Home

Clinical Director and Founder Rick Baker, has been providing evidence-based behavioral health services to first responders and responder agencies in North Carolina since 2007. He is the current Clinical Director of the Western North Carolina Peer Support Network, providing oversight of and post-critical incident services to first responders, across all disciplines, in North Carolina’s 22 […]

Embedded Behavioral Health Clinician Jessica received her master’s degree from Western Carolina University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.  Jessica focuses on providing quality therapy using empirically-based treatments including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Jessica has worked with individuals struggling with anxiety, mood and psychotic disorders.  She specializes in substance abuse and dual diagnosis […]

Embedded Behavioral Health Clinician Crystal received her master’s degree from Montreat College’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.  She is currently pursuing a Phd in Counseling and Psychological Studies at Regent University specializing in Trauma and Crisis work.  Crystal focuses on providing quality therapy using empirically based treatments including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment […]

Embedded Behavioral Health Clinician Joellen has more than 15 years of experience providing crisis response and trauma-related behavioral health support. She has done extensive work with first responders and with communities recovering from natural disasters and mass casualty events.  Joellen has personal experience as well with first responder culture as she has grown up in […]

MA, LPA, Clinician Amanda received her master’s degree from Western Carolina University’s Clinical Psychology program. Amanda focuses on providing client-centered quality therapy using empirically-based treatments such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Amanda has worked with individuals struggling with anxiety, mood, ADHD, trauma, and psychotic disorders. Amanda has assisted the Western North Carolina Peer Support Network by […]

Clinician Amy Justice received her master’s degree from Appalachian State University in Human Development and Psychological Counseling.  Amy focuses on making the therapeutic environment and relationship safe and welcoming for her clients, especially those who are seeking mental health services for the first time. Amy is trained evidence-based treatments including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance […]

Embedded Behavioral Health Clinician Courtney received her master’s degree from Appalachian State University in Marriage and Family therapy and has over 15 years of experience working in the mental health field.  Courtney is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and a is a clinical supervisor for provisionally licensed marriage and […]

Office Manager

Education and Outreach Tina Jaeckle, Ph. D. is a LCSW in Florida and has over two decades of mental health and is intervention experience. Dr. Jaeckle has presented nationally on issues of crisis/trauma/stress/critical incidents, officer involved shootings and resiliency, and suicide (law enforcement). She serves as the mental health/training coordinator for several CISM/Peer Support and […]

Joel completed his paramedic training at AB Tech before going to work as a paramedic in South Carolina and Georgia.  He went on to pursue PA training at the Medex PA Program at the University of Washington. He moved back to Western North Carolina to work as a psychiatric provider in 2014 and owns Ridgeline […]

WNC Medical Claims

Dr. Signi Goldman is a board certified General Adult Psychiatrist. She has practiced in multiple clinical settings, both in hospital systems and alternative treatment centers, and integrates these approaches into an individualized, evidence-based practice. Dr. Goldman graduated from University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and completed residency training at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at […]

Social Media Manager Abigail is the Social Media Manager for Responder Support Services. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Asheville in 2021 with a Bachelor of Mass Communications specializing in media production. Abigail maintains all social media platforms for RSS and keeps content current, which includes routine research of mental health news/information and […]

Clinician Keith started working with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2009. Since then, he has worked with patients from a broad range of backgrounds, combat veterans, first responders, crime victims, torture survivors, sexual assault survivors, and natural disaster victims. He is committed to using the best available treatments to help people recover and move […]

Sandy is one of our embedded therapists working at the Asheville Fire Department and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She focuses on providing quality therapy using empirically based treatments including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE).

Human Resources Russell Connor is a veteran of the US Army 82nd Airborne Division and served in Operation Desert Storm. He was a law enforcement officer for more than twenty years serving as a patrol officer, criminal investigator, SWAT operator, District Attorney’s Office Investigator, and Law Enforcement Instructor. Russ works internationally as a military trainer […]

Embedded Behavioral Health Clinician Lisa is finishing her final year as a doctoral student at the University of Kentucky. She received her master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania. Lisa focuses on using empirically-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Prolonged […]

Nelda St. Clair, Bureau of Land Management, National Office FA-100 Position: National Critical Incident Stress Program Manager Rick Baker is one of the few Mental Health Professionals selected by the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Interior to provide clinical expertise for wildland fire and aviation personnel who have been involved in a critical […]

Van Duncan, Buncombe County (NC) Sheriff’s Office Position: Sheriff Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office has found that having embedded mental health has been of tremendous benefit. Law enforcement officers and first responders see tragedy on a regular basis. Even though it becomes part of their day-to-day job, the trauma they see impacts them the same as […]

Jesse English, Mitchell County Emergency Management Position: Director Why small county law enforcement officers need clinical services, or better yet, embedded clinical services? Being in law enforcement and responding to traumatic events and emergencies anywhere is hard, it takes a physical and mental toll on officers and on their families. The issues working in smaller […]

Eric Martinez, USDA Forest Service, National Incident Management Organization Position: National Critical Incident Stress Management Coordinator I have had the pleasure of knowing Rick Baker for two years. During the years of our acquaintance, I have known Rick to go far beyond his responsibilities while assignments. Rick is one of the trauma clinicians I have […]