Meet the Team

Richard is Managing Director of SurgePoints, a premier counseling and leadership development group.  Prior to SurgePoints he led his own highly successful counseling practice for nearly a decade.  He has helped high profile individuals and couples (including CEO's, government officials, academics, athletes, and entertainers) and thousands from many other walks of life to overcome challenges, manage stress, anxiety, and depression, conquer addiction, strengthen relationships and create the lives they desire through leadership and interpersonal skills development.  Deeply passionate about the value of effective counseling and leadership development to change lives for good, Richard continues to actively work with clients. 

Richard is also a popular facilitator of high-level group sessions, workshops and trainings to individuals, families, and organizations.

Marc attended ASU and received a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and is currently a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. 

Marc excels and enjoys working with adolescents and teens by connecting with them about their hobbies and passions. He is experienced in couples and family therapy, including The Gottman Method, Emotional Focused Therapy, and Family Structural Therapy and he loves creating impactful moments in session and seeing his client’s eyes open with understanding and empathy for each other. When working with individuals Marc will utilize different approaches depending on the person but he gravitates to Narrative Therapy which focuses on the stories we tell about ourselves and how they shape our sense of identity and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which trains us to change the way we think in order to change the way we feel. Marc also works to help men overcome pornography addiction and other moral incongruities. 

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Before finding his true calling as a therapist Marc was a successful financial advisor working primarily with active duty military and veterans. When Marc isn’t working he loves spending time with his wife and two children and can often be found in the kitchen trying to perfect a new recipe. For self care Marc spends time playing video games with friends, watching kung-fu movies, and reading sci-fi and fantasy novels.  

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Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere. —Albert Einstein

Porsche Johnson is a Licensed Associate Counselor in the State of Arizona.  She earned her Master of Science Degree in Professional Counseling from Grand Canyon University and completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Arizona State University. ​

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Porsche has experience working with clients with issues related to addiction, anxiety, anger, depression, behavioral issues and relationship conflict.  This experience extends to population of clients and settings, including: individual, group and family therapy sessions.  Porsche utilizes a multifarious approach to therapy, specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.  

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Porsche’s passion is helping others experience holistic healing - allowing clients to enjoy balanced lives of mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being.    Porsche enjoys spending time with her family, her husband of 12 years and two wonderful children. 

Edie is an independently licensed substance abuse counselor in the state of Arizona. Edie has 15 years of experience working with various populations, cultures, and settings. From working with teenage girls in a residential setting, seniors in their homes, woman in Perryville Prison with DUI charges and drug issues, court-ordered clients with substance abuse, domestic violence or anger issues, couples or family issues, SMI clients and currently is working with suicidal clients and individuals wanting to detox from drugs in a behavioral health hospital setting.

Edie is skilled in providing an empathetic counseling environment in individual, couples, family or group settings in English, Spanish or American Sign Language and has used different therapeutic approaches, such as CBT, DBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Existential, Gestalt and Art Therapy in order to help clients gain insight and joy into this journey called life.

Edie believes there is a purpose for life and that we need to find meaning in order to achieve our potential. Edie will help you find your own truth and help you use your personal freedom in order to shape the path you are on and make positive changes. Edie served a Spanish speaking mission for the LDS church, has a deaf brother, has lots of kids and enjoys dogs and exercise. 

Jake holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is licensed as an associate counselor in the state of Arizona. He is trained in sexual addiction and betrayal trauma and is certified as an ASAT through the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professions (IITAP). He is also a National Certified Counselor. He loves being a part of the Surge Points team. Jake has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University and has been working in the behavioral health field since 2017. He is passionate about helping those with sexual addiction as well as trauma, as he is a survivor of childhood trauma himself. Because of this, he has a unique perspective and ability to empathize with those who have experienced childhood trauma and help them through processing it and moving forward. While he is passionate about addiction and trauma work, Jake is eager to work with a variety of individuals and couples with varying issues. He believes that individuals are the experts of their lives and wants to make counseling a collaborative process. Jake often takes person-centered, psychodynamic, and cognitive behavioral approaches to therapy. Because he believes that mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health are all connected and impact each other, he views individuals through a holistic lens. He believes everyone deserves to feel heard, understood, and accepted and strives to do this by providing a non-judgmental space for individuals to freely share their story. Jake works to ignite the flames of hope and happiness in those he works with in order to facilitate lasting, positive change.      

Jake served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints in Japan and worked as a teacher/mentor for young missionaries at the Missionary Training Center for three years. He is married and has two daughters and one son. He enjoys karaoke, volleyball, hiking, the beach, and sushi.

 Brianne Zamora is a highly respected, licensed counselor through the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health who specializes in working with adults, adolescents and couples both in group settings and individual sessions. She is trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy and believes that building strong connections with others is fundamental in creating a healthy and happy life. Brianne has received advanced training in meditation and mindfulness, which she incorporates into practice providing a holistic approach in helping clients heal mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. She is passionate about helping others discover their talents in order to create a fulfilling life. One of her favorite quotes by Oscar Wilde reads, "To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all."

Brianne received her Master's in Counseling from Northern Arizona University and is a member of the American Counseling Association. She is experienced in working with those struggling with depression, anxiety, relational stress and other life issues that cause distress and hold people back from reaching their fullest potential. Brianne uses methods that are non-judgmental and kind in order to create a safe and empathetic environment with her clients.  

Amanda is passionate about guiding individuals on their path to improved well-being and functionality. Her journey into the field of counseling was inspired by witnessing the transformative impact of counseling on both herself and her family. Having experienced counseling personally, she empathizes with the apprehensions and challenges that can arise, acknowledging the initial intimidation and discomfort while also recognizing the profound rewards, healing, and fulfillment that come from engaging in the therapeutic process.

A graduate of Brigham Young University with a focus on Human Services and Marriage, Family, Human Relations, Amanda is furthering her education by earning a Master's in Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She is well-versed in counseling theories, with a particular affinity for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Family Systems Theory. Additionally, Amanda can integrate Christian values into her counseling approach for clients seeking a faith-based perspective.

During your time with Amanda, you can expect a reassuring, personalized, and motivating experience as you collaboratively navigate the challenges that may be hindering your progress. Together you'll work towards unraveling the knots that have left you feeling stuck, creating positive change and growth.

Jeff has received four degrees with academic honors: a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Brigham Young University), Master of Education (Northern Arizona University), a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Walden University) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Teaching & Teacher Education and Educational Leadership (University of Arizona). Jeff has been working in mental health counseling for the past three years. He has spent thirty years in education, has raised ten children, including three adopted children, so he appreciates the complexities of adolescent development.

Jeff has been trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Life-Span Integration Therapy (level 1), Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT—Level 1), Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Personality Trait Theory, and Polyvagal techniques. He has experience working with anxiety, depression, grief, suicidality, relationships, compulsive behavior, and faith-crises.

Emotional resilience involves having a good map of what is going on around you and within you. It requires skills to navigate the map, and energy to use those skills. Counseling provides a space to sort all that out, understand what is happening, figure out what to keep and what to let go, and see where to go and how to get there.

Jeff enjoys time with family, playing music, the outdoors.

Kenny is currently immersed in his journey toward becoming a compassionate and dedicated counselor and will soon complete his Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Phoenix. With a firm grounding in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Kenny guides his clients towards recognizing the power they possess to effect positive change in their lives. He empowers them to reshape their thoughts and cognitive patterns, thereby enhancing their emotional well-being and fostering a more positive outlook.

Kenny's approach to counseling is characterized by a genuine desire to understand and support his clients, providing them with a safe and empathetic space to explore their challenges and aspirations. Having interacted with individuals from various cultural and social backgrounds, Kenny embraces diversity and values the richness of each person's unique experiences. He finds joy in delving into the intricacies of his clients' lives, celebrating their individuality, and facilitating their journey towards self-discovery and personal growth. Through his experience with CBT and his passion for learning from others, Kenny is dedicated to helping his clients unlock their potential and lead fulfilling lives. Driven by this sincere passion to help others navigate life's challenges, and inspired by his own experience with therapy, Kenny brings empathy to every session understanding firsthand the transformative power of a strong therapeutic relationship and is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where his clients can explore their emotions, gain insights, and foster resilience.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Kenny cherishes family time and loves to laugh with his wife and three children. He also enjoys delicious burritos and immersing himself in the captivating worlds of fantasy novels and roleplaying games.

 Emily is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and earned her masters degree from BYU in 2004. She has worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, family preservation, and outpatient therapy clinics doing both individual, marital and group therapy. After taking a few years off to focus on her family, she is returning to work doing what she loves: helping others discover truth about themselves and the change in their story that they desire. She believes that everything makes sense when you know the whole story. And sometimes it takes a professional to help one understand their story in a different light. She prefers a variety of therapeutic modalities including CBT, mindfulness, Emotion Focused Therapy and The Gottman Method for marital couples. She has training specifically in trauma, anxiety, and depression ands her has worked extensively with woman and couples. She has also helped many couples going through a divorce to uncouple and coparent to the best of their abilities. 

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When she is not working or being a mother to her four children, she enjoys hiking, tennis, traveling, and creating connection with as many humans as she can. She is a serious popcorn connoisseur and currently enjoys working with the youth in her church congregation.