Decade2Connect is a nonprofit mental health services provider in the Denver Metro area that offers inclusive mental health services for Colorado families with children ages 10-14.
Decade2Connect was incorporated in 1955 as Forest Heights Lodge (FHL) and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the mental health needs of children and families.
From 1955 to 2020, FHL operated a residential treatment facility for boys in Evergreen, Colorado. As the program evolved, our reputation grew and our enrollment expanded nationally and internationally. Treatment was based upon the importance of developing healthy interpersonal relationships and connections in a strength-based, emotionally-focused environment.
Over the past 65+ years, hundreds of children and their families have communicated that the support and treatment they engaged with changed the course of their lives for the better.
In 2020, our Board of Directors and Staff re-envisioned a way to provide mental health care for families, children, adolescents and teens in the Denver Metro area. We shifted our service model from a national/international residential program to a gender-inclusive outpatient-based program to include the child’s whole family.
In our decades of experience, we understand the important role caregivers and family members play throughout the treatment process. When children, parents, siblings and family members have access to support, everyone can benefit and family connections improve. In short, participation by everyone improves outcomes for everyone.
John Enochs, Chairperson
Jody Olson, MA- Secretary
Steve Sarche, DO
Teresa Christensen, PhD, LPC, NCC, RPT-S
Amanda Lewis, MMS, PA-C
Judy Taub, LCSW, CAS
Adam Bergquist, MSHSA, MS
Clinical Therapist
Laurel has worked with children and families for 20 years with experience in Behavioral Health, Special Education and Art Education. She believes in the importance of supporting youth and embracing their unique connection to self and others. Laurel marvels at the power of expression through the use of art, sand tray, and play therapy techniques.
Having graduated with honors from Regis University, she was recognized for her excellence in Counseling and Family Therapy. She was also honored by receiving the Father Ignacio Martin Baro Award for Social Justice. Laurel is passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ youth, families, and advocacy in the community.
Therapy is not a one size fits all approach and Laurel demonstrates her therapeutic approach through her warmth, compassion, wacky sense of humor, and ability to play alongside youth and families. She believes in post-traumatic growth and resiliency with an emphasis in relational humanistic theory. While engaged in therapy with Laurel, the human experience in all of us is honored. It is not easy to come into therapy and Laurel is grateful to be part of the beauty in each participant’s story that unfolds through the peaks and valleys of all our lived experiences.
Laurel lives in Denver with her partner, pet dog, and cat. She enjoys playing outdoors, skiing, hiking, camping, and painting in her studio.
Master’s of Arts in Counseling-Regis University, 2022
Post-Baccalaurate Art Education K-12-Metropolitan State University of Denver, 2012
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Human Development-Aquinas College, 1998
Play Therapist in Training
Clinical Therapist
Sierra has a passion for working with families and kids. She has been working in some capacity in the mental health and healing fields for over 8 years, having previously worked with the Decade2Connect staff at Forest Heights Lodge as a Residential Youth Counselor. After getting her graduate degree, she returned to Decade2Connect and is excited to jump into this new program.
Sierra has worked with a variety of people but the majority of her work has been with kids. She has worked in a variety of clinical mental health roles in acute care psychiatric facilities and was a counselor for youth in cases of abuse, an adult outpatient counselor, and a play therapist in the school setting.
Sierra’s values are authenticity, creativity, and willingness to learn. She enjoys helping people empower their strengths and messages from their environment while unpacking any ideas that no longer serve the individual’s goals. Sierra loves helping families and children navigate through isolation and disempowerment to help them step into their own empowerment, connection, and personal power!
When she is not working she can be found participating in political advocacy, attempting to grow things in her garden, fostering dogs, and trail running in the mountains.
Bachelors of Science in Psychology-Western Colorado University 2017
Clinical Admissions Coordinator
Cassidy serves Decade2Connect by supporting families through the admissions process and connecting with community partners for outreach and development. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a background in adolescent IOP, family therapy, and substance abuse treatment, Cassidy brings a relational and trauma-informed lens to her work as Clinical Admissions Coordinator. Since entering the mental health field in 2017, she’s had the privilege of supporting neurodiverse and 2SLGBTQIA+ families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds to support making changes in their communication, mental health, as well as community and relationships. Cassidy sees experiential, play, and sensory-somatic tools as powerful gateways into understanding and nurturing our emotions and inner worlds, allowing us to create space to feel comfortable in our environment.
Cassidy is especially passionate about helping families feel seen, safe, and supported during times of change and difficulty. Whether it’s answering questions about the various mental health care options to choose from, or walking someone through the admissions process, she strives to create a welcoming space that reflects her values of connection, safety, and trust. Cassidy is well versed in walking with people through all levels of mental health care. From supporting them in the first call, to seeing them through to the end of treatment as they reach their goals, she cherishes the front row seat she has in celebrating individuals and families as they grow in their confidence and resiliency.
Outside of work, Cassidy is a hobby collector and lover of all things creative, nature based, and active. She enjoys pottery, painting, crafting while watching a movie, hiking and skiing with her friends and family, and spending time outdoors with her 10 year old dog, Oliver.
Chief Clinical Officer
Throughout his 27 year career, Steve has helped families and children grow their connections to one another, and to the world around them.
Steve believes that there is no greater supportive connection than the one between a child and their parent or caregiver, which organizes his approach to emotional and mental health. Many factors influence emotional development and expression, and not every type of therapy works for everyone. Knowing this, Steve has pursued training in multiple modalities of therapy including Emotion-Focused Family Therapy, Internal Family Systems Theory, EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing), Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and play therapy.
Steve lives in Denver with his wife and has a grown stepdaughter. When doing things other than his work, you can find him enjoying the Colorado outdoors, or at home playing backgammon and listening to music.
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology – Regis University 2003
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology – Kent State University 1993
State of Colorado Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor Qualified
Chief Executive Officer
Mark began working at Decade2Connect in 2000.
He graduated with honors from the College of Business and Economics at Regis University in 2016. Mark’s graduate work in strategic leadership and management partnered with 24 years of experience supervising and mentoring teams has prepared him to align the business component of an organization with missional benefit to the community.
Mark has also served as a Youth Treatment Counselor, Residence Coordinator, Director of Residence and Director of Operations.
He has utilized his energy and creativity to engage kids in activities that increase self-esteem and promote resilient relationships. Mark is passionate about the benefits of being outdoors in the mountains of Colorado and enjoys spending time skiing, mountain biking, hiking, climbing, and traveling with his family.
Master of Nonprofit Management – Regis University 2016
Bachelor of Science in Biology – University of Nebraska 2000
Canine Support Officer
Rigby is our therapy dog in training. He is an F1 Goldendoodle from Selah Mountain Dogs in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
He was selected after completing temperament testing that indicated his personality is well suited for working with people. We are very thankful to Selah Mountain Dogs as they very generously donated a portion of the breeding fee to Forest Heights. Rigby loves kids and people, and his tail is always wagging around new folks.
Rigby is diligently working on his obedience training, which will be followed by training to be certified as a Therapy Dog.
