Staff

I support sexual abuse survivors in their healing journey through individual and group therapy and support other therapists in doing the same. I also oversee our student internship program, teaching and guiding graduate students in their path to becoming independent therapists as well

I joined The Blue Bench in June of 2019. I joined The Blue Bench because supporting survivors for me is a passion and bearing witness to someone healing and overcoming their trauma is incredibly rewarding and an absolute privilege. I also enjoy working as part of a team, and love being able to support and guide other clinicians and interns in their development. Prior to working at The Blue Bench I worked as a Bilingual Therapist at The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, and prior to that had worked in various other roles providing therapy to trauma survivors or providing prevention and education services to prevent sexual violence in the community. When I am not working, I love to spend time outside running or hiking, cuddling up with my dog, or hanging out with friends and family. I also have about a hundred unfinished crafting projects going on at all times.

Education:
Master of Social Work from the University of Denver 
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Denver 

In my role at The Blue Bench, I support survivors in the post-sentencing stage of their cases, allowing their voices to be heard in spaces it might not otherwise be able to be and connecting them to resources to support them in their healing journey.  

I joined The Blue Bench team in July 2022. Having worked and volunteered in the helping field in various capacities for about five years prior to joining this amazing team, it was important to me to help support a mission that closely aligns with my own beliefs, while continuing to grow both personally and professionally.  

When not working, I spend a lot of time with my pups, soaking in the Colorado spirit, and eating so many waffles and slices of pizza. I also hoard books I’ll someday get around to reading and go thrifting for funky looking glassware.

I assist survivors in individual and group therapy by helping them to better understand, process, and navigate their trauma symptoms. 

I work at The Blue Bench because I am passionate about helping survivors and feel that every survivor should have access to mental health services.  My journey at The Blue Bench began in May of 2019 as a therapy intern before transitioning into a therapist role in June of 2020 and into my current position as the Southeast Office Therapist in March of 2021. When I’m not working, you can find me tending to my house plants, reading, crafting, or hanging out with my pets (Búri, Archie, and Mau).  

Bio coming soon!

I support survivors in their healing through individual and group therapy. I approach healing from a collaborative lens, with the knowing that survivors are the experts of their own experiences. I have a background in yoga and like to incorporate mindfulness and body movement, when appropriate, as I believe healing happens in mind and body. I joined The Blue Bench in 2018 as a prevention specialist and have developed passion in educating and helping survivors heal from sexual trauma. 

When I’m not working, you can find me doing yoga, hiking, attending concerts and watching cartoons. 

Hello there! I'm Barbara (she/her/ella) I was born in Lima, Peru but have lived in Colorado most of my life. I have worked at The Blue Bench in different roles, first as a case manager intern, a case manager, then as an intern therapist, and I am super excited to be back as a Bilingual Therapist. Previously to this role, I worked in substance use with adolescents and as a renal social worker. A fun fact about me is that I am a huge swiftie. I love being a mother to my two year old son named Levi and I am currently expecting a little girl at the end of October. 

My job is to connect people to the resources they need at The Blue Bench and in the community with warmth and efficiency and to build relationships with clients, organizations, and community members so survivors feel supported throughout each step of their healing journey. When people reach out to the Resource Line, my team and I will be ready to answer questions and get them connected to what they are needing to the best of our ability.

I first began working at The Blue Bench as a volunteer in 2013 and then I worked as a Case Manager for two years. I am so excited to be back in this new role as of June 2022. I am passionate about cultivating connection and making the world a safer place for all.  I work at The Blue Bench to support survivors on their healing journey and to remind them of their resiliency and courage. My experience is in training and education on gender- based violence and trauma informed practices and in clinical work with survivors of trauma. I have also worked at the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking and CU Denver’s Center on Domestic Violence Program with the END Violence Project. Another passion of mine is teaching so I work as Affiliate Faculty in MSU Denver’s Social Work Department teaching various social work courses.   

In my spare time I like to read and explore the world with my partner and two kids.

I graduated from MSU Denver with my MSW in May 2024. I also earned my Master's in International Development from DU in 2012. I've previously interned at Safehouse Denver's Emergency Shelter Program and the Counseling and Advocacy Center Program. Previous to my social work career I worked for 10+ years in nonprofit management and fundraising. As a Leo Sun, I love throwing a big silly party for my birthday. Last year was Adult Prom themed, this year will be an Olympics theme! 

I support and partner with survivors on their path to healing through individual and group therapy services, with the belief that clients are the expert of their experience. I joined The Blue Bench in May, 2020 as an intern and then transitioned to a full-time therapist in June, 2021. I joined The Blue Bench because I am moved by the resiliency of sexual assault survivors and drawn to the mission of eliminating sexual assault and reducing the impact by supporting trauma survivors, their families, and our community. Before working at The Blue Bench, I worked in the mental health field in the inpatient/outpatient setting at a psychiatric hospital. Additionally, I completed an internship in Sri Lanka focused on supporting trauma survivors. I also currently work at a local university conducting qualitative research on collective trauma. When I am not working, I love drinking a cup of tea and reading or crafting while hanging out with my cat (if you do virtual therapy with me, she often makes appearances!). I also love music, poetry, and the outdoors.

I support survivors in connecting to resources and services within their community, while also being a support person in their corner as they navigate the many systems they may interact with during their healing journey.

I joined The Blue Bench in January of 2020. I do this work because I believe no one should have to face the impacts of trauma on their own. I first became involved in the movement during high school, volunteering for and donating to the local domestic violence shelter in my hometown, in North Carolina. I volunteered for six months again after my undergrad, and in 2016 I was hired full-time as the Latinx & Sexual Assault Victim Coordinator. During my time there, I helped survivors navigate the criminal and civil legal systems and helped connect them to community resources. It was during that time that I also came to understand just how large the issue of sexual violence really was, and my passion for the work grew.

As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I have learned about the dynamics of oppression, trauma, and violence and how they impact us all in different ways – particularly how they interplay with the various Latinx/immigrant identities and experiences here in the US. I also recognize and celebrate our rich histories, cultures, and stories of resiliency. I want to support my community by being there for survivors who may need that additional help in navigating a society that is still full of barriers.

Outside of work these days, you can find me working on grad school assignments (I’ll have hopefully graduated by December 2022 with a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Gender-Based Violence!). When I’m not doing that, I’m either watching anime, playing video games, buying new books to eventually read, or dyeing my hair a new color.

As a cross-cultural therapist, I support survivors in their healing journey by providing individual and group therapy through a culturally informed lens.

My journey with The Blue Bench began in February 2019. I do this work because I believe that healing is possible. I feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment in helping survivors heal and find their voice. Prior to working at The Blue Bench, I worked with the refugee population in Idaho providing therapy, case management, and community-based services. When I’m not working, you can find me hanging out with my cat Minnie, playing soccer, and exploring the mountains. Traveling, animals (especially cats), and disconnecting in nature are the ways I recharge my batteries so I can provide the best care to clients.

Hi, my name is Melissa (she/her). I'm a Colorado native and have worked previously in Victim Services with two Law Enforcement Agencies. I'm very excited to join the Blue Bench.

I love animals and have a puppy whose name is Ruby, three cats, and I also foster kittens for Rezdawg rescue. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone. 

Hello! I am Client Services Coordinator here at The Blue Bench. I joined our team in January of 2023. I believe deeply in our mission of taking responsibility in working to prevent sexual violence as well as helping survivors heal in order to move to the other side of their assault.

In my role as Client Services Coordinator, I bring my broad range of experience to use in providing support to our Client Services Team. I support our Director of Client Services day to day as well as work to ensure that our Advocacy, Clinical, and Resource Teams are able to best serve our clients.

When I’m not working with this incredible team, I am in the kitchen trying out new recipes, getting outside to enjoy the beautiful sunshine of Colorado, or with my wonderful partner, friends and family.

Bio coming soon!

Gemma Chacon (She/her/ella) is a Community Educator here at The Blue Bench. She is also a dedicated mental health advocate and bilingual Latina who earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology, with a minor in Cultural Anthropology and a concentration in Clinical Psychology, from MSU Denver. Currently serving as a Community Educator, Gemma is passionate about giving back to her community. Her previous roles include working as a case manager for Catholic Charities at the only unhoused women's shelter in the Denver Metro Area and interning at Casa de Paz, an organization that supports recently released detainees from the ICE detention center in Aurora, Colorado. Gemma is now pursuing her master’s degree in data Analytics. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping with her furry baby and her partner.

My name is Kaity Gray (she/her), and I am the Community Education Director. I grew up in Denver and care immensely about our community. I hold a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology with emphasis in Gender Studies. I have worked in the nonprofit sector for the past 20 years as an educator, trainer, and advocate. I love educating, and advocating for, folks of all ages and am extremely passionate about bringing sexual violence prevention education to our community. Outside of work, I am a dedicated partner and mother, theater artist, and avid fiction reader. I love to go to spin class, travel, go camping, and spend time outdoors with my family. 

Hi! I’m Kiersten Kummerow (she/they), the current Community Education Manager at The Blue Bench. I have always been passionate about sex education and after 6 years of teaching sociology at Georgia State University I decided to switch gears and work more closely with communities outside of academia. Facilitating the community education workshops with The Blue Bench has been very rewarding and I love seeing the participants developing new skills to reduce sexual violence in their communities.

My professional journey began by working with a sexual violence prevention program in Uruguay. Since then, the majority of my career has focused on non-profit development and youth empowerment in Latin America and West Denver.I’m thrilled to have come full circle and be working again in the sexual violence prevention field, now in the city I love, Denver! When not at work, you can find me deep in a good book, planning my next hiking trip, or chasing my two toddler boys. 

My name is Parker Reed (they/them) and I am the Community Education Coordinator at The Blue Bench. Before joining the Community Education Team, I obtained certification as both a sex educator and a life coach. My deep love for my community as well as my passion for comprehensive sex and consent education led me to my current work, and I am so excited to be here. Having the opportunity to work with such a great team to build a safer world through prevention education is something I am so grateful for! When I am not working, I can usually be found spending time with friends or watching the latest horror movie release.

I joined this passionate team of professionals as a Community Educator in 2024.  I am honored to be on the community education team where we empower youth in the prevention and care of sexual assault.  I can’t think of a more rewarding job than influencing those we engage with to be advocates for themselves and others. I honed my facilitation skills as a women’s conference keynote speaker, and through teaching bible study for seven years.  Educating in a faith-based arena equipped me to handle educating in the prevention of sexual assault, both being very challenging topics that keep me on my toes.  Every day facilitating is a day well spent for me!  In my spare time I like to embroider, hike, ski and cook lavish family meals.  I have been married for 23 years and have a son and daughter, 21 and 18 respectively.  We also have two crazy dogs named Shadow and Kita.  They are both seventy-pound lap dogs!

My name is Tom Patterson (He/Him), and I am a Community Educator with The Blue Bench. I was born and raised in Denver. During my time in college in Washington, I was part of a peer-to-peer support network for survivors of interpersonal and sexual violence. I would give bystander intervention education to the incoming class. In addition, I would work with our campus’s Greek life by providing additional education and training around sexual violence prevention. Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors and in the mountains. In the past, I have worked as a backpacking and ski guide for middle and high schoolers.