Impact Stories

Meet our Post-graduate Trainees (PGT’s)

julio 26, 2023

Meet three of our Post-graduate Trainees, Rachel Cheatle, LPCC, Matthew Marquardt, MA, and Lindsey Gilbert, MSW, SWC.

Since starting our internship and postgraduate trainee programs over a decade ago, Judi’s House/JAG Institute has trained a range of behavioral health professionals seeking licensure in the fields of social work, psychology, and counseling. We believe it is important to train individuals from diverse educational backgrounds to competently provide grief and trauma-informed care to the communities they serve. Through training, we are able to expand our reach and get one step closer to developing a more grief-informed society.

This month, we are proud to highlight three of our Post-graduate Trainees: Lindsey Gilbert, Matthew Marquardt and Rachel Cheatle.

Lindsey Gilbert

Lindsey found Judi’s House shortly after graduating from MSU Denver, when the office of social work posted the position as a great way for graduates to continue gaining clinical experience and skills. After reading more about Judi’s House, Lindsey immediately found a connection to the work through her own experience with childhood grief. She looks forward to learning more and supporting grieving children and families as a future clinician.

“Experiencing the death of a close person as a child can feel so isolating and grief can be hard to navigate. Additionally, caregivers may not know what to say or do to help a child with their grief. Having trained grief counselors allows children and families to navigate all of the complexities of death, dying, and grief and can help children and families build connection and integrate the death into their lives. The best part is that they don’t have to do it alone.“

Matthew Marquardt

For Matthew, coming to Judi’s House is a full circle moment. After experiencing a death loss in his family, he switched his major from business to psychology. He knew that he wanted to contribute to a team who worked to help others who are grieving. The best part of our PGT program for Matthew is that he gets to work closely with a team that is similarly motivated to help others.  

“Grief is complicated and different for all for all individuals, especially in childhood. Children are learning and growing. Children are only beginning to learn how to cope with what life throws at them and should have others around them for support during this time in life. This is especially important if a child is grieving. No child should have to feel alone in grief.”

Rachel Cheatle

Rachel was drawn to Judi’s House due to her own experience with loss in their childhood. She deeply connects with our mission that no child should be alone in grief. Additionally, she appreciates our a family system approach to working with grief, specifically, she enjoys the interpersonal support and connection our group therapy provides grieving children and families. Rachel tells us that she is honored to be a part of a healing space where families and children experiencing bereavement can acknowledge, process, and talk about their grief.

“Having more counselors trained to address childhood grief is important because the healing impact of offering a space to acknowledge, process, and talk about grief is limited. Children can be overlooked due to challenges with verbalizing all they feel and the stress on caregivers. Offering grief services allows a child the potential to heal and reclaim themselves and their lives and reduces suffering. When tended properly, it can be an opening to positive life skills and emotional growth. I am honored to be a PGT at Judi’s House and I value all I have learned and will bring forth to those dealing with death and grief.“