefer, trainer, program developer and team leader. He assisted debriefing other police and fire departments after significant critical events throughout the region and helped numerous agencies to develop training and programs to provide peer support to their departments. Patrick continues to volunteer as a lead peer, trainer, and peer support counselor at retreats for police officers and firefighters battling against PTSD/ PTSI, and also helps to build effective teams and policies nationally.

Patrick retired in 2022 and lives in the Seattle area with his beautiful wife and three awesome children. Patrick is thrilled to join the team at First Responder Wellness to help others move through the fog of trauma to a clearer place where they can live in light once again, instead of darkness.

Melinda is a Public Safety Advocate for First Responder Wellness. She recently retired from the Oakland (CA) Fire Department after serving the city for 24 years as their Deputy Chief of Support Services which oversaw the fire communications center. Melinda holds a bachelor’s degree in Personality Psychology from UC Santa Cruz and a master’s degree in Sport Psychology from John F. Kennedy University and is a graduate of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute. The newly imagined MACRO program which stands for Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland was also under her command. This new program has teams of responders who handle non-emergent and non-violent calls for service related to mental and behavioral health and quality of life incidents. First responder behavioral health is a deep passion of hers. She has not only been an active CISM and peer support member but eventually oversaw Oakland Fire’s teams and secured substantial funding for the bi-annual budget to be devoted to prevention, education and treatment for firefighters and dispatchers. Being able to join this team to help heal our frontline first responders has allowed her to stay connected during retirement and allows her to give back to a career that gave her so much.

Lisa has been practicing yoga since the age of 9 which began with the classical tradition of Ashtanga Yoga. She is certified in numerous styles of yoga: Hatha, Power Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Restorative, Yin, and Kundalini Yoga. She is a 500-Hour Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and is a Continuing Education Provider for Yoga Alliance. She has certifications in yoga therapy, chakra therapeutics, bodywork, and reiki in addition to a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She is also an experienced meditation teacher and sound healer. She is passionate about wellness and the use of multiple styles of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation to help facilitate healing and growth.

Art Therapy to Carolyn is a way of exploring life’s situations from a creative perspective. There is so much expression, emotion, and satisfaction that is the result of ‘artistic’ works. She has degrees in both psychology and fine art so it was only natural to combine them in this field. Her personal specialty is painting; watercolor, acrylic, and oil—landscapes, animal portraits, still life, and abstracts. Carolyn believes that some form of artistic expression, painting, collage, vision boards, or other right-brain creations is important for everyone.

She has found that in the various projects that we create with clients, each one is set free to explore the assignment from their personal viewpoint. It helps in understanding where we are today and thinking positively about the future.

Carolyn also has a business background, having been involved in the technology with Apple computers in the early days and other ventures in Silicon Valley. She also has a fond love of the wine country where I spent most of my life raising her children and extracting the beauty from the environment that inspires so many of my paintings. All of these environments, and experiences have well positioned her to share with my clients the benefits of expression, self-exploration, creativity, and individualism through art in its many forms.

Candice began her yoga journey in 2007 after years of searching for ways to get more flexible in a non-flexible body. After a few months of consistent practice, she began to notice a shift in not only how her body began to open up, but also how she felt physically and mentally. Yoga became a much deeper form of practice for her – offering relief from chronic pain due to autoimmune issues, as well as high stress and anxiety. Candice is a certified Vinyasa and Hatha yoga instructor and has well over ten years of teaching group classes, as well as coaching and leading a variety of programs, such as yoga teacher training, boot camp, and seasonal wellness cleanse programs. Years before becoming a yoga instructor, Candice studied Criminal Justice while working as a police cadet in Santa Monica, California. From there, she gained a greater understanding and appreciation for the work of the sworn and non-sworn officers – the physical and mental demands. Candice truly believes that yoga is an important element to help bring balance back into their lives. When Candice teaches a class, her intention is always to lead a nurturing yet powerful yoga class that blends her love of movement and ability to inspire through words. She aspires to have her students step off their mat feeling refreshed, nourished, and balanced.

Michael Davis is a neurofeedback technician at First Responder Wellness. Previously he had worked in sports medicine holding positions in physical therapy. Michael’s initial ambitions rested in sports science as he was fairly athletic growing up. He was raised on the east coast where he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware in Exercise and Sports Science along with a minor in biology. Michael eventually moved to southern California where he continued his education earning his master’s in Kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton. After working one on one with physical therapy clients, he soon found his passion for helping people extended into the mental realm as well. His professional career shifted course and he is now earning his master’s in counseling psychology from Fullerton. Michael is married and recently saw the birth of his first son. In his free time, Michael enjoys being outside with his two dogs, hiking, reading, movies, sports, and exercising.

Kimberly is an integrative life mentor who coaches top CEOs, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and world-class athletes around the world. She helps them accelerate and thrive, through mental focus, emotional fitness, and physical training. Her approach is perfect for people looking for more than just standard life coaching, in order to excel at the maximum level of their ability. Kimberly Lou’s own story was one of addiction, eating disorders, and professional and personal burnout. But she changed the story of her life and believes that every person has the same ability to take control of their own story. As a result of her success, Kimberly has appeared on E! Entertainment, MTV, HBO, ESPN, MSNBC, and ShowTime, among many others. But her greatest joy in life is acting silly with her daughter, Summer.

Carol Thompson is an Equine Specialist certified with EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) and she works in conjunction with the Equine Assisted Psychotherapist and horses to facilitate experiential group treatment for the clients at First Responder Wellness. Carol has over 40 years of professional experience working with horses and people. Carol’s background also includes years of working with the school district in Riverside County, working as a Flight Attendant, and riding on the Mounted Posse for Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in Temecula for 12 years.

Carol has worked with: First Responder Spouse and Trauma Retreats, dual diagnosis programs from various treatment centers in Southern California, corporate wellness team building events, and teen empowerment groups. Carol cares deeply about people and loves to share the healing benefits of her “Healing T Ranch,” and the horse’s behavioral interactions with humans that highlight both personal strengths and areas for improvement. Healing T Ranch has been passed down through her family for generations. With her grandchildren being the 7th generation to live on the land. She comes from a family of veterans and first responders and therefore providing service and care is close to her heart.

Christine brings over 25 years of Human Resource management experience into the substance abuse field where she has worked for over seven years. Educated at Citrus College and California State University, Dominguez Hills majoring in Business and Human Resources management. Christine also holds several HRMGMT and HRBP certificates.

With expertise in all facets of Human Resource and personnel management, as well as a personal empathy for first responders having family in various uniforms, Christine supports all of the staff at every level throughout the entire organization to better serve our first responder clients. Away from work, Christine enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and cooking.

With a passion for helping others, Nicole brings over 25 years of marketing and communications expertise from her past work in benefits administration, workers’ compensation, employee assistance programs, and specialized work with mental health and substance abuse treatment. With deep knowledge in understanding the family dynamics of mental health issues, she brings her caring insights with her current work at the Vice President of Marketing with First Responder Wellness. She describes this exciting new journey as a gift and feels that her past work has led her to continue her contributions to support the first responder community. Nicole has a BA in Business Administration with a specialization in Human Resources and Labor Law from California State University Fullerton. She has numerous continuing education certificates in digital marketing and has been a past volunteer with the American Red Cross.

Julie started her career in law enforcement in 2004 with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. She medically retired after a bad, on-duty traffic collision and after a long recovery, she represented deputy sheriffs at the Association for Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriffs (ALADS) and the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs (AOCDS), in disciplinary actions and negotiating their policies and salary and benefit contracts for over 10 years.

Julie has a passion for advocating on behalf of First Responders and is dedicated to serving them. She is excited to join the First Responder Wellness Team as the Corporate Project Manager.

Michelle is the Administrative Assistant for First Responder Wellness. She assists the business development team in conference coordination, organizing travel for executives, and with day-to-day tasks. Michelle’s understanding of First Responders comes from her own experience, as her husband is LAPD, and is very passionate about working with our First Responders.

Brian is currently a Project Specialist for First Responder Wellness and brings with him Operational Management experience within the First Responder/Veteran nonprofit arena. Brian is a US Army Veteran, having served during the Gulf War era and retired from the Los Angeles Police Department. After more than three decades of service and his own personal journey of healing his own C-PTS through emotional wellness and meditation, Brian is deeply passionate and determined to continue paying it forward to the First Responder Community and what he has learned through embracing vulnerability and being of service to others.

Eric joined First Responder as a Project Specialist and brings years of experience working in the behavioral health field and managing health care plans. His education consists of a Master’s in Business from the University of Redlands and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Cal State San Bernardino. He has a passion for promoting community events focused on mental health. Many of Eric’s closest friends work in a variety of first responder departments: from intensive care nurses to fire, all of whom assisted in his journey to join First Responder Wellness, providing him an opportunity to help those who serve.

Bey is a Canine Companions expertly trained facility dog, that works with Tiffany Atalla MFT at First Responder Wellness.

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 a 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.

Although lacking actual clinical qualifications, Lola more than makes up for it with her pure joyous heart and gift of being happy to see absolutely everyone that she meets. Lola comes from a long line of very good sitters and prides herself with exceptional sitting and shaking capabilities. When Lola is not busy at work roaming the hallways and administering snuggles and licks, she likes to spend her free-time tormenting her big brother Monkey and doing zoomies up and down her parents hallway.

​Reagan is a 2-year-old lab mix born September 18, 2020. He completed his certification training through the Stars and Stripes Service and Therapy Dog Training Program. He is a fun-loving boy who loves to play ball, give kisses, and get belly rubs. Reagan has a gentle way when interacting with the staff and clients, and proudly wears his vest when he shows up for work at First Responder Wellness.