Phyllis digioia, LCSW, CISM
Phyllis DiGioia is the Founder and CEO of Honor Wellness Center, an outpatient mental health, addictions and trauma treatment center for public safety first responders, military and their families.
Phyllis has been a Social Worker for 33+ years and earned her licensure to practice Clinical Social Work in the state of Connecticut in 2005. She has specialized in public safety first responder and military clinical mental health, addictions and trauma treatment and case management for 23 years.
Phyllis is a certified POST instructor and earned her CISM certification in 2003. Phyllis is also a Certified Employee Assistance Professional and is clinically trained in providing Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) parts 1 and 2, as well as many other clinical treatment modalities.
Phyllis thoroughly enjoys serving as a Clinical Supervisor for Bachelor's and Master's level student clinicians. She is also passionately dedicated to facilitating numerous peer support, critical incident stress management, mental health, trauma and addictions trainings throughout the country. Phyllis remains diligently focused in promoting the growth of a rich and extensive resource network to serve public safety first responders, military personnel and their families throughout the country.
Phyllis loves spending time with her family and friends, being outdoors, listening to music and comedy and playing with the family German shepherd and two cats!
Jared Buchanan, LPC-A
Jared Buchanan is a relentless motivational speaker and passionate advocate for suicide prevention, dedicating his efforts in honor of his father, Officer Paul S. Buchanan. A Marine infantry veteran, Jared discovered a transformative path to healing by conquering grueling ultramarathons spanning 100 and even 200+ miles, all in memory of his beloved father.
Jared has earned his Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Sacred Heart University and is on a journey to become an unconscious-based psychotherapist. His professional ethos centers on the profound synergy between Frankl's existentialism, which posits that meaning can be found in suffering, and Jungian psychology, which guides individuals in confronting and embracing their own shadows and darkness. Jared is a faithful advocate for the concept of post-traumatic growth, embracing discomfort, and continuously striving to spread positivity to all around him.
Beyond his work, Jared is an expert of pizza eating, a passionate international traveler, and has two hybrid Bengal Leopard Cats, Kuja and Maya.
Samantha Gower, LPC-A
Samantha Bennett has worked with the Honor Wellness Center since September 2022. She has a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University and a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from Westfield State University. Sam comes to us from a first responder background, having been raised within a law enforcement family and marrying into a family of firefighters. Needless to say, her passion for this community runs deep. In addition, Sam brings a nature-based approach, emphasizing her love for the outdoors and how it can be incorporated into the counseling world.
Samantha jones, LPC-A
Samantha earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of New Haven. She is currently an adult outpatient clinician in addition to her work at Honor Wellness Center.
Samantha thoroughly enjoys working directly with our first responders, veterans and their families; and, she appreciates the opportunity to be able to give back to them, recognizing them for the service they provide to our community. Sam creates a safe, stigma free, environment where she can support all clients through their mental health journey.
Sam loves to spend her free time with her dogs and playing hockey!
Stanquinto Sudduth, LPC-A
Stanquinto Sudduth is deeply committed to the mental health field. He has earned his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Springfield College. Stan is a retired Correction Officer and Military combat veteran with over 40 years of combined experience. He is also a dedicated Mental health Worker at Mount Sinai Hospital.Stanquinto has experience responding to critical incidents and providing peer support and is certified in First Aid Mental Health. He also has a deep understanding of the challenges in the Correction field. His experience in Military policing and Military Correction have given him unique insight into the stigma that comes with Mental Health regarding First Responders, the Military, and Correction personnel. He truly knows what it means to have your 6.
Julie Varga, LPC-A
Julie holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Adler University and is a licensed massage therapist and graduate of The Massage School in Boston, MA. She specializes in the John F. Barnes method of Myofascial Release at the expert level. She is currently working towards licensure after receiving her BAS in Military Intelligence Operations from Wayland Baptist University. Julie’s goal is to combine physical and mental therapy to create an integrative approach to healing. She believes we are the sum of our parts and everything is interconnected - that chronic pain is both mental and physical.
Julie was born in The Netherlands and lived in England, Spain, Portugal, Brazil and Paraguay. She came to live in the United States in 1998. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently. Julie’s first exposure to massage therapy was when she was 11 years old. A group of nuns that she knew in Paraguay helped people by massaging them for a variety of ailments, and for some, it was the only pain relief they ever received. Since then, she has had many massages and benefited greatly from them. This motivates her to share massage therapy with others, specifically Myofascial Release.
Julie enlisted as a soldier on active duty in the US Army in 2001. Now, after 14 years of active service, she in the US Army Reserves. She has 20 total years of service! She has been on multiple deployments, is a paratrooper, and has worked in special operations units, infantry units, and with special forces. She knows what body aches are more than most! She has had her share of injuries and outlived a struggle with PTSD. Myofascial release helped her to cope and live an active lifestyle combined with counseling.
She is committed to helping those of you in high stress jobs because her family and she are one of you. Julie’s sister was a police officer on a SWAT team, one of her brothers worked for many years as a government contractor in dangerous locations around the world, and her youngest brother was a 911 dispatcher. She has a firefighter/EMS brother-in-law and a nurse sister-in-law.
Julie has been working with our public safety first responders and military active and veteran personnel as well as their families for one year now. She has successfully developed, facilitated and maintained an in-person Veterans' counseling group and continues to work beautifully with our adolescent and adult clients on a daily basis.
Steven Wilcox, LMSW
I earned my Master’s Degree in Social Work from Widener University. As a licensed therapist with a background in military service (non-deployed), corrections (5 years), and emergency medical services (EMS)(24 years), I bring a grounded, real-world understanding to the work of healing. I specialize in helping individuals process trauma, build resilience, and regain a sense of purpose through evidence-based, integrative therapy.
My clinical approach utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Narrative Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This diverse toolkit allows me to tailor treatment to the unique needs of each client, especially those navigating the complex effects of trauma, high-stress environments, or life transitions. My therapeutic style is warm, collaborative, and client centered. I believe in creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions, and experiences openly. Together, we’ll work to identify patterns, build coping strategies, and foster meaningful change.
Having served in the military and worked on the front lines in corrections and EMS, I understand the culture of service—and the weight it can carry. My goal is to provide a space where clients feel respected, understood, and supported as they do the work of healing. Whether you're a veteran, first responder, or someone working through deeply personal challenges, you don’t have to do it alone.
Say hello to our Clinician Interns!
lURENA cLARKE
Lurena Clarke is currently a community outreach social worker in a municipal police department. Lurena has over 20 years of similar experience in other human service organizations.
Lurena is currently attending the University of Saint Joseph to earn her Master's Degree in Social Work and is looking forward to working with first responders, military personnel and their families in this healing and helping role.
Pamela Denova
Currently, Pamela is a social worker for the Department of Children and Families, specializing in child protection. In this role, she navigates complex investigations into abuse, which has honed her trauma communication skills and reinforced her ability to approach situations with empathy and professionalism. She values the connection she shares with first responders, understanding the challenges and responsibilities they face in handling crisis situations and advocating for vulnerable populations.
She is deeply committed to understanding each individual’s unique story and using that insight to empower them in their recovery. Her professional interests include trauma-informed care, substance abuse recovery, and family dynamics. Outside of work, she enjoys comedy, hiking, kayaking, as well as spending time on home projects during the winter months.
Pamela Denova is a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Sacred Heart University, set to graduate in December 2025. With over 10 years of experience in the mental health field, she has worked extensively in dual diagnosis outpatient programs for substance abuse, detox rehabilitation centers, and as a behavioral healthcare coordinator. These roles have strengthened her understanding of the complexities of recovery and deepened her passion for supporting individuals on their journeys toward healing.
Emily Sopchak
Emily is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern Connecticut State University. Her passion is to work with Veterans and First Responders as Licensed Professional Counselor. Her first hand knowledge of being a First Responder and a Sailor is what sparked her interest and recognized the need for this population to have services in the time of need. She is dedicated to helping her fellow brothers and sisters.
She is currently in her 16th year in Law Enforcement and 15th year in the US Navy. She currently serves with the Milford Police Department as a Detective and an active member on their Peer Support Team. In addition to serving her local community, she serves her country and a Senior Chief Officer in the US Navy.
She is married to an Active Duty Sailor and has two active dogs, Braddock and Tracer. She has a passion for outdoor activities to include golf, hiking, and trail running. She is an avid traveler and baker. She is an event coordinator with the V.F.W. and serves on the Veterans Ceremony and Parade Commission with the City of Milford.
Jeff Ward
Jeff is currently working towards his Master’s Degree in Social Work at the University of Saint Joseph. Ultimately, his goal is to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and to continue supporting first responders and veterans. Through Jeff’s time volunteering for Honor Wellness Center, he had become very passionate about helping other first responders cope with the continued and cumulative stressors they face day to day, on and off the job.
In addition to full-time school, Jeff is in his 23rd year of law enforcement. He began his police career with the Ansonia Police Department in 2002. Jeff transferred to Southington Police Department in 2007, and after 20 years on the road, he now works as a sergeant in support services. He is the department’s court liaison and evidence manager, and has held many team leadership roles throughout his career.
Jeff designed and implemented Southington’s Peer Support/CISM Team in 2017. In addition to teaching and training, the Southington Police peer team has assisted over 20 police and fire agencies with setting up their peer support programs, providing CISM work and offering peer support and resources.
He is remarried with four adult children. During his time off, Jeff enjoys all sorts of exercising and traveling. He and his wife frequent Block Island, but they also enjoy the Caribbean Islands and Key West. Jeff is passionate about the importance of self-care and the need to practice resilience, especially for those who are first responders and veterans.