Our Team
Leadership
Sera Bennett is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She believes each client deserves a therapeutic relationship built on understanding, respect, and compassion; she creates healing based on the unique path that brought each individual into therapy. She has worked with adults, teens, and children for over 15 years to heal the wounds from sexual abuse. She utilizes alternative modalities to talk therapy such as Microcurrent Neurofeedback, EMDR, and IFS. She enjoys consulting with other professionals (colleagues, attorneys, professionals within the criminal justice system) on trauma-informed care. When not in her office, she enjoys exploring the Denver restaurant scene, spending time diving into a juicy fiction novel, or cuddling up on the couch with her therapy dog, Maisy.
Education: Colorado State, MS in Marriage and Family Therapy, 2011
Licensure: Colorado MFT #1087, Wyoming MFT #213, Arizona MFT #15900, SOMB Full Operating Provider & Clinical Supervisor
Formal Trainings: EMDR (2007) Neurofeedback (2022), IFS (2023)
Jacque Sumida is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has worked with individuals who have committed sexually-based offenses for over 22 years, she is a victim representative for the Division of Youth Services and Savio House, and she has a private practice where she focuses on trauma therapy. She specializes in working with juveniles and adults, including individuals with intellectual disabilities and individuals who exhibit symptoms related to Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). She also provides support to friends, families, and support systems of those who have offended. Past experience includes: Victim Representative for Rite of Passage, Domestic Violence Victim Advocate, and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
Education: University of Phoenix, MC in School Counseling and Human Services, 2007
Licensure: LPC #6430, SOMB Full Operating Provider
Formal Trainings: EMDR (2007), IFS (2023)
Jodie Goter is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She was born in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, and she loves spending time in the mountains, breathing in fresh air, and listening to the rhythms of the forest. She began her career working with women and children who sought shelter from domestically violent relationships. She then worked in a residential setting with individuals that suffered from chronic, comorbid diagnoses to include schizophrenia before she started working with the forensic population. She was honored to be invited to a training with The Academy Group, which is the world’s largest privately owned forensic behavioral science firm, comprised of former FBI and VSP profilers and linguists. Jodie was the chapter president of the Colorado Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers from 2007 to 2010. Jodie's career has spanned 28 years, and she specializes in working with individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. As a therapist, she offers a compassionate but direct approach. She believes in offering her clients a safe space to travel on their journey to integrity through self-awareness.
Education: Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from
Leslie College, now known as Leslie University
Licensure: LPC #3138, SOMB Full Operating Provider, Evaluator, and Clinical Supervisor; DD/ID Approved
Additional Therapists
Amira Minazzi is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has been working with individuals who have engaged in abusive sexual behaviors since 2016. Amira practices trauma-informed therapy within a systemic approach, and believes that involving support systems can greatly aid to the success of clients' path to change. She has a particular passion for working with couples as they heal and rebuild after sexual abuse was perpetrated (whether inside or outside the relationship). Amira humbly identifies as a Queer Ally.
Education: University of Northern Colorado, Master of Arts in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling Therapy, 2017
Licensure: LPC#16626, SOMB Full Operating Provider
Formal Trainings: Level 1 Trained Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Ashley Charbonneau is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Licensed Addiction Counselor. She has worked with this population since 2009. She primarily conducts offense-specific evaluations, and she also teaches at MSU Denver and is writing a book that will be a clinician's guide to healing sexual trauma. Outside of the mental health field, she loves to travel and spend time with her three doggies.
Education: University of Southern California, MSW, 2013; current PhD in Social Work student at Walden University
Licensure: LCSW #CSW.09924270, LAC #ACD.0001517, Approved Clinical Supervisor (2022-present), SOMB Provider & Evaluator (2016-present), SOMB Clinical Supervisor (2023-present)
Formal Trainings: EMDR (2022), IFS (2023)
Tessa Galbreath is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She offers compassion, hope, and humor to every client. She believes in the power of connection and is committed to building and nurturing the therapeutic relationship by offering a safe space for people to be their authentic selves.
Education: Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Northern Colorado
Licensure: LPC #20276; SOMB Associate Level Provider & Evaluator
Formal Trainings & Approaches: CBT, Trauma Focused CBT, Person-Centered, Motivational Interviewing
Melissa St. Clair is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She is a person-centered advocate, and a proud ally with over 10 years of experience in behavioral healthcare and three years in healthcare leadership. Much of her career has been working with high acuity clients in hospital settings. She describes herself as a lifetime learner.
Education: Master of Arts, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Rollins College, 2017
Licensure: LPC #19126; SOMB Associate Level Provider & Evaluator
Interns
Zoë Day is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and MSW at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her background includes volunteering with refugees in Colombia and working with children who have experienced sexual trauma. This experience has shaped her belief in the inherent goodness of people and her conviction that everyone possesses strengths that can be nurtured to facilitate growth and healing. Outside of her clinical work and studies, Zoë loves canyoneering and creating elaborate camp meals with her partner and friends.
Supervisor: Ashley
Angie Olsen is an MSW Candidate at MSU Denver. She is a lifelong student of both the brain and the heart. She is passionate about forensic psychology, neuropsychology, and advocating for neurodivergent and GLBTQIA communities who face unique challenges. She believes every person holds untapped potential and unspoken stories worth honoring. Away from work, she finds joy in the quiet turning of book pages, the meditative rhythm of puzzles, the soulfulness of music, and playlists that capture the moments words can’t. She believes our best selves are not behind us-they are still waiting to be discovered.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Minor in Human Development and Family Studies, Metropolitan State University of Denver, 2025
Formal Training: Victim's Advocate Training, Loveland Police Department, 2023
Supervisor: Ashley
Admin
Maggie interned at Nova in the Fall of 2024 and loved the work (and the people!) so much that she decided to stick around part-time. She is excited to keep learning and growing alongside such an amazing team. When she is not at work or school, you can usually find her cooking for friends and family, paddleboarding, or out enjoying live music.
Education: BSW student at Metropolitan State University of Denver, graduating in Spring 2026, planning to continue with an MSW
The Nova Dogs
Maisy the Morkie (Maltese/Yorkie) is the official Nova Counseling waiting room greeter. She loves welcoming all clients with a wagging tail and at full speed running down the hall. Say hi to her next time you see her!
Grizz, Desi, and Frank make up the short-legged crew and all love to go to work! Grizz enjoys sitting on the floor, Desi constantly looks for treats to be dropped on the ground by clients, and Frank sits on chairs.
