Helena Huckabee, PhD, BCBA-D

Licensed Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst
President of Emerge

Dr. Huckabee is a Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Clinical Psychologist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She received her bachelor’s degree in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from the University of Houston. Dr. Huckabee completed her Internship at Baylor College of Medicine with Post Doctoral Fellowships at DePelchin Children’s Center and JFK Partners at the University of Colorado. Her clinical experiences include working with autism, borderline personality disorder, head injury, AD/HD, developmental disabilities, adoption, anxiety, and mood disorders. Dr. Huckabee’s research studies have involved understanding intelligence and language skills in children with autism, the role of serotonin in mood disorders, self-injurious behaviors, brain anoxia, and treatment outcome in autism. Dr. Huckabee has previously held administrative leadership positions at five clinics for autism. With compassion and competence. she provides counseling for individuals and couples as well as leads parent groups in the community. Dr. Huckabee is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Colorado Psychological Association and the Association for Behavior Analysis. Dr. Huckabee and her husband serve the community in many ways. Together they are parents of their son with autism and their daughter adopted from China.

Tasha Jamroz, MA, BCBA

Vice President Director of Business Development

Tasha Jamroz is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and serves as Vice President of Emerge. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Saint Louis University and her master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver. Tasha has been with Emerge since its inception in 2005 and has worked in the field of treating autism spectrum disorder since 2003. Her clinical experiences include working with individuals of all ages affected by autism, anxiety, mood challenges, AD/HD, and developmental disability. She has significant expertise successfully working with individuals who have autism as well as comorbid conditions such as anxiety, mood disorder, or medical complexity. Throughout her career, Tasha has supervised and mentored many clinicians in the field of ABA and sought to develop training and supervision systems that sustain Emerge’s reputation for high-quality clinical services. She is also passionate about developing business practices that sustain ethical and effective multidisciplinary care for all. When she is not at Emerge, Tasha and her husband enjoy traveling and spending time taking in Colorado’s beautiful landscape with their two sons.

Suzanne Purcell, MS, BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Case Supervisor

Suzanne is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Assistant Director of ABA Services at Emerge. In 2006 she received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Rollins College in Florida and her master’s degree in Counseling and Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis at Nova Southeastern University in 2013. She discovered her passion for working with children and families affected by autism during her senior internship at a center-based ABA program. Since that time, she has been working with children, teenagers, and adults on the autism spectrum in a variety of settings. Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as hiking in the beautiful Colorado mountains.

Shaun D’Arcy, RBT

Behavior Specialist

Shaun has been with Emerge since July of 2011. He is originally from Liverpool, England. He immigrated to the United States in 2009. Prior to working at Emerge, Shaun spent three summers working in Philadelphia at a camp for children with autism and Down Syndrome. He has also worked for two years as an Educational Assistant for the Douglas County School System. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology May, 2016. Shaun will begin his Master's program in January, 2017 in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism through Ball State University. In his spare time he enjoys fishing, climbing 14ers, running half marathons, and, most importantly, spending time with his wife Colleen and two children Thomas and Anna.

Jaclyn Hamlin, BCBA

Clinical Supervisor

Originally from New York State, Jackie received her Bachelor’s degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY where she concentrated in Dance/Movement Therapy. She found her passion in 2006 when she began working with children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Jackie has worked with this population in a wide variety of roles including school paraprofessional, respite care provider, in-home habilitation worker, Medicaid service coordinator, and creative arts instructor. She has experience working with people with disabilities throughout the lifespan. Prior to joining the Emerge team in 2014, Jackie provided ABA-based services in Colorado Springs. She is currently completing her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism through Ball State University (Muncie, IN), and is a student member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI). Jackie is pursuing certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).

Emma Topf

M.A.

Emma Topf, M.A., is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Denver in the Child, Family, and School Psychology program. She joined the Emerge team earlier this year as a doctoral intern. Emma obtained her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and her master’s degree in Child, Family, and School Psychology from the University of Denver. Her current research focuses on supporting non-relational foster children and families in the educational setting. Emma has experience working with students with learning disabilities, attachment disorders, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental disorders. Her areas of professional interest include trauma, neuropsychology, student engagement, family systems, and social skills training for youth with autism spectrum disorders. Emma enjoys spending time in the mountains, scrapbooking, and traveling.

Danielle Erickson, BCBA

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Danielle is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She received an Associate’s Degree from Brigham Young University, her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ashford University, and later earned her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an Emphasis in Autism from Ball State University. She first became passionate in treating kids with autism when her son was diagnosed with autism as a toddler. She has experience providing treatment using Applied Behavior Analysis since 2010. Danielle also has experience and interest in treating a variety of behavior challenges including, but not limited to, Autism, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD, and developmental delay/disability. She has experience in directing treatment in an ABA clinic setting, providing school consultation and teacher training, leading in-home treatment services, social skills groups, and providing training to parents specific to their needs. Danielle is a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International as well as the Colorado Association for Behavior Analysis. She enjoys spending time her husband and two sons.

Hannah Nurnberger, BCBA

Case Supervisor

Hannah is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and a Case Supervisor. Though originally from the state of Wyoming, Hannah obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northwestern University-Saint Paul in 2012 and her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from Ball State University in 2016. Hannah has practiced in the field of Psychology for over a decade and has specifically served children with ASD since 2014. She has experience in implementing treatment in an ABA clinic setting, developing individual treatment goals for clients, providing parent training, and conducting social/academic/structured play groups in a variety of settings. In her free time, Hannah enjoys creating music with her guitar, going for walks with her dog, dreaming of Europe travels/the creation of a tiny home, and spending time with her husband. She greatly looks forward to working with you!

Marissa Lindgren

Marissa Lindgren is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. For the past 4 years, she has provided therapy for individuals, couples, families and groups in settings that provide mental health and chemical dependency therapy. She received a Masters of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University. During that time, Marissa completed an internship at an inpatient treatment facility. Prior to this, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Whitworth University where she completed an internship at a crisis nursery.

She specializes in couples and families in trauma recovery, chemical dependency recovery, and experiencing developmental changes. Marissa applies an experiential model to the therapy process, meaning therapy is strengths-based and change occurs when the client experiences a new emotion and set of meaning in relation to their goals. Her training informs how she holds a systems view of each individual. This means the therapy process pays attention to the client as part of family and cultural systems that have shaped their life and offered both strengths and challenges.

Marissa is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. She holds a certificate in Adlerian Psychology, is trained to administer the Prepare/Enrich premarital couples inventory, and is trained as a Nurturing Parenting Facilitator to offer this curriculum in both individual, family, and group settings.

She is passionate about this field and in her time away from work enjoys snowboarding, backpacking, and cooking.

Madison Eitniear

Behavioral Specialist

Madison is originally from Central Texas and has always been passionate about helping people with disabilities to achieve their best. She is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology at the University of Denver. After taking an intensive course on Autism, Madison became increasingly enthusiastic to get involved in related clinical work. After her expected graduation in June 2019, Madison plans to pursue a doctorate in psychology in order to further her ability to help individuals in a clinical setting. Before joining Emerge, Madison worked as a teacher at an early learning center. In her free time, Madison enjoys reading, doing puzzles, and spending time with loved ones.

Amelia Bodziak

Behavior Specialist

Amelia is a Behavior Specialist at Emerge. In 2016, she graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Amelia has been working with individuals with autism since 2014, and has previous ABA experience across clinical, school, home, and community settings. Recently, she completed classes for the BCaBA through Florida Institute of Technology and will start graduate school at the University of Northern Colorado (Extended Campus) for a Special Education Master of Arts- Intervention Specialist: Applied Behavior Analysis Program in January 2019. Outside of work, Amelia enjoys hiking and camping in the Colorado mountains and cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers.

Melanie Aguilar

RBT

Melanie was born and raised in Hawai’i, but moved to Colorado in December 2017. She received her Associates of Arts degree from Leeward Community College and plans to continue her education to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She has worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) since 2016 serving a multitude of children across the spectrum—ranging from early childhood to adolescents. Melanie started her career in a center-based environment, and later provided therapy both in-home and in the school setting. As an RBT, she feels it is essential to recognize the wants and needs of each individual, as well as continue to focus and improve daily living skills suited to their repertoire. With each client she works with, she adapts to their behaviors, their learning style, and also provides effective ABA interventions. Melanie is compassionate and thrives to help others. She thoroughly enjoys working with individuals on the spectrum and other developmental disabilities. Melanie is excited to be a part of a team who continues to make a difference every day! During her free time, she loves exploring the outdoors, discovering new places to eat, spending time with her girlfriend, their little dog Bemax, and those she loves dearly.

Alain Ochoa

RBT

Alain Ochoa received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Arizona State University in 2013. While pursuing his degree he worked as a habilitation and respite worker for families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder. He quickly realized his passion for the field and became a behavior technician practicing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Accruing over 9 years of experience working with individuals with delays, Alain has grown both professionally and personally. Throughout his career Alain has hired and trained staff in ABA, as well as provided community trainings on different topics covering Autism and Behavioral principles. Alain is excited to bring his experience to Emerge! During his free time Alain loves to go on trips with his expanding family and working on projects throughout his home.

Emily Lane

RBT

Emily Lane is a Behavior Specialist at Emerge. In 2017, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado Boulder with a double major in Neuroscience and Anthropology. Emily has worked as Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) since 2017 serving clients with autism spectrum disorders in both center-based and home environments. She believes that each individual with autism is unique and is committed to providing high-quality treatment to these individuals. Emily is currently enrolled in a Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program at the University of Colorado Denver and has an interest in continuing working with children and adolescents with autism after completion of the program. In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, traveling, and photography.

Christina Aegerter

Psy. D

Dr. Christina Aegerter has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) from The University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from The University of Michigan. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at The University of Oregon’s Counseling and Psychological Services Department, where she specialized in working with college students on the Autism Spectrum as well as students struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, relational and familial issues, and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Aegerter spent the last two years working at an adolescent inpatient behavioral health unit, where she worked with children, teenagers, and young adults with severe mental health and behavioral needs and their families. Dr. Aegerter also has extensive experience providing group therapy for teenagers and young adults to help improve interpersonal skills, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance. She is trained in comprehensive psychological assessment of children, adolescents, and adults with emotional and behavioral concerns. She uses an integrative therapy approach combining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) depending on client needs and preferences. Dr. Aegerter has a passion for working with teenagers and young adults to help them discover who they are and create a successful path for their future. In her free time she enjoys hiking, spending time with her loved ones and her dog, and reading.

Jillian Hamm, M.S., BCBA

Behavior Analyst

Madeleine Amick-Kehoe

Forensic Coordinator

Maddie is a Colorado native and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2016. She has since worked in social services for several mental health organizations in Denver. She has provided mental health services and case management in a variety of settings including public clinic, inpatient residential facilities, schools, jails, and hospitals to both adults and children. Her interests and passions within the field fall into the forensics and legal aspects of mental health. In her free time she enjoys cooking new dishes for friends and family, rock climbing, camping, and is on her way to achieving her world travel goal of visiting 30 countries before the age of 30.

Kelsey Christensen

Front Desk Receptionist

Emily Dimperio

Office Manager

Patricia (Patti) Summers

Intern, Marriage & Family Therapy

Patti Summers is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Regis University. Having completed all prerequisite coursework, she joined Emerge in May 2019 as a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern. Patti specializes in working with clients of all ages experiencing loss, grief, trauma or other significant life changes. She takes a systems-based approach to therapy for individuals, couples, children, and families. As a result, she recognizes the way emotional, physical, spiritual, and relational influences—as well as cultural, social, vocational, environmental, and a host of other factors—impact clients. Patti applies humanistic and experiential models—including sand tray therapy—to offer the unconditional positive regard that assists clients to affect the changes they desire.

Patti anticipates graduation with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy when her internship concludes in May 2020. She is also concurrently pursuing certification as an Emotionally Focused Therapist through the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, as well as a post-graduate certificate in Counseling Children and Adolescents through Regis University. Patti passed the Colorado Jurisprudence Exam and is currently applying as a Registered Therapist in this state. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management from Metropolitan University of Denver.

Patti is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, the Association for Play Therapy (as well as Colorado’s chapter), the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, and the Sandtray Movement through the Southern Sandtray Institute. She is passionate about this field and, as a life-long learner, continuing her education. In her spare time, she enjoys time with family, hiking, playing with the family’s rescue dog, and volunteering in her community.

Hazel Meneley

Billing Specialist

Jaime Schmidt, BA

Intern, School Psychology

Jaime Schmidt is a third year PsyD School Psychology student at the University of Colorado Denver. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. Jaime will be completing her Externship at Emerge. Jaime has worked with children with autism spectrum disorder since 2015 and is currently an RBT. She is also concurrently pursuing her Board-Certified Behavior Analyst certification through the University of Colorado Denver. Jaime is very passionate about working with individuals diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. Jaime has experience working with these populations within the home, clinical and school setting. She is eager to be at Emerge to gain further exposure of working with individuals in the clinical setting. During her free time Jaime loves to be hiking in the mountains, exploring all that Colorado has to offer with her pup. Jaime also enjoys her Wisconsin roots and spends time cheering on her favorite sports teams.. Go Pack Go!