Our Team

Jim Soda is a licensed clinician with over 15 years of experience working with sports performance and mental health. Jim started his sports career in broadcasting, working for ESPN radio in Orlando and Tampa. Jim spent 5 years working with the Tampa Rays before transitioning into residential substance use disorder and mental health treatment. Jim spent the next decade working as a therapist, director, and eventually starting a center for young men in early recovery.

With two masters degrees, one in Vocational Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from The University of South Florida, and one in Sports Psychology from Ashford University, Jim has been able to work in both crisis management and performance improvement. Jim is a solution-focused therapist who believes that the mental strength skills needed to succeed in the high performance world, can also benefit those needing to turn their life around. Jim has spent a large part of his treatment experience working in adventure and activity based therapy with young adults. This experience has benefited him greatly when it comes to his more recent work with Major League Baseball, the NBA Red Bull and his private practice work with athletes in South Florida. Jim is Certified as a Mental Performance Consultant.

Jim also believes that performance improvement extends to teams, organizations, cultures and families. Jim has presented on mental skills for individuals, organizations, athletes and substance use and eating disorders. Jim was a multi-sport athlete with a primary focus on golf, which he continues to enjoy today. Jim spends as much time as he can outdoors with his wife and daughter in Jupiter, Fl.

As an award-winning, internationally-recognized Subject Matter Expert, Cynthia Goss is a true pioneer in the field of emergency preparedness response. Wholly dedicated to addressing head-on the myriad mental health issues resulting from critical incident crisis response, Cynthia has spent 30 years of her life educating others. With an impressive background, her work has touched the lives of so many, from law enforcement groups to the families of major disaster victims. She shares her in-depth comprehension of pertinent global concerns, adapting her focus as needed to include emerging contemporary issues, including college and university campus preparedness plans and the ongoing societal reintegration of military personnel.

Since 1995, Cynthia has been President of the Catch a Falling Star Law Enforcement Assistance Program, where she compassionately assesses distress, managing and referring officers to necessary professionals, while managing complex cases from beginning to end. She is also a Course Developer and Subject Matter Expert (SME) with the New York State National Center for Security & Preparedness and the National Center for Biomedical Research & Training at Louisiana State University.

She is also a Senior Course Developer,Trainer and Subject Matter Expert (SME) with the New York State National Center for Security & Preparedness and the National Center for Biomedical Research & Training (NCBRT) at Louisiana State University.

Instructed in excess of 10,000 police officers over the years, Cynthia is a dynamic, engaging public speaker who utilizes interactive modules in order to drive home the importance of her material. Working directly with police academies across the United States, Canada, and Australia, law enforcement is taught effective techniques to deal with a broad-based spectrum of issues, such as job burnout, fitness, resource referrals, and relaxation. Her passion for consulting on the development of specialized programs and creating targeted coursework is reinforced by thorough research, needs assessments, and pilot testing. As Dr. Grady Bray explains, “Cindy helped define the standards for international law enforcement stress programs.”

A prolific, tireless advocate, Cynthia’s career is marked by numerous accomplishments and positive interactions across federal, state, and regional levels of government. She is frequently selected as a guest speaker at international conferences, including prestigious events with Center for Advanced Defense Studies (CADS) and Canadian National Mental Health Critical Incident Response Team. Multiple awards have publically recognized her outstanding service and dedication, presented by the FBI, New York State Fraternal Order of Police, New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Buffalo Police Benevolent Association, Niagara Regional Police Canada, and Erie County Law Enforcement Foundation. In addition, her work has been published in several magazines, such as Law & Order, LEAA Advocate, On Patrol, and the National Institute of Justice.

In 2006, Cynthia wrote, produced, and promoted “When Trauma Doesn’t Bleed.” It is most certainly one of her greatest achievements, bringing to light the often-overlooked emotional costs suffered by the first responder community. With powerful reenactments, role-playing exercises, and potential scenarios, the acclaimed video was narrated by 60 Minutes’ Mike Wallace. Currently being employed by the FBI’s training program, it has won widespread recognition, garnering the Silver Shield Award (Training & Professional Policy) from the Law Enforcement Video Association and the International Law Enforcement Training Academies Association’s Silver Award.

Cynthia, who completed her Master of Arts in Social Policy and Development from the State University of New York and is also Certified as a National Master Interventionist I (C.N.M.I. – I ) through the National Association of Drug and Alcohol Interventionist. Cynthia resides in Lancaster, New York, where she enjoys spending quality time with her grown son, daughter, and their young families.

Joel Brier spent almost 30 years as a Firefighter. He is a Mental Health Consultant for firefighters. He is a Certified Addiction Professional.

Joel began his career as a first responder in 1983 at Military Park Fire District in Palm Beach County, FL which was included in the consolidation of fire districts that are now known as Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR). In 1985, he was elected to the position of District Vice President and later Executive Vice President of the Professional Firefighters Paramedics of Palm Beach County. While at PBCFR, he began to realize that there was a need to assist coworkers in areas of mental health, substance and alcohol and other wellness related issues. Teaming up with his then department EAP Coordinator, they formed a relationship in the management of these issues. Joel continued successfully to function as both a member advocate role and a behavioral health role and achieved multiple credentials in addiction, peer support, and behavioral health. In 2018, he became the organization’s first behavior health officer.

Joel now assists members with treatment options, recommendations, insurance problems, and educational opportunities for the International Association of Firefighters through their 12th District office.

Chris Prochut (pro-hut) is a mental health awareness advocate and law enforcement suicide prevention trainer.
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Over the past six years, Chris has had the pleasure to present to over 6,000 law enforcement officers across the United States and Canada on the topics of suicide and depression warning signs, medication myths, department policy revision, and told of his personal experience with the stigma of mental health issues.

In addition to training with the LEDR Team, Chris has also presented at numerous Crisis Intervention Team Trainings (CIT) where he addresses the subject of “Taking care of our own” and has been featured at various specialized law enforcement conferences advising departments on program development to assist officers at risk for suicide.

Feedback from these trainings shows just how well received Chris’s message is, how the topics of suicide and mental illness are rarely discussed within law enforcement, and how education and training are causing a paradigm shift within police departments.

Chris is a member of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Death Response (LEDR) Team, a former trainer in QPR (Question, Persuade, and Refer) suicide prevention program, an FBI National Academy (FBINA) Enrichment Speaker, an FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) Officer Safety and Wellness Committee Member, and an active volunteer with BringChange2Mind.
Chris resides in Hartford, Wisconsin with his wife Jennifer, and their children Chase (13) and Ashlyn (9).

Dr. Violanti is a Research Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University at Buffalo and a member of the University at Buffalo graduate faculty.

He was formerly a full professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Criminal Justice. He is a police veteran, serving with the New York State Police for 23 years as a trooper, criminal investigator, and later as a coordinator of the Psychological Assistance Program (EAP) for the State Police.

Dr. Violanti has been involved in the design, implementation, and analysis of police stress and health studies during his entire career. Recent projects include a longitudinal study on psychological stress and cardiovascular disease in police officers and the impact of shift work on police health outcomes funded by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Dr. Violanti has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles on police stress and PTSD, police mortality, suicide, and cardiovascular health. He has also written and edited seventeen books on topics of police stress, psychological trauma, and suicide. He has lectured nationally and internationally at academic institutions and police agencies on matters of suicide, stress and trauma at work. Violanti routinely teaches and certifies first-responders on the QPR Technique for assessing first-responders level of lethality.

Lori Lauridsen is owner and CEO of LL Counseling and Wellness, a holistic counseling practice that combines holistic and scientific practices to help others heal through talk therapy, yoga therapy, and aromatherapy. Lori is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Master Certified Addiction Professional that has been providing education, healing and therapy for groups and individuals for over 15 years. Lori holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology as well as extensive training and experience in addiction treatment, trauma, military populations in many treatment modalities.

Lori has provided consultation at all levels of treatment from inpatient therapy to private practice. Lori is a 290RYT graduate of Yoga University of Florida’s Power alignment based yoga teacher training. Lori has been a committed wellness advocate, teaching restorative and alignment based yoga therapy to individuals and groups in treatment from crisis stabilization, substance abuse rehabilitation, and community groups. Lori utilizes all these and other evidenced based practices to provide individual and group therapy and yoga therapy.

Mr. Estefania is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Certified Addiction Professional and Certified Intervention Professional. He provides evaluations, drug and alcohol counseling, general psychotherapy, therapeutic and educational consulting, intervention/placement services to adolescents, adults and families. Mr. Estefania’s practice also focuses on individuals who just want to develop more effective life skills, improve relationships or increase their motivation. Over the 25 years of his career working with individuals and families, he has helped thousands of patients to break the cycle of self-destructive behaviors. Over the span of his career, Mr. Ray Estefania has also been very involved in the prevention of substance abuse and addiction in children. He has organized and implemented numerous substance abuse prevention programs in both independent and public schools. His role as a consultant to many schools has helped them address the problem of teenage substance abuse. Ray has coached thousands of parents on how to prevent, identify and respond to substance abuse and chemical dependency. In addition, he has been a frequent speaker to schools, parent groups and community organizations and a guest on both television and radio on topics including prevention, parenting, addiction and recovery.

Tricia has a unique blend of experience as a therapist & life coach as well as serving in management roles in corporate America. Her expertise is beneficial to everyone within an organization from the CEO to the entry-level staff member. People find her easy to relate to and her style of interaction to be uplifting. She easily engages individuals and audiences, enabling them to know they matter while inspiring them to become their best selves. Tricia received her Master’s Degree with Honors in Human Relations from NYIT in 1998 and has served over 1000 individuals since that time.

Drawing upon her deep faith, personal experience, and expertise in human relations, Tricia helps bring light into darkness and turns troubles into triumph. By following a system that has been developed over 25 years of experience, providing a safe place where people can learn and grow, she helps individuals to recover from life’s challenges. Her extensive training and experience in the treatment of trauma, codependence, narcissistic abuse, substance use disorders, as well as other issues, help her get to the root of the challenges faced by the individuals and organizations she serves. Her workshops, The Path to Healing and From Pain to Power have helped hundreds of individuals turn their troubles into triumphs. She has also produced and recorded a line of relaxation and affirmation recordings, utilized by her clients, to help with stress reduction, sleep disturbance and emotional regulation.

Jennifer has been working with clients for over two decades as a personal coach and licensed psychotherapist, prior to that, she worked in media and in the corporate world. She graduated with a Master’s from Fairfield University as a member of the Chi Sigma Honor Society. Passionate about the power of transformation in people’s lives, Jen completed a three year Post Graduate training in 2007 called Somatic Experiencing, a gentle technique that helps the body to release caught trauma/tension and helps to heal and reduce symptoms. Jen is one of a few fully credentialed SEPs (Somatic Experiencing Practitioners) currently in Florida. After moving from Connecticut, she became a Director at a well-known, reputable Florida treatment center, where she mentored and taught staff in both mental health and substance abuse issues as a Clinical Supervisor. Currently, Jen is in private practice, holding licenses, both in good standing, in Florida and Connecticut. She has been trained and influenced by Diane Poole Heller, Dan Siegel, Peter Levine, CBT, Somatic Experiencing, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused therapy, neurobiology, Attachment Theory, the 12 Steps, Carl Jung, mindfulness, Gabor Mate, Dr. Leslie Korn as well as many others.