Team

Susan Chavez
Executive Director & Founder

Susan Chavez is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Richard Lambert Foundation. Following the death of her son Richard in 2012, Susan became deeply committed to ensuring that other families would have access to grief support. Her deep commitment to creating a supportive space for individuals and families navigating the complexities of grief has been a driving force behind the foundation’s continued growth. She leads the organization with a focus on accessibility, community connection, and creating meaningful programs that help individuals rebuild their lives after loss.

A Brighton, Colorado native, Susan has been married to her husband, Jaime, for 28 years. She finds joy in golfing, camping, reading, and cherishing time with their children and eleven grandchildren. Recently, their family welcomed Tillie, a lively and affectionate puppy who has brought an extra spark of happiness to their lives and to the RLF office.

Your Grief Has a Space Here and It Deserves to Be Held by Someone Who Truly Understands It

Our Therapists

Rita Coalson, MA, LPC, NCC

Rita is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in Bereavement Counseling. Rita joined Richard Lambert Foundation Family Grief & Healing Center in 2016. When one’s grieving process can benefit from personalized support, Rita is available for individual Telehealth counseling for adolescents and adults. Rita creates a safe place in which individuals can process and express grief whether from the loss of a loved one or another major life-changing event. Rita’s years of experience as a grief counselor in palliative care and hospice services give her the compassion and understanding to support and walk alongside others during such a painful journey. Credentials

Tiffani Garner, MA, LPC, NCC, RPT-S

Tiffani is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist who specialized in grief counseling for children, teens, and adults. Tiffani joined Richard Lambert Foundation in 2021 where she leads various grief support groups and self-care workshops for adults. She has experience working with hospice as a counselor for families who have lost a loved one to terminal illness. As a former Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), she has experience in crisis and high stress situations. Tiffani believes that grief is different for everyone and that no two experiences look the same. She values the therapeutic relationship, which consists of providing a safe, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment to process through grief and loss. Tiffani is a Colorado native and enjoys spending her down time with her husband, reading, hanging with her dogs, and finding the next vacation destination. Credentials

Cassidy Zavala, MA, LPC, NCC, PMH-C

Cassidy is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in bereavement counseling. Cassidy joined the Richard Lambert Foundation in 2020. She is a certified birth and bereavement doula and has completed specialized training to support individuals through every stage of perinatal loss. Cassidy started volunteering with RLF's youth programs in 2017 and, in 2018, served as secretary on the Board of Directors. She has counseled all age groups in the hospice and palliative care setting and community mental health. Cassidy is available for individual counseling for teens and adults. Cassidy believes the most essential aspect of the therapeutic relationship is meeting the client where they are and building a safe, genuine relationship that allows space for healing and growth. Every client is the expert in their own story, and Cassidy strives to be a companion on their individual journey through grief and loss. Credentials

Ashley Shepherd, LCSW

Ashley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in grief counseling. She joined the Richard Lambert Foundation in 2025, where she provides individual counseling and facilitates support groups. Ashley has dedicated her clinical career to grief and bereavement care. Her journey began with an internship at Bo’s Place in Houston and continued as a trainee and later staff member at Judi’s House in Denver. In these roles, she supported children, teens, and caregivers as they navigated the death of a significant person/people. As a certified Judi’s House Pathfinders Provider, Ashley continues to utilize their curriculum and tools in a group practice focused on grief and trauma-informed counseling. Ashley believes in the healing power of group connection. She is especially drawn to group therapy because it offers a space for shared experience and meaningful community. Her approach is rooted in empathy and guided by both trauma-informed and strengths-based principles. She aims to create a supportive, non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their emotions and reconnect with their most authentic selves. Credentials

Rachel Cheatle Seely, MA, LPC

Rachel is a licensed professional counselor specializing in trauma resolution and grief counseling. Rachel joined the Richard Lambert Foundation in 2024 providing individual counseling. As a former interfaith hospital and hospice chaplain she supported medical staff, patients, and family members through crises, grief, and the hardships of illness and death. She provided a stable, compassionate presence, and a willingness to be with others in their darkest moments. To deepen her understanding and skill as a healing professional, Rachel pursued a degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus in mindfulness, spirituality, and somatic modalities. As a former grief counselor at Judi’s House she helped children, teens, and caregivers navigate the loss of a loved one. She continues to use their unique grief curriculum as a certified Pathfinders Provider. Rachel values vulnerability and listens with her whole heart, providing an environment of warmth, safety, and clarity to support you wherever you are in your grief process. In her free time, Rachel enjoys relaxing in nature, cooking healthy meals, spending time with her family, reading, meditating, and caring for her two horses. Credentials

Need Immediate Help?

The Richard Lambert Foundation provides grief support and counseling but does not offer 24-hour emergency or crisis services. If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or experiencing a crisis, please reach out to the resources below for immediate support.

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988

Colorado Crisis Services
Call 1-844-493-8255
Text TALK to 38255