Joanne Rupert MA, LPC, NBCC

Co-founder and CEO

Joanne Rupert is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Responder Trauma Counselors (FRTC). She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado and a National Board Certified Counselor. Joanne is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), has advanced training in EMDR post-traumatic stress and addictions, and is skilled in Brain Spotting, Accelerated Resolution Therapy and Mediation.

Joanne has 30+ years of experience in First Response working as a professional and volunteer for Ambulance, Fire, and Law Enforcement. She is currently in a private practice. As Senior Clinical Director, Joanne oversees FRTC's member agencies Peer Support Teams and ARMOR Response, and provides counseling for their staff and spouses. Joanne is a skilled facilitator for Critical Incident Processing and Defusing for emergency service providers throughout Northern Colorado. In addition, Joanne is the DCS for the National Peer Support Academy, a 5-day (40-hour), P.O.S.T. approved Peer Support Certification Academy for "All Badges, All Uniforms, All Scrubs." She is the primary instructor for FRTC's proprietary T.R.I.B.E.S Program, as well as FRTC's 911 A.W.A.R.E. Workshop and Responder Relationship Resiliency Program.

Joanne works primarily with first responders, hospital staff, veterans, correctional facility staff, active military, and their families. Her specialty areas include but are not limited to: trauma/abuse, neglect, addictions, alcohol/substance abuse, anger management, anxiety, depression, grief/loss mourning, marriage/relationship issues, mood disorders, OCD, phobias, PTSI, sexual abuse, stress management and couples counseling.

Joanne has authored and published the National Peer Support Academy manual, the official manual of the National Peer Support Training Academy. Joanne has been a featured presenter at the Colorado Fire Chief Convention and has also presented at the First Responder Women's Summit.

Joanne is an active board member of First Responder Trauma Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity designed specifically to care for the behavioral and physical health needs of frontline workers, including ALL BADGES, ALL UNIFORMS, ALL SCRUBS, ALL TOGETHER and their families.

Ed Rupert MA, CCHT

Co-founder, Counselor & COO

Edward Rupert MA, PhD candidate, has seen firsthand the consequence of repeated stressors involved with the First Responder life for over 50 years. This knowledge caused Ed to study various ways of dealing with his own experiences and the toll that it takes on the brave men and women.

Ed became a Certified Hypnotherapist through the National Guild of Hypnotists and The International Board of Clinical Practitioners. After receiving his MA he continued learning about the management of Post Traumatic Stress and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Counseling Psychology. Ed has been awarded the prestigious Red Cross of Hutt for his lifelong humanitarian efforts.

He is an author, speaker and educator and who spent 13 years as A Police Officer in the Air National Guard, and continued his Law Enforcement career with the Schaumburg, Illinois Police Department, and then The Larimer County Sheriff's Office in Colorado, as a Patrol, K-9 Officer, as well as an Investigator of Narcotics and Juvenile and Sex Crimes. Ed also worked as a EMS Paramedic, and private ambulance service owner while still involved in Law Enforcement and then was one of the co-founders of, The International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists and is the co-founder of Larimer County Dive Rescue, after which he spent a 23 year career as a Public Safety Chief, developing creative, and integrated approaches to industrial Firefighting, Law Enforcement and EMS for a Political Subdivision in the State of Colorado.

Ed has served on the Advisory Board of a Safehouse for Domestic Violence Survivors, and is a current board member of the Poudre Valley Fire Protection District. He is also a past member of the Advisory Board for RESPONDERSTRONG and currently on the board for AIMS Community College Paramedic Program, and serves on the Advisory Board for ASTI, (Advanced Security Training Institute). Ed is also an Adviser to The Board of Directors of 911 For 911 a First Responder Focused 501c3. He has also presented as an invited featured speaker for the International Sound Healing Conference, as well as the EMS World Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ed is an active board member of First Responder Trauma Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity designed specifically to care for the behavioral and physical health needs of frontline workers, including ALL BADGES, ALL UNIFORMS, ALL SCRUBS , ALL TOGETHER and their families.

Joanne Rupert MA, LPC, NBCC

Co-founder and CEO

Ed Rupert MA, CCHT

Co-founder, Counselor & COO

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