Welcome to OPTIC's Team
At OPTIC, we believe in the transformative power of community and trauma-informed care to create lasting change. Our dedicated team brings together diverse perspectives and extensive expertise in behavioral therapy, child development, and navigating complex healthcare, social service, and justice systems. With a deep understanding of trauma, resilience, and the unique needs of individuals and families, we are committed to empowering healing, dismantling stigmas, and championing equity in mental wellness.
Explore the Perspectives That Fuel the Passion. Discover the skills and stories of the passionate individuals who make up OPTIC’s team. With expertise in behavioral therapy, child development, and navigating complex systems, our team works together to make healing approachable and accessible. Each perspective adds passion and depth to our mission, helping communities and individuals grow and thrive.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller
Bri Welch
President & Co-Founder
I am inspired to stand alongside our community, use my voice for good, and hold hands with anyone who seeks support, to learn, help, and heal together.
I bring a unique perspective to OPTIC. As someone who has spent most of my life navigating and overcoming adversity—as a single parent, caregiver, someone living with physical disabilities, and advocate for inclusion—I’ve developed a deep understanding of resilience and compassion. These experiences fuel my passion for fostering meaningful connections and bringing our community together in a shared journey of healing and support.
With over 12 years of experience as an ABA Registered Behavioral Therapist, I’ve supported children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families with compassion and collaboration. In addition, I’ve navigated complex systems—including medical, mental health, educational, and social services—strengthening my resolve to advocate for equitable, trauma-informed support and care.
I am committed to ensuring that every person feels valued and supported. Together, we strive to build a healthier community, united by resilience and shared vision of learning, healing, and helping one another.
Rachelle Coffey
Co-Founder, Vice President & Treasurer
My name is Rachelle Coffey. I am a queer mental health counselor licensed in Wisconsin and Arizona. I am one of the founding members of our amazing nonprofit and am inspired to bring wellness back to our communities. I received my undergraduate and master's degrees from Marshall University in my most favorite state and where I spent most of my life, West-by god-Virginia (as my father would put it).
I spent seven years in Wisconsin developing the foundation of my behavioral health career prior to moving to Arizona with my two daughters. Here, I work with the most marginalized populations from child victims of human trafficking to homeless veterans and have built a perspective of collective need that I wish to share with the community. It is my belief that our only option out of the current mental health crisis is to inspire hope at home and awareness within our own communities of what it is actually like to be a human under these circumstances. Working through many governing systems within our society, I have learned perspective is everything, hence the acronym O.P.T.I.C. It is my dream that we will bring inspiring minds together to bring practical solutions and develop strategies for the great rebuild of our community.
Amber Finger
Secretary
For six years, I battled on the front lines of the community as a social worker in a few different capacities. I have witnessed the systems in place to help people, fail. Although my time serving th community directly came to end about 7 years ago, through my own healing journey I have acknowledged my passion for helping and supporting the misunderstood, especially my fellow
LGBTQ+ family.
I find myself in a position to give back to the community. As a trans-masculine human, I feel my attention gravitating to supporting the families of LGBTQ+ community and the kids who struggle everyday in a world that tells them to be anything but themselves.
We heal others by healing ourselves. My story of self-healing and growth is not finished yet. I have a lot of unfinished business in LGBTQ+
Angela Harris
Board Member
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and my Master of Science in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
I work with children ages 10 and older, adolescents and adults, families and couples from all backgrounds and cultures. My therapeutic approaches include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy and Play Therapy techniques. My primary focus is on individuals who experience grief, loss and bereavement, anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and