ANA ARELLANO (she/her)

LPC, LCDC   Founder & Board President

Ana Arellano, LPC, LCDC, is a Texas licensed mental health counselor, trauma specialist, advocate for the arts and an active team member of the Texas Counseling Association.  Her community leadership is featured in Voyage Magazine’s “Local Businesses and Creatives You Should Know". She owns and operates Red Apple Therapy, PLLC, a group practice of seven mental health clinicians providing in person and remotely for Texas Residents.  Her practice specializes in treating trauma using EMDR, DBT, and cognitive-based Mindfulness Meditation. She is ranked among “Best Therapists in Austin, TX” by OnlineTherapy.com.

NICOLE LAPPIN (she/her)

Executive Board Member

Nicole is a healthcare executive with over a decade of combined experience in clinical mental healthcare, healthcare business development, implementation, operations, and strategy. Her personal and professional passion lies in the study of human connection, and helping others to

maximize life satisfaction at home and in the workplace.

Nicole received her clinical training at the Center on Halsted in Chicago, IL – the Midwest’s most comprehensive LGBTQ community center. In addition, she has training and experience in substance use treatment counseling, trauma informed care, and corrections rehabilitation

therapy. Nicole is passionate about health equity, supportive of Austin’s entertainment community, and is excited to utilize her clinical experience and knowledge of the healthcare system to better serve creatives in the industry.

DANIEL "BEHRYN" HATCHER (they/them)

Executive Board Member

Daniel "Behryn" Hatcher (they/them) is the District Administrator for Austin City Council District 1, where they advance policies rooted in equity, housing justice, public health, and inclusive civic engagement.

With eight years in the recovery field prior to City Hall, Daniel brings lived experience and frontline knowledge to their ongoing work in drug user advocacy and harm reduction, pushing for compassion and access over stigma and criminalization. They are also an early and ardent supporter of Mobilize Recovery, helping to build a national movement for recovery-ready communities. They hold state credentials as a peer specialist across mental health and substance use domains and is also a credentialed Peer Support Supervisor.

A fierce advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community, Daniel works to dismantle homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism, and non-consentual mono-normative cultural practices. Daniel performs as drag artist Sapphyre Monroe-Fillups, using art as a tool for awareness and fundraising.



Their work—whether in policy, advocacy, or performance—is guided by five principles: Unconditional Love, Limitless Compassion, Courageous Kindness, Selfless Service, and Absolute Integrity.

DEBORAH ESPINOSA (she/her)

Executive Board Member

Deborah Espinosa is an Austin based aerial performer and personal trainer at UT.  She has been in the nightlife entertainment industry performing for over 8 years and she is a proud member of the lgbtq community.  Deborah loves to share her passion for the aerial arts by teaching others, she currently coaches at Lache Movement Co. and Batcity.  Artists hold a special place in her heart, she wants to help other fellow performers find resources to help navigate and grow themselves and their careers in a demanding industry.

BRUCE GOLDEN (he/him)

Treasurer

Bruce has lived and worked in Austin his whole life. He graduated from Anderson High School in 1977 and the University of Texas in 1980 with a finance and management degree. He spent twelve years as the Chief Financial Officer for the New Balance & Karavel Shoe Stores in Austin and over twenty years in the accounting and financial service business.

Bruce is a dedicated and very active member of RotaryInternational, having served as club President from 2009-2010 and Governor from 2016 – 2017. His favorite area of service is literacy and education. 

Bruce and his wife, Sharon (also a UT grad) have been married for 37 years. They both enjoy travel, attending UT baseball and football games and supporting UT’s Bass Concert Hall. Bruce and Sharon have two children, Bryan is currently employed with the City of Austin as a senior Urban Planner. Rebecca is the casting agent for a TV & film company here in Austin.

Bruce has served on various community boards including treasurer for the American Heart Association, VP of the Young Men’s Business League, VP for Jewish Community Center of Austin, Co-Founder of Kavod, (a family support group for the Alzheimer’s Association), financial advisor for the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and on the finance committee with the Women’s Storybook Project.

Martin Martinez (he/him)

Executive Board Member

Martín Martinez is a dynamic leader, ecosystem builder, and master of live experience. With 20 years of award-winning production behind him, he’s the creative and operational force behind some of Texas' most iconic startup gatherings. As the Founding & Executive Director of Founder Institute Texas, Martín has grown a founder community across Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, launching over 160 startups and helping raise more than $35M in early-stage capital.

Martín is also the Co-Executive Producer of FounderX, a global startup summit that has drawn attendees from over 41 countries—and helped position Texas as a new hub for international innovation. His event production chops run deep, from corporate activations with Google and Facebook to high-impact campaigns with Fortune 500s and mission-driven organizations.

A compelling public speaker and seasoned emcee, Martín has hosted over 700 events and conferences, known for his ability to bring clarity, fire, and connection to any stage. Whether he's raising millions in sponsorships, programming a global summit, or producing The Sunday Sanctuary at SXSW, he builds experiences that feel like both a celebration and a call to action.



Martín’s lived at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and soul his entire career—and he brings that fusion to every room he steps into.

Emily “E” Sladek (e, em, eirs/any)

Executive Board Member

Emily “E” Sladek, MPA, is an innovative and mission-driven community organizer with over a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, community-based research, evidence-based program design, disability advocacy, and higher education partnerships. As a disabled person, E has often experienced both employment and healthcare insecurity and knows the life-saving power of low-income and accessible mental healthcare. Recently, as a Partner in Policymaking through the Texas Council for Development Disabilities, E designed the public arts project, Crip Monologues: Stories towards bodymind literacy, to actualize disabled voices through education and public storytelling. Em joy routines are working with animals, open-water swimming, and connecting with people.

Jazmyn Conston (she/her)

Executive Board Member

Jazmyn made the conscious and purposeful decision to take this journey called life into the mental health and counseling field as a professional, advocate, supporter, and life-long learner.

As a licensed counselor, he is empathetic, knowledgable, and willing to partner with others to move towards their desired state of mental being and functioning. Jazmyn is has experience working with those who struggle with anxiety, depression, life transitions, stress, burnout, body image, identity, relationships, substance abuse and addiction, trauma, and more. She utilizes an integrative approach, incorporating different interventions that work with each individual person, including EMDR, CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Person-centered Therapy, and Mindfulness.

In addition to being a mental heath counselor, she is an executive director of HR and Operations, providing servant leadership, administrative needs, organization, and direction. She is also a student, soon to graduate with a Ph.D in Counselor Education and Supervision. 

Karma C Montagne (she/her)

Executive Board Member

Karma began her career when she was 15, working as a model and actress in NY, LA and Paris, before settling into a more traditional job as a radio DJ at the age of 18. At 21, she moved to LA to begin a career in TV, Film & Music. Karma worked as a Commercial Talent Agent at "it" Models for three years, working directly under agency icon, Paul Fisher, and developed strong relationships with current industry professionals. 

After transitioning to The Brokaw Company, a leading P/R firm in LA, working directly with Joel Brokaw, she partnered with Radar Pictures CEO, Ted Field, and assisted in launching a national advertising campaign in Wal-Mart stores across the country. She implemented national brands such as Nickelodeon, Disney, and the NFL. 

Karma joined Heyman Talent in 2012 as Regional Director and Talent Agent, working to develop top Texas talent. In 2016 she joined Lucky 7 Downloads and Songwriters Across Texas, where she produced an episodic TV show airing weekly on the CW. As VP, Karma headed the structure and implementation of content for distribution of music across Texas, live music events, and the development of an exclusive software used to promote the sale of music nationwide.  With her writing and producing partner/love, acclaimed artist, Wiley Ross, she has aspirations to curate and produce writings, television content? and multimedia in general from a shared collective vision within her personal life with Wiley. 

Karma is currently the partner and sales and marketing arm of Karmic Coyote Productions, community mentor for Kult of Kindness, consultant to NightOwl Therapy, an Independent Film Producer on 7 films, including the Authorized Quentin Tarantino film, QT8, available on all streaming platforms. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3900466/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

She is also a mom, a friend, a love partner, and wannabe domestic goddess that is learning harmonica and flambé.

Wiley Ross (He/His)

Executive Board Member

Wiley Ross, born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, is a self-taught artist and musician now based in Austin, TX. Originally focused on visual arts, he earned a partial art and basketball scholarship in college before pivoting to music. Packing his van, he headed to Austin, formed the rock trio Street Light Suzie, and recorded their debut album Red River Revival. In 2011, Guns N’ Roses alum Gilby Clarke produced their follow-up—Red Album—and Wiley’s compositions have since appeared on CSI, Nikita, Ringer, VH1 and E! shows. He now writes and records songs in his home studio in south Austin, championing new artists, and jamming with veterans! 

Returning to painting, Wiley became known for large-scale murals across Austin—including his famed Willie Nelson piece on E. 7th St.—and gallery-featured light portraits across the nation. He works in portraits, abstract, metal, sculpture, and more, guided by his belief that “the world is a blank canvas.” His vibrant public art and private commissions reflect Austin’s creative spirit. Wiley lives in Austin with his daughter, Veda Moon and partner Karma Montagne.

MARY LANDERS, LPC

I am a person centered therapist who strives to empower my clients to be their best selves. I have worked as a social worker for nine years in various environments providing my clients individualized services. I use my therapeutic relationship, mostly focused in cognitive behavioral practices and psychodynamic theory to provide in-depth assessment and assist clients in creating their treatment plan. I seek to provide both crisis intervention and ongoing support for my clients as they put in the work to lead more self actualized existences.

PAUL MATHIS, LPC

Pronouns: he/him

Everyone deserves a place to be fully seen and heard. My goal as a therapist is to create that space for you. I work with individuals and families as they learn coping strategies for anxiety and depression, communication and conflict management skills, and healthy habits to overcome addictions. I also utilize trauma informed care to work with clients as they show resilience in reclaiming their stories.

When I made the decision to pursue a career as an LPC, my primary desire was to work with people from underserved and marginalized communities. My previous experience has allowed me to work with unemployed/underemployed individuals to find gainful and long-term employment, to help the homeless population in my local community find access to housing, to mentor and educate adolescent refugees from Central African Nations as their families resettled, and to counsel those in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

Additionally, I have been grateful to have become involved with the local LGBTQ+ community. As the parent of 3 adult children who all identify as queer, being an ally has been an important part of my life and career. My wife, who is also a part of the community, and I are raising two young children to be vocal supporters and allies. One of our greatest joys is working with the local drag community in helping to host shows. Professionally, I have had the privilege of working with individuals and families as they learn to cope with issues that arise from simply being who they are created to be.

I believe everyone has a voice. I want to help you find yours.

Liz L. West, Ph.D., LPC-S, CCBT, CART

What should your client know about you?

Hey guys! My specialty is Narcissistic Abuse Recovery. Because of my personal experience in this area, educational foundation, and LPC-S licensure, I feel fully equipped and committed to supporting those who have been abused by narcissists. Experience in other issues includes anxiety, depression, LGBTQIA+, grief, life transitions, and more.

What is your approach to therapy?

My therapeutic approach is person-centered, meaning I tailor my interventions to meet the unique needs and goals of each individual. I draw from a variety of evidence-based techniques, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (ITP), and Solution-Focused Therapy, to empower you and encourage good progress.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

While providing a non-judgmental, safe space to process your thoughts, feelings, and challenges, you will take away “empowerment.” I am here to provide guidance, validation, and practical tools to help you navigate life's challenges with resilience and strength.