_edited_.jpg)
More About the Team
at Branch of Hope, LLC
Sarah Haberbosch, LCSW-C
Founder & Lead Clinician
Sarah graduated from University of Maryland, Baltimore with her MSW in May 2017 and obtained her LCSW-C in May 2020. Sarah has been in the field of suicide prevention and crisis intervention since 2011, starting with her course work and externships in her undergraduate psychology program at Shippensburg University. Sarah worked as a crisis hotline, crisis chat and mobile crisis assist counselor where she was also able to assist the local Police and Fire Departments with training their staff in crisis response and their own mental wellness. Sarah has worked with military Veterans on an inpatient psychiatry unit, inpatient medicine unit as well as in outpatient mental health. She has also worked with Veteran Caregivers; building a program to support their needs.
​
Sarah is trained in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) through ICISF and has utilized these skills in debriefings with community agencies and first responders. Sarah also has specialized training in crisis intervention and the spectrum of suicide risk. She is a trainer for first responders working with veterans in crisis and advanced safety planning interventions. Sarah has a unique perspective as she brings personal experience as a first responder to the table. She was a volunteer firefighter and an EMT for nearly 10 years. Sarah has numerous family members and loved ones that are first responders, in the military or are veterans. These lived experiences influence Sarah’s passion to work with such individuals and to bring specialized training to the community.
Kaitlin Merli, MHA
Administrative Coordinator
Kait is Branch of Hope, LLC’s Administrative Coordinator. Kait received her B.A. in Psychology from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in 2014 and commissioned the same day as an Officer in the U.S. Army. She served nearly 8 years as a Logistics Officer with units in Colorado, Virginia, and South Korea earning several accolades and Demonstrated Logistician.
After the birth of her daughter, Kait transitioned from the U.S. Army and pursued her Master’s of Healthcare Administration with a specialization in Human Resources. She earned her MHA from Colorado State University in 2023. She now resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. Kait brings with her a creative mind (as seen in our social media posts) and a breadth of knowledge. We are so thankful to have her.
Madison Elie-Thompson, LCPC
Professional Counselor
Madison Elie-Thompson is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland. She specializes in trauma-informed care for first responders, veterans, healthcare professionals, and adults (18+). Coming from a first responder family herself, Madison has been dedicated to supporting the first responder and veteran community since 2018.
​
While her main focus is trauma, Madison also helps clients navigate a range of concerns like depression, anxiety, and substance use. She's passionate about the work she does and values personal and professional growth. Madison is trained in several evidence-based approaches, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). In her private practice, she offers a supportive space where clients can feel heard, understood, and empowered in their healing journey.
Emily Kefauver, LMSW
Supervised Social Worker
Emily completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Hood College in Frederick, MD. With the background in behavioral health, Emily went on to receive a Masters of Social Work from the University of MD, Baltimore in 2022. Emily has since worked for the Affiliated Sante Group as a clinician on multiple teams. Working on the Baltimore County Mobile Crisis Team as well as the Carroll County Mobile Crisis Team, Emily partnered with local city and county police departments in the community in order to provide crisis intervention and de-escalation to clients of all backgrounds and demographics.
​
Currently, Emily is a clinician on the recently formed Central MD Mobile
Response Team through the nationwide 988 initiative, continuing to provide crisis support to individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use crises. She is also a clinician for Branch of Hope, providing state mandated mental health assessments for law enforcement officers. With a clear passion for behavioral health, Emily has also previously worked with clients diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illnesses in settings such as residential living, Day Programs, and a hospital re-entry program.
Emily is working toward her LCSW and is under the supervision of Sarah Haberbosch, LCSW-C, a board approved supervisor.
Dr. Tyler Betz, LCSW-C
Clinical Social Worker
Dr. Tyler Betz, LCSW-C is an experienced clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience working with individuals and families. Dr. Betz’s current employment is with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, where he serves as Suicide Prevention Specialist. Dr. Betz also works for the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) where he conducts clinical evaluations of individuals who present to the Emergency Department who are in psychiatric crisis. He is on faculty at Simmons University and teaches in the MSW program. Dr. Betz provides mental health interventions as part of the Worcester County Health Department’s Crisis Response Team (CRT). As part of the CRT team, he provides clinical interventions in the community as an adjunct to law enforcement. He has worked in the field alongside law enforcement for more than 10 years including the Worcester County Sheriff’s office, Ocean City Police Department, Berlin Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies on the eastern shore of Maryland.
Dr. Betz is passionate about working with those who served, both in law enforcement and in the armed services. As a brother of a police officer, and as the son and grandson of veterans, he is committed to giving the best part of his professional self to working with those who have dedicated their life to
service.
Mandy Richardson, LCSW-C
Clinical Social Worker
Mandy graduated from the University of Maryland, school of social worker in 2012 and obtained LCSW- C in 2014. Mandy has various experiences in dealing with trauma, suicide prevention, substance abuse disorders, and crisis intervention. Her expertise includes working independently in outpatient clinics providing individual, group, and family therapy using evidence based therapeutic modalities.
Mandy worked for the Affiliated Sante Group mobile crisis on the Eastern Shore for several years while working in a school-based setting providing individual counseling to middle and high school students.
Currently, Mandy is employed in the public school system working with at risk youth. She has been trained in TF-
CBT (trauma focused cognitive behavior therapy) and crisis intervention.
Mandy has numerous family members and friends that are first responders, in the military, or are veterans. As a wife of a police
officer, Mandy is committed to giving the best professional self to working for those who have dedicated their lives to their service of their community/country.
Dana Gargurevich, LCPC
Professional Counselor
Dana is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland. She earned her Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC and received a Post Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University in Baltimore, MD. Dana has been practicing in the field of mental health for over 20 years. She is currently employed with the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and in private practice.
​
During her professional career, Dana has working in both inpatient, outpatient, and correctional settings. She has experience working with adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, psychosis, suicidal ideation, anger management, and substance use disorders, She is skilled in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT). Over her career she has also been trained and involved with Crisis Incident Stress Management (CISM), Hostage Negotiations, and Crisis De-escalation.
​
Dana's work in the correctional system and being married to a police officer has given her insight into the impact of work demands on first responders and their families. Her goal is to truly understand the needs of her clients and to provide a nonjudgmental and compassionate environment where clients can be open and honest.
Vance J. Row
Certified Yoga Instructor & Peer Specialist
In November 2019, Vance discovered that a yoga practice is a powerful community of connection and challenges. Through his regular practice, Vance has found an incredible amount of physical and mental benefits.
​
Prior to becoming a Yoga Teacher, Vance was a Police Officer for more than twenty years. After seeing the physical and mental benefits of his own yoga practice, Vance knew he wanted to teach yoga to other First Responders/ Public Safety Professionals. Vance completed his 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) thru Yoga- Vibez in Ocean City, MD in March 2021. Throughout his training, Vance was mentored in the Hatha Yoga tradition by Tana Martin (RYT-500).
Vance has since completed Warriors at Ease Training, Aerial Yoga Teacher Training and Veterans Yoga Project Mindful Resilience. Most recently, Vance has begun his 300- hour YTT thru Guiding Wellness Institute of Fayetteville, NC.
​
During his Yoga Classes, Vance blends a practice mixed with breath, movement, and mindfulness for an overall feeling of wellbeing. During these sessions students can expect to move, stretch, work on alignment, build strength, and nurture flexibility. He believes that the practice of Yoga is for anyone and makes his classes fun and accessible to ANY level.
Meghann Holloway
MSW Intern
Meghann is a masters level social work intern who has rooted her clinical interventions in positive psychology, post traumatic growth and tactical sports psychology with the belief that the demanding experiences of first responders can be fortifying; strengthening their physical and psychological armor. She regularly facilitates workshops educating others on the brain science of trauma, achieving nervous system regulation, enhancing operational durability, and building family wellness. Meghann’s professional experience as a police officer for 23 years has afforded her a number of opportunities including patrol, special assignments, academy instructor and the agency’s first wellness coordinator. This humbling experience as a wellness officer has allowed Meghann to develop interagency relationships and support the infrastructure of robust wellness programs within other departments, meeting the wellness needs of hundreds of other officers.
​
Meghann has over a decade of experience as a health and fitness instructor and carries numerous certifications including ICISF peer supporter, SAMHSA national trauma trainer, FBI hostage negotiator, Yoga for First Responders Train the Trainer, a Guide in training for Boulder Crest's Struggle Well training, and is a Master Trainer for the FOP Power in Peers. By using her own professional experiences, personal challenges, and a hefty dose of humor, Meghann decreases the stigma and demystifies the experiences many first responders are having. In her free time, Meghann volunteers as a service puppy raiser for America’s Vet Dogs.
Shelby Feddon, LCPC
Professional Counselor
Shelby is a dedicated and compassionate Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over four and a half years of experience working in inpatient treatment for first responders. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Coastal Carolina University and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University.
​
Throughout her career, Shelby has developed a deep understanding of trauma-informed care, specializing in supporting first responders and individuals facing complex mental health challenges, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and has been trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy, equipping her to help clients process and heal from trauma.
​
As the child of a family of firefighters, Shelby has a personal connection to the unique challenges faced by first responders and is passionate about providing the highest level of care to those who serve our communities. Her therapeutic approach integrates evidence-based techniques with empathy and understanding, ensuring that clients feel supported and empowered on their healing journey.
Braquelle Murphy, LCPC
Professional Counselor
Braquelle is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She is a multiracial, action-oriented psychotherapist born, raised, and based in Maryland. Braquelle currently resides and operates her private practice in Silver Spring, Maryland, located on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Piscataway and Nacotchtank people.
Braquelle works with both individuals and couples utilizing trauma-informed care, Ego State therapy, EMDR, Animal Assisted Services, and more. In addition to individual and relationship therapy services, she offers EMDR intensives, individual and group consultation to EMDR-trained clinicians, facilitation of EMDR basic training, and clinical presentations.
Virginia Funes, LMSW
Supervised Social Worker
Virginia is a behavioral therapist with a passion for helping individuals and couples navigate life's challenges. Born and raised in rural Vermont, her journey toward becoming a therapist was deeply rooted in the values of empathy and compassion that she learned from her family. Growing up, she spent evenings and weekends alongside her grandmother, a dairy farmer, and her mother, a nurse at the VA, who both instilled in her a profound respect for caring for others.
​
After graduating college, Virginia began her career as an in-home counselor, working closely with at-risk children and their families. Witnessing the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity inspired her to deepen her expertise, and in 2019, she returned to school to pursue a Master's in Social Work. Over the past three years, she has honed her skills in outpatient therapy, specializing in trauma-informed care and utilizing evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), EMDR, and mindfulness practices. Virginia has experience treating anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, depressive disorders, PTSD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, substance use disorders, and adjustment disorders.
​
For the past two years, Virginia has practiced in-person therapy in Maryland before recently relocating back to her home state of Vermont. Her life experiences—including a decade of traveling the Southeast with her husband during his U.S. Army career—have profoundly shaped the therapist and person she is today. Now a parent to a lively toddler, Virginia is constantly reminded to slow down and find joy in life's small moments, a perspective she brings into her therapeutic approach.
Kristen Custer, LCPC
Professional Counselor & Registered Psychology Associate
Kristen is a knowledgeable and compassionate provider with expertise as both a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Registered Psychology Associate. She currently holds her Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and is enrolled as a doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at Stevenson University.
Growing up as the daughter to a firefighter and teacher in West Virginia, she understands the unique experiences of those working in first responder and public service roles. Additionally, she applies trauma-informed care and addresses the mental health stigma in both her individual therapy practice and in previous practice providing psychological assessments to veterans across the country.
Kristen is skilled, supportive, and empathetic in supporting those experiencing anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive, and trauma-related disorders. She is committed to inclusivity and providing safe spaces for her clients while applying therapeutic interventions established in psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, and client-centered orientations. In evaluations and assessments, Kristen believes in strength-based approaches to support clients discovering the best versions of themselves in their professional and personal lives.