About Rise Up
Our Story
Rise Up – CFW, Inc. began in 2021, when a group of women of faith, carrying more than 60 years of combined experience in coaching, ministry, education, and care; recognized a hard truth: the people who most need support on their healing journey are often the ones least able to afford it. So they set out to remove that barrier.
What began as a shared conviction became a nonprofit built on a simple belief — trauma is not a life sentence, and no one should have to walk the road to healing alone.
Today, Rise Up offers certified professional coaching as a gift to those in need, made possible entirely by private donors and organizations, with no government funding. Every person who reaches out is met not as a case to be managed, but as a member of a community learning, together, how to rise.
Mission
To build a community of healing by providing an opportunity for those in need and who are ready to Rise Up in freedom by walking alongside them as they address what happened so they can move forward in healing and healthier living.
Vision
To be good stewards, utilizing resources that remove financial barriers and provide a welcoming environment to those in need by informing and strengthening our community through seminars, workshops and individual coaching that promote health and wellness mind, body, and soul.
What We Believe
Healing is Possible
Through Christ, through courage, and through the willingness to face what happened, real transformation can begin, no matter how deep the wound.
Coaching Moves You Forward
We don’t diagnose what’s wrong; we partner with you to build the life you want, one attainable step at a time.
Faith is Invited, Never Forced
A spiritual foundation is part of our story and available to anyone who wants it — but you are welcome exactly as you are.
We Keep Learning
Our coaches pursue ongoing education in the latest neuroscience of trauma alongside the timeless principles.
No One Heals Alone
Coaches, donors, and clients form a three-fold community — a cord of three strands — where each person’s healing strengthens the whole.
Meet the Team
Our Coaches
Teresa Ortiz
Director & Founder
Teresa has over 35 years of experience as a coach and mentor. She is also an author, a speaker, and the director of care ministries at her local church. Having experienced childhood trauma herself, she has a passion to see others rise up in healing. Her areas of focus are teaching through seminars and workshops, and coaching individuals who have developed and/or long-term deeply rooted trauma with an emphasis on freedom from anxiety, PTSD,C-PTSD, and relapse prevention from destructive and compulsive behaviors. Teresa believes trauma is not a life sentence and that healing is possible through Christ and the willingness to walk toward what happened. Teresa has a compassionately direct approach to coaching – a strategy often necessary to receive healing, gain resilience, and to move forward in healthy coping behaviors from deeply rooted trauma. Teresa is currently training for her certification in crisis intervention and suicide prevention as a part of her continuing education program.
Teresa enjoys camping with her husband and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Certifications
Certified Trauma-Informed Care Practitioner
Certified Life Coach
Military & First Responder
Mental Health Coach
Genesis Process Counselor for Addictive & Compulsive Behaviors
Brittany Ota
Master Life Coach
Brittany has over 18 years of professional experience working with children, and more recently with teens. She is a speaker, and the director and founder of Little Explorers Preschool, as well as a mentor to mothers of young children. She combines her early childhood education and training in trauma care to support moms with littles, and youth on their path to healing from trauma and/or the stress and anxiety that comes with having a young family or as a single parent. Having experienced the pain of betrayal and divorce, she also has a passion for walking alongside women through divorce recovery and learning to navigate a new life of co-parenting as well as transitioning into new family dynamics. Brittany believes healing is possible through Christ when a courageous step toward resolving wounds is taken. She understands the complexity and sensitive needs of children, youth and mothers who are in a season when emotions run high and energy runs low and has a compassionate and gentle approach in encouraging restoration of self-worth and confidence while learning to trust again through the healing power of forgiveness of betrayal. She partners with her clients in setting attainable goals and action steps to move forward in freedom and healthy living. Brittany is currently training for her certification specializing in the mental health needs of youth as a part of her continuing education program.
Brittany shares a love for outdoors, adventure, and sports with her husband and four children.
Certifications
Certified Master Life Coach
Genesis Process Coach
Early Childhood Development Educator
Angie McNulty
Professional Coach
Angie has over 9 years of experience as a professional coach. Having gone through healing from infidelity, divorce and infertility, she is passionate about helping women grow in self-awareness, confidence, and emotional well-being while deepening their relationship with God. Since 2022 she has focused on general well-being, supporting clients as they navigate anxiety, stress, overwhelm, life transitions, and relationship challenges. Through this experience, she helps clients develop practical tools to manage emotions, build resilience, strengthen boundaries, and create meaningful. Lasting change. She believes lasting transformation happens when faith and intentional action work together. She partners with clients to identify unhealthy patterns, establish healthy boundaries, improve communication, and align their daily choices with their God-given values and purpose. Through a compassionate, encouraging, and practical approach, she helps women move beyond people-pleasing, self-doubt, and overwhelm so they can live with greater freedom, peace, and confidence in the life God has called them to live. Angie is currently training through the Genesis Process for change and spiritual stagnation as part of her continuing education program.
Angie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and learning new things.
Certifications
Certified Professional Coach
Financial Coach Master Training
Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach
Speaker & Trainer
Our Board
Debbie Reid
Accountant & Treasurer
Debbie brings her heart for seeing others experience healing and stability to her work supporting the mission of Rise Up. Her faith and strong accounting background keep Rise Up financially accountable and leads the team in faithful stewardship on behalf of our generous community of donors.
Sherri Hockett
Secretary
Sherri brings her own experience of healing through Rise Up to her support of the mission and the community. Her faith and strong legal background — as a private-practice attorney in family law and criminal defense, compliance audit, and now healthcare privacy — helps lead the team in legal integrity on behalf of our clients.
Donors + Team Rise Up + Clients = Community of Healers
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
— Ecclesiastes 4:12