Dr. Dara Rampersad, lpc, ncc
Dr. Dara Rampersad is a First Responder and Forensic psychologist who is licensed in both Arizona and Hawaii. He is certified in Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) as a CIT Coordinator, and is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and FBI- Crisis Negotiator Teams (CNT). In addition, Dr. Rampersad is licensed as a professional counselor in Colorado, and is nationally board certified in counseling, with over 27 years of experience in the mental health field.
Dr. Rampersad owns and operates BluePaz First Responder Services, which hosts annual first responder health and wellness conferences and provides counseling, consulting, coaching, critical incident stress debriefings, and training to first responders and their departments on resiliency, stress management and other pertinent topics.
Dr. Rampersad helped to start the world’s first hospital-based CIT program, and he currently serves as the Security Special Operations Senior Director of Crisis Services for a large multi-state hospital system. He was also an instructor at the Naval Postgraduate School- Executive Leadership Program and trains law enforcement agencies, fire departments, hospital staff, paramedics, and other first responders on Crisis Response, PTSD, Resiliency and Mental Health Tactical Intervention (MHTI).
Dr. Rampersad is a founding member and first President of the Arizona CIT Association. He also served on the CIT International board of directors and is an active board member of EMSHelp, Mesa Police Department mental health advisory board, and Phoenix Fire Department paramedic training advisory board.
Dr. Rampersad works with the Peoria Police and other departments as a member of their peer support team, and was also involved as a team leader for an International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) policy group, revising policies and procedures for how law enforcement assist people in mental health crisis.
Dr. Rampersad helped to launch Maui County Police Department’s and the State of Hawaii’s very first CIT program aimed to improve first responder service delivery to people living with mental illness. During this time, he was also able to assist in starting Maui County’s first felony/circuit court mental health court, and he was selected by CIT International as an international behavioral health practitioner of the year.
Dr. Rampersad has appeared on multiple television and radio programs to speak on law enforcement response to mental health, violence risk assessment, homelessness, and other mental health issues. He has also served as an expert witness in complex judicial cases involving involuntary hospitalization and fitness to proceed issues.
Dr. Rampersad has been given letters of commendation by the Governor of Hawaii and the Mayor and Chief of Police of Maui County for his pioneering work in the field of mental health. He was also lauded by and received commendations from the Phoenix Police Department for his assistance in selecting their CIT detective squads, and for his ongoing work in assisting law enforcement as a first responder psychologist.
Matthew Dyer, LPC, ncc
Matthew Dyer is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Approved Clinical Supervisor in Arizona. He is comprehensively trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Matthew is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Professionally, he has experience working with adolescents and adults in many settings ranging from community mental health to secure care settings. He brings a fun, motivating personality into the session. Matthew specialized in working with adults and adolescents struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, trauma, depression, anxiety disorders, interpersonal problems, emotion dysregulation, self-esteem, self-harm, suicidal ideation, conduct disorders, and personality disorders. Matthew’s passion is to empower clients to live a fulfilling life they desire.
Kristi Stuckwisch, LCSW LISAC CFRC CCTP
Kristi has been a dually licensed therapist in the state of Arizona since 2004. Prior to that she was a City of Phoenix police officer and FTO, who came into law enforcement with time as a Victim Advocate for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Major Crimes, Vehicular Homicides and Sex Crimes cases. Kristi is a past and present spouse of a first responder, which provides her lived experiences of the dynamics of first responder marriages, along with her personal experiences as a first responder. Kristi has over 25 years of experience as a mental health clinician, having worked in tribal communities, health care systems, university and community college settings, faith-based communities, and private practice settings. She is an EMDR trained clinician, suicide prevention specialist, certified clinical trauma professional, certified first responder counselor, and a Gottman trained couples therapist who provides individual and couples therapy. Kristi specializes in treating mood disorders, addictions, trauma, relationship issues, PTSD, moral injuries, grief, chronic health conditions and spiritual struggles. Her approach in therapy is direct yet compassionate, offering reflective challenges from a values-driven and calm perspective. Identify sabotaging patterns that negatively impact your world and developing sustainable responses that are healthy is a common focal point in Kristi’s therapeutic care. Away from work, Kristi enjoys doing life with her amazing humans and dogs, listening to great live music, skydiving, and working out.
Maryjoy kearns, lpc, ncc
Maryjoy is a National Board Certified Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She is an EMDRIA-approved EMDR trained therapist with experience implementing a trauma-informed approach to help children and adolescents, adults, and families heal from past adverse experiences. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Professional Honor Society, earning a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. Maryjoy’s passion for serving others influenced past roles in family support and high needs behavior management as well as group facilitation for parents of traumatized children and intensive outpatient adult and adolescent groups focused on harm-reduction and skill-building using dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Prior to pursuing her Masters degree, Maryjoy was a restaurant manager and model striving to work in law enforcement. She made it halfway through the police officer hiring and exam process with hopes to help improve mental health issues through public service before deciding to become a therapist with a goal to help those who serve in law enforcement, military, and other first responders as well as victims of crime, and individuals and families in distress or that have experienced trauma.
stephanie miller, lpc, cctp
As a 10-year veteran, former Law Liaison, and certified Hostage Negotiator, Stephanie is uniquely familiar with the stress and trauma first responders and veterans encounter. She holds bachelors degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice, a masters degree in Professional Counseling. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Forensics. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Complex Trauma Professional (CCTP) in Arizona and Texas, and has spent her career specializing in complex trauma working with survivors of sexual assault and abuse, domestic violence, combat trauma, and PTSD. Stephanie uses a combination of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths through self-exploration and awareness in a neutral and safe space.
juan murillo, jr., lpc, ncc
As a trauma focused therapist, Juan utilizes trauma focused modalities such as EMDR, sandtray, and structural dissociation (parts) or other methods, depending on the client's specific needs. He was born and raised in Arizona, and has worked in many areas over the years, but found his passion in helping others 11 years ago when he went back to school and discovered counseling. He and his wife have been married 8 years as of 2023 and they are raising two children, currently 7 and 11 years old, as well as their 4yr old German Shepard mix. Juan specializes in working with adults, minors 7y and up, and couples. He has worked with first responders in various capacities over the years, and has found that his therapy approach works well with the challenges first responders experience. Juan is also an Arizona board approved Clinical Supervisor.
tuesday lucas, lpc-S, cctp
Tuesday is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) who specializes in helping First Responders with anxiety, marital concerns, issues in the workplace, PTSD and recovery from compulsions. She utilizes multiple modalities of treatment such as Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
As an Active-Duty Veteran, she understands the struggle with returning to "normal life” and wishing that others in your life could understand how you feel. Most of her work as a therapist since 2015 has had a primary focus on Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members, and First Responders. She is trauma-trained and possess multiple certifications in treatments for Veterans, Law Enforcement, EMS, and Healthcare professionals.
Her clients would consider her to be easygoing, kind, authentic, and responsive.
Beth Revell matthews, lcsw
Beth Revell Matthews is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who moved to Arizona in 2014. She has worked in a multitude of settings, including psychiatric inpatient, in-home, community mental health, and currently works in private practice. Beth is an Arizona board approved Clinical Supervisor. Prior to living in Arizona, she served two years in the Illinois Army National Guard in various transportation support positions as well as being a member of the Army Combative Team.
Beth utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy and TF-CBT in her practice. She is also currently pursuing certification in Cognitive Processing Therapy while training her goldendoodle to be a therapy dog. Beth provides in-office, telehealth, and walk and talk therapy. Her target population focus includes the veteran population, first responders, as well as survivors of intimate partner homicide.
When she isn't working or expanding her knowledge base, Beth enjoys spending time with her two children, her husband, and three dogs (including the goldendoodle). She also enjoys knitting, biking, running, and practicing jiujitsu.
Dr. sherry craft, LPC
Dr. Sherry Craft is a Licensed Psychologist (in Arizona and Idaho), holds a PSYPACT E. Passport, and an Arizona Licensed Professional Counselor. With a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Washington State University, Dr. Craft completed her doctoral internship with a private prison in Eloy, Arizona and her post-doctoral fellowship training at a state prison in Phoenix, Arizona. As a public service psychologist, her clinical expertise is rooted in Forensic and Corrections psychology. She has over 15 years of clinical experience with adults and adolescents within various settings, including, correctional facilities, community mental health centers, private practice, and medical hospitals. Her current focus includes Police and Public Safety, including provision of clinical services for First Responders and conducting Pre-employment Psychological Evaluations for Law Enforcement. Her Black Russian Terrier, Ivan, is currently in training to become a certified therapy dog/co-therapist (canine-assisted therapy) and eventually become a certified First Responder Therapy Dog. Dr. Craft’s areas of clinical competency include post-incarceration community reintegration issues; personality disorders; and trauma work. Using a blend of cognitive-behavioral, trauma focused and attachment-based theories, her patients walk away with tangible tools to find strength in effort to renew, refresh or re-write life narratives. She has experience with forensic assessments (i.e., Risk assessments, psychosexual evaluations) and general psychological assessments, including mental health related Compensation and Pension Exams with Military Veterans. She serves as a faculty associate at Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University. She also provides clinical supervision services and is certified with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners Clinical Supervisor Registry. On a personal note, Dr. Craft is native to Phoenix, Arizona and enjoys hot yoga, weight lifting, traveling, golfing, micro-farming, and spending quality time with loved ones (humans and animals alike).