Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic

Tom Caughlan, MSW, LCSW

Mr. Caughlan is the Clinical Director of the Healing Division at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at UCCS. He has an extensive leadership background in the healthcare sector, with his most recent management roles at Children's Hospital Colorado and Centura Health. As the Clinical Director of the Healing Division, Caughlan is overseeing clinical operations for the Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic, as well as the Milestones Resilience Care clinic. 

Lisa L. Decker, MA, LPC

Ms. Decker provides direct clinical services to adolescent and adult trauma survivors at the VHTC, while also providing clinical consultation and grant support services to the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience research team. Since joining the University in 2009, Ms. Decker has held a variety of faculty research and clinical positions, including Interim Clinic Director, Clinical Supervisor, Graduate Student Training Coordinator, and Professional Research Assistant. Having experience in research and clinical operations, program management, and various educational and instructional positions, Ms. Decker brings her clinical and research expertise to promote resilience among trauma survivors utilizing evidenced-based treatments such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction techniques, CBT, EMDR, CPT, DBT, and RO-DBT. Ms. Decker graduated from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and periodically teaches both undergraduate and graduate psychology courses at UCCS.

Erin Fowler, MA, LPC

Ms. Fowler serves at the Strategic Alliances Liaison, Student Training Supervisor, and a Clinical Therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. She has been a practicing psychotherapist since 2003. While direct clinical work has always been at the forefront for her, Ms. Fowler has branched out as a clinical supervisor, case manager, and media consultant/community educator regarding mental health and PTSD. She served a variety of populations along the Front Range through her work with AspenPointe, TESSA, and Urban Peak, prior to joining the team at the Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic in 2014. Ms. Fowler specializes in treating complex posttraumatic stress disorder and dissociation in a variety of populations including those with extensive combat history and those in law enforcement. Alongside her clinical duties, Ms. Fowler coordinates Strategic Alliances for the Clinic and provides training and supervision to students in the UCCS PhD in Psychology Program (Trauma Track). Ms. Fowler is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and holds a Disaster Behavioral Health Field Response Certification (MRC). She has special expertise in both Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and EMDR. Additionally, Ms. Fowler is passionate about the intersection of creativity and healing. Currently, she helps facilitate a weekly writing class for veterans with esteemed local writers and continues to work within the arts community to train and design new interventions. Ms. Fowler earned her Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado.

Bradley Lawrence Mallett, MA, LPC, EAC

Mr. Mallett is a Licensed Professional Counselor, EMDRIA Certified Therapist, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Mallett has been in the helping/mental health field since 2010 after graduating from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In 2014, he earned a master’s degree in counseling at the University of Northern Colorado. Since becoming a counselor, he has focused on mindfulness, dialectical behavioral therapy, and trauma focused care for anxiety management and trauma processing. In addition to his role as a clinical therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience – Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic, Mallett works as a community support specialist, providing community trainings focused on self-efficacy, resilience, and peer support.

Nicole Weis, LPC, LAC, RYT-200

Ms. Weis is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Addiction Counselor, and Registered Yoga Teacher. She is a Clinical Therapist at the VHTC and Peer Support Program Manager for the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience. In her role at the institute, Nicole provides Peer Support training to several organizations in Colorado, teaches the Trauma Training for Professionals online program, manages the GRIT Coaching Program, and liaisons with the 4th Judicial Veterans Trauma Court. Nicole is skilled in de-escalation and specializes in working through crises and first responders. She utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT), as well as holistic techniques of grounding, mindfulness, and breathing. Nicole is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Master’s in Clinical Psychology program, with an emphasis in trauma.

Tim Doenges, PhD

Dr. Tim Doenges first became interested in working in the mental health field while volunteering at a transitional home for people coming out of prison in South Bend, Indiana. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Program of Liberal Studies University of Notre Dame in 2001 and began working in the field of mental health. He served in AmeriCorps at a psychiatric hospital for children, facilitated family psychoeducational groups, and has worked with therapeutic wilderness programs. He earned a master's degree in Community Counseling from Western Carolina University in 2005 and then worked as the Bereavement Coordinator for a hospice program for several years. Tim then earned his PhD in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University, completing his predoctoral internship at the Denver VA Medical Center. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in primary care-mental health integration with the Colorado Health Foundation. He comes to the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience after working with active-duty military service members and military veterans for 8 years. His primary clinical interests are in health psychology and integrated care.

Julie Eichelberger, MA, LPC

Ms. Eichelberger is a contract clinical therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. She brings over 17 years of experience in the mental health field. Ms. Eichelberger started her career focusing on children at Deveraux Cleo Wallace, Pikes Peak Family Center, and the Child and Family Clinic. Ms. Eichelberger then began to focus specifically on trauma in children and 9 years ago expanded her focus to include adults as well. She worked for both First Choice Counseling Center and Warrior Support Center. Ms. Eichelberger utilizes a variety of different treatments including EMDR, ACT, DBT, mindfulness, CPT, IFS and techniques from energy psychology. Ms. Eichelberger earned both her Bachelors and Masters degrees through UCCS and is happy to be back at the University.

Shannon Everett, MA, LPC

Ms. Everett is a Contract Clinical Therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. She brings over 15 years of experience working in the mental health field including in inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospital (PHP) settings with children, adolescents, and adults. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), Play Therapy, CBT, DBT skills, and Family Systems. She is passionate about serving those who have mood and trauma spectrum disorders including issues related to combat trauma, developmental trauma, and complex trauma. Ms. Everett holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver.

Amanda Jepson, MA, LPC

Ms. Jepson is a Contract Clinical Therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. Her prior experience includes a community-based nonprofit in Minneapolis, Minnesota that served survivors of sexual violence. She worked as a Program Director with a Partial Hospitalization Program in Colorado Springs focused on providing crisis stabilization and trauma processing in a fast-paced, short-term setting. Ms. Jepson utilizes a variety of interventions, including EMDR, mindfulness, CPT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing to assist her adult clients. Her specific areas of experience include working with those who have mood and trauma spectrum disorders or experienced combat trauma, childhood physical or sexual abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, or vicarious trauma. Ms. Jepson also specializes in working from a sex-positive perspective to address sex, sexuality, and diverse gender issues, as well as empowering those reclaiming their identity in the aftermath of trauma. She has expertise working with individuals identifying within the LGBTQ+, polyamorous or open relationship, and kink communities. Ms. Jepson graduated with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University-Twin Cities.

Colleen Kibbie-Vest, MSW, LCSW

Ms. Kibbie-Vest is a contract clinical therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. Ms. Kibbie-Vest has 35 years of experience serving both military and civilian clients throughout Colorado Springs and with the US Army and Air Force at Ft Irwin, CA. Prior to joining the clinical team at Veteran’s Health and Trauma Clinic, Ms. Kibbie-Vest also served a variety of populations through her work in hospital settings for both inpatient and outpatient mental health, addiction treatment, and brief treatment at Penrose, Kaiser Permanente, and the Iowa and Nebraska Mercy hospital systems. She provided therapy for clients at the Warriors Support Center and the Pro Behavioral Health outpatient clinics. She started her clinical career with a specialty in sexual victimization eventually becoming the Supervisor of Sexual Treatment at Mercy Hospital in Western Iowa. She has 16 years in private practice working with individuals, couples and families and advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), human sexuality (Menninger School for Psychiatry and Allied Health Sciences), divorce/remarriage issues, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Ms. Kibbie-Vest earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from Smith College in Northampton, MA. 

Miranda Shaw, PsyD

Dr. Shaw is a contract psychologist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. Dr. Shaw brings 10 years of clinical experience and skills including early childhood trauma intervention, effective treatment for older adults, and military veterans with an emphasis in trauma. She has worked within the Colorado Springs mental health community since 2010 in clinical and leadership roles. She primarily uses cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, and dialectic behavior interventions to treat anxiety, depression, trauma, emotion dysregulation, and other mood disorders. She also specializes in helping caregivers navigate caring for their loved ones through accessing resources and setting up structures for care that allow both parties to maintain their quality of life. She received her doctorate in psychology at the University of Denver (PsyD). 

Abbey Westphal, MSW, LCSW

Ms. Westphal is a clinical therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. She is a licensed clinical social worker, practicing as a psychotherapist since 2015. Ms. Westphal has served in a variety of roles in her professional experience, to include community mental health as a trauma and sexual behavior specialist, director of a case management program serving military families at risk for experiencing homelessness, clinical supervisor to a variety of masters and post-masters level clinicians in training, and as a manager/practitioner in outpatient private practice. Ms. Westphal has a background in serving individuals and families navigating complex intersections of biological, social, emotional, and environmental factors intensified by trauma. She utilizes a variety of therapeutic interventions such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive skills/evidenced based trauma treatment (CPT/CBT), Internal Family Systems Therapy, attachment-focused interpersonal skill-building, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Ms. Westphal earned a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences degree in 2013 and a Master of Social Work degree in 2015.

Dana Williams, LMFT

Ms. Williams is a contract therapist at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. She has a passion for working with children and youth, and brings over 18 years of experience, including specialized training with developmental delays, EMDR, crisis intervention, and play therapy for her younger clients. Ms. Williams received her master’s degree from Pepperdine University and her undergraduate degree through UCCS. She enjoys engaging children and teens in therapy through a variety of different treatments such as EMDR, cognitive behavior therapy, DBT, and through play therapy techniques.

Janet Fritz

Ms. Fritz is the office manager at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. She is responsible for the front and back office operations of the clinic. She works with insurance payers and the VA to make our client’s experience as smooth as possible. She has decades of experience in administrative work in clinic settings and case management experience with the department of social services. Her commitment to client care is the foundation of being selected as Employee of the Quarter in 2018.

Amy Huntington Hollis

Ms. Huntington is the office coordinator at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic and is responsible for the front office operations of the clinic. In her role, Huntington works with clinic staff, student employees, and the public, coordinating front desk operations. She has previous experience working in several capacities in other clinical administration roles. Ms. Huntington is proud to be serving Veterans, first responders, and their families, and is grateful to be part of the UCCS family.

Jodi Savino

Ms. Savino is the billing and authorization coordinator at the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience - Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic. She is responsible for client accounts and all payment authorizations for care in the clinic. Savino works with clinicians, insurance payers, the Veterans Administration, and clients to ensure this process runs smoothly. She has worked for over twenty years in the financial end of the healthcare industry and holds a degree in business administration.

New client forms and information

• Client Information Sheet (pdf)
• Notice of Privacy Practices (pdf)
• Directions to the VHTC (pdf)

Research Registry

Interested in being considered for research opportunities? Join our research registry! Click this link to be enrolled: https://www.uccs.edu/thhc/trauma-research-registry