Protector Overwatch
Supporting those who serve and support our communities
What is Protector Overwatch?
Protector Overwatch at Ellie Mental Health is a multi-faceted initiative that serves the wellness needs of those who serve and protect our communities. We offer a variety of services to our clients including individual therapy, couples therapy, family therapy, support groups, and medication management. We also support law enforcement and first responder agencies by offering different services including wellness consultations, critical incident response, and a variety of training. Each of these offerings is customizable and built specifically to fit the needs, wants, and desires of the organization or individual.
Wellness Check-in vs. Therapy
Our protector overwatch program partners with multiple law enforcement and first responder agencies to provide wellness check-ins. This service is funded by the department/agency and is meant to encourage employees to explore various ways in which they take care of themselves (i.e physically, emotionally, socially, mentally). Whereas therapy sessions can be covered via insurance, EAP or through department covered sessions.
Program Details
Protector Overwatch provides services to Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers, Corrections, Military Service Members, Veterans and their family members.
Protector Overwatch providers are specially trained mental health providers who each have a powerful desire to serve those who serve others. Each provider has their own personal connection to these populations and is very aware of the unique challenges that these populations face.
Sometimes being a member of these populations can be hard. Finding support should not be. Contact Protector Overwatch to see how we can help support you, your organization, or your family. If you are interested in finding out how we can help, please send us a message via the contact form listed below.
Looking to set up a program within your department?
Contact us at 651.319.1059 or [email protected].
Individual Services
- Therapeutic Services (Individual, Couples, Family)
- Medication Management
- Transition Support (Retirement + Unexpected Leave)
Organizational Services
- Wellness Check-Ins
- Critical Incident Response
- Ongoing Support
- On-Demand Crisis Support
- Suicide Postvention
- Department Wide Trainings
Wellness Check-Ins
50-minute appointment with a Law Enforcement mental health provider. During the check-in, we are not providing therapy or a diagnosis. It’s more like a conversation. The only documentation for the wellness check-in is the signed consent form. Confidentiality is critical and the only information that goes back to the department is a checkmark next to the officer’s name saying that they did what they needed to do.
Critical Incident Response
The World Health Organization defines a critical incident as an event out of the range of normal experience – one that is sudden and unexpected, involves the perception of a threat to life, and can include elements of physical and emotional loss. We typically open this up to any sworn officer or staff who believes they have experienced a critical incident and wants to receive support services. Most departments choose up to five sessions with an Ellie Mental Health provider who has experience working with law enforcement.
Ongoing Support
Wellness check-ins are a good stepping stone to therapy. Sometimes after people have a chance to sit down and talk about how things are going in their life, they recognize that they may benefit from getting set up with a therapist. Many departments have chosen to offer a pool of additional sessions for their staff to use. The average is 3-5 sessions per person. One of the benefits of the department covering the cost of additional sessions is that there aren’t records kept like there is when using insurance.
Medication Management
Our Law Enforcement and First Responder Program has 3 medication management providers who specifically work with law enforcement, first responders, and veterans. They’re specially trained to work with this population and understand the importance of anonymity and confidentiality.
Department-Wide Training
We can provide customized trainings to fit the needs of your organization. Examples of trainings/topics include: Tactical Wellness, Stress Management, Substance Use, Peer Support, Family Support, Suicide Prevention and Aromatherapy.
On-Demand Crisis Support
If an agency has experienced a critical incident or even if a few officers had a rough shift, a couple of our providers can come out to the department to provide individual or group support.
Suicide Postvention
In the unfortunate event of a suicide within your department or agency, immediate support is available in regard to messaging, notifications, and individual and group support.
Protector Overwatch Team
Protector Overwatch providers are specially trained mental health providers who have received advanced education and who each have a powerful desire to serve those who serve others. Each provider has their own personal connection to these populations and is very aware of the unique challenges that these populations face.
Jennifer Keehn
MA, LPCC
Clinical Operations Director and Protector Overwatch Expert
Abbie Sonstegard
MS, LADC
Therapist
Alicia Exsted
MA, LPCC
Assistant Clinical Operations Director
Allison Affolter
MA, LMFT, LADC
Therapist
Amber Gale
MSW, LGSW
Therapist
Andrea Hofstad
LICSW
Therapist
Billie Jo Story
MA, LSW, LPCC
Clinical Operations Director
Cassandra Gomez
MA, LPC
Therapist
Charley Pflanze
Therapist
Cindy Howard
MEd, LPCC, LPC, CCM
Assistant Clinical Operations Director, Therapist
Dan Aleckson
MA, LPCC
Therapist
Emily Groteboer-Distad
MS, LPCC, NCC
Therapist
Emily Shopek
MSW, LICSW
Therapist
Erika Teachout
MS, LPCC
Therapist
Hannah Aase
MA, LMFT
Therapist
Hannah Kidder
MPS, LPCC, LADC
Therapist
Hannah Partch
MSW, LGSW
Therapist
Heather Bromann
Heather Feikema
MSW
Therapist
Heather Hall
MSW, LGSW
Therapist
Jamie Rigling
LICSW, LADC
Therapist
Janel Slowinski
MSW, LICSW
Therapist
Jenny Owens
MS, LMFT
Clinic Director
Jessie Colter
MSW, LICSW
Clinic Director
Joan Shepperd
MA, LMFT
Therapist
John Martinez
MS
Therapist
Kaitlyn Conner
MS
Therapist
Kristen Neisen
MA, LADC, LPCC-IT
Therapist
Kristin Wanhala
MSW, LGSW
Therapist
Kylie Olson
MEd
Therapist
Laura Lammar-Binder
MA
Therapist
Lauri Wood
PhD, LAMFT
Therapist
Liz Banovetz
LMFT
Therapist
Lora Kelley
MA, LMFT
Therapist
Lynsey Stemig
MA, LPCC
Therapist
Marlena Sauer
MA, LMFT
Assistant Clinical Operations Director
Mary Mackiewicz
MA
Therapist
Matt Johnson
LPCC
Therapist
Molly Sartor
MA, LPCC
Therapist
Riley Goodall
MSW, LICSW
Therapist
Ross Gildow
MA
Therapist
Ruth Denton-Graber
LPCC, LMFT, NCC, CDBT
Therapist
Sarah Christopherson
MSW, LICSW
Therapist
Scott Zien-Edgar
MA, LPCC, CIMHP
Therapist
Sia Khang
MA
Child Focused Therapist
Susan L. Ivancie
MA, CLC
Therapist
Teresa Halmar
LPCC
Therapist
Trevor Gohner
MS, LPCC
Therapist
Zachary Lee
MA, MBA, LADC
Therapist
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