A quick read through some of the amazing PDX customer service stories shines a light on a tough reality: Sometimes visitors to the airport need more than just a helping hand – they need a crisis clinician and a resource connection. Thanks to a partnership between Cascadia Health’s Project Respond and the Port of Portland Police Department, we now have three behavioral health experts ready to provide immediate crisis response and assessment, de-escalation, short-term case management and much more. Paula Reese, Marisa Benson and Lisa Stewart are a vital part of our team, staffing the new Behavioral Health Unit at PDX.
Can you share a bit about your background, career path and how you came to work with the Port Police Department?
Paula: I have a post graduate degree in psychology from Latin University in San Jose, Costa Rica, and have been working in the field for the past 16 years. I have experience in cognitive behavioral therapy and group therapy, as well as experience working with law enforcement in both Costa Rica and Anaheim, California. I've worked in various mental health settings including nonprofit organizations and a women’s prison.
I moved to the United States three years ago, where I continued my career as a clinician working with vulnerable populations – assessing and managing the behavioral health issues of patients in crisis, offering "in the moment" emotional support and providing mental health resources. I have experience in crisis intervention for patients suffering with depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, anxiety and paranoia and others also requiring mental health support. I've also provided interdisciplinary group therapy for women in different subjects including drug dependence, sexual violence, domestic violence and life skills. I'm a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) and started working as a Behavioral Health Unit clinician with the Port Police in July.
Marisa: I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and earned my Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling from George Fox University. I joined the Port Police Behavioral Health Unit as a police clinician in July. Prior to this work, I was a police clinician with the Gresham Police and Portland Police Bureau Behavioral Health Units. Before that, I was a mental health counselor at LifeWorks NW for several years with their New Options program, which specialized in working with individuals who had experienced sex trafficking and/or sexual exploitation.
I specialize in sex trafficking and domestic violence in my private practice, Brave Souls Collective, which I co-runs with sex trafficking survivor leader, Mary McAbee. Together we facilitate sex trafficking psycho-education trainings and the Multnomah and Clackamas County Sex Buyers Accountability Diversion Program for the Portland Police Bureau’s Human Trafficking Unit, Milwaukie Police, and Multnomah and Clackamas County district attorney’s offices. I'm very passionate about my work and love seeing how a co-response with police and mental health clinicians can best support and serve the vulnerable populations Behavioral Health Units work with.
Lisa: I received my master's in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a Ph.D., in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University.
For the last 25 years, I've worked within crisis services as well as within the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system, including providing behavioral health services in county jails and supervising co-response law enforcement/behavioral health teams. I've served as a Certified Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) coordinator and instructor and was also an instructor within the correctional deputy program at Oregon's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training for 12 years.
About three years ago, I started with Cascadia Health as a program manager of Project Respond, which includes Multnomah County’s 24/7 mobile crisis team. I now supervise the Cascadia clinicians for the Port Police Behavioral Health Unit and will be filling in as needed here at the airport. I'm excited to bring my education, experience and sense of humor to this exciting new program!
Tell us about the Behavioral Health Unit – what is it, what will you do, why do we need this at the airport and how will you work together with the Port Police team?
Lisa: Cascadia Health’s Project Respond is partnering with the Port Police to create a joint public safety and crisis clinician behavioral health crisis team to assist with related calls in the Port Police's service area. Services provided by the Behavioral Health Unit include immediate crisis response and assessment, de-escalation, short-term case management and case coordination, and resource connection.
The unit's main goal is to assist individuals in crisis – who are often the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community – by responding in a trauma-informed and client-centered way, with the hope of connecting them to resources and reducing the need for future law enforcement contact.
As the Behavioral Health Unit's Port Police liaison TJ Eriksen shared, "The aim is to offer compassionate and effective support to individuals in crisis or with mental health concerns. By connecting them with local resources and services, we can decrease the number of people entering or re-entering the criminal justice system. This approach not only eases the strain on criminal justice resources and reduces crime but also fosters a healthier and safer community for everyone."
What can you share about yourself that might surprise your new PDX colleagues?
Paula: Outside of work, I enjoy long walks with my dog, spending time with my granddaughter, watching a good TV show, and chocolate.
Marisa: I enjoy running, the beach, game nights with good friends and family, dates with my nieces and nephews, my faith, watching football, all pumpkin-flavored things, and a solid nap.
Lisa: In my spare time, I enjoy traveling (of course PDX is my favorite airport!), wine tasting, watching horror movies, and attempting to sing karaoke.