2018
HSR Founded
2019
One clinician, first patient
2020
Patient referrals reach beyond HSR capacity
2022
HSR hires 2 additional therapists to meet demand
Volunteer Board Of Directors
Julio Gonzalez
President
U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran
B.S. Geography, Pennsylvania State University
M.A. International Relations, Tufts University
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Professional Background
- B.S. Geography, Pennsylvania State University
- M.A. International Relations, Tufts University
Military service
- Army National Guard, 1996-2000
- 11B Light Infantryman
- U.S. Marine Corps, 2002-2022
- CH-46E Pilot, 150 combat hours, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq, 2006-2007
- Air Traffic Control Officer, Company Commander, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, 2012
- Marine Aviation Liaison to U.S. Air Force, Operation Inherent Resolve, Qatar, 2016-2017
Why I want to serve veterans
”As the son of immigrants, I deeply desired to serve my country in gratitude for what it gave to my family, out of admiration for the ideals upon which it was founded, and as a way to honor the veterans that paid for my freedom. I was drawn to the Marines because I wanted to be amongst The Few, The Proud… always faithful, and always READY. I thought that just meant working out hard all the time.
Through combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, I realized that mental strength is far more important than physical strength when it comes to combat readiness. Yet mental health seemed to be almost an afterthought when it came to military training. Mental wounds followed many of my fellow combat veterans home, and I saw first hand how the military simply didn’t have the resources to treat everyone. The lack of treatment had indirect effects on the combat readiness of the force. I saw a great need that wasn’t being met, both on active duty and beyond.
In 2018, I teamed up with a few other combat veterans and founded Head Strong & Ready to provide licensed clinical mental health services to veterans and their family members that the military doesn’t have the capacity to care for. Each year since inception, HSR has increased the number of clinical therapy sessions provided to Marines, Navy Sailors, Army Soldiers, Air Force Airmen, and their family members from multiple military installations. We want to make sure that they are mentally prepared not just for military life and combat deployments, but also for the next chapter of life… because mental strength is combat readiness, and combat readiness is readiness for life.
Jon Tsui
Secretary
U.S. Navy Combat Veteran
B.S. Marine Biology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
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Professional Background
- B.S. Marine Biology, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Marine Conservationist at Force Blue, a nonprofit that repurposes special operations diver veterans with the scientific world and redeploys them with a new mission of preservation and restoration of the planet.
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Training Contractor
Military service
- U.S. Navy 2008-2014
- Petty Officer 1st Class
- Senior EOD Technician
- EOD Diver
- Navy Parachutist
- Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan 2012
Why I want to serve veterans
“My parents are Chinese immigrants. Growing up, I became keenly aware of what a privilege and blessing it is to be born and live in this country … I wanted to give something back.
As a young guy before joining the Navy, I didn’t have a lot of confidence in myself. I was looking for a way to test myself and see what I was really made out of. Meanwhile, the concept of a purpose driven life was one of the things that influenced me to want to be part of something bigger than myself. Navy special ops offered me the challenge and the mission I was looking for, and the opportunity of a lifetime to do the cool stuff I saw in the movies and in the
commercials.
In the special ops community, I found a uniquely strong brotherhood that comes naturally when you are “the tip of the spear.” Being part of that exclusive community becomes a major part of your identity. It also comes with major costs. In combat in Afghanistan, I lost three buddies who were killed in action, and 2 of my buddies came home missing most of their limbs. The effect of losing your teammates like that is something that stays with you for the rest of your life.
Transitioning to civilian life after those experiences was tough. I was no longer around high-speed operators all the time, people who were like-minded and mission focused like me. Their absence made me aware of their influence on me. Out in the real world, I didn’t get to do the cool stuff anymore, and civilians just can’t relate with your special ops identity.
But for all veterans, we still share that identity with each other. We all served, and we still wear that uniform on our hearts. Now we’re all out and trying to navigate this post-service life, asking ourselves “Now what? And what about my buddies that didn’t come back in one piece?” Some of us need help that we’re too afraid to ask for. Men especially – we don’t communicate our thoughts and feelings very well. And the highly motivated types – we often try to figure our own way out.
I have friends who couldn’t deal with this transition. They committed suicide. There were no warning signs. They needed help. Right now, there are other veterans out there that need help, and I want to make sure that they can get to it. That’s why I choose to serve with HSR. I don’t ever want to leave another brother behind.”
Executive Staff
Joyce Johnson
Executive Director
B.A. Public Administration, San DIego State University
M.A. Public Administration/ Organizational Leadership, National University
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Professional background
- B.A. Public Administration, San DIego State University
- M.A. Public Administration/ Organizational Leadership, National University
- Government Service Human Resources Specialist, US Navy
Why I want to serve veterans
“I grew up as a military brat. My dad was in the Army. My mom was in the Navy. I had a lot of friends in the Navy and Marine Corps community. I experienced firsthand the stress that military service and separation from the service puts on service members and their families.
As a result, I’ve always pursued ways to support service members, both
through my professional career and outside of my career. I really want
to contribute to efforts that improve morale and produce better
outcomes for the troops and their families. Helping HSR be successful
is a great way to do that!”
Dr. Judy Lamb
Clinical Director
B.S. Psychology, Spring Hill College
M.S. Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology-Alliant International University
Ph.D. Psychology, California School of Professional
Psychology-Alliant International University
M.S. Psychopharmacology, Post-Doctoral, Fairleigh Dickinson University
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Professional background
- B.S. Psychology, Spring Hill College
- M.S. Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology-Alliant International University
- Ph.D. Psychology, California School of Professional
- Psychology-Alliant International University
- M.S. Psychopharmacology, Post-Doctoral, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Why I want to serve veterans
“My family has a deep connection to the military, with veterans going all the way back to the Civil War. I’ve always been grateful for the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make for all of us.
Practicing Psychology in a military town like San Diego made me aware of how much help a lot of these young men and women really need. They leave their families and their hometowns to be stationed in a completely different cultural setting that often doesn’t appreciate them. Their marriages are subjected to stressors, even without deployments, that most civilian marriages will never encounter. They face sexual assault, substance abuse, at times uncaring supervisors, feeling financially overwhelmed, and sometimes just the indirect effects of poor decision making by their peers. That’s a lot of obstacles to overcome in one four-year enlistment, much less an entire military career.
I just can’t turn away from their needs. I want to serve those who serve us, especially when many in my field are unwilling or just not equipped to address the unique challenges of military life. HSR is how I give back to them.”
Clinical Staff
Tatiana Benton
Clinician
B.S. Science, Old Dominion University
Master of Social Work (MSW) with a focus on Clinical and Military Social Work, University of Southern California
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- B.S. Science, Old Dominion University
- Master of Social Work (MSW) with a focus on Clinical and Military Social Work, University of Southern California
Dr. Tien Phan
Clinician
B.S. Psychology, University of California, Davis
M.S. Psychology, Pepperdine University
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), California School of Professional Psychology-Alliant International University
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Tien Phan
- B.S. Psychology, University of California, Davis
- M.S. Psychology, Pepperdine University
- Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), California School of Professional Psychology-Alliant International University
