Support Staff

Brenda Hulsey (Executive Secretary to the Director) assists our Director in all aspects of her routine and works with our Marketing Research Department handling the scheduling of events and keeping the marketing department Director well informed. She also coordinates requests from our Organizational Development Team and has been a great success in keeping the team well organized and running smoothly. Brenda is certified as a Peer Supporter in 2001 and also attended a Critical Incident Stress Management course in October of 2001.She was also a coordinator in organizing a mental health team to provide assistance for the victims of the Southern California Firestorm in 2003. She also assisted with The Counseling Team International’s command post for the Big Bear Man Hunt Death of Detective MacKay and Officer Crain. Brenda is the coordinator for the annual Public Safety Peer Support Association (PSPSA) conference. Contact Brenda at bhulsey@thecounselingteam.com.

Julie Casto Koot (Chief Financial Officer/Business Manager) began her employment at TCTI in 1990, where her duties were assisting the pre-hire psychological testing department as well as other various duties. From 1992 until 2000, she held the position of Psychological Testing Coordinator where she set up department profiles for executive evaluations. Because of Julie’s financial planning aptitude, she was moved to a more administrative position in 2004 where she assists the Director with business decisions and supervises the administrative staff. Julie handles all of the accounting/financial details for The Counseling Team International. She has been trained and is certified in Verbal Judo and Peer Support. She also received training from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) in Stress, Trauma and Coping in Emergency Service Professions. She was instrumental in the coordination of disasters such as the Northridge Earthquakes, Hurricane Andrew, Columbine School Shooting, the Waco ATF incident, the Oklahoma City Bombing. She also ran The Counseling Team Intentional command post for the Big Bear Man Hunt Death of Detective Mackay and Officer Crain. Julie is the co-coordinator for the annual Public Safety Peer Support Association (PSPSA) conference. Contact Julie at jkoot@thecounselingteam.com.

Maria Velasco (Psychological Testing Coordinator) started her career with The Counseling Team International in 2002 as a high school intern. Because of her stellar performance, she was immediately hired and joined ranks of TCTI’s clerical staff. Maria began as TCTI’s receptionist and then spent the next 10 years scheduling clients and coordinating the demanding schedules of TCTI clinicians. Maria’s keen eye for details and her excellent interpersonal abilities were rewarded with her taking on new challenges including coordinating major critical incidents and training new administrative staff. Her current position focuses on the tasks involved in TCTI’s pre-employment psychological testing. Maria’s many duties include coordinating and communicating with more than 65 agencies served by TCTI. Contact Maria at mvelasco@thecounselingteam.com.

Shirley M. Sharkey (Training Assistant) joined The Counseling Team International in 2013 as an intern assigned to digitize existing files; her duties have been expanded to assisting the training supervisor and training coordinator, managed care and network development.

Jeneane Quist Mohsin (Training Supervisor) joined TCTI in 2015. Jeneane recently graduated from UC Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in Administrative/Economic studies. At TCTI, she coordinates training courses and conferences, creates multi-media presentations, assists the coordination of the Public Safety Peer Support Association, maintains and updates course certifications (POST, STC, ESMA/ICEMA, etc.). Her other duties include maintaining our Public Safety / Peer Support / First Responder Coach App, as well as our social media pages.

Melinda Pasley (Administrative Assistant) joined The Counseling Team International in 2016 to assist with a broad variety of administrative tasks for the Chief Financial Officer/Business Manager including: managing an extremely active calendar of appointments; composing and preparing correspondence that is sometimes confidential; ensures the CFO’s schedule is followed providing a “gatekeeper” and “gateway” role, creating win-win situations for direct access to the CFO’s time in the office; and compiling documents for travel-related meetings. Melinda has over 10 years of administrative experience with a strong background in health and benefits. Her job duties have been expanded to cover the managed care and network development for of our Mental Health Professionals.

Rocelia Jimenez (Training Coordinator) joined TCTI in 2016 as the front desk receptionist. Rocelia graduated from California Baptist University with her Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice. She currently assists the Training Department with coordinating and preparing a variety of training courses for local and out-of-town agencies. Her other duties include updating the website content and assisting with the same-day set up for local and out-of-town classes. Contact Rocelia at rjimenez@thecounselingteam.com.

Chamay Lynch (Insurance Specialist) Recently joined TCTI in 2018. Chamay has over 20-years of administration experience. Her duties are credentialing, insurance verification as well as assisting with billing and a variety of administrative tasks/duties.

Savannah Citron joined TCTI after graduating from California Baptist University with her Master of Arts in Counseling Ministry in August of 2018, and is currently working on attaining her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology. As TCTI’s Scheduling Secretary, she works with clinicians, clients, and other support staff to make sure that appointments are promptly scheduled and calendars are properly maintained. Contact Savannah at scitron@thecounselingteam.com.

Sidnie Moore (Pre-Employment Psychological Testing Proctor), joined The Counseling Team International in 2018. She brings 24-years of experience in law enforcement pre-employment testing and a professional career with U.S. Customs and the Department of Justice. Sidnie administers the psychological testing in TCTI’s San Diego region and supports and assists the Psychological Testing Coordinator.

Steve Diaz is a recently retired Battalion Chief with a 30-year career in the fire service. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service, City of Banning Fire Department, and CalFire respectively. His assignments ranged from being on an engine crew, helicopter crew, and being in the training division. He also was in planning and engineering, camp crew, and fire marshal. More recently, he was the coordinator of the Peer Support Program in the Employee Support Services section of CalFire.Steve’s passion is providing behavioral health options to public safety. Providing a safe place and coming alongside of those that have been impacted by the job. His focus includes critical incident stress management, behavioral health and wellness programs, substance abuse options and fire chaplaincy.

Steve has an Associate of Science degree in fire technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He is also certified and trained by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Steve is TCTI’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Public Safety Program Manager.

Payton Torres joined TCTI after moving from the Sacramento area in early 2019. She is currently pursuing her Associate’s Degree at Crafton Hills College. As TCTI’s Scheduling Secretary, she works with clinicians, clients, and other support staff to make sure that appointments are promptly scheduled and calendars are properly maintained. Contact Payton at ptorres@thecounselingteam.com.