Community Help Service (CHS) is delighted to welcome two new supervisors to its 24/7 Helpline team. Mónica Pombo, a licensed psychotherapist with more than 25 years’ experience in trauma, crisis intervention and mental health services in the United States, joins alongside Rita Villamar, a licensed clinical psychologist specialising in trauma-informed care for children, adolescents, adults, and families.
The appointments mark an important milestone for the CHS Helpline, which for the first time will be supported by three supervisors rather than the two it has relied on for many years. The expansion reflects the Helpline’s continued growth, with rising numbers of callers and volunteers alike requiring robust clinical support. In the first six months of 2026 alone, the Helpline saw a 34% increase in demand compared with the same period last year, while calls from people experiencing thoughts of suicide rose by 16%. As the complexity of calls continues to grow, the additional supervisory capacity will help ensure volunteers receive the training, mentoring and professional support they need as they provide high-quality emotional support.
CHS President Jeremy Jennings welcomed the appointments, saying: “We are delighted to welcome both Mónica and Rita to CHS. Expanding our supervisory team from two to three reflects the tremendous growth of our Helpline over recent years and our commitment to ensuring that every volunteer has the professional support they need as they respond to increasingly complex and challenging calls.
Mónica Pombo joins CHS after a distinguished international career spanning clinical practice, programme management, and mental health leadership. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist, she has spent more than two decades supporting survivors of trauma and people experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties through psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and advocacy.
Most recently, Mónica served as Program Director and Assistant Manager of the Victim Intervention Program at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she oversaw multidisciplinary teams providing forensic, psychological and advocacy services to victims of crime. She has also held senior positions at Columbia University, the New York City Police Department, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, helping to develop trauma-informed services, professional training programmes, and victim support initiatives.
Alongside her leadership experience, Mónica has extensive experience supervising clinicians, social workers, and trainees, designing professional training programmes, and supporting staff working in demanding frontline environments. She continues to work in private practice, providing psychotherapy in both English and Spanish, and is recognised for her expertise in trauma, crisis response, and professional development.
Fluent in English and Spanish, with working knowledge of Dutch, Mónica brings a wealth of international experience and a strong commitment to compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. Her background in supervising multidisciplinary teams and supporting professionals working in high-pressure settings will be a valuable asset to the Helpline and its volunteers.
Rita Villamar joins CHS as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with more than five years’ experience supporting children, adolescents, adults and families through trauma-informed psychological care. Based in Brussels, she combines private clinical practice with extensive experience in professional training, supervision and volunteer support.
A graduate of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rita specialises in helping people experiencing trauma, anxiety, burnout, relationship difficulties, and major life transitions. She has undertaken additional professional training in EMDR, complex trauma and dissociation, Emotional Freedom Techniques, Gestalt approaches to trauma and Psychological First Aid, reflecting her commitment to evidence-informed practice and lifelong learning.
Alongside her clinical work, Rita has designed and delivered training on trauma, attachment, emotional regulation, and child development, while providing reflective supervision for professionals working with vulnerable children, families, and adults. She is passionate about creating psychologically safe spaces where people feel heard, respected, and supported, believing that strong connections and resilient caregivers are fundamental to effective mental health services.
Originally from Guatemala and educated in a multicultural environment, Rita is fluent in English, French and Spanish, with additional knowledge of Dutch. Her commitment to supporting others began through volunteering in equine-assisted therapy as a teenager and has continued throughout her professional career, shaping her belief in the importance of empathy, community and supporting those who care for others.
CHS President Jennings also paid tribute to Simon Dwyer, who steps down after five years as a Helpline supervisor. “While we are excited to welcome Mónica and Rita to CHS, we are also sorry to see Simon leave after five years of outstanding service. Simon has played an enormous role in supporting and developing our volunteers through his training, mentoring and pastoral care, and his compassion, wisdom and dedication have helped shape today’s Helpline. On behalf of everyone at CHS, I would like to thank him sincerely and wish him every success for the future.”