PTSD Awareness & Suicide Prevention Conference

Lori Reynolds, LISW, has been a provider of Mental Health services since graduating with an MSW from the University of Iowa in 1993. She was independently licensed in 1995. For the first 14 years of her career, she worked in Community Mental Health as a psychotherapist, first with children and adolescents before changing to strictly adult care in 2003. VA-Central Iowa Health Care System has employed Lori since August of 2007. She initially provided social work services in an acute inpatient psychiatric setting. She moved to providing outpatient psychotherapy in 2013. Currently, she holds the position of Community Engagement and Partnership Coordinator. This position was created because every day, we lose 20 Veterans and Service Members to suicide. Of the 20, only 6 are involved in VA care. The VA is taking a public health approach to suicide prevention in an effort to reduce not only suicide in Veterans but non-veterans as well. Education is an essential part of her mission. She is a trainer for VA SAVE, CALM, Adult Mental Health First Aid, Veterans in Crisis: Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention.

President | CEO| Clinical Director
Bijelic Counseling and Consulting Services, LLC

Luba Bijelic is a licensed mental health counselor with a Master of Arts in Mental Health
Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa. Luba works with individuals struggling with
depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and other mental health issues. She is passionate about
helping clients work through difficult emotions and find ways to cope with life stressors.
Luba is dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore
their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. With a focus on building a trusting relationship, she
utilizes evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, solution-focused, and
trauma-informed therapy. Luba enjoys helping clients reach their goals and achieve personal
growth.

Gage De La Cruz is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Northern Iowa. Prior to joining UNI, he earned his B.A. in psychology from Dartmouth College. During his time at Dartmouth, Gage was awarded the M.R. Robinson Grant, allowing him to work at the Ledyard Charter School in Lebanon, New Hampshire. In this role, he enriched in-class instruction and provided individualized support services to students who had previously faced barriers to attending standard high school. After completing his undergraduate studies, Gage transitioned to a teaching position at the Brooke Charter School in East Boston,  Massachusetts. Working collaboratively with a diverse team of educators, he taught 4th-grade general education classes and implemented social and emotional learning lessons. These experiences fueled his passion for aiding individuals in navigating mental health challenges and promoting overall well-being. Motivated by this newfound passion, Gage made the decision to return to academia to pursue his master’s degree. Currently serving as a Graduate Assistant for both the counseling center and suicide prevention teams at UNI, he takes a leading role in conducting various mental health and suicide prevention trainings on campus. Notably, Gage facilitates VAR, QPR, and men and mental health sessions. In addition to his academic pursuits, Gage, who grapples with a persistent mental illness himself, emphasizes the importance of mental health education. He firmly believes in the significance of reducing stigma, fostering hope, and equipping individuals to assist others, drawing from his own experiences of receiving support over the years. His current focus in the realm of suicide prevention revolves around intersectionality, specifically addressing the mental health needs of men.