Turning Point Counselors and Therapists

Our experienced, caring staff of counselors and therapists specialize in helping youth and families work through substance use issues, mental health issues, behavior concerns, family conflict, and many other issues that affect youth and their relationships with family members and others.

Christy Malara – DUI program counselor

I am one of the facilitators for the DUI/DWAI education and therapy classes. I have my BA, Certification in Impaired Driver Education, and am a CAC II. I am a straightforward, down-to-earth person, and that is how I teach. I use a few different techniques in my groups, such as motivational interviewing, CBT, and DBT. I have been a substance use counselor since 2008 and have been with the DUI/DWAI program at Turning Point since 2016.

Ernie Baca – Crisis Intervention Counselor

I have worked at Turning Point for eleven years as a Crisis Intervention Counselor helping young people and their families overcome mental and substance use issues. I have a background in Bilingual Educational Counseling and have a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. I have worked as an Alternative High School teacher and Counselor, as well as a Bilingual Elementary School Counselor in the Loveland and Fort Collins area for over 40 years. I also have Hispanic Leadership, Conflict Resolution, and Drug and Alcohol training throughout the state of Colorado. I am married and I have two boys, and I currently live in the Loveland area. When I’m not helping young people, I like to garden and restore old classic cars.

Mary Haas - Outpatient Therapist

Hello and welcome! My name is Mary Haas and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. If you are reading this, you have taken one of the biggest and bravest steps in the healing process. At some point in our lives, we all go through hardships and hurts. I specialize in person-centered therapy, trauma-informed therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other various treatment modalities to engage each individual where they are within their own personal journey. My heart and mission as a clinician is to put my clients first as I consider it an honor to walk alongside the path that leads to wholehearted living.

My intention as a therapist is to inspire and support others to live a life of fulfillment and joy. My manner is warm, accepting, and thoughtful. My approach is collaborative, flexible, and authentic. I hold each person who comes to me with deep respect, the author of their own healing.

Jamie McQuirrie

Bio coming soon.

Jared Becknell - Greeley Lead Clinician

My name is Jared Becknell and I am a PhD student at University of Northern Colorado. I currently teach and supervise masters counseling students on their career track to become mental health professionals. During the previous year, I worked in Alaska with a clientele of adolescents and their families seeking services to address a wide range of concerns and challenges. Throughout my career, I have worked with both adolescents and adults regarding trauma, substance use, severe mental health disorders, anxiety, depression, and sexual abuse for both survivors and offenders.

My theoretical approach is post-modernism with a foundation in narrative therapy. The problems in our lives, challenges we face and a variety of hardships have the propensity to dictate our lives and can totalize how we view ourselves. When we become consumed by our problems, we often experience feelings of hopelessness, isolation, loneliness and confusion. My goal is to challenge the ways in which your unique circumstances have storied you, while creating alternative narratives to assist you in achieving a more preferred way of living. Post-modernism moves away from traditional therapy modalities and advocates for new, creative and person-centered mediums to improve therapeutic conversations. Overall, this approach serves to benefit individual needs and challenge a “one size fits all” mentality for therapy.