Biographies

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Laurel Andres LMFT
MFT #27651
2222 East Cliff Drive 204
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831.475.3459
landreslmft@icloud.com

Laurel Andres began running groups 35 years ago at the time of the central coast floods. She coordinated and facilitated emergency mental health services for the Marina District in San Francisco during the aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake and has since debriefed and counseled numerous companies, work groups, first responder communities, individuals and families following acute disasters and periods of long-term stress. She has completed advanced training in multi-modal approaches to Critical Incident Management, high conflict mediation and organizational excellence. She maintains a private psychotherapy practice specializing in trauma recovery, family and partnership improvement and work-related difficulties. Laurel is also a trainer, mediator and leadership consultant to the business sector, government agencies, academic institutions and hospitals around issues of stress management, strategic communication and messaging, vision and mission and balancing work and home life. Recent contracts have been with the executive leadership at UCSC, executive and medical staff at Santa Cruz Health and Ole Health in Napa, the bench of the Superior Court of Santa Cruz, S.C. District Attorney’s Office, two Police Departments, Sheriff ’s Office, Netcom, S.C. County Probation and Apple, Inc.

Laurel Andres began running groups 35 years ago at the time of the central coast floods. She coordinated and facilitated emergency mental health services for the Marina District in San Francisco during the aftermath of the Loma Prieta earthquake and has since debriefed and counseled numerous companies, work groups, first responder communities, individuals and families following acute disasters and periods of long-term stress. She has completed advanced training in multi-modal approaches to Critical Incident Management, high conflict mediation and organizational excellence. She maintains a private psychotherapy practice specializing in trauma recovery, family and partnership improvement and work-related difficulties. Laurel is also a trainer, mediator and leadership consultant to the business sector, government agencies, academic institutions and hospitals around issues of stress management, strategic communication and messaging, vision and mission and balancing work and home life. Recent contracts have been with the executive leadership at UCSC, executive and medical staff at Santa Cruz Health and Ole Health in Napa, the bench of the Superior Court of Santa Cruz, S.C. District Attorney’s Office, two Police Departments, Sheriff ’s Office, Netcom, S.C. County Probation and Apple, Inc.

Shelly Gillan LMFT
MF #53752
457 Kinglsey Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650.208.6564
Shelly@kara-grief.org

Shelly Gillan has been working in the field of end of life, grief, and trauma for 25 years. She is currently the Clinicalsupervisor, Director of Programs and Client Services at Kara, a nonprofit peer counseling agency in Palo Alto,California. She serves on Kara’s CISM team that provides debriefings, crisis counseling and education to bothindividuals, children and adults facing critical incidents such as sudden traumatic deaths in schools, communityagencies, and businesses in the Bay Area.

Shelly is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist with a private practice in Santa Cruz and Palo Alto. She primarilyserves First Responders and adults suffering from early childhood trauma. Shelly has experience supporting FirstResponders in various roles for the last ten years. Currently Shelly supports the Palo Alto Fire Department and thePalo Alto Police Department by serving on their CISM and wellness teams.Shelly is an out of network provider

Karen Goehring LMFT
940 Saratoga Avenue, Suite 110
San Jose, CA 95129

1700 Norbridge Avenue, Suite F
Castro Valley, CA 94546
408-718-0205
Karen@talktokaren.com
www.talktokaren.com

Karen Goehring is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with two private practice locations in San Jose and Castro Valley. Karen is a former paramedic who worked in Los Angeles County and Alameda County. She works primarily with first responders dealing with post-traumatic stress injuries. She utilizes EMDR in treatment and works closely with law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies as a mental health/CISM consultant and critical incident debriefer. She also volunteers as a clinician at the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat.


Steven Kelly LMFT
MFT #16945
147 S. River Street, Suite 204
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
831.429.8601
stevenkellytherapy.com

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing for over 30 years. I have extensive background working with individuals and couples to help clarify the dilemmas they face and implement new progressive outcomes. Together, we clarify what the problem is and why it continues. We define what you need toward a positive, constructive direction. This clarity sets the stage for the next steps of problem-solving, creating effective strategies, reevaluating and changing old ineffective or debilitating beliefs, and finally implementing the new views and actions. This can include: effective communication skills, mutual problem-solving, inner emotional clarity and regulation, healing low esteem, lifting depression, turning anxiety into inner stability and competent action.

I work with people who have had traumatic experiences while on the job, in a relationship, or from other life experiences. We form an alliance to define and understand the effects of trauma, develop effective steps for healing, and develop positive, effective and realistic life and relationship strategies.

I am a down-to-earth, engaging, and straight-forward counselor. Suffering deserves compassion, understanding, and empathy. Together we look at how you feel, what you believe, and what you want. We go forward together and address each hurdle along the way.

Steve participates on the Anthem, Blue Shield, Magellan and Optum insurance panels.

Nick Ross, Ph.D.
PSY #19147
2121 41st Avenue, Suite 202
Capitola, CA 95010

831.477.7050
nickrossphd@aol.com

Nick Ross began his work in 1990 on a team managing traumatic incidents at Hudson River State Psychiatric Hospital and working with people dealing with homelessness and mental illness at BRC in New York City. He has served as Director of Youth & Family Services—supporting families facing grief and traumatic death—and as a critical incident team responder at Kara in Palo Alto, California, where he continues to serve as a Clinical Consultant.

Nick is a licensed psychologist and has been a member of the CCCIT supporting emergency responders in Santa Cruz County for more than ten years. He maintains a psychotherapy practice in Capitola. He has served as a volunteer clinician at WCPR, the First Responder Support Network’s trauma healing retreat, and is trained in trauma treatments such as EMDR and Brainspotting and, through ICISF, for CISM (critical incident stress management) with first responders. Nick is very grateful to have been introduced to mindfulness practices as a young man, which have been foundational to his own well being and professional work. He is available for sessions as an EAP provider for CCCIT contracted agencies.

Nick is an out-of-network provider.

Gloria Simpson LCSW
LCSW #14975
2715 Porter Street, Suite 210
Soquel, CA 95073
831.425.4620
gsimpsonlcsw@aol.com

Gloria Simpson has worked as a mental health clinician in the field of trauma for 40 years. She has worked with first responder client populations providing trainings, consultations, individual and group crisis intervention, and mental health services.  She provides employee support services to law enforcement, fire, dispatch, and emergency medical responders. She acts as the Mental Health support person for agency peer support teams. Gloria and the Central Coast Team sponsor a Countywide Peer Team Meeting.  She has experience working with adults, children, and families around issues of abuse and trauma. She has also provided groups for a local cancer center.

Gloria provides consultation and supervision to agencies and individuals.  Her expertise also includes addiction issues. In addition to providing services with the Central Coast Critical Incident Team, Gloria is also a hospital emergency room social worker.  She has a private practice in Soquel where she provides in person and virtual counseling sessions. She holds a certification of specialized training in emergency services from The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. She received her master’s degree at the University of Southern California.

Gloria participates on the Anthem, HAI, Magellan, MHN, Optum, Sutter Select, Concern and UBH insurance panels.

Melissa Virostko
LCSW 96059
555 Soquel Avenue, Suite 320
Santa Cruz CA 95062
510.629.5745

I am a Santa Cruz Native and mother of two. I received my Bachelors Degree in Psychology from San Francisco State University in 2007 and my Masters Degree in Social Welfare from UC Berkeley in 2012. I am a Licensed Clinical Social worker with over 10 years of experience working in the field of clinical social work. I feel strongly that we have the capacity to grow within the context of safe relationships. For this reason, I feel honored to offer therapeutic services to assist in exploring strengths and complex challenges.

I work with teens, adults and couples seeking support for a range of issues including relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, trauma and parenting. I specialize in treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and perinatal mood disorders. I feel strongly about supporting first responders and their families to reduce stress, and the impact of trauma within the workplace. I draw from training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, EMDR, Trauma-Informed Care, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy.

I am an out of network provider.

Clinical Consultant

Sue Brandy, LCSW
2715 Porter Street
Soquel, CA 95073
831.476.3638
brandylcsw@gmail.com

Sue is retired from her private practice in Santa Cruz and now acts as our clinical consultant and back up debriefer. She has been responding to critical incidents and disasters for the past 25 years. In her work with local police, sheriff, fire personnel, CHP and other first responders, she has provided debriefing and one-on-one response, as well as support to family and co-workers.

Her private practice has included providing counseling to adults, children and adolescents coping with “normal” life challenges, as well as contending with traumatic events. Sue continues to offer workshops, consultations and trainings in CISM, Stress Management and other topics to a variety of businesses, groups and agencies.

“Helping ordinary people cope with extraordinary events”

Trauma Intervention, Education and Aftercare