SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, Julie Knudsen welcomes Nicole Martin, LCSW, for an in-depth conversation about trauma-informed care, stress regulation, and the work of supporting first responders.

Nicole explains how trauma-informed approaches differ from trauma-focused treatment, emphasizing the importance of meeting people where they are, respecting boundaries, and understanding how the brain and body respond to stress. Drawing from her clinical background and her work delivering trauma-informed de-escalation trainings, she shares how neuroscience, experiential learning, and practical tools can help first responders navigate high-stress encounters more effectively.

The conversation also explores how these trainings have created space for meaningful dialogue around officer wellness, mental health, and resilience. Nicole reflects on the importance of regulation, co-regulation, and communication in crisis situations, and why helping responders understand their own nervous systems can ultimately lead to safer outcomes for both officers and the communities they serve.

This episode offers valuable insight for anyone interested in trauma-informed care, crisis response, and the growing movement to support the mental health of those who serve on the front lines.

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Nicole Martin, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma-informed trainer with The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth. Her work focuses on helping first responders, law enforcement professionals, and community organizations understand the neurobiology of stress and trauma while developing practical tools for de-escalation and resilience.

Nicole brings a diverse background in clinical therapy, group facilitation, and trauma-informed education. Prior to joining TLC, she worked with individuals experiencing complex trauma, addiction, and eating disorders, and facilitated therapeutic and psychoeducational groups across a range of treatment settings.

At TLC, Nicole leads trauma-informed de-escalation trainings developed in partnership with law enforcement agencies. Her interactive approach combines neuroscience, experiential learning, and practical skill-building to help professionals better regulate their own responses, build rapport in high-stress situations, and create safer outcomes for everyone involved.

Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemartinmssmlsp/

HELPFUL LINKS:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth https://thelincolncenter.com

SAMHSA – Trauma-Informed Approach https://www.samhsa.gov

CDC – Trauma-Informed Principles https://www.cdc.gov

Nicole Martin – LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolemartinmssmlsp/

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.

SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, GT Freeman welcomes speaker and strategist Matt Zaun for a compelling conversation about leadership, communication, and the transformative power of story.

Matt shares why storytelling isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s an essential leadership skill. He breaks down how stories bypass resistance, build empathy, and help people connect to purpose in a way that data and directives simply can’t.

Together, GT and Matt explore real-world examples from education, mental health, and organizational leadership where storytelling has created culture shifts, unlocked clarity, and inspired action. Matt also shares tips for leaders who feel stuck in transactional communication—offering simple, powerful ways to share meaningful stories that resonate.

Whether you're a team leader, teacher, executive, or parent, this episode will help you rethink how you communicate—and why stories are the most human, memorable, and motivating tool we have.

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Matt Zaun is a strategic communication advisor, keynote speaker, and the founder of Stories With Traction, a consultancy that helps leaders use storytelling to increase influence, enhance team engagement, and drive results.

With a background in marketing and leadership strategy, Matt works with executives, educators, and entrepreneurs across the country to craft messages that move people—from boardrooms to classrooms. His mission is to help organizations ditch jargon and complexity in favor of stories that inspire connection, trust, and action.

Learn more about Matt’s work at StoriesWithTraction.com, or connect with him on LinkedIn: Matt Zaun

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Matt Zaun Stories With Traction: https://www.storieswithtraction.com/

Matt Zaun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattzaun/

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth: https://thelincolncenter.com

SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, Julie Knudsen sits down with Dr. Crystal Haas of Red Clay Consolidated School District for a thoughtful conversation about restorative practices and what it truly takes to build healthy, inclusive school communities.

Crystal shares her journey from the music classroom into district-wide restorative leadership, and explains how restorative practices help schools move from punishment and removal toward listening, accountability, and repair. She describes practical strategies like treatment agreements, restorative language, classroom circles, and re-entry conversations that support students not just academically, but relationally and emotionally.

Listeners will hear powerful examples of how restorative practices can reduce discipline referrals, strengthen trust between students and staff, and create school environments where students feel safe enough to return, reconnect, and thrive.

This episode is an honest and hopeful look at what’s possible when schools lead with connection, equity, and belonging.

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Dr. Crystal Haas is an educator and restorative practices trainer with Red Clay Consolidated School District in Wilmington, Delaware. Originally a high school music and choir teacher, Crystal’s career evolved as she became deeply committed to restorative practices and the power of relationship-centered school communities.

Trained through the International Institute for Restorative Practices, Dr. Haas now helps lead district-wide implementation of restorative strategies across 27 schools, supporting teachers, administrators, students, and families in building cultures of connection, equity, accountability, and belonging. Her work is grounded in the belief that every student deserves to feel seen, heard, and supported in school.

HELPFUL LINKS:

• Red Clay Consolidated School District - https://www.redclayschools.com
• International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP) - https://www.iirp.edu
• Harvard Making Caring Common Project - https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu
• Dr. Crystal Haas on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrystal-haas-ed-d-a28b7113/

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.

SUMMARY:

In this powerful episode of TLC Connections, Julie Knudsen welcomes 911 dispatcher Craig Tinneny for a conversation about trauma, peer support, and the unseen emotional toll of being a first responder behind the headset. Craig shares how his work in emergency communications—especially a series of tragic calls, including one involving his own family—brought him to a breaking point. He opens up about the dark places he went, the support systems that helped him recover, and how he now serves as a lifeline for others through Montgomery County’s CISM Team.

The conversation explores what it means to be human in a profession that demands composure in chaos, how stigma keeps people from seeking help, and why supporting dispatchers is critical to the overall health of our first responder systems.

Listeners will leave with a deeper understanding of the challenges dispatchers face, the importance of peer support, and why no one—no matter their job title—should have to struggle alone.

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Craig Tinneny is a 911 dispatcher in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, with over 16 years of experience in emergency communications. A U.S. Army veteran and committed member of Montgomery County’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team, Craig is a passionate advocate for first responder wellness.

After navigating his own mental health crisis, Craig became a peer support leader—supporting police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and fellow dispatchers through some of their hardest moments. He now serves as both a behind-the-scenes responder and a visible voice for change, pushing back against stigma and building bridges between crisis work and healing.

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.

HELPFUL LINKS:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth: https://thelincolncenter.com

Montgomery County CISM Team: https://www.cism-montcopa.com

NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org

Craig Tinneny on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-tinneny-792bb3140/

SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, Alyssa Brouse sits down with Chimère Holmes for a rich and honest discussion about mental health, relationships, and the work required to sustain meaningful connection. Chimère shares insights from her role as an Outpatient Program therapist, explaining the continuum of mental health care and the emotional labor involved in true therapeutic change.

The conversation explores common challenges couples and families face today, including communication breakdowns, parenting differences, intimacy struggles, financial stress, and the impact of unresolved family-of-origin patterns. Chimère discusses attachment styles, emotional regulation, and the importance of respect, empathy, and accountability in relationships—emphasizing her belief in “happy spouse, happy house.”

Listeners will also hear Chimère reflect on her journey into the helping profession, the mentors who shaped her path, and her current work as a doctoral student in Marriage and Family Therapy. The episode closes with a powerful reminder that mental health is important—and that support, healing, and connection are always possible when we’re willing to do the work.

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Chimère Holmes, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and doctoral candidate in Marriage and Family Therapy. She currently serves the community through her Outpatient Therapy Program, Be Ye Renewed Counseling, providing mental health treatment focused on emotional regulation, communication, coping skills, and trauma-informed care. Chimère has extensive experience working across levels of care, including inpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient settings.

Her clinical work is grounded in systems theory, attachment theory, and a holistic approach to wellness that honors emotional, relational, physical, and spiritual health. Chimère is especially passionate about couples and family work, BIPOC mental health spaces, and helping individuals and families break old patterns to build healthier ways of relating. She is completing her doctoral research while continuing to serve clients and mentor future clinicians.

Helpful Links: Chimère Holmes –

About & Practice: https://chimereholmes.com/about/

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth: https://thelincolncenter.com

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.

SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, GT Freeman welcomes Rob D’Alonzo, SVP of School-Based Services at The Lincoln Center, for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about mental health, relationships, and meaning-making.

Rob shares formative experiences from his personal and professional life—from growing up as a fraternal twin to working on the front lines of psychiatric crisis care in hospitals and emergency response centers. He reflects on powerful moments of connection with individuals in extreme distress, the role of empathy and instinct in effective care, and why systems—not individuals in isolation—are critical to long-term healing.

The conversation also explores burnout, vicarious trauma, and how mental health professionals can care for themselves while caring for others. Rob discusses the importance of physical activity, family, optimism, and authentic relationships in sustaining a long career in a demanding field. Together, GT and Rob examine the current state of mental health in our communities, particularly for youth, and why access, prevention, and personalized support matter now more than ever.

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Rob D’Alonzo, MA, LPC, is the Senior Vice President of School-Based Services at The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth. Rob joined TLC in 2011 and has held several leadership roles, including Director of the Family Resource Center, where he oversaw services with the Office of Children and Youth and led Family Focused Solution Based Services in partnership with Central Behavioral Health.

In his current role, Rob leads TLC’s School-Based Services division and provides clinical supervision to counselors and graduate interns across the agency. With decades of experience in crisis response, residential treatment, and community-based mental health, Rob brings a systems-focused, relationship-driven approach to supporting youth, families, and professionals.

Rob earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Syracuse University and his master’s degree from Antioch University in Santa Barbara, California. He has been a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania since 2002.

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.

Victim Services Center: https://www.victimservicescenter.org

SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, host Julie Knudsen speaks with Erin Milbourne Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Direct Services Supervisor at the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County (VSC). Erin shares her 18-year journey in victim services, her deep sense of purpose, and what keeps her committed to such emotionally demanding work. She describes VSC’s free, confidential, trauma-informed services—including counseling, 24/7 crisis hotline support, police/hospital/court accompaniment, and specialized support groups for survivors of sexual assault, childhood abuse, gun violence, homicide, and grief.

Erin explains how VSC ensures zero barriers to care: no insurance needed, no requirement to report to police, no immigration questions, and free interpretation for any language. She also highlights the agency’s proactive outreach model, strong collaborations with police departments, hospitals, schools, and courts, and the critical role of advocacy in helping victims navigate complex legal processes. Additional topics include the rise of elder fraud, the importance of language access, and the emotional rewards and challenges of the work. The conversation illuminates how VSC’s small but mighty team supports thousands of survivors and why community awareness, partnerships, and financial support remain vital.

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Erin Milbourne, LCSW, is the Direct Services Supervisor at the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County, the county’s only nonprofit providing comprehensive, free, and confidential support to survivors of crime and their loved ones. With nearly two decades at VSC, Erin oversees clinical services, advocacy programs, crisis response, and multiple specialized support groups offered both in person and virtually.

A trauma-informed clinician and longtime social worker, Erin is recognized for her leadership in expanding language access, strengthening partnerships with law enforcement and courts, and improving service pathways for survivors of sexual violence, homicide, gun violence, and elder fraud. She has been instrumental in implementing outreach initiatives such as countywide bilingual awareness campaigns and innovative virtual support groups. Motivated by her own lived experience as a survivor, Erin brings deep empathy, expertise, and purpose to her work supporting victims across Montgomery County and throughout Pennsylvania.

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.

SUMMARY:

In this episode of TLC Connections, Reggie Newson, CEO of Wellpoint Care Network, sits down with GT Freeman to discuss leadership, community impact, and the future of human services. Reggie reflects on his journey from a blue-collar upbringing in Milwaukee to senior roles in state government, healthcare, and now nonprofit leadership.

He shares stories about the people and experiences that shaped his career, the responsibility he feels to strengthen his hometown, and the mission-driven work happening at Wellpoint — including their focus on education, employment, housing, community connection, and behavioral health.

The conversation also highlights the growing partnership between Wellpoint and The Lincoln Center and how strategic collaboration can expand reach, improve outcomes, and support families more holistically.

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Reggie Newson is the Chief Executive Officer of Wellpoint Care Network, a 175-year-old human service organization serving children and families throughout the Milwaukee region. A seasoned executive with more than two decades of experience across government, healthcare, and the private sector, Reggie is known for leading organizational transformation, advancing community partnerships, and championing equitable access to essential supports.

Before joining Wellpoint, he spent nearly a decade in leadership roles with Ascension Wisconsin and previously served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. His career spans roles at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, WE Energies, and multiple statewide policy and workforce initiatives.

Reggie holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Concordia University-Wisconsin, along with advanced certifications in project management, Six Sigma Black Belt, and nonprofit leadership through institutions including Duke University and the National Urban League.

SPONSOR:

The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC) is a social enterprise company based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. Founded in 1970 by a behavioral health hospital, TLC is an entrepreneurial nonprofit providing innovative education, coaching, and counseling services to individuals and families, as well as grant writing and management services for school districts and universities.