Joyce Gatson, M.A., L.P.C.
Clinical Manager

It isn’t what happens to you, it is what you do about it. - W. Mitchell

As Clinical Manager, Joyce oversees the Phoenix office while continuing to serve clients as well. Joyce has been in the mental health field for over twenty years, serving a wide variety of populations. Her strength is her ability to meet clients where they are and help them achieve their goals through whatever modality is most appropriate for the person.

Joyce is an Arizona Licensed Professional Counselor and an experienced clinical supervisor and clinician.  She holds an M.A. degree in Professional Counseling from Ottawa University and a M.A. in Educational Counseling from Northern Arizona University. Joyce has over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. During that time she has worked at a counselor and enjoyed teaching psychology and counseling course in the Maricopa Community College system as well as Ottawa University.

She is responsible for the overall supervision of a staff of 30 in the Phoenix office as well as overseeing the newly developed and rapidly growing Casa Grande office and Yuma outreach. Joyce sits on the board for the Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition and is an American Red Cross mental health volunteer.

Nathan Lamberth, M.A.
Program Coordinator

As a Program Coordinator, Nathan supervises clinicians in the Phoenix office. He is an Arizona Licensed Professional Counselor. He earned an M.A. degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and an M.A. in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Nathan utilizes a strength-based approach to help clients and clinicians reach their goals.  He has spent a lot of his career working in the Substance Abuse field with adults and children.  His last few years have been focused primarily on supervising clinicians who work with clients with general mental health issues.  His favorite theoretical orientations revolve around Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Behavior Modification.

Ashleigh Henneberger, M.S.W.
Consultant

Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress. - Mohandas Gandhi

Ashleigh’s experience is in substance abuse counseling and integrated dual-diganosis treatment (better known as co-occurring in AZ). She has facilitated group treatment in the past -- and hopefully will have a substance abuse group with CCS in the future. Her "go-to" treatment modality is client-driven therapy and motivational interviewing. She has received both her bachelors and masters degree in Social Work at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. Ashleigh also has experience as a certified medical advocate for victims of sexual/physical/emotional/verbal abuse.

Caty Starkey, A.A.
Support Specialist

As we work to make our individual lives sane and happy we each contribute to the health of our entire planet.

Caty has worked in the behavioral health field and with people with developmental disabilities for over 30 years.  She has specifically worked with people with dual diagnoses. She is currently working as our Support Specialist doing intakes, observations and facilitating Person Centered Plans and Client Family Team Meetings.

Darren Matusen, M.A.
Consultant

After completing his educational and professional training in Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco, Darren began his work with CCS in Phoenix as the organization’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Consultant in August 2005. His consultation work in Arizona has focused on the provision of comprehensive behavioral intervention programs for children with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum. Specifically, he has provided valuable training and guidance to almost two hundred children and their families on the principles of applied behavior analysis, social integration strategies, and sensory processing activities in homes, schools, and community settings. In addition, he co-facilitates social skills groups for children between the ages of 5 and 12 who face a range of difficulties when relating to both peers and adults.

DeOtis Nunn, M.B.A.
Consultant

We ether influence change or be affected by those who do.

DeOtis has a wide range of experience working with people with developmental disabilities. He specializes in using positive inquiry and positive intervention with his clients with whom he does counseling and consulting as part of the DDD Team.

Ed Ottesen, B.A., C.A.D.A.C.
Consultant

Poetry and Hums aren’t things which you get, they’re things which get you.  And all you can do is to go where they can find you. - Winnie the Pooh

With an AAS in Substance Abuse Counseling and a B.A in Psychology, Ed has 11 years experience serving those in mental health capacities.  Presently completing his Masters of Professional Counseling degree at Ottawa University with a concentration to trauma, abuse, and deprivation, Ed comes with a military background of serving as a Combat Mental Health Counselor and Substance abuse Counselor for the United States Army.  Ed concentrates his counseling services to issues regarding substance dependence/abuse, trauma, abuse, neglect, grief, deprivation, and pervasive developmental concerns.  Ed has come from working with adjudicated sexual problem behavior youth and those with substance dependence. He is also a Certified Addiction Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Ed is active with the Arizona Play Therapy Association and employs these methods through his approach.  Ed’s strength based approach incorporates the family and social system structured around purposeful and goal directed behaviors, within an individual needs philosophy.  Ed is married to his wife Amy of 11 years, enjoying his family of two nephews, two Golden Retrievers, and two cats.

Kristen Ward, M.A.
Consultant; Group Coordinator

The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul! – Proverbs 13:19

Kristen graduated with a M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Boston College.  Her experience in Boston and in Phoenix has been working with children and families on family dynamics and developmental disabilities, and she specializes in group counseling and children with Asperger's.

Lee Martinez, B.S.
Consultant

It's not what becomes of a person, but what a person becomes that truly matters - author unknown

Lee graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Psychology and is currently working towards his Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling. Lee has lived in many countries, including Brazil, Germany, and India in the roles of missionary, army officer, and corporate officer, respectively. As a parent for nearly 20 years and as a therapeutic foster parent, Lee has working knowledge of the legal foundation for child welfare services, creating partnership development plans, attachment and child development, behavior management, birth family connections, shared parenting, strengths and needs assessment, parenting sexually abused children, the Adult-Children-Youth-Family (ACYF) Discipline Policy and the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). Lee also has experience working with children considered medically fragile. When working with adults, Lee likes using motivational interviewing (MI) as a pretreatment, as well as episodically throughout cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and conducting CBT in the MI spirit. Also, CBT informed by systems theory for couples and families.

Trisha Cairns, M.S.W.
Consultant

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. - Dalai Lama

Trisha earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with an emphasis on providing Solution Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and has worked in the human services field for nine years. She has experience working with foster families, CPS, and DDD. She was the social worker on a multi-disciplinary team in a skilled nursing facility, providing services to the geriatric and SMI populations. Trisha has also spent some time providing Solution Focused Therapy and facilitating groups in a residential treatment program for adolescents. She looks forward to using whatever approach best supports each client in reaching their goals.

Genny Townsend, B.S.
Consultant

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations. - Charles R. Swindoll

Genny is a Consultant with a passion for assisting people with their behavioral health needs. She approaches people using the behavioral health philosophy MMWIA (Meet Me Where I Am). She has a wide range of experience working with children and their families in the Spectrum of Autism, Bipolar, and Reactive Attachment Disorders. She is continuing her education and training by moving towards completing her Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling.

Heather Pierucki
Consultant

Bio coming soon...

Angela Pergoda, M.A.
Consultant

Angela graduated from Argosy University with a MA in Mental Health Counseling with a Forensic Concentration. She is a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health and is currently working on completing the last of her hours towards becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

Angela completed her practicum experience through the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections where she was responsible for the counseling and mental health needs of male juvenile offenders. Angela also has 6 years’ experience in the mental health field and 8 years’ experience working among diverse populations (refugees from the Middle East and Africa) and “at risk” youth and families in the community. She practices from a Strengths based and Person Centered perspective utilizing Motivational interviewing and MET / CBT combination to alleviate resistance. Angela has experience working with Substance Abuse problems, Trauma (PTSD), Grief/ Loss, and Attachment. She adheres to the Transactional Model of Development which “suggests that the development of a child is a product of the continuous dynamic interactions between the child and the experience provided by his or her family and social context” (Sameroff & Fiese, 2000, p. 10).

Angela is currently involved in the Harris Institute’s 3 year program to achieve endorsement from the Infant and Toddler Mental Health Coalition of Arizona. Previously at Southwest Network, she was involved in assessing and diagnosing children in the birth to five years of age population using the DC: 0-3R.

Martha Gamez, B.A.
Administrative Assistant

To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that. - St. Teresa of Avila

Martha has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She provides administrative and program support. Before joining CCS she was a School Governing Board Assistant and Administrative Assistant to District Superintendent. In previous years, she has held clerical, administration, secretarial and customer service positions in several fields. Martha is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Sheri Hall, B.S.
Administrative Assistant

Intense love does not measure, it just gives. - Mother Teresa

Sheri is the first person you’ll see when arriving at CCS as she greets people who come into the office. As one of the administrative assistants, Sheri helps in keeping the office running smoothly through her work in records and billing. Originally from Denver, Sheri has traveled throughout Europe. She is becoming more involved in efforts within the Phoenix community to decrease human trafficking and to help those who have been victims. Sheri holds a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Health and Family studies, and she enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Ruby Ramos
Administrative Assistant

Bio coming soon...

Susana Durnan
File Clerk

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. - Mother Teresa

Susana has 12 years of experience working in Cardiology, Endocrinology and Workman’s Compensation. She will graduate with her degree from the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at West Coast Ultrasound Institute in June of 2011.