Monique Champagne, M.A., LPC, NIC-Master, BEI-IV

Founder of Healing Haven Outreach
Monique Champagne (she/her) is a working sign language interpreter with over 20 years of experience, a trained psychotherapist in the state of Texas, and an educator and researcher in the field of mental health and sign language interpreting. As a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), she possesses a unique cultural insight into the Deaf community and the role of sign language interpreters.

Passionate about mental health and wellness, Monique founded Healing Haven Outreach Services, an organization that provides tailored training and coaching opportunities to interpreters around the country. Monique's approach is grounded in humanism, social justice, and multiculturalism, and she is passionate about empowering interpreters to navigate mental health topics and complexities in the interpreting profession with confidence and compassion.

Her mission is to foster interpreters’ skills, knowledge, and competence in the critical area of mental health interpreting in all settings and equip them to thrive both professionally and personally. Read her work, “A Qualitative Exploration of Work Values and Job Satisfaction Among Sign Language Interpreters,” here.

Chantal Doucette, BEI Advanced

Director of Operations, Mentor & Coach
Chantal Doucette (she/her) serves as a Director of Operations, Mentor, and Coach at Healing Haven Outreach Services, where she combines her extensive experience as a certified sign language interpreter with her passion for mental health advocacy. With over seven years in the field and a BEI Advanced certification, Chantal understands the unique challenges interpreters face and is dedicated to fostering their well-being. Her background in history and music from Sam Houston State University informs her holistic approach to coaching, as she integrates knowledge of neural pathways and coping mechanisms to help interpreters navigate stress, burnout, and vicarious trauma. Through individualized support and skill-building, she empowers professionals to recognize and address mental health concerns in their work and daily lives.

Drawing from her diverse experience across medical, educational, community, VRS, and VRI interpreting, Chantal offers invaluable insights to those she supports. She believes in the power of community and continuous learning, equipping interpreters with strategies to strengthen their resilience and professional growth.

Jacob Thornton, M. Ed., LPC, LMHC, NCC

Presenter
Jacob Thornton (he/him) is a compassionate licensed mental health therapist practicing in Texas and New York. Growing up as the only Deaf son of hearing parents raised in a rural area, Jacob’s personal experiences fuel his commitment to marginalized communities, particularly the Deaf community. He passionately advocates for linguistically appropriate mental health care and has become a beacon of support for the Deaf population both in and outside of therapy.

Jacob’s experience and influence extends beyond the therapy room. As a former Access Specialist, he worked to empower individuals by empowering them to advocate for their rights and working alongside them to dismantle obstacles. Through numerous training presentations, Jacob has highlighted and supported exploration of pervasive concerns that impact the Deaf community, particularly language deprivation and its impact on K-12 students in classroom settings.

Currently, Jacob works full-time with Mesquite ISD, where he fosters a safe, culturally affirming environment for the students he serves. His therapeutic technique blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), grounding techniques and person-centered approaches, ensuring tailored care for each individual. Jacob’s unwavering commitment to the clients he serves allows him to illuminate pathways for empowerment within the Deaf community as a whole.

Tiffany Lloyd, BA, BEI Master

Presenter, Mentor & Coach
Tiffany (she/her) serves her community as a sign language interpreter, an interpreter mentor, and a career coach. She is a graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language and Theatre. She later attended and graduated from Tyler Junior College with a degree in Sign Language Interpreting and earned an ASL skills certificate.

She currently lives and works in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and has earned her Master Certification from the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI). Tiffany has also received specialized training with MHIT (Alabama’s Mental Health Interpreter Training Project), further enhancing her expertise in mental health interpreting. Tiffany is passionate about education, intersectionality, inclusion, equality, justice, and how it all relates to mental health. She strives to find ways to uplift and invest in the interpreting community and beyond.

Kayla Laird

Social Media Manager
Kayla (she/her) plays a vital role at Healing Haven Outreach, ensuring our social media platforms effectively amplify our mission of inclusivity and mental wellness. She leverages her expertise to craft engaging content that supports sign language interpreters, fosters community connection, and highlights the transformative work we do.

Kayla (she/her) is currently a full time social media professional who has been crafting impactful communication strategies since 2018. With a degree in Journalism from The University of North Texas, Kayla combines her expertise in storytelling with her lived experience as a CODA (child of Deaf adults). Growing up with Deaf parents and American Sign Language as her first language, she deeply understands the importance of bridging communities and fostering connection. We’d love to connect with you on social media—follow us to join the conversation and stay inspired!

Daniella Wahl, Licensed Massage Therapist LMT, NIC Certified

Guest Presenter
At 19, Daniella embarked on her journey as an American Sign Language Interpreter. Discovering her business acumen, she ventured into freelancing in the field, gaining valuable insights. Holding a national certification with the Registry of Sign Language Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), Daniella actively participates as an interpreter and an ally in the Deaf community. In 2018, she expanded her professional horizons beyond linguistics, pursuing her passion for wellness. Obtaining her Massage License from the state of Texas, she initiated a small practice. Not stopping there, she delved into aromatherapy during the Covid-19 pandemic, a hobby she cherished for over a decade. Enrolling at The School of Aromatic Studies, she worked towards becoming a certified aromatherapist. Presently, Daniella Wahl is a Clinical Aromatherapist with the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA). She operates Wellness with Nella, a wellness practice located in Cedar Park, Texas, specializing in Aroma-Boost Massage sessions and crafting handmade, organic aromatic products for local community and online store. Outside of work, Daniella indulges in travel, gardening, line dancing and quality time with her family and friends.