Meet Our Counselors
Meet Our Counselors
INDIVIDUAL, COUPLES AND FAMILY COUNSELING
Support for first responders & their loved ones
Here at Code-4 Counseling we understand the value of processing experiences. The human brain wants to compartmentalize every experience we have- including trauma. Think of the brain as a giant mailroom. Every piece of information has to be processed and “stored” in the right mailbox. Talking through experiences helps the brain organize on-the-job events, processing the “mail” and filing it away properly in the memory centers. Attempts to just forget, ignore or shove away these events may work in the short term, but at some point unprocessed experiences start to create brain clutter and disrupt your life.
Whether you need assistance working through your own life struggles or want help understanding how to live with a responder, clinicians at Code-4 Counseling are specially trained to understand your needs and can help you and your loved ones manage these challenges and more.
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Kala Bettis, MA, LSC, MAC, LPCC
Specialty Areas: Trauma Informed Therapies
Kala serves our clients living in the Western Slope region of Colorado
Born and raised in Chicago, Kala received her Bachelor’s Degree from DePaul University in Psychology of Human Development. After moving to Colorado, Kala spent 10 years in law enforcement working in narcotics interdiction, intelligence analysis and computer forensics investigation, while working for the Vail Police Department. She then joined the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office as their Intelligence Analyst, assigned to the Two Rivers Drug Enforcement Team and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Seeing gaps in services for those involved in government systems, she switched careers and received dual Master’s Degrees in Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling. Kala was a Crisis Counselor for Critical Incident Response and Victim Advocate for Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, and a Programs Analyst for the Department of Human Services, where she streamlined resource delivery for Child Protective Services and our Veteran population through the Strategy, Partnerships and Performance division. Kala received her clinical hours at Mind Springs Health, and was a School Counselor at Battle Mountain High School for 3 years.
She currently works at Eagle Valley Behavioral Health as their Outreach Operations Manager to continue connection with community partners and stakeholders to promote accessibility to needed care, and integration of clinical program models in a wraparound approach.
For leisure, Kala enjoys skiing, cooking, running, and camping with her husband and two stepchildren.
Loe Blackmond, MA
Specialty Areas: PTSD, OCD, Trauma & Grief, Substance Dependance, Depression, Anxiety
I am a 4th year Doctor of Psychology student at the University of Denver. After four years in the Air Force, I started my new journey of becoming a psychologist. It has always been my desire to work with the emergency responder population. I graduated with my Master’s in Forensic Psychology in 2018 from the University of Denver and studied Criminal Justice while working on my bachelor’s at Metropolitan State University. I have since strived to be the therapist clients can count on. I have worked with a wide variety of populations including cancer survivors, the elderly, community mental health, immigrants, infertility, severe and persistent mental illness with intellectual/developmental disabilities, forensic interviewing, domestic violence, and sex-specific treatment and evaluation. I also work with individuals with an array of emotional health illnesses to include PTSD, OCD, trauma and grief, substance dependence, depression, and anxiety via a combination of CBT, CPT, psychodynamic methodology, and an existential / humanistic lens.
As my academic career comes to an end, I am excited to work with a population that has always been dear to my heart and for whom I would be honored to assist our police and other emergency responders. As a mother of 3 children (16, 14, & 11), I feel it is more important than ever to support those who support our communities by building rapport, providing support, incorporating evidence-based approaches, and utilizing unconditional positive regard.
My work motto: “I am human; therefore let nothing human be alien to me.” -Terrance and later Maya Angelou
Hannah Bronson, MT-BC
Specialty Areas: Military/First Responder Mental Health, PTSD, Trauma, Substance Use, Creative Art Therapies
Hannah Bronson is a Board Certified Music Therapist and is now working towards her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Denver, Graduate School of Professional Psychology. Her areas of clinical interest include military/first responder mental health, trauma, substance use, co-occurring diagnoses in adults as well as integrating creative arts therapies into treatment. Prior to her doctoral training, she provided music therapy services for active-duty military populations with combat injuries (such as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury), on military installations in Southern California, Northern Virginia, and Central Texas supported by Creative Forces: The National Endowment for the Arts Military Healing Arts Network. As part of this initiative, Hannah published research, engaged in clinical program development, and collaborated on outreach to community arts organizations. She has traveled to Russia to perform orchestral music, and supervises music therapy students in Jamaica participating in a service-learning program.
Cari Cornish, Psy.D.
Specialty Area: In-house psychologist for the Thornton Police Department
Dr. Cornish is a licensed psychologist who has fifteen years clinical experience. Her warm, irreverent, “keep it real,” pragmatic, “do what works” approach promotes a culture of safety, empowerment and effective living. She is solidly grounded in behavioral principles and her clinical expertise focuses on creating a short-term action plan addressing longer-term treatment goals. She is accessible, intuitive and responsive to her clients’ needs including risk reduction, stress management and overall wellness. Her deep respect and gratitude for first responders fuels an unending commitment to care for those who protect her and her community.
Mel Kraker, MA, LPC
Specialty Areas: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Mel was born and raised in Colorado. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Psychology and English from Cornell College in Iowa in 2014. In 2017, she earned her Master of Arts (MA) degree in Forensic Psychology from the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver in Colorado. During her graduate program, she explored different realms of the judicial system through work as a Deputy Probation Officer with the 17th Judicial District in Commerce City, CO as well as an Analyst in the Investigations Unit at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Ms. Kraker has worked with court-ordered individuals in offense-specific treatment for the past 3 years in addressing behaviors, thoughts, and coping skills. She also continues to serve as an Analyst in the Investigations Unit at CBI. Mel comes from a law enforcement family herself, which makes joining Code-4 Counseling, LLC to work with first responders and their families even more special.
Stephanie Pinch, MA, M. Ed.
Specialty Areas: Couples and Family Therapy, Postpartum Depression, Working with Children
Stephanie is currently a third-year doctoral student in clinical psychology at the University of Denver. Prior to coming to Denver, she taught special education for 5 years and earned a master in education. She specializes in infant and early childhood mental health. In addition to her work with Code-4 Counseling, Stephanie provides therapeutic services to families, couples, perinatal and postpartum moms, and children at the Aurora Mental Health Center Early Childhood and Family Center. Previously, she worked at the “Caring for yoU and Baby” (CUB) Clinic. She has extensive experience in psychological assessment and enjoys helping families bridge the gap between diagnosis and school accommodations. Her clinical goal is to continue to provide services to families through an attachment lens to better help dyads of parents and children connect and attach. When not working with families, she is watching anything Boston sports related.
Dr. Naomi Spilka, Psy.D.
Specialty Areas: Couples and Family Therapy, Teens and Children
Hey there, I’m Dr. Naomi Spilka and I am so glad you’ve come to find me here at Code-4.
First, I’d like to emphasize the privilege of serving those who serve; individuals and loved ones. As a former combat sergeant in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), I understand many of the complexities that come with being an individual within this culture and I am here to support you. I do not believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach and enjoy getting creative with my patients to best meet their needs. My clinical foundation is rooted in the power of relationship, and the way we, human beings, relate to one another and the world. I seek to understand and honor how you became the person you are today, even if you are struggling with who that person is and/or the things they do.
In addition to my therapeutic work, I conduct assorted mental health trainings, provide peer support supervision and am a part of various special projects at Code-4. These tasks afford me the opportunity to exercise my clinical skills through psycho-education along with community support, outreach, and advocacy. I believe in working collaboratively with the first responder population to determine clinical needs, rather than dictating a “professional opinion” void of cultural competency. With respect to this, I encourage you to reach out with any related questions and/or areas of interest for workshops, groups, or presentations about which you may be interested in learning.
I work with adults, teens, couples, and families in addition to facilitating therapeutic groups. Other areas of professional interest are identity development, diversity/multiculturalism, systems, corrections, crisis response, emergency psychiatry, non-traditional families, and psychological assessment.
Thank you for all you do, and I look forward to getting to know you.
Lindsey Torres, MA, & EMDR Certified
Specialty Areas: Substance Use, Line-of-Duty Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Grief and Family Conflict, Suicidality, EMDR
I received my Bachelors in Legal Studies and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have worked solely as a trauma therapist with military and first responders while in graduate school and since graduation. I have a great personal and professional passion for serving those that serve us, and I have a deep understanding of the challenges that first responders and their families face as I am both a military spouse and daughter. First responder and veteran life is a culture of its own that faces unique hardships. I take a trauma-focused approach, working with military and first responders that have experienced line-of-duty trauma, substance abuse, suicidality, childhood trauma, grief and family conflict. I use evidenced-based practices such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy); and cognitive approaches such as cognitive processing and behavioral therapy. I believe in the therapeutic alliance and building a trusting relationship with my client that fosters resiliency and support, for long-lasting therapeutic outcomes.
Tracy Treloar, MS, LPC, LAC, & EMDR Certified
Specialty Areas: Trauma, Substance Use, EMDR
Hello, I’m Tracy Treloar. I obtained both my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California. I have been working in the counseling field for the last 10 years, beginning my career working with children on the Autism Spectrum. I then worked as a school counselor at a K-8 private school and a counselor for adolescents and adults at my university’s counseling center while earning my Masters Degree. After graduating in 2011, I moved to beautiful Colorado and began counseling adults in the Jefferson County and Denver County Drug Courts, performing individual and group therapy as well as substance abuse and mental health evaluations. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Addictions Counselor, and a certified EMDR practitioner. Using Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) I have helped police officers, firefighters, veterans, domestic violence victims, childhood abuse victims, recent trauma victims, and those who struggle with substance abuse. I have greatly enjoyed serving the first responders and their families at Code4 for the past couple of years and look forward to meeting many more! When I am not doing therapy I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children, exercising, reading, and knitting.
Dana Rae Vessio, MA, MFA & EMDR Certified
Specialty Areas: Suicidality, Couples therapy, EMDR
Dana Rae Vessio received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the City College of New York. She is now working on her doctorate degree in the PsyD program at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology specializing in military psychology and the research and treatment of suicide. She is currently involved in several suicide prevention focused research projects: 1) examining the relationship between TBI, suicidality, and criminal justice, 2) a crisis center project working to support crisis workers, and 3) using machine learning within a community mental health sample. In her clinical work, Dana Rae works from a trauma-informed, person-centered lens and employs evidence-based practices such as Gottman-oriented couples’ therapy, Emotion-focused therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She believes genuineness, mutual trust, and a healthy sense of humor is important to create a therapeutic environment that is safe and nonjudgmental.
Chaplain Gerald Bargaineer
Specialty Areas: Faith Based Advisor/Consultant
Gerald Anthoney Bargaineer II, a native of Detroit, MI, currently serves as the Groups Director at Flatirons Community Church (Denver Campus) as well as The Lead Chaplain for Aurora Police Department, in Aurora, Colorado. Gerald Believes that the best way to serve our community and to “heal our land” is to serve every aspect of our community, especially law enforcement. He has a total combined experience of 21 years in ministry varying from Associate Minister, Youth & Young Adults Pastor, Assistant Campus Pastor, Campus Pastor as well as working for an international evangelistic organization as a Network (People) Director. Gerald is passionate about helping people of all faiths and helping them understand their spiritual gifting, calling and purpose. Gerald has received specialized training in pastoral care for emergency responders and their families, especially during times of crisis. This pastoral care is offered to all people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, creed, or religion.
Through the grace of God, Gerald also has had the privilege of ministering to local, state and national government leaders, international diplomats, the marketplace, and beyond, locally, nationally, and abroad. He has been married to Dominique Alexandria Bargaineer for 12 years and has 2 beautiful children, Gerald Bargaineer III (Age 7) and Giovanna Bargaineer (age 6).
Gerald Bargaineer II
Groups/Guest Services Director
Flatirons Community Church- Denver Campus
720-837-9080
Elton & Linc
Specialty Areas: Provide unconditional and always needed puppy love
Elton and Linc are integral members of the Code-4 Counseling Team. Elton, Linc, and their handlers are currently going through intense training to obtain the necessary certifications as Therapy and Critical Incident Response Dogs.
Elton (English Yellow Lab), and his partner, Nick, work at the Code-4 Counseling office, respond to crisis situations, and visit agencies upon request. Elton loves to snuggle, wrestle, and occasionally steal people food.
Linc (Aussiedoodle), and his partner, Dr. Cari Cornish, work full time at Thornton PD. Linc roams the halls of TPD providing his people lots of love, mischief, and laughs (as evident by his picture).
Contact Us
Code-4 Counseling, LLC
9362 Teddy Lane Suite #106
Lone Tree, CO 80124
Tel: 303-517-1516
Testimonials
“Great group! After the past week… go have a chat.” – Jay S.
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