WHO WE ARE
Dana Mugavero, LCSW
Owner and Director
Dana L. Mugavero, Owner and Director of First Responder Support Services, PLLC, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) providing professional counseling since 1995. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology: Juvenile Treatment & Corrections from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas.
Dana has been serving public safety personnel, their spouses, and children for 20 years, providing counseling, training, and critical incident response. She has extensive training and experience in the treatment of trauma, including Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR,) and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Level II. She has completed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Insomnia (CBT-I), Individual and Group Crisis Intervention training from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF), and the Law Enforcement Resilience training program through the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Dana has facilitated over 130 group debriefings for public safety personnel throughout northeast Oklahoma and provides training and consultation to numerous peer support teams. At FRSS, she has utilized her experience to inspire and cultivate a team of like-minded professionals ready to serve. She has an unwavering commitment to care for first responders and their families, supporting their innate resilience and breaking down the barriers that frequently prevent them from reaching out.
Dana and her husband live in Inola and seem to have a knack for pet rescue that comes with rural living. They enjoy gardening, fly fishing, hiking, and an annual trip to Colorado in the Jumping Jack camper. Dana maintains her sanity with exercise, healthy cooking, occasional crafting, and home projects.
“I frequently reflect upon the path that led me to Psychological Services in September of 2005, and shudder to think that I almost did not accept the position. Today, as the owner of First Responder Support Services, I am grateful to say that I love my job! I cannot imagine any other path. Serving first responders, their spouses, and caring for their families is my life’s work, and I am passionate about it. Over these 20 years, I have witnessed the multiple layers of impact that public safety service exacts on those that answer the calling. FRSS exists to counter this impact and unburden first responders and their families from these layers. We are honored when you allow us to serve you, which is our calling.” ~Dana
Joe Bickford, LPC - Candidate
Associate Director and Therapist
Joe Bickford, Associate Director and Therapist, holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. His prior experience includes serving as a law enforcement officer, General Manager and business leader in security services, Director of Operations for a rural community mental health system, leading statewide 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline mobile response teams, and supporting Oklahomans living with co-occurring mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities as State Director – Crisis Residential services.
As a Tulsa Police Officer (2005–2012), Joe served as a Field Training Officer, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Special Operations Team member. The leadership skills he developed through mentorship and field experience carried forward into the private sector, however after a decade in a highly competitive business environment, Joe recognized the desire to recommit his career to service.
As Associate Director for FRSS, Joe supports the agency’s mission to provide high-quality therapy services to first responders and contributes to training, crisis response and consultation.
Joe approaches therapy through a solution-focused, person-centered and strengths-based lens. He believes the problem is the problem—not the client—and that clients are the experts on their own experience. His intention is to meet clients where they are and support their ability to access innate capacities for growth, resilience, and change. His profession training includes current enrollment in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Insomnia (CBT-I) trainings.
In his free time Joe enjoys spending time with his two sons, listening to live music, exercising, and disconnecting from electronics by being in nature. Joe also has extensive experience with and values opportunities for yoga and mindfulness meditation.
“Twenty years ago, I began a life of public service. Today, I have the privilege of drawing on that experience to support others who serve. My hope is that therapy not only strengthens first responders, but also helps build stronger partners, families, and communities.” ~Joe
Tanis Taylor, LMFT
Clinical Supervisor and Therapist
Tanis Taylor, Clinical Supervisor and Therapist, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over sixteen years of experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Family Studies and Gerontology and a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Southern Nazarene University. Her prior experience includes community mental health, hospice, peer support, and counseling in a hospital setting.
Tanis joined FRSS in 2017 and promoted to Clinical Supervisor in 2023. Her professional training includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Accelerated Resolution therapy (ART), Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Insomnia (CBT-I). Tanis believes in the power of innate resilience and views therapy as a collaborative process supporting clients to restore their health and sense of wellbeing and ultimately reconnect with their ability to thrive.
Tanis lives in Sand Springs with her husband and has two adult children and grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with family, hanging out with her dogs, being creative, and putzing on projects around the house.
"I come from a healthcare family and have seen, firsthand, the sacrifice and impact caring for others may have on individuals and families. As a result, I am passionate about “helpers” being able to care for others while maintaining their own health, happiness, and engaging relationships. I recognize the challenges of being a helper who is seeking help and consistently strive to provide an environment of care and competence so that even the strongest may let down their guard and receive. Joining First Responder Support Services, 8 years ago, has been the natural progression of this calling." ~Tanis
Our Team
First responders dedicate their lives to the service and care of others.
As rewarding as this work may be, it may also be exhausting, depleting, and isolating. First Responder Support Services provides a team of professional counselors committed to providing specialty support and guidance to assist first responders in maintaining their well-being, passion for the job, strong marriages, and healthy families.
