OUR TEAM
Meet our passionate team of counselors and professional network.
Kathryn Ames MA, NCC, LPC
Kathryn Ames is the founder of Thru the Game and has been working with teenagers for 26 years. She was a 3-sport athlete in high school and played four years of division one lacrosse at James Madison University. She moved to Colorado in 1994 where she served two years as a VISTA/AMERICORP Volunteer, worked for several years as a counselor in schools and in private practice, and coached at three top lacrosse programs including East High School, Cherry Creek High School, and Regis Jesuit High School. Kathryn also coached at the youth and club level.
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Kathryn has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Human Communication from JMU and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado in Denver. Kathryn is a licensed clinical therapist. She works with clients individually, as well as in group settings with teams and programs.
SIMONE DELOACH LMFT, LCDC
Simone Deloach is a Texas born and raised professional who has been working in the mental health community for 8 years. Simone was a two-sport athlete in high school, participating in both swimming and basketball.
Simone led the University of Indiana Women's basketball team for four years. She was a captain her senior year and helped the program get to three rounds in the National Women’s NIT. After graduation, Simone played professionally in Langan Germany.
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Simone has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana and a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University. Simone is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She practices in Texas while also assisting in group work with Thru the Game on-line.
MIKE ROONEY, MS, LPC
Michael Rooney has been working with youth, teenagers, and young adults for over 30 years. He grew up in Ohio where he was a 2-sport athlete in high school, football and basketball, and later, in Colorado, took up touring and competitive cycling. He moved to Colorado in 1996 to teach and has coached youth sports for over 8 years. Later in his career, he began counseling in private practice, which he still does today. Along the way, Mike had many leadership roles, for example, as the Director of a large adaptive sport company and Clinical Director for the Brain Injury Association of Colorado.
Mike has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in history and education from John Carroll University. Mike is a licensed professional counselor in Colorado and has continued his graduate work at Ohio State University and University of Colorado. He works with people of all ages and multiple demographics providing individual, couples, family, and group counseling. Mike provides behavioral therapy and is excited to facilitate groups and be a resource for therapy to the Thru the Game community.
MICHELLE MONTOYA, BA, MA
Michelle Montoya is a Denver Native who has a Master’s Degree in Bilingual & Bicultural Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder, with an emphasis in Parent Education and a Bachelor’s of Art in Communications through Metropolitan State University.
Michelle has been serving the youth of Denver Public Schools (DPS) for over 30 years, in a myriad of roles and responsibilities. Her favorite has been in her current role as a Career and Technical Educator (CTE) and Adjunct Professor through DPS and the Community College of Denver (CCD) who oversees the Early Childhood Education Program at CEC Early College of Denver, teaching and mentoring future teachers, inspiring youth to be resilient agents of change.
Michelle loves spending time with family, friends and grandchildren, she enjoys art, reading, music, travel, hiking and the thrill of antiquing. Michelle is excited to work with Thru the Game to support parents and families.
NATE MOELLER, BA, MA
Nate Moeller is a Colorado native. He was a multi-sport athlete in high school and has coached tennis for the past 15 years. Nate has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the Metropolitan State College of Denver and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Phoenix. He has worked for Cherry Creek School District, as well as at Regis Jesuit High School in a counseling role.
Nate is most passionate about helping adolescents with their mental health and coaching them in sports and in life. In his free time, Nate loves to play tennis, fish, exercise, and spend time with his family.
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He recently received a Life Coaching certification and is eager to put this in practice with Thru the Game where he will be working individually with athletes.
BEN PINKELMAN, BA
Ben is a 2016 Rio Olympian that played on the USA 7s rugby team for 8 years. He served as team captain and acted as an assistant coach and lead development coach with the program. He grew up in Colorado where he played a wide variety of sports before devoting his time to football and rugby at Cherry Creek High School. He continued to play rugby at Colorado State University where he was selected to the under 20 national team and eventually played for the Men’s national team while still attending university.
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Ben graduated from Colorado State with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and is interested in pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology. Ben assists Thru the Game with group workshops.
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Other accolades include: 2019 Rugby World Cup player, 2019 World Series Dream Team Selection (Best 7 players in the world), 2nd place finish on rugby World Series, 2nd place coach of Southern California 7s high school rugby, USA College All Americans coach.
