Administration

Debra Unger MA, Regional Administrator

Debra has over 15 years of experience providing mental and behavioral health support to clients of all ages in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings in northern Colorado. Additionally, she has provided executive administrative support in various industries in both the public and private sectors.

Although Debra has not worked as a first responder herself, she has tremendous respect and appreciation for the critical work emergency service providers perform. Her personal family history and early experience of loss have given her deep insight into the enduring effect of trauma and its impact on one’s quality of life and relationships. Debra understands the importance and efficacy of peer support, and is deeply committed to FRTC’s mission to provide specialized mental and behavioral health support and counseling to all first responders and their families in need.

Debra received her Master of Arts in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University, and her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and anthropology from the University of Virginia. In her spare time, Debra enjoys swimming, hiking, biking, gardening, knitting and traveling abroad. First Responder Trauma Counselors is excited to add Debra as another culturally aware member of the tribe.

Jarah Grashorn MSW, LCSW, Directing Clinical Supervisor

It isn't any wonder that Jarah has developed into an industry leader in Crisis and Trauma counseling for both individuals and families. Jarah began her career in emergency departments for two large hospital systems in northern Colorado. However, the true desire to serve the First Responder/family population runs much more deeply and personally.

Jarah grew up around the First Response community as the daughter of a law enforcement officer and sister of a combat veteran. Visits to her grandmother brought additional tales of emergency services. Her grandmother was a 911 operator and was involved in the Fire Service, and marrying a law enforcement officer ultimately set her path. The pride of assisting others and seeing firsthand the emotional toll emergency service took on her loved ones, their families, and her coworkers opened the doors of empathy and care and helped Jarah create her own slant of mitigating trauma in others. Seeing First Responders in the emergency room, meeting with patients, and witnessing the toll the calls were taking on them deepened her commitment to serving the behavioral health needs of First Responder communities.

Jarah has been successfully serving the behavioral health needs of others since 1997. With her unique history and skill set in the emergency services, First Responder Trauma Counselors is proud to add Jarah as another culturally competent, EMDR and FRTC National Peer Support Academy trained therapist.

Julie Buderus MA, Director of Development

Julie has over 25 years of experience working with a variety of non-profit organizations that focus on education and health care. She loves advancing the sustainability of exceptional organizations through donor engagement.

Partnering with First Responder Trauma Counselors is meaningful to her on both a personal and professional level. Julie has many first responders in her family. Her husband serves on a fire board; her son is a fire marshal; and her daughter-in-law, a sister, and several nieces have experience in hospital care. She understands that, while compassion and empathy are important in their line of work, finding a work/life balance can be challenging.

Julie’s formal education includes a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Administration. She spends her free time teaching yoga, spending time in the garden, and she loves to travel.

Isabel Gwilliam MA, Program Support Coordinator

Isabel is a dedicated mother of three, a compassionate professional in the field of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and a highly-educated individual with a master's degree in clinical psychology. Currently, she is furthering her academic pursuits by pursuing a master's degree in healthcare administration, showcasing her commitment to excellence in both mental health and healthcare management.

Originally from England, Isabel made the transatlantic move to the United States in 2006, bringing with her a rich cultural background and a global perspective. Her journey has been marked by a profound passion for aiding first responders, a commitment reflected in her work within the EMS sector. Isabel's extensive experience in civilian EMS roles underscores her dedication to the well-being of those on the front lines of emergency care.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Isabel is deeply involved in non-profit work, channeling her energy into making a positive impact on her community. Her altruistic nature and commitment to service shine through in her efforts to contribute to causes that resonate with her values.

Isabel's life is a testament to her multifaceted commitment — to her family, her profession, and her community. Her unique blend of clinical psychology expertise, healthcare administration aspirations, and a heart for nonprofit endeavors positions her as a dynamic individual making a meaningful difference in the lives of those around her.

Jovanna Brunner MPH, Program Support Specialist

Jovanna is a Colorado native who has had a passion for prevention from a young age. This passion first emerged through interest in nutrition and exercise and Jovanna slowly began to build her expertise as a fitness instructor, holding certifications in yoga, barre, aquatics, and personal training. Jovanna received her Master's of Public Health, with a concentration in Community Health Education, from the Colorado School of Public Health. Having been raised in a First Responder family - she's the daughter of a firefighter and has several other first responders within her immediate family - Jovanna has a heart to understand and serve the needs of the First Responder community.

Jovanna loves to connect with people and considers herself a down-to-earth, approachable person. In her role of quality assurance, she is excited to connect with and reach out to our agencies to learn the needs of our first responder community and share with them the resources they have at their fingertips through FRTC.

Jovanna is a wife and a mom of two. Outside of work you can find her spending time with family out in the sun, crocheting, reading, in the kitchen, or trying to fake it as a modern homesteader. First Responder Trauma Counselors is proud to provide all of our member agencies with this extremely “culturally aware” professional.

Legal

Behler, Weesner & McElroy LLC

At the Law Offices of Behler, Weesner & McElroy LLC, the team of attorneys work collaboratively and compassionately to achieve the best possible outcomes for their clients.

As former Criminal Justice Prosecutors with combined experience of over 24 years, they have not only worked with numerous First Responders, as well as family members and close friends who are First Responders, they have a deep and clear understanding of the emotional toll the First Response career takes on all who serve. They clearly understand and empathize with their clients, because they have experienced those same feelings themselves in prosecuting cases. They offer "Cultural Competency", when working with this population group.

They are excited to work with First Responder Trauma Counselors and look forward to helping individuals and families confronted with issues related to family law, estate planning, business and civil law, as well as criminal defense.

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