Program Staff & Interns
Judy Becerra, M.S., L.P.C. - Director of Programs
Judy joined the team with more than 20 years experience in the mental health field. The majority of her experience has been running programs working with traumatized children, adolescents and their families in private practice as well as in inpatient and residential treatment settings. Judy has written many articles on parenting and mental health issues relating to children and adolescents. She has also been actively involved in juvenile justice issues, working with the US Department of Justice on developing best practice treatment standards for adolescents. After losing her own child to cancer in 2005, Judy became passionate about helping other families in the healing process.
Jason Stout - Outreach & Education Manager
Although Jason joined the staff in October, 2007 he has been a dedicated Judi’s House volunteer for more than three years. The deaths of his sister, grandmother, and father, by the age of fourteen, drew him to Judi’s House. Prior to joining the team, he spent the last six and half years working for Outward Bound. During his Outward Bound career, he instructed wilderness courses for at-risk teens, coordinated scholarships for low-income youth, and as Rocky Mountain Outreach Manager, facilitated hundreds of presentations and leadership workshops in high schools and colleges throughout the country. Inspired by both organizations he co-pioneered and manages the Judi’s House Outward Bound Wilderness Adventure.
Michael Burson, MSW - Grief Counselor
Michael began at Judi's House in September of 2008 and is originally from Evanston IL. He came to Colorado 10 years ago to attend undergraduate school at Colorado College where is received a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Michael then received a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Denver with an emphasis on older adults. Additionally, Michael has worked with a variety of non-profits, most recently Donor Alliance. At a young age Michael’s father died of suicide. Both personally and professionally Michael has worked to understand the grief process and is motivated to share this with others.
Mark Clubb, M.A., L.P.C. - Bilingual Grief Counselor
Mark started with Judi’s House in August 2007.He hails from Dallas, Texas where he worked for the Children’s Advocacy Center. Mark earned his Master’s Degree from the Denver Seminary and has worked internationally in Venezuela and Costa Rica.
Melyssa Stout, MSW, LSW - Grief Counselor
Melyssa Levin joined the staff in June of 2006. Melyssa was trained as a Volunteer Facilitator in 2004, served as a volunteer facilitator for one year and then as a social work intern for another year. Melyssa has a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Denver where her emphasis was high-risk youth, in addition to grief and loss. She obtained a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona. Melyssa came to Judi’s House after serving as a volunteer/intern for two years at Tu Nidito, a grief and loss organization for children and families, located in Tucson, Arizona.
Carolyn McDonald, MSW, LSW - Grief Counselor
Carolyn came to Judi’s House as an intern in August 2003. She joined the team as a full time staff member in July 2004. Prior to this she worked for several years in the Denver non-profit community working with middle school and high school aged children/teens. Carolyn’s brother died at the age of 12 from Duchene Muscular Dystrophy. The experience motivated her to pursue her education in hopes of supporting other grieving children and families. She has her Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Denver where her emphasis was high-risk youth and grief and loss. She obtained a BA in Sociology and Human Services from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO.
Atsuko Okuzawa, M.S. - Grief Counselor
Atsuko came to this work through her involvement as a member of the research team from the University of Colorado at Boulder that is collaborating with Judi’s House on a longitudinal study of children and grief. She joined the team here in October of 2007. Atsuko grew up in Japan, and came to the United States to pursue her Bachelor and Master’s Degrees at Colorado State University completing these studies with her graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Her passion is to empower grieving children and their families and springs from her own experience of the death of her best friend.
Candace Wengert - Administrative Assistant
Candace brings a wealth of experience to her work here at Judi’s House that spans many area of the private sector including the food and hospitality industry, and the parcel and freight delivery business to name a few. This is her first work in the nonprofit arena and she brings her eye for detail and collaborative spirit to the house and all those who come to it.
Eric Andre Beaudoin, BA, MA Candidate Naropa University - Intern
Eric is currently an Intern with Judi’s House. He came to grief work through his involvement as a volunteer and practicum student at the Boulder and Broomfield Counties Non-Profit Hospice Care Center. Eric has experienced the accidental deaths of several significant friends in his youth. Those experiences have motivated him to help support other grieving children and families. Before his work at Judi’s House, he worked over 6 years with individuals with special needs, including adults who suffer from mental illness. Eric is currently a MA candidate at Naropa University, studying art therapy and transpersonal counseling psychology, concentrating on grief and loss.
Liz Berling - Intern
Liz Berling is a second year MSW intern from the University of Denver. Her first year internship was at the Kempe Center where she worked with kids who have experienced abuse and neglect. Previous to that, Liz worked with families at a non-profit in Eastern Kentucky. She is excited to be at Judi's House because of the unique opportunities to work with grieving children of all ages and in many different settings.
Emily Binoniemi - Intern
I am currently a second year Master's student at the University of Denver specializing in international disaster psychology. I obtained my bachelors degree in psychology from Northern Michigan University in 2006. I have experience working domestically and internationally with persons who have experienced trauma.
Sara Bolin – Intern
Sara Boilen is a student at the University of Denver pursing a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Sara has been an Intern at Judi's House since Spring, 2008. Having experienced the death of her father when she was eight, Sara has passion and determination to ensure that grieving children get the services and support they need on their journey with grief. With a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Skidmore College and more than a year of advanced training under her belt, Sara brings training and skills in trauma, grief and loss to the Judi's House Team.
Lauren Goldberg - Intern
Lauren is an intern working towards her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Denver. In her last year of graduate school, her focus is on working with high-risk youth. Before moving to Colorado in August 2007, Lauren attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she obtained her bachelor's degree in Clinical Psychology. During undergraduate school, Lauren worked with emotionally and behavioral challenged children at the Kellar Center in Fairfax, Virginia, and worked with children placed in out-of-home care due to abuse and neglect at the Kempe Center last school year. She is excited to now be a part of the Judi's House family.
Heidi Grove – Intern
Heidi is an Intern from Regis University Masters in the Counseling Program. Heidi has over ten years experience working with At-Risk Youth. Heidi has worked in the Community since 1998.
Tia Johnson – Intern
Tia came to Judi's House in April 2008. She is a Colorado native and received her B.A. in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Denver. She is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Somatic Psychology. She has worked as a domestic violence victim advocate for 8 years and was drawn to Judi's House as a place to help families who had similar experiences to her own.
Jen Kniffen-Turner – Intern
Jen is currently a graduate student in the Community Counseling Program at Regis University. She started with Judi’s House in the fall, and will remain here throughout her internship. Most of her previous experience is in the residential setting and in outdoor education programs.