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Who We Are
VitalHearts | The Resiliency Training Initiative is a Denver, Colorado based Trauma Training Center whose mission is caring for care-providers.
Our Organization
VitalHearts’ founder, Henry Tobey, Ph.D., in 1999 developed his initial program in this field, the Vicarious Trauma Training, for those who serve victims of crime. The following year, Dr. Tobey developed a more comprehensive program, the Secondary Trauma Resiliency Training. This new training serves a broader population. It is available to those who work with traumatized individuals regardless of the cause of trauma.
The training provides an emotionally intense learning experience, in which participants examine the complex relationship between their challenging, moral work and their private lives. Care-providers find better ways to process all the trauma they encounter so they do not have to pay such high personal costs.
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Dr. Tobey and VitalHearts' co-trainers have now led the training over 150 times and to date, more than 3500 care-providers have attended the Secondary Trauma Resiliency Training.
Meet Our Trainers
Henry Tobey, Ph.D.
Executive Director, VitalHearts
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Has led Secondary Trauma Resiliency Training over 165 times for over 3500 professionals
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Trauma psychologist, 35+ year experience
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Psychotherapy practice: Colorado Psychological Resources, PC
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Earlier in his career, police psychologist, forensic psychologist, hospital administrator.
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Taught his dog to play tic-tac-toe. Dog never lost.
Elena Davis, LCSW
Private Counseling, Phoenix Rising Holistic Psychotherapy & Wellness
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Private psychotherapy practice over ten years.
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Primary Care Liaison for Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network.
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Twenty years’ experience including community mental health, palliative care and hospice, animal-assisted therapy, victim rights and empowerment, vocational rehabilitation, and residential treatment.
Mary Pat DeWald, APRN-BC, MSN, MPA
Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
Forensic Clinical Nurse Specialist
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Mental Health and Wellness Consulting
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2006 Nightingale Finalist
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Consultant, Clinician, Educator and Entrepreneur
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C-Sane Consulting, LLC, Nightingale Center for Human Caring
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Lives Life with Purpose and Passion
Lauren Kindscher Jensen, LCSW
Private Counseling, Rooted Counseling
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Previously: University Counselor and Outreach Coordinator at the Colorado School of Mines Counseling Center, Behavioral Health Professional and Project Manager with Clinica Family Health.
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Specializes in grief and loss, inducing death loss and disenfranchised losses and life changes, secondary trauma, and women's issues.
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First Job: Rollerskating Sonic carhop. Never dropped a tray.
Zina A. Mercil, MA, LPC, NCC, R-DMT
Director of Coaching for LifeXT by Mindful
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Previously: Body-Based Trauma-Informed Therapist and Registered Dance/Movement Therapist with The Exclusive Addiction Treatment Center in Hawaii
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Specializes in secondary trauma, burnout and self-care and wellbeing for professionals and clinicians, particularly in the treatment of trauma, mental illness, and addiction.
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Certified Listener Poet with the Good Listening Foundation within medical institutions.
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Loves squirrels, glitter, and the color orange… but not at the same time.
Petra Ulrych, MA, LPC, NCC
Private Counseling, Petra Therapy Services
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Previously: Clinical Case Manager / Therapist for ColoradoCoalition for the Homeless' Family Support Services
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Actor, Director, Theater Teacher in Denver and previously in the Czech Republic
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Moved from portraying trauma on stage to the mental health field; now helps folks resolve traumas in real life, while still adoring the power of theater.
Pamela Sica, MA, LPC
Art Psychologist, Private Counseling
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Previously with Community Reach Center, Eating Disorder Center of Denver, Naropa Community Art Studio, National Theater Workshop of the Handicapped, Women’s Wilderness Institute
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Greatest Fear: Heights…Favorite Sport: Rock climbing
Erika Latines
Founder of EWAK Consulting
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Queer Latine spoken word artist and poet.
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Focus on youth violence prevention, community building, and empowering individuals to be agents of change especially in BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) communities.
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15 years’ experience as a trainer and facilitator.
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EWAK āClients include Sandy Hook Promise, HTI Catalysts, Common Health Action, The Equality Institute.
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āBiliterate in English and Spanish
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Fun fact: drafted to the minor leagues as a team mascot!
Erika Croswhite, MA, CCLS
Child Life Manager, Children's Hospital Colorado
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Master’s degree in educational psychology, studying how children think and learn. Over 22 years of experience supporting acutely, chronically, and terminally ill hospitalized children and their families and children whose parents are ill or injured.
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Life passion is to raise healthy, fulfilled children and positively influence the lives of children with whom I work. I am a joy-filled adventure seeker, optimist, teacher, playmaker, and light shiner!
Catherine Maskell, MSN, ACNP-BC, AOCNP
Oncology Nurse Practitioner
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10 years experience in Oncology Advance Practice Nursing with a specialty in chemotherapy/immunotherapy side effect management and treatment education.
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Supports patients through diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment, as well as end of life decision-making.
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Passionate about cultivating resiliency in my profession.
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Holds the title “professional chaos coordinator” with my young children!
Amanda Thomas RN, BSN, OCN
Chemotherapy Specialist Registered Nurse
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Extensive healthcare experience with a background in trauma critical care, eating disorders, and primary focus in oncology outpatient infusion center.
āAlong with my passion for nursing and resiliency, I have been a dedicated mindfulness practitioner for over 15 years including MBSR courses and retreats. -
Fun fact: First career was in Martial Arts. Loves being outside in nature, painting, yoga, creating memories with loved ones, and any opportunity to enjoy music and dance!
Jane West, MA, LPC, ECSE
Private Practice, Heart of the West Counseling, LLC
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20 years providing early childhood mental health (trauma, and parenting expertise) to families and wellbeing support services to therapists, teachers and home visiting professionals.
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Offers nature-based resilience activities such as forest bathing and snowshoe and ski tours.
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Originally from New York but learned to calm my para-sympathetic nervous system in recent years!
Jessica Kroeker, PLMHP, MSW, MPA
School Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist
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Social Worker passionate about both individual and systems-level work. Background in child welfare, foster child adoption, child advocacy - sexual abuse prevention and intervention, trauma-focused therapy, training and community inititiatives.
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Has a cat-sized dog and a dog-sized cat.
Maïtaāāāā Thams, MA, LPC
Licensed Co-Responder
STAR Clinician, WellPower
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6 years in community mental health on varying teams including High Intensity Treatment Team, Crisis Intervention Response Unit, Walk In Crisis Center and Residential Treatment.
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Outstanding Graduate Award Recipient from Regis University Clinical Mental Health Counseling Department.
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Passionate about fellow first responder’s mental health, with private practice work in first responder centered therapy.
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Identifies with multiple cultures and bilingual.
Jacquie Aamodt, LCSW
Private Practice, MoreThanCounseling, LLC
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I have worked in the field of trauma for 20+years, primarily in the non-profit sector, and often in leadership roles
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I recently started my own practice, providing individual therapy, clinical supervision, training & consultation
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I take a holistic, integrative and collaborative approach to healing, and am passionate about supporting people in finding equilibrium and balance in their lives.
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In order to maintain balance in my life, I enjoy most things outdoors, including hiking, skiing, and hanging out on patios or in nature. I appreciate good food, the company of loved ones, yoga and spending time with my kid.
Our Administrative Team
Henry Tobey, PhD.
Founder & Executive Director
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Established VitalHearts |The Resiliency Training Initiative in 2008
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Developed both in-person and online copyrighted training scripts and directed 22 script revisions
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Has certified 18 VitalHearts trainers and other trainers nationally
Tami Hinesh
Development Director
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MS in Health Communication
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Previous Roles: Community Healthcare Organizer, Home Care Provider
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Must haves: Some kind of craft project, good music, and lots of coffee
Ali Jones-Hoilman
Director of Operations
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BS Sociology, Psychology & Communications
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Currently: Support Specialist for the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation
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Certified Crisis Management Trainer of Verbal Intervention, Personal Control, and Defense Techniques in Crisis Situations
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Previously: Trainer for 21 Plus Inc. and Life Educator/Case Worker for Preferred Behavioral Health
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My spare time consists of enjoying time with my daughter, advocating for animals, and concerts.