OUR SPEAKERS

CONOZCA A NUESTROS PONENTES, ENTRENADORES Y ASESORES

La siguiente es una lista actualizada de oradores, capacitadores y asesores que ayudan a iniciar el plan de estudios básico para los eventos de salud mental Minding the Badge ™.

Para obtener más información sobre el contenido específico de nuestra formación, visite el sección de formación de este sitio web.

Lisa M. King, MS, LPC-Intern, under the supervision of Sam Slaton, M.ED., LPC-S, MBA, MHSM

Lisa King has spent more than 25 years counseling with individuals from all walks of life in North America, Latin America, and Asia. She has a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with multiple specializations that include PTSD/trauma, codependency, depression, addiction, anxiety, abuse, and suicidal ideology.

Lisa is an expert in CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy), a trauma focused therapy that achieves significant success among first responders. Besides providing individual therapy services, Lisa facilitates two different 4-day Therapy Intensive Workshops at Santé Center for Healing: Mindful Transformation: Redefining your Trauma and Free To Be Me: Rescuing Yourself From Codependency. Both programs have been widely used by first responders and combat veterans with great success. 
Brian Simmons, MA, LPC, CH, Proveedor EMDR

Brian Simmons es un ex teniente de policía que comenzó su carrera en el Departamento de Policía de Dallas en 2000. La mayor parte de su permanencia allí la pasó trabajando en áreas de alto riesgo por narcóticos, prostitución, delitos contra la propiedad y delitos contra las personas. Más tarde se desempeñó como alguacil adjunto en la Oficina del Sheriff del condado de Kaufman, donde creó el Equipo de respuesta ante crisis de Kaufman Country. Aún conserva una Licencia de Oficial Maestro de Paz y una certificación de instructor TCOLE, junto con una Licenciatura en Ciencias Políticas e Historia de la Universidad Metodista del Sur y una Maestría en Consejería Profesional de la Universidad de Amberton.

Además de ser un proveedor de EMDR, también está certificado como un profesional de trauma familiar. Su experiencia policial lo impulsa con pasión a trabajar para mejorar los servicios de salud mental para los socorristas. Brian se especializa en simplificar la ciencia neurológica detrás de EMDR y lo que los capellanes, los equipos de apoyo entre pares y los líderes administrativos deben saber sobre su uso con los socorristas.
William "Billy" Mitchell, Instructor CISM / Apoyo entre pares, Departamento de Policía de Fort Worth

Billy Mitchell es un veterano de 28 años del Departamento de Policía de Fort Worth y ha operado como Coordinador de Apoyo de Compañeros allí desde 2009. Está certificado en Manejo de Estrés de Incidentes Críticos (CISM) a través de la Universidad de Maryland en el Condado de Baltimore (UMBC) y es un consultor de varias agencias policiales e instructor en Peer Support y CISM.

Billy también es el coordinador de la recién creada Red CISM de Primeros Respondedores de DFW que sirve como un recurso de cooperación y ayuda mutua para los equipos CISM en el área de DFW. Su trabajo conLos oficiales de policía y los bomberos de Texas han ayudado a las agencias a desarrollar programas de apoyo entre pares y CISM o afinar los existentes. Está motivado por la pasión por mejorar la salud mental de los socorristas y ayudarlos a ser más resistentes a las batallas de la mente.
Brent Parker, Assistant City Manager & Former Fire Chief, Wylie, Texas

Brent Parker has been a member of the fire service over 24 years. Formerly the Fire Chief for the City of Wylie, Brent now works as the Assistant City Manager. He earned a Master of Science degree in Fire and Emergency Management Administration from Oklahoma State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Human Resource Management from Columbia Southern University. 

Brent has shared his powerful presentation on post-traumatic stress at the Texas Fire Chiefs Executive Conference, the Texas Municipal League Annual Conference, the Texas Fire Chiefs Academy, and the TEEX Leadership Symposium.

Through his no-holds barred approach to speaking, he is committed to spreading the message, “It is okay not to be okay--we just can’t stay that way.”

Dr. Julie Merriman, PhD, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, CSC
Owner, Dragonfly Therapy Services and Institute, PLLC

Dr. Julie Merriman has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 1999 and is the owner/therapist of Dragonfly Therapy Services and Institute, PLLC, as well as the Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Counseling at Tarleton State University. Her passion is providing counseling and consulting support for first responders who give so much of themselves helping others. In 2007, Dr. Merriman developed an interest in the damage that Secondary Traumatic Stressors was having on those working in helping professions, ranging from counselors to medical professionals to first responders. Her extensive research has propelled her to become a leading therapist in this area.

Dr. Merriman has been happily married to a Texas State Trooper for 26 years, having dated for three years before tying the knot. She wholeheartedly supports her husband and his career. The family tradition lives on, as their youngest son, Blake, is a Fireman in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Charles Overstreet, Professor of Psychology & Department Chair, Tarrant County College, Fort Worth, Texas

Much of what we have learned about PTSD and the effective ways of treating it has come from what we have learned from fifteen years of combat in the middle east and its effect on our soldiers. Dr. Overstreet is a combat veteran who provided frontline therapy and treatment to soldiers in a therapy bunker in combat zones in the middle east. Long before PTSD became a household name, Dr. Overstreet was getting first-hand experience in its severest forms and symptoms. 

After decades of trial and error in understanding and treating PTSD, Dr. Overstreet shares his best advice to peer support groups facing the same battles on their own frontline.
Dr. Stephanie Thurston-Simmons, LPC, LSOTP, CH, EMDR Provider

Dr. Stephanie Thurston-Simmons obtained her PhD in Family Therapy, after completing her Master of Education in Professional Counseling with an emphasis in family systems and child/adolescent development, and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies with a minor in Psychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider, and a Licensed Deregistration Specialist. She is also a trauma expert, trained in EMDR and Certified as a Family Trauma Professional. She also provides psychosexual evaluations for pretrial and post-conviction cases, as well as expert court testimony in criminal and civil courts. 

Dr. Thurston-Simmons is an avid supporter of task forces for ceasing human sex trafficking, and, together with her husband, therapist Brian Simmons, designed the first certified training program for mental health professionals treating victims of sex trafficking & sex industry exploitation. Together, they worked in Iraq to free women and children from sex slavery.
Chris Moore, Capitán, Departamento de Bomberos de Chesapeake, Chesapeake, Virginia

Chris Moore ha sido miembro del Servicio de Bomberos durante más de 27 años. Actualmente es Capitán del Departamento de Bomberos de Chesapeake Virginia y ha estado en el departamento durante 20 años. Es un miembro activo del Equipo de Salud Mental / Apoyo de Compañeros de su departamento, donde es un defensor para ayudar a terminar con el estigma en torno a la salud mental en la comunidad de primeros auxilios.

Chris comparte su historia personal de esperanza y perseverancia para inspirar a otros, junto con soluciones que le han funcionado a él y a sus compañeros. Ha sido orador invitado en podcasts conocidos a nivel nacional y recientemente publicó un artículo en la revista Fire Engineering.

Gary Dietz, LPC Intern, LMFT, Associate ASAT, EMDR Trained, under the supervision of Dr. Russ Bartee LPCS LMFTS

Gary Dietz is a retired police officer who was so passionate about improving mental health for first responders, that he became a professional counselor after retirement. Gary obtained an MA from Liberty University and M.Div from George Fox University, before before becoming a professional counselor at Fort Worth Counseling and Intervention. 

Gary brings a diverse wealth of experience born out of three decades of helping people. That unique perspective shapes his philosophy of counseling which he sums up in the Greek word "Paraclete," which means, “called alongside.” This focus has shaped his desire to help others who are hurting. Gary's focus of training and expertise is treating porn and sex addiction, alcohol and substance abuse, post-traumatic issues, and marriage and family struggles. He treats adolescents, adults, couples, and families, with extensive experience with first responders. Gary is a vocal advocate for improving mental health services for first responders and brings real world experience from his own police career.
Renee Lozano, LCSW, EMDR Certified Therapist & EMDRIA Approved Consultant

Renee Lozano is a former juvenile correctional officer, police officer, and wife of a retired police officer. She holds a Bachelor in Behavioral Science from Hardin-Simmons University and a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington. Renee is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), certified in EMDR, and is an Approved Consultant for other EMDR trained clinicians who are seeking to become certified. Renee practices at Heritage Behavioral Health Center in Southlake, Texas, and her focus is on treating trauma survivors from the general population, as well as first responders. Renee was one of the first clinicians in North Texas to be trained in EMDR as early as 1997, less than a decade from its development.  

Renee provides mental health and critical incident response services for several law enforcement agencies including 26 years as a contracted Employee Assistance clinician for the Drug Enforcement Administration. She has received extensive training in the areas of adult survivors of childhood abuse, domestic violence, dysfunctional relationships/systems, and first responder culture and stressors. She’s also provided trauma response for other large employers such as Delta Airlines. These professional affiliations have enabled her to be of assistance after the Oklahoma City bombing, Hurricane Georges, Hurricane Rita, 9/11, and other DEA duty and non-duty related incidents.
Adrian Simmons, fundador y director ejecutivo de First Responders Mental Health Alliance ™

Adrian Simmonsfue criado por un padre que fue un ex policía y una madre que se retiró del campo de la salud mental; sin embargo, su pasión por la salud mental de los socorristas proviene principalmente desu propia batalla personal con el estrés postraumático, la depresión y el suicidio, después de que una serie de tragedias se llevaran la vida de su familia y varios amigos cercanos en un corto período de tiempo. Después de tres años luchando por la recuperación, se sintió llamado al “campo misionero” de los socorristas, abordando sus opciones limitadas para una salud mental efectiva enfocándose en el entrenamiento de resiliencia y recuperación, en lugar de una mera intervención de “último recurso”.


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