Chief Executive Officer & Founder
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Director of Operations
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Clinical Director
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Medical Director
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Somatic Therapist
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Therapist
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Therapist
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Therapist
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Clinical Social Worker
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Yoga Therapist
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Sound Healer/Holistic Practitioner
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Acupuncturist
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Program Manager/Community Outreach
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Marketing Advisor
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Advisor
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Advisor
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With over 17 years in behavioral health, Ryan Sturdevant blends clinical expertise, strategic leadership, and an unwavering commitment to advancing equitable mental health care. As a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Ryan felt called to address the unmet behavioral health needs within queer communities, ensuring care that is both inclusive and culturally responsive.
Ryan began his career as a behavioral health technician while pursuing his Substance Use Disorder Counseling certificate, later earning a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This foundation in direct clinical work provided deep expertise in mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Over the years, his path expanded into leadership roles in business development, marketing, and program management, including serving as Clinical Director for a co-occurring treatment program. Ryan has also trained therapists and healthcare professionals in LGBTQIA+ competent and affirming care, giving him a well-rounded, 360-degree perspective on the behavioral health field that bridges clinical practice, operational excellence, and community advocacy.
At Chroma Wellness, Ryan’s vision is to create an affirming space where all individuals can access compassionate, high-quality treatment without stigma. He is dedicated to embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into every aspect of care, while fostering strong partnerships within the healthcare sector to expand access to vital resources. Ryan remains committed to lifelong learning, deepening his engagement with the LGBTQIA+ community, and leading Chroma Wellness in its mission to transform mental health care.
Meet the team at Chroma Wellness in Denver—leaders, therapists and advisors dedicated to inclusive mental health care and recovery for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
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Nik brings over a decade of experience in behavioral health operations, program development, and outreach strategy. As Director of Operations at Chroma Wellness, he leads with a balance of structure and empathy designing systems that are both effective and rooted in meaningful client care.
His background spans residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient levels of care, with a proven track record of building high performing teams, refining internal processes, and aligning program goals with long-term growth. Nik is known for his ability to bring clarity to complex systems, scale operations thoughtfully, and lead cross-functional teams with transparency and purpose.
Nik holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with honors and multiple certifications in behavioral health, including CPI, QMAP, CAT, Peer Recovery Coaching, and Seeking Safety.
He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Colorado Professional Liaison Association (COPLA) and Marketing Chair for Educating Children of Color (ECOC), where he continues to support professional collaboration and equitable access to care and education.
Originally from Arizona but moving to Colorado at young age, Nik brings authenticity and empathy to both his professional and personal life. Outside of work, he enjoys painting, fashion, pop culture, and spending time with his high energy savanna cat Boujee. He is also passionate about creating space for others to feel seen and safe especially in systems where those qualities have historically been missing.
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With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, Dmitra brings compassionate leadership, clinical depth, and a strong commitment to advocacy in their role as Clinical Director at Choma Wellness Center. Their career has spanned a diverse range of settings—from direct care with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to serving as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs across PHP, IOP, and outpatient levels of care, as well as engaging in various settings in leadership roles and program development.
A dedicated advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, Dmitra specializes in trauma-informed care (including EMDR), attachment-focused therapy, and holistic, eclectic treatment approaches that honor the complexity of identity, healing, and recovery. Their clinical work and leadership is rooted in value-centered principles, and they have successfully developed and led programming that is both affirming and evidence-based.
As a servant and affiliative leader, Dmitra is known for their supportive, collaborative, and empathetic leadership style. They have been advancing their leadership skills through participation in Leadership Institute, and are passionate about fostering strong, integrated clinical teams.
Beyond the therapy room, Dmitra is an active voice in the field—having provided continuing education training on LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy and advocating for safer, more inclusive work environments for individuals with intersectional and marginalized identities.
Their vision as Clinical Director is to cultivate a treatment environment where both clients and staff feel deeply seen, valued, and empowered to grow.
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Dr. Robert Dean Davies is a board-certified psychiatrist and respected leader in LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming mental health care. He earned his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed his General Adult Psychiatry Residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where he also served as Chief Resident.
With more than 30 years of clinical, academic, and leadership experience, Dr. Davies has played a pivotal role in expanding inclusive behavioral health services. He was the Director of the UCHealth LGBTQ Mental Health Clinic and Co-Founder of the UCHealth Integrated Transgender Program, where he advanced best-practice, affirming psychiatric care for gender-diverse communities.
Dr. Davies also served as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair of Education at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where he trained future physicians and leads psychiatric residency education. His work includes nationally recognized research and presentations on LGBTQ+ mental health, anxiety and mood disorders, adolescent substance use, and innovative treatment approaches.
Widely honored for his contributions to healthcare and education—including the Power Award for Outstanding Contribution to the LGBTQ Community—Dr. Davies is dedicated to fostering inclusive, evidence-based care and improving behavioral health outcomes across diverse populations.
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Kat Turner is a queer-identifying somatic therapist whose work is rooted in body psychotherapy, expressive arts, and relational healing. Her practice is informed by existential, social justice, and attachment-based frameworks, with deep attunement to the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals, folks navigating substance use disorder, and those who identify as neurodivergent.
Kat began her path in community-based mentorship with queer youth before transitioning into the field of addiction treatment, where she gained diverse experience across levels of care—from PHP and IOP to OP and Alumni programming. It was in facilitating group therapy that Kat felt most at home, witnessing the transformative power of shared healing in community.
She holds a Master’s degree in Somatic Counseling: Body Psychotherapy from Naropa University, where she trained to support individuals in rebuilding nourishing, connective, and compassionate relationships with their bodies and lived experiences.
In and out of the therapy room, Kat brings warmth, humor, curiosity, creativity, and a belief in the wisdom of the body. She delights in inviting silliness, art-making, and movement into healing spaces—and is always ready to share an oddly specific animal fact. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her dancing, hyper-focusing on a creative endeavor, or walking her three-legged Great Pyrenees, Howie, who proudly rides in his stroller around the neighborhood.
Stephen Sbanotto is beyond excited to be a part of the launch of Chroma Wellness Center for such an amazing cause and community! Stephen is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist – Supervisor (CSAT-S), Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist (CMAT), with additional certifications as a Rainbow Advocate Educator (RAE) and Rainbow Advocate Clinical Specialist (RACS) specifically for working with the phenomenal and diverse LGBTQIA2+ community. He is on faculty with the Internation Institute for Trauma and
Addictions Professionals (IITAP) co-facilitating their Substance Use Disorder training program for therapists.
Stephen also serves as the full time Clinical Director for Acqua Recovery Colorado with PHP/IOP locations in both Boulder and Fort Collins. For Chroma, Stephen gets the
awesome honor to facilitate a weekly group on the topic of sexuality and intimacy as they intermingle with substances and mental health. This much needed exploration will provide a safe space for open and vulnerable identification of both what may have become unhealthy and misaligned with core values, as well as where sexuality and intimacy can become passionate and life-giving, not just as an eventual bi-product of recovery, but as a part of the
journey!
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Ejay Jack (he/him) is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist with over 20 years of experience working with the LGBTQ+ population. He facilitates groups at Chroma Wellness Center and provides individual therapy through his private practice, Groundswell Psychotherapy and Consulting, in Denver, Colorado. His therapeutic approach is rooted in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, integrated with queer, feminist, psychodynamic, and attachment theories.
Ejay is also licensed in Utah and Minnesota, where he previously directed two multidisciplinary gender-affirming surgery programs within major hospital systems.
As a transmasculine clinician, Ejay values representation and advocacy, recognizing the importance of affirming care in supporting trans and queer youth and adults while challenging bias and misinformation in today’s evolving social and legal landscape.
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Madeline is a Post-Doctoral therapist, earning her M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Psy.D in Clinical Psychology from George Fox University. She has trained in a variety of settings including community mental health, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, a substance misuse rehabilitation facility, and at a university mental health clinic. They have received training in psychodynamic therapies, person-centered therapy (PCT), and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). She also completed specific training for trauma-informed treatment and the Autism Diagnostic Observation System (ADOS-2), and is working toward becoming certified in trauma-informed expressive art therapy (EXAT).
Madeline believes peoples’ stories unfold like a piece of artwork coming to life, each experience a brushstroke, every challenge and triumph adding new details, depth and color resulting in blending moments of joy, wonder, struggle, and growth into a unique masterpiece. She is passionate about working with neurodiverse and queer folks, and has experience working with a wide range of presenting concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, identity, substance misuse, and more.
In their free time, Madeline enjoys arts and crafts of all kinds, as well as reading, baking, thrifting, watching good (or laughably terrible) horror movies, and more. Typically, she feels most at ease in quiet spaces, curled up somewhere cozy with her cat, partner, and a good cup of coffee.”
Casey Lucarelli, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years of experience supporting individuals and couples through trauma, addiction, relational challenges, and identity development. They specialize in working with queer and LGBTQ+ clients and provide trauma-informed, integrative care. Trained in a variety of modalities, Casey believes that one size does not fit all. Their relational, humanistic approach prioritizes treating the individual not just the diagnosis honoring the complexity of each person, the belief that two truths can coexist, and the importance of recognizing and meeting all parts of ourselves including the “undesirable truths” with curiosity, compassion, and even humor rather than inner criticism.
Casey is sex-positive and works to address the shame and stigma surrounding sexuality and gender identity, including experiences of microaggressions, minority stress, internalized homophobia and transphobia, and sexual health. They have developed and facilitated workshops designed specifically for the LGBTQ+ community to explore these topics in safe, affirming spaces. They believe healing can be heavy and exhausting and honor space for joy, laughter, and lightness throughout the recovery process.
Casey is honored to be part of Chroma, a practice that addresses the whole individual not just the symptoms and treats the therapeutic space as sacred. Having worked with clients internationally and traveled extensively, Casey brings a global and cultural perspective to their practice, recognizing the intersectionality of identity and the importance of understanding different worldviews. They value connection in all its forms sharing food, stories, and experiences with family, friends, and even people they haven’t met yet. Casey believes that travel, culture, and conversation deepen empathy and help us see ourselves and others more fully.
A lifelong learner, Casey views healing as an ongoing journey rather than a destination. They value honesty, curiosity, collaboration, and relational connection both inside and outside the therapy room.
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Katie is a C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, bodyworker and trauma-informed yoga instructor with more than 1,000 hours of specialized training in the therapeutic application of yogic practices. In her Denver-based private practice, she works holistically with clients experiencing anxiety, stress, grief, disconnection and pain via a comprehensive assessment and personalized treatment planning process, helping them find the specific nervous system regulation tools, practices and routines that restore balance to their lives as they reconnect with their inherently whole selves. Katie also offers accessible, trauma-informed yin yoga and meditation classes, and is passionate about collective care, dismantling systemic inequities and expanding access to holistic healing practices.
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Josie Rodriguez-Bouchier, L.Ac. (they/them) is a licensed acupuncturist with over seventeen years of clinical experience in Traditional Chinese Medicine. As a queer, non-binary, Latine practitioner, Josie offers trauma-informed, identity-affirming care that supports the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of healing and recovery. Their approach is rooted in compassion, inclusion, and the understanding that healing happens within community and connection. Josie lives on stolen Cheyenne land, known today as Lakewood, Colorado, with their two children and two rescue dogs.
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Isabel Serafin comes to Chroma Wellness with a range of both lived and professional experience in clinical mental health and substance use treatment. As someone who holds queer, gender non-conforming, and multi-ethnic identities, Isabel has developed a deep passion for exploring how intersectional identities shape the journeys of those navigating mental health challenges.
Isabel began their own recovery journey at age 22 and quickly found purpose in the field—first as a recovery coach and house manager at a women’s sober living home, and later as a case manager at an inpatient facility. After working the past several years in community outreach, Isabel is excited to return to a more hands-on role with a community they hope to dedicate much of their career to.
In their free time, you may find Isabel serving on the boards of several mental health and recovery nonprofits across Larimer and Denver counties, attending their favorite recovery meetings, working toward their MSW, and going on runs with their beloved pit bull Arya—whom they credit as a cornerstone of their recovery journey.
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Gina Thorne is a 30-year veteran in prevention, treatment, and recovery support—and a proud ally to the LGBTQIA+ community. As Marketing Advisor for Chroma Wellness Center, she is excited to help launch and root the program in the Denver community. Gina brings a proven track record in behavioral health marketing and operations, having led initiatives for treatment programs, psychiatric hospitals, and higher education institutions nationwide. She is recognized for her expertise in mental health and substance use disorder prevention and treatment, as well as her leadership in organizations such as CADCA, CO-PLA, and TPAS. Passionate about creating environments where individuals and organizations thrive, Gina specializes in building sustainable growth strategies that enhance brand visibility, strengthen community reputation, and drive lasting impact.
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Judith L. Landau is a neuropsychiatrist and the founder and president of Linking Human Systems, LLC, LINC Foundation, and ARISE Network, as well as co-founder of the International Recovery Institute. Her career spans over 50 years, focusing on developing evidence-based models for family and community resilience, particularly for those dealing with chronic health issues and addiction.
Dr. Landau’s early experiences growing up in South Africa during Apartheid significantly influenced her work. She witnessed racial injustice and violence, which led her to become active in the anti-Apartheid movement, including integrating hospital wards and advocating for equal salaries across racial lines. She also served as a primary consultant to the Judiciary on domestic violence issues, contributing to the development of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Her research on relational resilience led to the development of Transitional Family Therapy (TFT) and related protocols like LINC Community Resilience and ARISE Comprehensive Care. She has applied these methods globally, conducting numerous interventions and training thousands of therapists.
Dr. Landau has authored over 200 publications and books, consulted for organizations such as WHO, NIDA, and the UN, and held positions at various universities. She has received numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Winter Leadership Symposium and the Interventionist of the Year in 2023. Additionally, she is an “Isangoma” (traditional African healer) and a member of 4 Winds Indigenous Healers. She also gave a TEDX talk on family resilience, trauma, addiction, and mental health.
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Steven is a mental health advocate, clinician, and social justice leader dedicated to addressing health disparities in underserved communities across the United States. He has provided direct clinical care in a community mental health center, working with chronically unhoused individuals and people living with serious mental illness. He also has extensive experience supporting transgender and nonbinary youth in outpatient settings, offering affirming, trauma-informed, and person-centered care.
With a background in social work and therapy, Steven brings deep insight into human behavior and the systemic barriers that affect access to care. His work is grounded in a commitment to mental health equity, inclusive service delivery, and community-driven change. Through his clinical, advocacy, and leadership roles, Steven continues to champion compassionate and culturally responsive approaches to mental wellness.
