Aaron T.

Aaron Trotter, Outpatient Supervisor, holds a Masters in Human Services and Non-Profit Management from Purdue University Global and a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University. Aaron has been with Community & Family Resources since 2016, starting as a Treatment Specialist, then working his way up to a Substance Use Counselor and Gambling Addiction Counselor, and transferred to his current position of Outpatient Supervisor in 2022. He currently holds his CADC. When Aaron is not working, he enjoys being outdoors, fishing, and having barbeques with his family. Aaron says what he loves most about his job is that he gets to see people filled with hope and courage every day.

Alex B.

Alex Bohnenkamp began working as Mental Health Counselor with CFR in 2023. He earned his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2023 from Buena Vista University. Prior to this, he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Iowa State University in 2017.

He has experience as a caseworker with Lutheran Services of Iowa in 2017 as well as working as an outpatient substance use counselor with Alcohol and Drug Dependency Services, earning his CADC in 2018.

He has experience working with severe substance use disorders, trauma survivors, community advocacy, and uses a predominantly Humanistic and Person-Centered approach to psychotherapy.

Denise M. BSW tCADC

Denise joined CFR Des Moines on August 14th, 2023 as an Outpatient Substance Use Treatment Counselor. Prior to this Denise had an extensive twenty-two year background in the medical field of various positions: filing insurance, checking in patients, as a CNA, and as a Surgical Technologist. Denise’s years in surgery had a focus on Bariatrics and weight reduction.

After many years Denise felt the urge to go back to school and earn her associates in human services at DMACC, then her bachelor's in social work, with a minor in psychology at Grand View University to help patients struggling with trauma and how it affected patients receiving weight-reduction surgery. From that, Denise realized that she wanted to become a counselor.

While this is her first social work job, Denise feels that her years of patient advocating made it her vocation to help clients know that no has to one has to make the journey through recovery alone.

Terry P.

Terry Pauley started his career in the substance use field in 2005 at Prelude Behavioral Services as a Recovery Assistant, while also working towards his Master’s degree in Christian Counseling. In 2008, Terry became a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) counselor and has since worked with a variety of clients including those with substance use and gambling disorders. Terry joined the CFR team in July 2022, when Prelude and CFR merged their organizations. Terry loves his job because it gives him the opportunity to not only give back to the community but be a part of meeting people where they are and helping them move forward for positive change in recovery.

When he isn’t working, Terry enjoys keeping up with his wife’s flower garden, where he is currently trying to do bonsai trees without killing them. He also enjoys watching his “granddaughter”, who is an emotional support dog named is Rigatoni Baguette.

Amy T.

Amy has been in the human services field since 2001. She earned her bachelor’s in Human Services from Grand View University, and currently holds her CADC. Amy has served in multiple roles, including those in support staff, case management, medicated assisted therapy, outpatient services and residential services. She currently serves as the Clinical Supervisor for the Des Moines women’s residential program and Bernie Lorenz Recovery halfway home for women.

Edina B.

Edina joined CFR in September of 2024 as an intensive outpatient Counselor at our Des Moines location. Edina studied liberal arts at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, IA and then transferred to University of Missouri Kansas City in 2020. Edina graduated with her Bachelor of Psychology in 2023 with an emphasis in Child Psychology. Edina got into Substance Use Treatment to grow her career in counseling. In previous positions, Edina worked in retail pharmacy for 7 years as the lead certified technician and has worked with individuals with disabilities where she focused on billing with state funding, locating, and providing services such as day habilitation and individualizing plans to each client.

Edina was originally born in Bosnia and moved to America when she was 6 months old. Edina grew up in Waterloo, IA and moved to Kansas City, MO in 2020. Edina recently moved back Iowa after getting married to her high school sweetheart, Dino. In Edina’s spare time she likes to watch tv, spend time with her family, craft, and do home renovations.