Lisa Burns

Lisa Burns is a 2009 Saybrook doctoral graduate where she earned a Ph.D. in humanistic and transpersonal clinical psychology. She earned her MA in counseling and psychology with an emphasis in art therapy from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont in 2003.

Dr. Burns has worked extensively with adolescents for over 25 years. She is a retired classroom educator, previously having served for six years as an intervention counselor for expelled students. She is in private practice in Grand Junction where she works within a trauma-informed paradigm to serve youth and women. Lisa’s strengths as a clinician are in the employment of creative approaches such as art therapy, sand tray therapy, narrative therapy, guided imagery, and trauma-sensitive care. Her approach is holistic and humanistic.

Lisa’s doctoral study, Elements for Holistic Sanctuary Design Based on the Expressed Needs of Traumatized and At-Risk Adolescents, is the foundation of her work toward innovating a sanctuary model of treatment delivery for traumatized youth and was an honorable mention for distinction at Saybrook. Dr. Burns co-founded Sozo Youth Sanctuary Foundation along with Frederick Bolton, CFO, in 2005 and serves as its clinical director.

Lisa’s background includes direct or seminar training by internationally recognized experts Dr. Bruce Perry, MD, Bessel Vander Kolk, MD, Peter Levine, PHD, Janina Fisher, PHD, and Richard Schwartz, PHD.

Fredrick Bolton – COO

Frederick Bolton earned master’s degrees in human resources management as well as curriculum and instructional methods from Colorado Christian University. He earned a master’s degree in K-12 educational administration from Colorado State University. Frederick is retired from D51 after a long career which began teaching challenging students but spanned many roles, most recently the director of attendance.

He has served in administrative capacities at both the community college level and in public education. He was a member of the administrative team that designed and developed the Tilman M. Bishop Unified Technical Education Campus, now known as the Western Colorado Community College. Frederick has been an active interagency collaborator involved with innovative educational concepts for at-risk youth.

He developed a new model for reducing truancy across the K-12 spectrum resulting in a truancy reduction from 21% to 3%. His research identified the existence of TLE’s, traumatic life events, that are at the root of poor school performance and academic failure for a substantial population of school-aged youth. His experience working with traumatized youth and their families is extensive.

Joni Beckner

Joni is the director of Youth Programs at HopeWest, serving children and teens who are bereaved or dealing with the terminal illness of a loved one. She holds an associate degree in general studies from Amarillo College and a BA in social work from West Texas A & M. She received an MA in art therapy at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and is a registered art therapist (ATR). Her passion for working with children and adolescents using art therapy has grown out of her experiences in hospice as well as a private psychiatric and behavioral hospital. In addition, she spent four years in the home life program of a residential ranch for boys.

 Carlie Shackleford

A board member who utilized SOZO as a youth and now wants to give back to her community.