Matt^LCSW, LAC^Crisis Clinician
Matt grew up in Taos, New Mexico and graduated from Hobart and William Smith Colleges with a BA in Psychology and a Minor in Child Advocacy in 2010. He earned a Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College in 2014. Matt began his career as a school clinician in New York City before moving to the Front Range of Colorado, where he obtained his LAC and began working in various community mental health programs specializing in crisis management and dual diagnosis therapy.
Matt’s mission is to support individuals in crisis, guiding them toward stability and resilience. He believes this process begins with youth through prevention and interventions and, in order to be successful, we must incorporate parents and community resources. Matt’s extensive experience includes direct client care and leadership in supervisory roles, where he has mentored and guided other clinicians in best practices. He is committed to fostering environments where individuals can heal and thrive, reinforcing the importance of community and connection in the process.
Having been raised in a small, close-knit community where the idea of “it takes a village” was front and center, aligning perfectly with the mission of Aspen Hope Center. He believes his experience can best serve people in smaller communities, helping them grow and connect; and he looks forward to being involved professionally and personally in the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding areas. An avid skier, biker and triathlete, Matt is passionate about the outdoors and feels that personal growth requires a connection with both the place and the people around oneself.
Brian^LPCC^Crisis Clinician
Brian was born and raised in Iowa where he studied Neuroscience and Psychology at Wartburg College. His undergraduate research focused on the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences and the brain structures associated with substance use. He attended The Chicago School where he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Brian has experience in community mental health working with all ages. Brian was introduced to crisis services in his graduate internship where he worked at a walk-in crisis center. He is passionate about providing trauma-informed care, assisting in instilling hope and connecting people to the services they need. In his free time, Brian enjoys playing guitar, watching sports, hiking, biking and cooking.
Chris^LPCC^Crisis Clinician
A Midwesterner by birth and temperament, Chris originally hails from in and around Chicago but has called Colorado home for almost 20 years. He studied Political Science in college with the aim of changing the world, but eventually realized that the best way to do so might be one person at a time. Hence he began working in social and human services, eventually earning a graduate degree in Psychology and working in education, hospice and mental health. He has worked with a broad range of people in a variety of treatment settings, from inpatient facilities to integrative health clinics to outpatient agencies, where he has supported people experiencing various kinds of social, psychiatric and spiritual distress and crisis. He is grateful to work and play in the mountains and deserts of Colorado and, when not on shift, he’s likely to be camping with his family, reading a book, listening to almost any genre of music or sighing plaintively while removing burrs or foxtails from the too-long fur of a mischievous juvenile Bernedoodle.
Taylor^LPC^Crisis Clinician
Taylor is native to the Roaring Fork Valley. She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado. She went on to complete her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adam's State University. She started crisis work at a residential treatment facility for youth and found a passion for it there. She has continued crisis work throughout her career and has a love for helping the community in which she grew up.
Alden^Crisis Clinician
Alden was born and raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Spartanburg, SC. He has always been passionate about spending time in the outdoors, which led him to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2015. He enjoys skiing, hiking with his yellow lab, fishing and biking. Alden is an Eagle Scout and NOLS graduate. He has a BA in History from the University of South Carolina. Alden holds a deep sense of empathy and an ability to connect with and meet people where they are, free of judgment. He has experience working with high-acuity individuals, homeless outreach, individual and group counseling, case management and diagnostic evaluations. He loves giving back to the community that has given so much to him and that he has called home for nearly a decade.
Lexi ^MS^Crisis Clinician
Lexi earned her BS in Psychology from the University of Southern Indiana, then went on to complete her MS in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University in August 2023. Lexi has been working in the mental health field since September of 2020, and most recently fell in love with the work she did as a crisis responder at her local community mental health center. She did not always know that she wanted to work in the mental health field, but as she completed her degrees and gained more experience, there was something unique that drew her to crisis services — the fact that she was helping pull people out of some of the darkest moments of their life and reminding them that their life is worth living and that people do care, even if they are just a stranger. Lexi recently relocated to the Roaring Fork Valley to join the Aspen Hope Center team. Given the hard work associated with crisis services, Lexi enjoys spending her off-time with her dog Ocean and with her family, as well as exploring nature and learning more about her surroundings. Most importantly, Lexi is looking forward to exploring the local hiking trails and creating her home in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Casey M^M.Ed.^Crisis Clinician
Casey is a mental health professional who transitioned from central Pennsylvania to the scenic Roaring Fork Valley. Her academic journey began with an undergraduate degree in Business and Communications. Her initial engagement in event sales hinted at her knack for connecting with people and facilitating meaningful interactions which led her to pursue a graduate degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in School Counseling. Upon completing her academic endeavors, Casey found her true calling within the mental health field where she found herself drawn to crisis intervention, recognizing the profound impact she could have in supporting individuals during their most challenging moments. This specialization became the cornerstone of her career as a mental health professional.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Casey is an avid enthusiast of outdoor activities. Whether it's hiking through picturesque trails, skiing down powdery slopes, or simply soaking in the natural beauty that surrounds her, Casey finds solace and joy in the great outdoors.
Casey R^MA^Crisis Clinician
Casey graduated with her Master’s Degree in Psychology in 2021. Throughout school, she gained experience in a myriad of mental health environments to shape her perspectives. Such roles include serving as a recovery coach in a transitional vocational and residential program for individuals with mental health and substance use histories, residential program supervision for individuals with autism, crisis intervention casework for inpatient hospitalization in Philadelphia during the pandemic, and co-response in Mesa County. Her self-care regimen includes hiking with her dog, practicing yoga and anything in the kitchen.
Jillian^ MA, LPCC ^Crisis Clinician
Jillian was born and raised in Canyon, Texas. She attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Counseling. Jillian has experience working with individuals from all walks of life. She grew up playing sports and has a love for the outdoors. She enjoys hiking, snowboarding, water sports, swimming, and all the activities associated with water. She is adventurous and always open to trying new and exciting things. If she is not working, you will find her outdoors. Jillian recently relocated to Colorado with her two Australian shepherds. She is passionate about mental health and works as a crisis clinician with the Garfield County team.
Jacob^LPC^Crisis Clinician
Jacob grew up in southeast Virginia and chose his first career path in architecture and design. Sitting behind a computer all day didn't sound that exciting so he chose to focus on the human side of things, how we interact and the relationships we build with the world and systems around us. For his undergraduate degree, he went to Christopher Newport University and majored in childhood psychology, minoring in religious studies.
After traveling for some time, Jacob then enrolled at Prescott College for his Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a concentration in Adventure Based Therapy. Jacob has been in the crisis field since 2014 and wants to continue to support people in finding adaptive and systemic ways to help them overcome crisis situations. He also really likes coffee and exploring outside.
Karmen^LCSW^Crisis Clinician/AVH Social Worker
Karmen moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1988. After working in many non-profits and customer related fields, she moved to Denver to pursue a degree in Social Work. Karmen received her MSW from the University of Denver in 2001.While pursuing her degree and thereafter, Karmen worked in several residential treatment centers as a milieu supervisor and a treatment coordinator for adolescent males and females. She developed treatment plans, coordinated clinical service delivery, provided assessment, facilitation of groups, and direct treatment services to clients.
Lauren^LPC^Crisis Clinician
Lauren was born and raised in New Jersey, and has always had a passion for traveling. She ventured to New Orleans for her undergraduate studies at Tulane University, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology.
Growing up skiing, Lauren felt a strong connection to the mountains, which led her to move to Aspen a decade ago. She pursued her graduate education at the University of Denver, earning a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health and specialization in Addictions. During her graduate internship, she gained valuable experience providing walk-in and mobile crisis services in the Denver area.
After completing her graduate program, Lauren returned to the East Coast, where she worked in Manhattan and the Bronx providing case management for individuals suffering from mental illness and housing insecurity. Missing Colorado, she decided to move back to the Roaring Fork Valley. Since 2019, Lauren has continued her dedication to crisis work with Aspen Hope Center, where she supports individuals in their most challenging moments.