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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.
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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
Madison Elie-Thompson is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland. She graduated with her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Madison specializes in trauma informed care for first responders, veterans, health care professionals and adults (18+). Madison comes from a first responder family and has over 5 years experience working exclusively with first responders and veterans.
While trauma is Madison’s specialty, she is also well versed in a variety of mental health concerns including depression, anxiety and substance use. She is passionate about her work and values growth in all areas of her practice. She is certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and Dialectical Behavior Therapist (C-DBT). She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
Emily Kefauver
LMSW
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.
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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
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
Clinician
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.


Stephanie O’Connell, LCSW-C
Clinician
Stephanie graduated from Goucher College with a BA in Psychology. While working for the Baltimore County Crisis Response hotline she completed her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Maryland in 2009. For the next 5 years Stephanie worked on the Baltimore County Police Mobile Crisis Team responding to calls for service relating to mental health, substance use, etc.
For the last 10 years Stephanie has been working for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and is currently the Deputy Director of Mental Health at VA Maryland. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of crisis intervention, substance use, treatment of serious mental illness, residential rehabilitation treatment programs, and outpatient mental health.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.