The VISION of Nicholson & Associates is to be a national leader in providing state of the art, custom designed, skill based training and consultation to improve the quality of life for diverse populations of children, youth, and families and the personnel who serve them.

The MISSION of Nicholson & Associates is to help people “Discover the Difference They Make” in the lives of children, youth, and families.

Agency Information

In 1983, Bunny Nicholson, MSW, and Cassie Spencer, LCSW, created a training agency to provide training and consultation in the area of child welfare and human services. Their vision is to help others “Discover the Difference You Make” in the lives of children, youth, and families.

Bunny Nicholson, MSW , has over 35 years of experience in child welfare and human services. She has dedicated her heart and career to advocating for children and helping insure their safety. Bunny has been a caseworker, supervisor, mental health therapist, and director of national research and training programs for abused children and their families. She was the project director of a three year research and demonstration project which developed 15 child abuse intervention programs in Adams County, Colorado. Bunny was the founding director of Families First , a Residential Treatment Center in Denver, Colorado. She has trained and presented throughout the United States, England, and Switzerland . She has been honored by the Colorado State Foster Parents Association as “Child Advocate of the Year 2000,” by the Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver for the “Community Service Award – 2001,” and by the Colorado Association of Family and Children's Agencies for the “Advocacy Award – 2004.”

Cassie Spencer, LCSW, MPA, has over 26 years experience working with children, youth and families. She is a therapist, trainer, researcher, and has written extensively in the field . Cassie was a child protective services worker in Denver County, Colorado. She has provided therapy to children and adults who were victims of violence. She has trained judges, attorneys, business leaders, mental health workers, caseworkers, foster parents, kinship caregivers, and educators. Cassie has written over twenty different training curricula and has presented workshops throughout the United States.

Charlotte Lilliedahl, M.A., L.P.C., R.P.T.-S., has over 26 years experience working in the private and public sector of human services. She is a certified play therapist and specializes in working with abused/neglected children in foster and adoptive placement. Her background includes 23 years working within the child welfare system as a child protection caseworker, foster care coordinator and adoption specialist. Charlotte has consulted with county departments of human services to assist them in assessing, modifying and implementing Foster Care programs which meet the needs of State and Federal requirements. Charlotte has extensive experience researching and developing curricula which adhere to adult learning theory.

Dawn Matera, M.S.W., has over 15 years experience working in the private sector of children's services. She has worked in residential, day treatment, family preservation, and child placement agencies and has served as a mental health therapist, family preservation worker, case manager, special educator, and supervisor. She is a certified trainer for Cornell University's Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Core curricula in addition to the specialized curriculum for Family Care Providers and the Developmentally Delayed. Dawn is also certified in Critical Incident Stress Management with the International Critical Incident Stress Management Foundation. Dawn has assisted multiple school districts in assessing, developing, and implementing training and supervision programs which support the student through the education process. She is committed to helping others develop their natural strengths in working with children and families. Dawn is a member of the Adjunct Faculty at Regis University and Metropolitan State College in Denver.

Amy Sciangula, M.S.W., L.S.W is a former child protection caseworker and currently works for a Colorado County Department of Human Services coordinating the placement of children in that county. She is a former trainer at the State University of New York. She has over 10 years experience treating families affected by substance abuse and working in residential and mental health programs. Amy is committed to helping others understand the ever changing and evolving issues surrounding adolescent substance use, abuse, and dependency. Amy brings her commitment to children and families to all of her experiences and helps infuse others with the same enthusiasm.

Gabrial Reising, M.S.W., has more than 12 years of experience working with children and families in both the public and private child welfare sectors. She is passionate in advocating and helping others understand the impact of Domestic Violence on child and adult survivors. Gabrial's commitment to adolescents helps professionals understand complex adolescent behaviors and development issues. Gabrial has been trained with the National Multicultural Institute and is deeply committed to the issues of diversity competence.

Susan Krill-Smith L.C.S.W., CAC III , is currently the Director of Synergy Adolescent Treatment Services with the ARTS program (Addiction Research and Treatment Services). She has worked in the substance abuse field as a social worker, supervisor, and director for more than 26 years. Susan is also an instructor regarding issues of adolescent substance abuse at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.

Amy Naes, J.D. is currently a Broomfield Assistant City and County Attorney representing Broomfield Health and Human Services. In this capacity, she prosecutes dependency and neglect cases for the Department. For two-and-a-half years, she worked at the Colorado State Judicial Department as a State Court Facilitator for the First Judicial District in Jefferson County, Colorado. Amy has experience in reviewing dependency and neglect cases, the coordination of a mediation program, and conducting case conferences. Amy has been a director of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs and a child advocate. Amy and Bunny deliver training in preparing for court.