Caitlin Evans, R-DMT, LPCC ^Carbondale Community School Clinician
Caitlin is originally from northern Utah but fell in love with western Colorado the moment she first arrived in the mountains. She found her way home to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2021 where she quickly became involved in the community as a dancer and as an intern at a therapeutic ranch in Carbondale. Caitlin earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a focus in Dance/Movement Therapy from Lesley University. She believes our bodies and movements have a lot to tell us and she’s looking forward to helping folks fortify the relationships between their mind, body, feelings, art, and spirit. Caitlin will work with her students to uncover the knowledge, wisdom and stories their minds and bodies have to share about their past, present and future.
Cate Meeder, LCSW^Glenwood Springs High School Clinician
Cate grew up in northern Wisconsin and attended St. Olaf College in Minnesota, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with concentrations in Education and Race and Ethnic Studies. During college, she spent summers working with Summer Advantage in the Roaring Fork Valley and fell in love with the community. After college, she worked with middle school ELL students through AmeriCorps, with adolescents doing adventure therapy, and with young adults in residential substance use treatment programs.
Cate returned to the valley and completed her Master’s in Social Work through the University of Denver’s Western Colorado program. She feels passionate about building relationships, empowering youth and families, and supporting holistic wellness for all. In her work with students, she utilizes DBT, CBT, ACT, IFS, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and Solutions-Focused Therapy. When she's not at work, she enjoys spending time with friends, reading, and recreating outside with her dog, Percy.
Erin Quinn, LCSW^School Program Supervisor/Two Rivers Community School Clinician
Erin grew up in Boulder, Colorado and attended Colorado State University for both her undergraduate and Masters Degrees in Social Work. Erin obtained her LCSW in 2020, and has had the unique privilege of gaining experience in various settings such as community mental health, residential treatment and nonprofit work along the Front Range corridor and Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado. Erin has found her niche in school-based mental health services and utilizes a spectrum of clinical training to focus on the prevention of mental health challenges and suicide in young people and their families. You might see Erin riding her mountain bike around town or playing with her husky, Grizzly. Don't hesitate to say “hi!”
Gabby Touchette, LCSW, LAC^School Program Supervisor/Yampah Mountain High School Clinician
Gabby is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Addictions Counselor who has been working in community mental health for over 5 years. She attended the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis and graduated with a master’s degree in social work in 2017. Additionally, she has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and psychology from Indiana University. Gabby is passionate about improving the criminal and juvenile justice systems and has experience treating both adults and adolescents with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Her approach to therapy is holistic, strengths-based and person-centered and she is trained in a variety of treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and EMDR. She is most inspired by seeing her clients’ resilience and capacity for growth.
Heather Johnson, LCSW^Aspen Middle School Clinician
Heather was born and raised in Nebraska but has called Aspen home for the past eight years. She began her journey in social work by recognizing a need for more supports for youth and families in the school system. She received her PreK-12 School Social Worker Certificate from Colorado State University in 2020. From this experience, she knew that social work was her calling and began her Master’s degree. She graduated the University of Denver with her Master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on clinical practice.
Heather has a passion and focus for working with youth and families. She enjoys providing individual and family therapy for youth and their caregivers and helping them navigate the stressors in their lives. Heather’s approach is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and applied through a biopsychosocial lens. Her training includes CBT, TF-CBT, CAMS, and she is trained in integrated behavioral health. Working as a clinical social worker in a community mental health center also helped her understand the need for wraparound care and community support for families. This experience ignited her desire to also look at systems level influences on families and the best ways in which to support the families in our community.
In Heather’s free time she enjoys hiking, biking, cooking, and spending time with her husband.
Jillian, MA, LPCC^Crisis Clinician
Jillian was born and raised in Canyon, Texas. She attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Counseling. Jillian has experience working with individuals from all walks of life. She grew up playing sports and has a love for the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, snowboarding, water sports, swimming, and all the activities associated with water. She is adventurous and always open to trying new and exciting things. If she is not working, you will find her outdoors. Jillian recently relocated to Colorado with her two Australian shepherds. She is passionate about mental health and works as a crisis clinician with the Garfield County team.
Jacob, LPC^PRN Crisis Clinician
Jacob grew up in southeast Virginia and chose his first career path in architecture and design. Sitting behind a computer all day didn't sound that exciting so he chose to focus on the human side of things, how we interact and the relationships we build with the world and systems around us. For his undergraduate degree, he went to Christopher Newport University and majored in childhood psychology, minoring in religious studies.
After traveling for some time, Jacob then enrolled at Prescott College for his Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a concentration in Adventure Based Therapy. Jacob has been in the crisis field since 2014 and wants to continue to support people in finding adaptive and systemic ways to help them overcome crisis situations. He also really likes coffee and exploring outside.
Jim Laing^Board Member
Originally from Minnesota, Jim moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1995. On a family ski trip to Aspen and Snowmass at the age of 10, he immediately knew where and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life. Jim has worked for Aspen Skiing Company for the past 20 years with responsibilities ranging from Human Resources to overseeing Retail Operations. Jim is currently VP and Chief Human Resources Officer, overseeing all employee related functions for Aspen Skiing Company.
Prior to moving to Aspen, Jim worked at Pillsbury and Rollerblade, both headquartered in Minnesota. He also attended undergraduate and graduate school at the University of Minnesota. Jim is very active in our local community, serving on several boards including Roaring Fork Leadership and Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club. He is an avid alpine and telemark skier, snowboarder and biker.
Jim and his wife Laurie have two children, William and Taylor, who both love skiing. Jim’s passion is sharing every aspect of our amazing mountain lifestyle with his family.
Jonathan Shamis^Board Member
Jonathan Shamis was appointed as Lake County Judge in Colorado’s Fifth Judicial District in 2013. He previously was Executive Director of Alpine Legal Services. Since 2015, he has served on the Colorado Suicide Prevention Commission and currently serves on the Colorado Task Force on Attorney Well-Being. He is currently working on a national effort to develop standards of judicial competence in mental health for all trial judges.
Kathryn Henderson, LPC, CAC^Therapist
Kathryn moved to the Roaring Fork Valley from Connecticut in 2016. In conjunction with her 15 years in private practice, she worked as a Treatment Coordinator for several years in the Adult Recovery Center at Greenwich Hospital and Yale New Haven Heath. Working with a multidisciplinary team, under the supervision of an addiction MD, Kathryn assessed, evaluated and facilitated groups, as well as individual therapy, for patients in detox and intensive outpatient treatment. Prior to Kathryn’s work at Greenwich Hospital, she was on full time staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Westport Connecticut, as a Treatment Counselor in both the Adolescent and Adult Intensive Outpatient Programs. Kathryn received her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Fairfield University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, where she also worked for several years as a Clinical Supervisor to graduate students. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Colorado, a member of the National Board for Certified Counselors, a member of the International Association of Trauma Professionals, and a Certified Addiction Counselor.
Click here to learn more about Kathryn.
Kelly Cooper, LPC, LAC^Therapist
Kelly graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology. After graduation, she traveled the world studying human and animal behaviors. Kelly lived in New Zealand for a year, where she worked with the endangered Kiwi birds. She became interested in the intersections of human and animal survival behaviors. She traveled to Nepal and worked alongside Sherpas and yaks while learning about mental health in the Everest and Annapurna regions. She moved to Hawaii and worked at a Horticulture therapy program where she learned more about Wilderness Therapy and ceremony. While working with mustangs and wolves, she found a passion for animal-assisted therapy. She graduated with her Master’s Degree in Wilderness Therapy from Naropa. Kelly has been a wilderness guide for the past 10 years where she incorporates her yoga teacher training from Kripalu, PSIA-Professional Ski Instructors of America, AASI-American Association of Snowboard Instructors, Rope’s Course Critical Skills, Wilderness First Responder, and Leadership development skills to help facilitate both external and internal growth. Kelly is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has specialized in crisis work since 2016.
Click here to learn more about Kelly.
Lauren, LPC^Crisis Clinician/Therapist
Lauren was born and raised in New Jersey and ventured to New Orleans to complete her undergraduate studies at Tulane University, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. She later pursued her graduate education at the University of Denver, and she received a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health and specialization in Addictions.
As a grad student and clinical intern, Lauren provided outpatient therapy to adults, emergency mental health services to clients with diverse presentations, and intensive case management to individuals with severe persistent mental illness in assisted case care settings. She briefly returned to the East Coast to work in Manhattan and the Bronx supporting individuals experiencing mental illness and housing insecurity through transitional case management.
Drawn back to Colorado, Lauren returned to the Roaring Fork Valley. Since 2019, she has continued her dedication to supporting individuals through their most challenging moments in her role as a crisis clinician. She has extensive experience with suicidal ideation, high-risk behaviors, harm reduction, trauma, fatalities, and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Lauren is a Licensed Professional Counselor who recognizes the individuality of each client and their experiences. She integrates evidence-based approaches—Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy—to align treatment with personal goals, needs, and values.
Click here to learn more about Lauren.
Mackenzie Elder, LCSW^St. Stephen Catholic School Clinician
Mackenzie grew up in Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pittsburgh for both her undergraduate and Master's Degrees in Social Work. After relocating to Colorado, Mackenzie spent time working as a teaching assistant with Summer Advantage. It was through that experience that she was inspired to work with children. Mackenzie’s practice is grounded in a strengths-based, client-centered approach utilizing CBT, DBT, CAMS, motivational interviewing, and narrative techniques. She has a passion for grief work and understanding the effects of trauma at a young age on a person’s life. It is witnessing her clients’ resilience and capacity for growth that sustains Mackenzie’s love for walking alongside people in their journeys.
In her free time, Mackenzie enjoys spending time in the kitchen, reading a good book, and taking her cat on hikes.
Michael Buglione^Advisory Board Member
Sheriff Michael Buglione is a law enforcement professional with 19 years of dedicated service in the Roaring Fork Valley. He began his career with the Aspen Police Department and then transitioned to the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office, where he has held various roles, including patrol deputy, sergeant, director of operations, and now, Sheriff. Throughout his tenure, Sheriff Buglione has demonstrated a deep commitment to community safety and welfare. His proactive engagement extends beyond traditional law enforcement, as exemplified by his advocacy for mental health services. Serving on the board of the Hope Center and continuing as an advisory board member, he actively works toward improving services for those with mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Additionally, Sheriff Buglione has contributed to community safety by serving as a board member of the Aspen Fire Department, showcasing his dedication to a comprehensive approach to public service. Sheriff Buglione brings a wealth of experience and a community-oriented philosophy, emphasizing the importance of positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. His leadership, both within the Sheriff's Office and in collaboration with community organizations, reflects a holistic approach to public service that goes beyond traditional law enforcement roles.
Nancy VanDeMark^Advisory Board Member
Nancy has been working in the behavioral health field in Colorado for over 30 years as a clinician, researcher, administrator, consultant and advocate. She is passionate about improving access to high quality mental health and substance use services across the state. She is currently the managing partner of Innovela Consulting Group, providing consultation on behavioral health system design and service delivery. During her free time, she enjoys racing sailboats and camping in the Colorado mountains.
Paul Hassel, LPC, CAS^School Program Supervisor/Sopris Elementary School Clinician
Paul earned his BA in Social Science at Colorado State University in 1992, and a Professional Teaching License from the teacher education school at the University of Northern Colorado 2 years later. After teaching in the classroom, instructing for Outward Bound, and a stint building cabinets, Paul returned to graduate school in 2004 to earn a MA in Counseling Psychology at Prescott College, concentrating in Adventure-Based Counseling.
Paul became a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) while serving as a Primary Therapist at the Youth Recovery Center, an inpatient adolescent treatment facility housed within Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs. He went on to join the Roaring Fork Schools as a Prevention Specialist at Basalt Middle School, followed by work as a clinician in community mental health at Mind Springs Health. Paul’s counseling practice is grounded in CBT, TF-CBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing. Outdoor adventure, wilderness experience, and plenty of good food continue to sustain Paul’s personal, professional, and family life.