Who we are


	Bill Cross Support Troops Network co-founder, William Cross, Ph.D. is himself a combat veteran and graduate of United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. With military awards for valor and service, Dr. Cross has also been recognized with the YWCA Diversity Achievement Award, the Peacemaker's Award from Peace Action of Central New York, and the State University of New York Chancellors Award for Excellence in Teaching. In addition to his private psychotherapy practice and recent co-founding and participation in the Support Troops Network, Dr. Cross has been a Professor of Psychology at Onondaga Community College for more than thirty years, teaching and advising a very diverse student body.
	Deb Bateman Deborah is a certified Reiki practitioner and offers Reiki and meditation techniques in dealing with the stress that trauma brings. She has lived in different areas of our country as well as three years in Japan. She is a trained mediator and will help to facilitate support groups.
	Rick Olanoff Rick Olanoff has a BS in Psychology and an M.E. in Guidance and Counseling. He is a lead trainer of diversity workshops, a leader of men's work, a certified trainer of Bridges Out Of Poverty, a presenter of Children First (a certified program for separated parents), and a trained mediator. Rick would be available to present Support Troops Network's educational outreach program, to help facilitate a support group, and to listen to people's stories.
	Peter Swords Peter Swords, LMSW, is a social worker with 18 years of experience in family work, mental health, and child welfare. He helps families in identifying their strengths and needs, and in accessing supports in the community.
	Jack Houk Jack Houk, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who treats individuals with depression and anxiety. His therapy seeks to regaining baseline functioning for individuals coping with problems in school, work, family and social settings. Cases are most commonly treated from a cognitive-behavioral approach. He has training and experience in doing therapy with post-traumatic stress disorder, patients with cognitive loss, chronic pain, history of abuse, mood and anxiety disorders, and individuals with problems in relationships. He has worked in a variety of settings including military bases. He also does a variety of assessments including: 1) Personality assessment to facilitate therapy. 2) Fitness for duty assessment (a specialized from of personality and cognitive assessment) under a variety of circumstances (employment, legal, and disability determination). 3) Neuro-psychological evaluations - post concussion syndrome, competency to comply with medical treatment and age-related cognitive changes. 4) And he also does psycho-educational evaluations to determine accommodations for high school, college-level and non-traditional students.
	Deborah Welsh Deborah J. Welsh, Ed.D, is in private psychotherapy practice at the Full Circle Center, 404 Oak St. Suite 205, Syracuse, NY, which is a comfortable, healing space for individuals or small groups. She is a both a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Creative Arts Therapist, who believes that giving and receiving support is an act of creativity. Dr. Welsh has many years of experience working with such problems as anxiety, depression, adjustment, and PTSD, with a focus on the body and mind connection. In addition to private practice, she has led workshops on topics such as stress reduction, chronic pain, emotional health and the arts, dream analysis, recovery from sexual abuse, and expanding physical horizons despite limitations. Her services are available to all, though she works primarily with adults, adolescents, couples, and families. Deborah is herself the daughter of a proud World War II sailor deployed to the South Pacific, who suffered undiagnosed PTSD throughout his life.
	Joe Pullman