FINDING CALM WITHIN THE CHAOS
Tested in the field. Tailored for the frontline.
Our Mission
Dumpster Fire Consulting & Counseling exists to serve those who serve. Rooted in the responder culture and built on lived experience of a retired firefighter, our mission is to support the mental, emotional and organizational well-being of first responders and the agencies that rely on them. Through culturally competent consulting, counseling, and training, we strive to foster resilience, improve performance, and promote sustainable wellness within responder communities.
Our Services
Our Services
Our Services
Clinical Counseling
Specialized support for first responders and their families, focused on trauma, stress, and relationships—grounded in real-world experience.
Consultation
Guidance for departments and clinicians on trauma, burnout, and first responder culture, with practical, actionable strategies.
Department Trainings
Customized trainings on mental health, stress, and communication, designed for immediate, real-world application.
Our Program
Our Services
Our Services
R.E.C.E.S.S.
Resilience Education & Coordination
to Establish a Sustainable Support System
RECESS is a program created by a first responder for first responders. It delivers practical education, peer support coordination, and long-term wellness strategies designed for the realities of the job.
Whether you're facing burnout, strengthening team cohesion, or working to build a healthier culture in your agency, RECESS provides a clear and practical path forward.
Built on real experience. Built to last.
Our Approach
Our Services
Our Approach
We don’t just understand responder culture, we’ve lived it. Our approach is grounded in firsthand experience, shaped by decades in the field, and built on real trust and cultural understanding.
Whether we’re providing individual counseling, leadership consulting, or agency-wide support, everything we do is practical, evidence-informed, and designed for the realities of the job.
Focused on real progress. Built for long-term wellness.
Our Team
Kelli Norden-Gilchrist - Firefighter (Ret.), LPC, NCC (CO)
Kelli Norden-Gilchrist - Firefighter (Ret.), LPC, NCC (CO)
Kelli Norden-Gilchrist - Firefighter (Ret.), LPC, NCC (CO)
Kelli is a retired career firefighter, a licensed professional counselor, and a board-certified clinician with a Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado. As a third-generation first responder, she grew up in the firehouse and the ICU as the daughter of a retired truck captain and an ICU nurse. Her work focuses on practical skills that help responders build resilience, find balance, and stay strong both on and off the job. 🔥
Jolene Obermeyer - LPCC
Kelli Norden-Gilchrist - Firefighter (Ret.), LPC, NCC (CO)
Kelli Norden-Gilchrist - Firefighter (Ret.), LPC, NCC (CO)
Jolene is a counselor with nearly 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families through crisis and trauma. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Colorado Denver and has dedicated her work to those often overlooked in their struggles.
As a Co-Responder with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Team, she worked alongside law enforcement and EMS, responding to mental health calls in the field.
Raised in a law enforcement family, Jolene understands the culture and weight carried by first responders—because she’s lived it.
