Joint Warrior Wellness Summit - November 14th, 2025 - 9:30a-4:30p @ Serenity Recovery Connection, Colorado Springs, CO
Timothy Spalla, MA, LPC
Co-Founder, The Wounded Healer Project - US Army Special Operations Veteran
Presentation Title - The Missing Piece: Moral Injury and Justice-Involved Veterans
This presentation blends personal narrative, neuroscience, and frontline experience to examine the often-overlooked impact of moral injury among justice-involved veterans. Drawing on his own story and years working with incarcerated veterans, former Army Ranger turned therapist and nonprofit executive director Timothy Spalla shares insights from the Wounded Healer Project's work supporting Veterans Treatment Court participants in Denver.
Through this unique combination of lived experience and clinical practice, the presentation reveals that moral injury, and its core affect - shame - may be far more widespread than most realize, raising critical questions about its role in criminal behavior, recidivism, treatment, and the paths toward healing.
Bio: Tim Spalla, MA, LPC, is a combat veteran, mental health clinician, and nonprofit leader whose work centers on trauma, addiction, and moral injury in military veteran and frontline healthcare communities. After earning a BA in History from the University of Northern Iowa in 2005, he served as an Army Ranger Intelligence Specialist with multiple deployments to Iraq and later held positions within the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), supporting counter-terrorism missions across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
In 2015, Tim transitioned to conservation work in Africa, founding a company of special operations veterans that partnered with governments and nonprofits to combat wildlife poaching and trafficking, including a multi-year collaboration with the National Geographic Society. Returning to the U.S. in 2019 and following a transformative mental health crisis, he began confronting his own mental health struggles, a journey that eventually led him to psychedelic-assisted therapies and mindfulness practices.
These experiences inspired him to pursue graduate training in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Regis University, including a year-long internship with the Colorado Department of Corrections where he provided mental health support for many justice-involved veterans. In 2022, Tim was named a Pat Tillman Scholar for his leadership and dedication to advancing innovative, culturally competent care for the veteran community. Today, Tim is the owner of Agile Wellness Group, a Denver-based private therapy and wellness coaching practice, Co-founder and Executive Director of The Wounded Healer Project, and Senior Advisor to SONT, a licensed natural medicine company. He is also a full-time Doctoral Student of Clinical Psychology at the University of Denver, where his research interest have focused on the intersections of traumatic brain injury, substance use, moral injury, justice-system involvement, and Indigenous healing traditions. He regularly presents this research nationally and serves as a keynote lecturer for the Integrative Psychiatry Institute’s psychedelic-assisted therapy training program.
Nick Metz (Ret. Chief), MS, LPCC, ART & EMDR Trained
Retired Chief of Police, City of Aurora, CO - Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate - Code-4 Counseling
Presentation Title - Responder Mental Health Trends
Discussing current mental health trends experienced by responders, professionals, and their families in Colorado with lived experience and empirical data.
Bio: Nick is a 36-year retired law enforcement professional who retired in 2019 from the Aurora Police Department and previously served as a Deputy Chief with the Seattle Police Department. Currently, Nick serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Code-4 Counseling, where he oversees counseling services, critical incident response, wellness and leadership training, peer support, career coaching, and consulting for public safety and medical organizations.
He established full-time wellness units supporting sworn and professional staff. Founding member of the It’s A Calling Foundation, dedicated to providing culturally competent counseling services to Colorado's responders and families. Nick is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute (NEI), and the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP). His professional affiliations include the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Major Cities Chiefs Association, COPS, and others.
As a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate, Nick has provided thousands of hours of counseling, critical incident response, and training to responders and their families. He is on track to achieve full licensure in December 2025. His specialties include trauma, couples, and family counseling, and he holds certifications in EMDR, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (A.R.T.), and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT).
Christopher James Vinci
Director of Mycology Education, Colonizing Colorado, LLC, Founder & Director, Operation CAPS Inc., 501(c)(3), Founder & President, UC Mycological Society, Founder/Director, The Pikes Peak Myco-League, Owner, Most Dope Mycology Apparel, LLC, Owner, PROP 122, LLC
Panel Participant - Alternative Medicines & Methodology for Warrior Healing
This panel unites Warriors, Stakeholders, and Executive Leaders to discuss how a synergy of lived experience, natural medicines, western practices, and alternative methods produce long-term recovery outcomes for the Warrior Community.
Christopher Vinci is the Founder & Director of Operation CAPS, a Colorado 501(c)(3) expanding access to mycology education, food security, and healing for veterans and underserved communities.
He also leads statewide fungi initiatives and community partnerships.
Dr. Tabitha Dolan, PsyD, MAJ(R), USA
Retired US Army Major & Licensed Clinical Psychologist, CEO of OpenMind
Panel Host - The Team & Passion Behind OpenMind
Dr. Tabitha Dolan or “Doc,” as she was called in the military, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Army veteran, and the Founder and CEO of OpenMind, a pioneering mental wellness platform dedicated to serving veterans, first responders, and those who support them. Throughout her 20-year career, Dr. Dolan has worked across every level of care — from combat zones to hospitals to boardrooms — redefining how we think about resilience, leadership, and recovery. She’s known for her ability to find the good in everyone and every situation, her deep compassion, and her ability to make complex science feel human and hopeful. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: Healing doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens in connection. Join us and Dr. Tabitha “Doc” Dolan — CEO of OpenMind for a riveting and innovative panel discussion!
Brian W. Sims, CRPS-V, VSR, CEI, CPPS, GISP
US Army Infantry, Intelligence & Emergency Management Veteran
National Director, Project: REBIRTH Warrior Recovery Community Organization
Event Host & Presenter -
“The Camo Tsunami - Suicidality and Overdose Response and Mitigation for the GWOT Military Community in a Trauma-Informed Capacity” and
“PSYCHEDELIC ASSISTED RECOVERY (PAR) - A Recovery Ecosystem & Framework Beyond Psychedelic Assisted Therapy (PAT) for Individuals Seeking Sustained, Long-Term Recovery.”
Brian Sims is a person in long term recovery from Substance Misuse, MST, and Co-Occurring Disorders acquired while serving his country during the campaigns and operations in support of the Global War on Terrorism as a US Army Infantryman, Intelligence Contractor and Emergency Manager. He is also a suicide attempt (2015) and street-level homelessness survivor, and is serving as the National Director of Project: REBIRTH, the Nation’s first and only Warrior Recovery Community Organization (WARRCO)
Mr. Sims has held Director Level positions and Board Seats in multiple Veteran focused non-profits, establishing programs and training for over 30,000 volunteers and employees. He is also a FEMA certified Emergency Management Professional and has deployed at the request of the US Government to work with State and Local governments to rescue citizens and save lives and property nearly a dozen times, including during the Global COVID Pandemic.
In 2016, he established and implemented a similar Veteran Recovery program for Fellowship RCO in Broward, County, FL, becoming a main contact and consultant for multiple Broward County Law Enforcement agencies for Veteran Crisis Intervention and training.
He is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (Veteran) for the Florida Certification Board, a Veteran Supported Recovery Professional Peer for the New York State Certification Board, Certified Psilocybin Peer Supporter, and a NAADAC Certified Event Interventionist. He also holds training certifications for dozens of accredited courses, including ASIST, WRAP, Mental Health First Aid, CASAT First Responder trainings, PsychArmor, IAFF Peer Trainings, Trauma-Informed Recovery Coaching, a Master Practitioner in NLP and more. Brian is also a Masters Student at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School studying Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addiction Studies and serving as a pre-clinical intern for the Wounded Healer Project.
He also served as Service Officer for American Legion Post 19 in Orlando, FL in 2024.
Boards & Committees:
Member - Central Florida Veterans Community Coalition
Previous Chair - Peer Based Services, FL DCF Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) Southern Region
Past Member - Southeast Florida First Responder Support Coalition
Member - Florida RCO Toolkit Development Working Group
Board Member - Colorado Providers Association
Working Group Lead - Health and Wellness Initiatives, Moral Compass Federation
Board of Advisors Member - SEA WAVES & One Brother One Sister Non-Profits
Dr. Robbie Westerman, DNP-PMHNP
Chief Medical Officer, Camelback Integrated Health & Wellness
Panelist- The Science and Efficacy of Deep TMS Technology
A leader bridging innovative approaches coupled with gold-standard practice in addiction medicine, Dr. Robbie has spent the last ten years focused on equitable and effective care delivery to thousands of patients seeking mental health treatment. In 2022, he co-founded Camelback Integrated Health and Wellness to expand access to innovative treatments while reducing barriers to care.
The journey to recovery demands changes in behavior and perception. To do that, we must understand the inner workings of what causes these behaviors and how to adjust them properly. Dr. Robbie Westerman, the Founder of Next Step Recovery AZ.
Dr. Robbie is a recovering addict who abused substances for years. In his journey to sobriety, he found his love and passion for neurology which he now uses to help educate and guide others to recovery. He learned and now teaches how to properly rewire pathways and transition into healthier behaviors to overcome maladaptive tendencies.
Leah Stiles, USN Senior Chief (R)
Founder & CEO, SEA WAVES
Event Host - “Intro to MEDAL - (Military Eating Disorder Awareness & Literacy)
CEUs AVAILABLE FOR THIS SESSION
MEDAL (Military Eating Disorder Awareness & Literacy) Training equips providers, veteran service organizations, and frontline professionals with the tools to recognize, respond to, and refer individuals struggling with eating disorders in the military and veteran communities. Rooted in lived experience, cultural insight, and current research, this session breaks the silence on a critical readiness and suicide prevention issue often overlooked in traditional care models. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the unique ways eating disorders present in high-achieving, service-driven populations and why early, culturally informed intervention is essential.
Leah Stiles is a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer and the founder of SEA WAVES, the nation’s only Pentagon-approved nonprofit dedicated to addressing eating disorders in the military and veteran community. After a 20-year career in military public affairs, Leah now leads national efforts to provide education, advocacy, prevention, and support through culturally informed resources, referrals, and access to care. She has trained hundreds of professionals across the country and regularly consults with policymakers, veteran coalitions, and healthcare systems to expand access to treatment and reduce stigma. Her advocacy was instrumental in the passage of the SERVE Act, federal legislation that expands TRICARE eating disorder coverage and mandates leadership training across the Department of Defense, recognizing eating disorders as both a health crisis and a readiness concern.
As a keynote speaker and systems-change advocate, Leah blends personal experience with policy expertise to address one of the most overlooked mental health crises in the military and veteran community. She has presented at national platforms including the Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium, Service to Success Wellness Summit, and the Military Influencers Conference, and works alongside thought leaders and clinical experts to close critical gaps in care. Through SEA WAVES, Leah brings together evidence-based education and deeply personal storytelling to break stigma and foster connection. The organization is listed in the Military OneSource and Wounded Warrior Project databases and serves active-duty service members, veterans, spouses, caregivers, and military children around the world. She is also the author of the upcoming book Battle Scars & Body Wars: A Personal and Professional Journey Shining a Light on Eating Disorders in the Military. Her message is clear: eating disorder prevention is suicide prevention and no one in our military community should have to face these battles alone. Need a light? Be a light.
Michael Pottern
Founder, Denver Zen Den & MindWave
Panel Participant - Alternative Medicines & Methodology for Warrior Healing
This panel unites Warriors, Stakeholders, and Executive Leaders to discuss how a synergy of lived experience, natural medicines, western practices, and alternative methods produce long-term recovery outcomes for the Warrior Community.
Michael is a serial entrepreneur who's dedicated to helping inspire childlike wonder through a multimodal approach using ancient practices and modern technology. He creates 'IMAX for the soul' experiences using light, sound, vibration, and frequency at his Denver Zen Den clinic. He also recently created MindWave, which offers foundational setup kits for the emerging technology that can be easily brought into people's homes or businesses.
Dr. Clarence “Lance” Cutsforth
US Army Special operation Veteran, Founder: NovaPax Wellness, The Hero’s Journey Center, Mons Sana
Presenter - “The Hero’s Journey - Presenting philosophy and approach to creating safe spaces and opportunities for deep healing”
My name is Dr. Clarence (Lance) Cutsforth and I am a double Board-Certified Doctor of Functional Medicine. I specialize in working with active Military, First Responders, Law Enforcement, and Veterans of those vocations who struggle with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety disorders, and addictions. I utilize non-pharmaceutical modalities of treatment in my course of practice that range from nutrition reprogramming to hyperbaric oxygen therapy to judicious use of entheogenic plant medicines to cranial electrostimulation – all wrapped and supported by robust integration therapy, counseling, and coaching.
I am a veteran of the US Army, having served as a Special Forces communications specialist and later as an Infantry Officer with deployments ranging from counter-narcotics operations in Central America to implementation of The Dayton Peace Accord in Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am a product of my own healing journey protocols, and am now circling back to help others from a place of Lived Experience. I also mentor and coach athletes and executives in performance optimization and finding life balance.
With the death toll by self-harm/suicide rate in this demographic in the US alone approaching 45 people per day, I felt called to position myself where the greatest population of those suffering are traveling to seek help, and where I have the most latitude professionally to help those struggling. In addition to private practice, I also work with organizations like The Wounded Healer Project, Sacred Hunting, Illuminating Heroes, The Mission After, Project: Rebirth and The Moral Compass Federation to provide safe spaces for these brave men and women to find lasting healing and escape a lifetime dependence on pharmaceuticals.
Suzi McKinley
USMC Veteran, Founder, Golden Forge
Panel Participant - Alternative Medicines & Methodology for Warrior Healing
This panel unites Warriors, Stakeholders, and Executive Leaders to discuss how a synergy of lived experience, natural medicines, western practices, and alternative methods produce long-term recovery outcomes for the Warrior Community.
Suzi McKinley is a Marine Corps veteran, endurance athlete, and mission-driven builder. Her path has spanned combat zones, wildland fires, classrooms, and boardrooms. But it’s the crucible of trauma—and the climb back to purpose—that forged the vision behind Golden Forge.
After three combat deployments and over a decade leading the development and implementation of mission-critical tech at Palantir, Suzi committed her own capital—because waiting for permission wasn’t an option—to create what she couldn’t find when she needed it most: a place where strength, healing, and regenerative living converge to help people come back to life.
Golden Forge began as a personal reckoning—then became a mission. Suzi walked through the invisible aftermath of service, through the kind of darkness that buries people—twice, she almost didn’t come back. It wasn’t therapy alone that pulled her back—it was movement, silence, and a mission worth staying alive for. That recovery was supported by nontraditional medicine—including psychedelic-assisted therapy and a stellate ganglion block—treatments that reached her nervous system when nothing else could. Golden Forge is the embodiment of that path—where innovation meets lived truth. It exists because she chose to live.
That belief now lives on a 163-acre high-altitude ranch in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains—where Golden Forge offers a grounded, intensive path forward for those who serve and seek to rise again.
Suzi blends tactical execution with unshakable conviction. She’s built and scaled teams under pressure, led high-impact initiatives in complex environments, and carries the lived empathy of someone who knows what’s at stake. Her leadership is grounded in grit, discernment, and the belief that strength is not the absence of struggle—but what rises from it.