Leadership Team

Erika Spraker, LCSW, ACA, Executive Director, Therapist

Erika Spraker (she/her) is Texas born but moved to Colorado when she was young. She received her Masters Degree in Social Work at Metropolitan State University. Erika began working at Lifelong in 2017 and became Executive Director in 2025.

Erika has served in roles at Lifelong including Office Manager, Therapist, Referral Coordinator, Administrator, and Program Director. She knows the ins and outs of Lifelong and has a passion for connecting the breadth of services to the needs of the clients and community. She has a passion for restoration, rehabilitation, and interrupting the cycle of youth criminal involvement and serves this purpose through her expertise working with high conflict families. She provides supervision, case reviews, and consultations for casework professionals. Erika is a Member of the High Quality Parenting Time Task Force.

Erika loves to travel and explore new places. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and reading her library of books.

Lindsey Spraker, LCSW, CTRS, Approved DVOMB Provider, Director of Operations, Therapist

Lindsey Spraker (she/her) began working at Lifelong in 2010, became Executive Director in 2016, and stepped into her current Director of Operations role in 2025. She has a passion for work with people with disabilities, different abilities, slower learners and those identified as difficult to serve. Lindsey began developing her expertise at fifteen (15) when she was employed at a summer camp for children with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. Her experience grew quickly and two years later she was the Director of that summer camp and further developed her passion.

Lindsey received her Bachelor’s degree in 2006 from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse in Therapeutic Recreation with a minor in Psychology. She received her Master of Social Work degree in 2009 from the University of Denver and completed her clinical licensure in 2012.

Lindsey's twenty-five-plus (25+) years of professional experience have included day treatment programs, summer camps, residential treatment centers, community programs, academia, and private practice. Lindsey has been an adjunct faculty member for the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work since 2011. She provides supervision, consultations, and advanced training to professionals at the major surrounding counties, presented at multiple conferences and is a Member of the Colorado Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board as well as the Colorado Child Abuse Prevention Trust Fund Board.

Lindsey has happily lived in Denver since 2007, and when not working she enjoys spending time with her family and zoo of animals.

Jessica Fann, MA, NLC, CCAA, Director of Advocacy & Victim Services Therapist

Jessica Fann (she/her) holds an MA in Forensic Psychology from Regis University. Jessica is the Director of Advocacy & Victim Services and a Therapist at Lifelong, Inc. She is a certified Advanced Advocate with COVA and is a certified expert witness in child welfare, victim advocacy, mental health and domestic violence. In addition to her work with Lifelong, Inc, Jessica is Executive Director of Professional Collaborative, a non-profit committed to cultivating equitable access to ongoing learning & development for professionals. Jessica is Assistant Director of Training Collaborative, an agency dedicated to bringing cross training to the forefront of system collaboration. Jessica currently serves as a victim representative and Chair of the Victim Advocacy Committee on the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board (DVOMB). Her 17 years of experience includes working as a caseworker with the department of human services, as a family law investigator/consultant, as a therapist, a community and system advocate, advocating for victim rights & access to services to congress, serving on committees and task forces to improve victim support across the state, and as an educator in the public school system.

Clinical Team

Brandon Murphy, LSW, ACA Approved DVOMB Provider

Brandon Murphy (he/him) is born and raised in Colorado and began working with Lifelong while attending school at MSU Denver. He has since completed his MSW and became a DV Treatment Provider. Brandon served in the US Army as a Combat Medic and Non-Commissioned Officer. He has extensive experience in both combat environments, and as a clinic administrator in the hospital setting. Brandon sees this career field as more of a calling than a job, and he brings a high level of passion and energy to his work with clients. When Brandon is not working, he loves spending time with his family, being outdoors, going to the gym, and playing with his two Bulldogs.

Camryn Byrne, CAS

Camryn Byrne (she/her) achieved her Certified Addiction Specialist credential in 2020, and She is a CCAR trained Recovery Coach and DUI Facilitator. Before coming to Lifelong, she managed an 85 bed, multi-home, sober living. She also developed the therapeutic program for a women’s recovery center. Recently she assisted as Director of Transgender and Recovery Services for a non-profit LGBTQIA transitional living home in Lakewood, Colorado. Camryn has been in the Addiction Services field for over five years and has a passion for meeting each human where they are at that moment. Camryn served in the US Army for the 4th Psychological Operations Group at Ft. Bragg, N.C. Camryn believes in the innate goodness of every human and works diligently to help each human achieve their goals in freedom from addiction. When Camryn is not working, she spends time with her beautiful fiancé, their stepson, one dog and 3 cats. Her passion outside of work is cooking, baking, and barbeque.

Jeff Jorden, MA, LPC Approved DVOMB Clinical Supervisor

Jeffrey Jorden (he/him) began working at Lifelong in 2020, where he conducts domestic violence evaluations and therapy sessions. He has worked in the criminal justice field since 2012, and he a passion for providing services for underserved populations. He has worked as a therapist for domestic violence and sexual offenses, as well as serving those with intellectual disabilities. Jeffrey has also provided supervision and consultation, as well as training in the criminal justice field.

Jeffrey received his Bachelor's degree in 2011 from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan in Psychology with a minor in French. He obtained his Master's of Forensic Psychology from the University of Denver in 2014. He obtained his licensure in 2016.

Jeffrey has lived in Denver since 2012, and when he is not working, enjoys spending time outdoors, going to festivals, and exercising.

Hesham Abda, PhD, LPCC, BCBAC

Dr. Hesham Abda (he/him) has dedicated his career to the field of psychology and special education, with a particular focus on autism spectrum disorder and developmental disorders. He began his professional journey in 2005 as a middle school teacher and transitioned to academia in 2009 as an adjunct faculty member at the Special Education Department of Omar Al-Mukhtar University in El-Beida, Libya. Dr. Abda's academic background is deeply rooted in psychology. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Omar Al-Mukhtar University in 2002, followed by a Master’s degree in Psychology in 2009, and ultimately, he achieved his Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. His expertise in counseling and psychotherapy was further honed through specialized training courses offered by the United Nations, where he was trained in techniques of cognitive-behavioral therapy. He is also a licensed professional counselor candidate (LPCC), which underscores his commitment to providing the highest standard of care and support to his clients.

Dr. Abda's commitment to improving the lives of individuals with autism is evident through his extensive involvement in workshops and training courses. He has organized and participated in numerous programs aimed at educating parents, training specialists, and enhancing the skills of professionals working with children who have challenging behaviors.

Dr. Abda continues to reside in Denver, Colorado, where he balances his professional commitments with his personal life, enjoying time with his family and contributing to his community. His work remains driven by a passion for making a difference in the field of special education and supporting those with autism, other developmental disorders and challenging behaviors.

Dani Sydorenko, MSW

Dani Sydorenko (she/her) received her bachelor’s degree in 1991 from Fort Hays State University in Kansas majoring in Mass Communication/Broadcasting. Dani was a television anchor/reporter for a CBS affiliate for five years in Kansas before moving back to Colorado where she spent most of her life. Dani was born in Hawaii. Dani received her Master of Social Work degree in 2019 from the University of New England. Dani worked as a flight attendant for Frontier Airlines for twenty years and was the Employee Assistance Chairperson for the largest international union in the world for her airline. Dani and her committee oversaw flight attendants struggling with domestic violence, drug/alcohol treatment, mental illness, critical incidents on the airplanes, natural disasters and won an international award for the Ebola outbreak in 2014 while her committee worked side by side with the Obama Administration and the CDC. Dani placed flight attendants into treatment centers across the country struggling with drug/alcohol addiction.

Dani completed three clinician internships working with foster children, veterans suffering from Alzheimer’s at Fitzsimmons and working with domestic abuse clients. Dani worked at Highlands Behavioral Health before coming to Lifelong, Inc. Dani’s biggest passion is volunteering with the Vietnam Memorial Fund honoring those who were killed in Vietnam including her father who was killed in Vietnam before she was born. Dani would love to work with veterans suffering from PTSD. When not working, Dani enjoys spending time with her new little kitten, Brooklyn who is 9 months old, going to the mountains and beach, traveling, hanging out with family and friends, swimming and paddle boarding, reading, watching movies, listening to live music, and hiking.

Regina Sekyra, MA

Regina Sekyra (she/her) holds a Master's degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of Denver. She is certified in EMDR and Cognitive Processing Therapy and is currently training in ADHD and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Regina has extensive experience in family, individual, and group therapy, and she currently provides services including Therapeutic Family Time, Therapeutic Life Skills and Individual Treatment.

Her background includes practicing Multisystemic Therapy (MST) with a 93% success rate and pursuing her Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credentials. Outside of her clinical work, Regina is a dedicated middle and high school coach, with over 30 years of experience as a high-level soccer coach. She actively volunteers for youth soccer programs and participates in various events within the deaf community.

Gem Leone, LSW

Gem Leone (they/them) is a multi-minority mental health therapist with Lifelong, Inc. working under a license of social work with clinical supervision. Gem’s educational background includes gaining a B.A. in Psychology and Master of Social Work from the University of Denver from 2021 to 2025.

As a mental health provider and advocate, Gem has a particular passion for working with diverse identities such as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, neurodivergent, and adoptee identifying individuals. Gem’s approach to working with clients follows a humanistic and client-centered model to understand their clients as whole and unique persons. Their approach also often supplementally incorporates various directive skills from modalities like CBT, DBT, and IFS, to address more specific needs of their clients. Gem is committed to continuing their clinical and mental health advocacy work with Lifelong Inc., as a learning and growing mental health care provider. They hope you are open to learning and growing along side them, while navigating this complex and nuanced therapeutic work together.

Outside of Lifelong, Gem shares their home with their cat (Magnolia) and dog (Suki). Both animals are trained and can do tricks! Aside from playing with their pets, Gem can also be found writing poetry, drawing, or making jewelry!

Skills Team

Raimee Salisbury, BS, TVA Team Supervisor

Raimee Salisbury (she/her) is a versatile advocate with a strong commitment to supporting individuals in need. With Lifelong since 2022, she serves as a Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, Life Skills and Parent Coach. Recently certified as a Treatment Victim’s Advocate (TVA) in 2023, she specializes in assisting victims of domestic violence.

Raimee's journey began with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Regis University. Her passion for advocacy ignited during an internship at CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties, where she later worked as a volunteer coordinator, focusing on children in dependency and neglect cases. Her dedication further flourished as a Domestic Violence Victim’s Advocate with Family Tree, leading her to pursue the TVA Certification.

Outside of work, Raimee treasures time with her two sons, enjoying outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking, birdwatching, and foraging.

Journey Caraveo, BS

Journey Caraveo (she/her) is a proud Colorado native who finds joy in the natural beauty the state has to offer—from relaxing lake days to scenic hikes and everything in between. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she also minored in Social Work and Human Development with a concentration in Clinical Counseling.

At Lifelong, Inc., Journey brings compassion and dedication to her multifaceted roles, which include Family Time Supervision, Mentoring, Life Skills and Parent Coaching. Her passion lies in helping individuals and families thrive through personalized guidance and meaningful connections.

Natasha Hardegan, BA, MA Student

Natasha Hardegen (she/her) is a master’s-level counseling student specializing in victim advocacy, trauma, addiction, and major life transitions. She is currently pursuing additional credentials, including her Licensed Addiction Counselor certification. Natasha is a strong advocate for mental health and life skills. Her advocacy can be seen in her TEDx Youth Talk on "The Brain Can Get Sick" (2017). As an Asian-American woman raised in a military family overseas, she brings a multicultural lens, practical psychoeducation, and meaningful lived experience to her work.

Natasha's style is direct, compassionate, and grounded in integrity.

Since 2021, Natasha has worked across hospital settings, residential and detox treatment, and outpatient care. She supports clients of all ages in creating sustainable change through honesty, structure, and connection.

Outside of her professional role, Natasha enjoys riding her motorcycle, weightlifting, experimenting with new recipes, and spending time with her dog, Bentley.

She declares, “Become the person you needed most growing up.”

Laird Dakos

Bio to come!

Amber Dey, MSc., BS

Amber Dey (she/her) holds a Master's degree in Pedagogical Sciences: Youth at Risk from the Universitiet van Amsterdam. Her journey started with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also credentialed as an RBT and taking classes in Neurofeedback Therapy. Amber has extensive experience with neurodiversity, youth, and the LGBTQIA+ community. During an internship at OutYouth (A Texas nonprofit for LGBT teens) Amber realized her passion for communal care, education, youth empowerment and advocacy. She currently wears many hats as a Supervised Family Time Facilitator, Specialized Mentor, Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, and Life Skills/Parent Coach.

When not working, Amber enjoys making art, attending concerts, baking, traveling, doing DIY projects, film analysis and learning Spanish with her Boricua wife.

Casandra Watkins, BA, MA-CMHC Candidate

Casandra Watkins (she/her) is an intern student at Liberty University pursuing a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She relocated to Colorado from North Carolina in 2017 and brings a strong passion for supporting individuals navigating grief, trauma, and loss.

Casandra is committed to providing affirming, culturally responsive care to individuals from diverse and marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+ clients. Through her master's program, her preferred therapeutic approach is Narrative Therapy, grounded in the belief that problems exist outside of the person and can be understood, challenged, and reshaped to align with clients’ values, strengths, and goals.

Casandra is a Certified Domestic Violence Advocate and has experience supporting individuals and families impacted by violence, addiction, and life-altering loss. She has a particular passion for working with at-risk youth and individuals learning how to move forward after trauma or the death of a loved one. She also serves as co-leader of the Denver Chapter of Parents Of Murdered Children (POMC), Inc., an experience that has deeply informed her work in grief and community healing.

Casandra strives to create a compassionate, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered throughout their healing journey.

Jesse Owen, PhD, Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Jesse Owen (he/him) is a licensed psychologist and Lifelong’s head of psychological assessment. He is a Professor in the Counseling Psychology Department at the University of Denver and a licensed psychologist with clinical specializations include couple and family therapy and multicultural therapy. He holds various positions aside from being lead psychologist at Lifelong, Inc; Research Director for CelestHealth; Senior Research Advisor for SonderMind; Editor for Psychotherapy. He has co-authored three books: Mindfulness-based practices in therapy: A cultural humility approach; Therapists’ cultural humility; and Research design in counseling. He also has over 180 publications/book chapters. His research focuses on process and outcomes of psychotherapy with a focus on therapist expertise and multicultural orientation. His research has been supported by foundations, federal agencies, and private companies (e.g., John Templeton Foundation, NIMH, DHHS-ACF, and SonderMind).

Kelley Quirk, PhD, Licensed Psychologist

Dr. Kelley Quirk (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist with over 15 years of experience in practicing, teaching, training, and supervising psychotherapy and psychological assessments. Kelley specializes in identifying and treating issues related to individual and relational functioning. This includes assessment of cognitive functioning and learning disabilities, autism spectrum evaluation, pediatric diagnostic evaluation, psychopathic diagnostic assessment, parent-child interaction assessment, and reintegration therapy. Additionally, Kelley has been an educator in the field of psychotherapy and assessment for over 10 years. Kelley is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor at University of Denver where she continues her program of research and scholarship in the field. Working with individuals, couples, and families to identify markers of optimal functioning and healthy connection is a core passion of Kelley's work with clients.

Administrative Team

Janeen Puckett, Billing Specialist

Janeen Puckett (she/her) joined the Lifelong team in 2024, bringing a background in medical coding and a commitment to accuracy and timeliness. She has implemented systems that have streamlined and improved the company’s billing processes, ensuring a seamless experience for clients and staff alike.

Janeen is passionate about providing excellent service, balancing professionalism with empathy. Whether working with government entities or individual clients, she approaches every interaction with dedication and care.

Janeen has lived in Missouri, Florida, Virginia, China, and Japan, but Colorado has always been home. In her free time she enjoys knitting, spinning, and weaving. She is fascinated with linguistics and speaks Mandarin, Japanese, and American Sign Language. Her favorite moments are those spent with her teenage son and daughter.

Janeen finds inspiration in the words of Fred Rogers:
"There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind."

Lifelong, Inc.