Steph is a Northern Colorado Licensed Addictions Counselor, Licensed Clinical Counselor and Certified Master Herbalist. They are a Certified Geek Therapist. They are CAMS trained and EMDR Certified and approved consultant. They started their journey in this field in 2001 in victim’s advocacy services and case management services. They are geeky, queer, Indigenous/Latinx and two spirit. They have had their own recovery through trauma and watched those they love struggle with addiction. They worked as a victims advocate during their undergraduate studies in Applied Social Sciences, working with families in recovery from domestic violence and on the rape crisis hotline. They saw a cross over of criminal justice systems involvement and substance abuse within these populations and decided to pursue a masters in Criminal Justice and Legal Administration. They would then go on to pursue a second Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and become a Licensed Addictions Counselor. During their studies they worked in a variety of settings specializing in substance abuse, and dual diagnosis. They worked in chemical dependency detox, medically assisted treatment centers, partial hospitalization treatment centers, intensive outpatient, and outpatient recovery services. The experiences throughout their life as a queer person of color have helped them to embrace who they are. Their education and experiences in the field of counseling helped them to expand their knowledge of the impact trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders have, in order to help others on their own journey toward recovery. Steph lives in Fort Collins with their spouse, beagle mix Zoe the Therapy Dog, Therapy Dog beagle mix, Ezra, bearded dragons Willow and Oz, and snakes Hannibal and Abra. They enjoy time with family and friends, cosplaying, and networking with like minded humans in the local geek and LGBTQIA2S+ communities.

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