FIRST CHOICE STAFF

John, US Air Force- retired, earned his MA in Counseling and Human Services from UCCS, receiving the 2002 Outstanding Overall Counseling Graduate Award. He offers individual and relationship counseling services to those experiencing challenges in life, that include anger, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, sexual identity concerns, HIV and AIDS crisis and long-term counseling, grief and bereavement. John works to ensure a safe and inclusive counseling environment for all. He applies therapeutic methods from Cognitive-Behavioral, Existential and Solution-Focused foundations and is EMDR Level I certified.
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Brian is the military lead clinician supervising staff and services specifically for the armed forces.  He received his Master’s degree from University of Colorado at Denver in Counseling Psychology, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree from University of Colorado at Boulder in Psychology.  He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Addictions counselor in the State of Colorado.  He has been working in the psychology field for 11 years as a therapist and in program management.  Brian has experience working with all age groups, and all major mental health disorders.   Brian approach to therapy is a blend of cognitive behavioral and solution focused therapy.  He believes that his clients have the strengths and resources to resolve their problems and are just “stuck” when they decide to enter treatment.
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Julie provides counseling for individuals and families experiencing difficulties in their lives including anger, depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, and life changes (ie. moving, divorce, new sibling etc.).  She has worked with children from birth to age 18, as well as adults.  She uses methods from cognitive-behavioral therapy, family systems therapy, play therapy, art therapy, and solution-focused therapy.  Julie strives to create a counseling environment where every person or family feels comfortable, safe, and respected.
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Margalis Fjelstad is a Licensed Marriage and Family counselor in Colorado and in California.  She has a Master’s Degree from Indiana University and a Ph.D. from Oregon State U.  She has trained and supervised Intern Therapists at California State University, Sacramento, and at Regis U. and has been a practicing therapist for over 20 years.

Margalis helps individuals, couples, and parents and children learn more loving ways to deal with their relationship stressors using Family Systems therapy, Strategic therapy, Gestalt, CBT and DBT.  She focuses on using the strengths clients already have to help them solve the issues in their lives today.  She is an EMDR Level II practitioner and finds this technique extremely helpful and effective for clients who have PTSD, childhood abuse and neglect.  She is currently writing a book on how to heal from living with a Borderline or Narcissistic family member. 

Margalis believes that tuning into the emotional connections that people have with their loved ones is essential for increasing self-esteem, positive interactions and successful family functioning.

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Kristin Gearhart, MA, LPC
314-4234
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Kristin  graduated in 2004 from University of Northern Colorado with a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling.  She has over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, families and adults throughout the Denver-Metro Area and Colorado Springs, in a variety of mental health settings. She specializes in working with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma, PTSD, domestic violence victimization, childhood/adolescent behavioral problems and parenting skills and has experience working with active duty and their families. Kristin works with clients using therapeutic methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy and is EMDR Level I certified.  Kristin provides clients with an environment where they can develop skills to enable them to experience life to its fullest.
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Jeanne is a Licensed Psychologist who holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  Jeanne has over 12 years of clinical experience working primarily with adolescents and adults.  Her specialties include health, vocational and sport psychology as well as multicultured and international issues. (Jeanne is fluent in Spanish). Jeanne worked for over 10 years in higher education doing counseling, teaching, research and administration before coming to Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group. Jeanne has published journal articles and book chapters on a variety of psychology topics including career development, counselor training and multicultural issues in counseling.
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Michele earned both her undergraduate degree in Psychology and her Master’s degree in Social work from the University of Denver. She has worked since graduating from college with individuals of all ages but particularly children and families. Michele has  over  20 years experience working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She is a full-time school social worker in District 11 for 13 years, while working with clients as well. Michele’s experience includes working with sexual abuse survivors, anger, depression, crisis intervention, and trauma. Her therapeutic methods are Cognitive-behavioral and Solution-focused.
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Anne Marsh, MSW, LCSW
314-4223
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Anne Marsh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work in 1990.  She has over seventeen years of experience working with children and their families as well as adults.  She has worked in various mental heath settings including psychiatric hospitals, outpatient clinics and community-based environments. Anne utilizes a variety of therapy techniques including cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic methods. She believes that children, families and adults who have emotional pain deserve an opportunity to feel well again.
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McCrae Merritt, MA, LPC
314-4258
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McCrae graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology and Family Therapy from Azusa Pacific University in 2001.  McCrae has 7 + years of experience providing counseling to children (ages 2-21), and their families. She specializes in structured play therapy, PTSD, depression, anxiety, women’s issues, ADHD, marital conflict, coping with divorce, and blended families. She believes that all people have a tremendous capacity for healing and sometimes they just need outside guidance to recognize their inner strengths and abilities. She provides counseling through the use of CBT, EMDR, structured play therapy, parenting education, and family systems.
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Amanda’s focus for therapy is Quality of Life. Individuals young and old can run into snags in life. She focuses on addressing emotional health for clients experiencing: depression, anxiety, panic, PTSD, attention difficulties, insomnia, addiction, eating disorders, challenging behaviors, and trauma. Furthermore, living in Colorado Springs allows her to take part in the success of our military by offering services that can add quality of life during stressful times. Mindfulness and goals for success are always an objective for therapy. She believes that everyone is capable of fashioning their quality of life and that therapy can be an important first step.
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Janae graduated with a Masters in Social Work from the University of Utah in 2005. She has over 5 years experience working with children, adults, and families in several different atmospheres including community mental health and school districts. Janae specializes in depression, anxiety, eating disorders, marital/couples conflict, family therapy, borderline personality disorder and other personality disorders. She uses many different therapies including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and other strength-based therapies to help empower the client to make conscious choices and improve their quality of life.
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Max is a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor.  He attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs,(UCCS), graduating with his Masters in Counseling in 2003. He was the outstanding student of the Community Counseling Program and the overall counseling program.  He previously graduated from UCCS with a Bachelor’s in Psychology.  Max has worked in the human services field for over 15 years. Furthermore, he has been involved with Military service members off and on for years, coming from a family where both his parents were veterans.  Max provides individual and family therapy, working with children, adolescents, and adults.  He specializes in working with those with anxiety, attention deficit and hyperactivity, behavioral problems (e.g., anger, aggressiveness, fighting, school referrals) bipolar disorder, depression, oppositional defiant disorder, stress, and substance abuse problems (co-occurring disorders; i.e, when it happens with other mental health problems).  His therapy methods include behavioral, cognitive, family systems, parenting education, solution-focused, and play therapy for children. He has completed EMDR Level I, a treatment for PTSD.
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Heather Tucker, MA, LPC
314-4220
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Heather graduated with a Masters in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado.  Heather has over 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents, families, and adults. She works with a range of issues, including parenting, defiance, depression, anxiety, bipolar, and adjustment issues. She works with strengths found within all individuals and their families, and uses them to support successes in the therapy process. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems Theory, Brief Solution-Focused Therapy, and EMDR to help her clients live healthy, satisfying, productive lives.
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Geri is a Licensed Professional Counselor who graduated from the University of Wyoming with her Masters in Counseling in 2005.  She has 3+ years of counseling experience with children, teens, young adults and families.  Geri also has experience with active duty soldiers.  She uses an eclectic, holistic, strengths-based approach in working with clients. 
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Sara has been an Administrative Assistant for First Choice Counseling Center for about 7 months now.  She moved here from California in March of 2005 with her husband and her three children, and they have recently added another child to their family.  Sara is a graduate of Lincoln High School and Andon College, all of California.  She has received her high school diploma and a diploma from college as a Medical Office Specialist.  Sara also attended Delta College for about 4 years where she studied Child Development and hoped to receive her Associate’s degree.  Sara worked as a receptionist in the medical field for about 4 years prior to her job with First Choice.  She is a very outgoing person and she is always willing to help out when it is needed.
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