Deborah Dana, LCSW, LICSW

Deb Dana, LCSW, LICSW, is a clinician and consultant specializing in using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma and create ways of working that honor the role of the autonomic nervous system. She developed the Rhythm of Regulation Clinical Training Series and lectures internationally on ways Polyvagal Theory informs clinical work. She is a founding member of the Polyvagal Institute, clinical advisor at Khiron Clinics, and an advisor to Unyte.

 

Deb is the author of The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation (Norton, 2018), Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection: 50 Client-Centered Practices (Norton, 2020), Befriending Your Nervous System (Sounds True, 2020), Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory (forthcoming from Sounds True), co-editor of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies (Norton, 2018), and creator of the Polyvagal Flip Chart (Norton, 2020).

To learn more, visit rhythmofregulation.com or www.polyvagalinstitute.org.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Deborah Dana maintains a private practice and is a consultant at Khiron House Clinics and the Veterans Administration. She receives royalties as a published author and receives a speaking honorarium from the Cape Cod Institute, The Knowledge Tree, the PCPSI, and the Polyvagal Institute. Deborah Dana receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Deborah Dana is a board member of the Polyvagal Institute. She is a volunteer consultant for Unyte/iLS.

Lambers Fisher, MS, MDiv, LMFT

Lambers Fisher, MS, LMFT, MDiv, is a marriage and family therapist who has counseled individuals, couples, and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds, in private practice, non-profit organizations, as well as ministry environments. He has a strong desire to help counseling professionals in various fields feel more comfortable, competent and confident in their ability to meet the needs of whomever they have the opportunity to serve. Lambers' training experience includes facilitating workshops, guest lecturing, as well as being an adjunct instructor at Crown College on various aspects of diversity in counseling.

Lambers is the author of the award-winning book, Diversity in Clinical Practice: A Practical & Shame-Free Guide to Reducing Cultural Offenses & Repairing Cross-Cultural Relationships.

Currently, Lambers is a therapist in private practice where he effectively balances personal and professional experiences to provide unique and practical perspectives on a variety of culturally sensitive topics. Lambers supervises aspiring therapists as a board-approved supervisor for the Minnesota Board of Marriage & Family Therapists as well as the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health. He obtained a Master of Science in Marriage & Family Therapy as well as a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Lambers Fisher has employment relationships with Christian Heart Counseling. He is an adjunct instructor at Crown College. Mr. Fisher receives a speaking honorarium, book royalties, recording royalties, and a consulting fee from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Lambers Fisher has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Courtney Rolfe, MA, LCPC

Courtney Rolfe, MA, LCPC, is a licensed psychotherapist, speaker, writer, and leading expert in the clinical application of the Polyvagal Theory. Courtney is a long-standing senior trainer in Deb Dana’s Rhythm of Regulation training series and has led several training cohorts through the Rhythm of Regulation’s intensive 6 month “Foundations of Polyvagal Theory in Practice” course. She is steadfast in bringing the Polyvagal Theory to clients and clinicians alike.

Courtney is the founder of Modern Mind & Heart based in Chicago, Illinois, which provides individual counseling, clinical consultation, and training with the specialized focus on application of Polyvagal Theory. Her training in trauma work and somatic-based modalities has allowed her to work with clients presenting a wide range of difficulties, including trauma of all types, relational conflict, anxiety, depression, and emotion regulation.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Courtney Rolfe maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Psychosocial Rehabilitation Bilingual Program. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Courtney Rolfe has a professional relationship with Deb Dana.

Amy Stenger-Sullivan, MA, LPCC-S

Amy Stenger-Sullivan, MA, LPCC-S, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor-Supervisor, speaker, writer, and leading expert in the clinical application of the Polyvagal Theory. Amy “met” the Polyvagal Theory in 2012 as the owner of an infant massage training company. The PVT was used as the science behind attachment. The PVT has had a huge impact on Amy’s life both personally and professionally, leading her into the counseling field where she instantly began using the information Deb Dana offers. In 2021, Amy joined Deb’s team as a consultant and now is a Trainer.

Amy is the founder and owner of Rooted Compassion Counseling and Consulting in Cincinnati, Ohio and leads a team of seven therapists who offer counseling through the lens of the PVT. In addition to being trained in the PVT, Amy utilizes EMDR and her deep background in bodywork to help clients move to post traumatic growth and healing. In addition, she is a sought-after speaker in a variety of topics that helps others understand the PVT through a variety of ways. Amy utilizes storytelling, humor, and professionalism to teach difficult topics with ease and helping others move to a deep understanding of what is being shared.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Amy Stenger-Sullivan is the owner of Rooted Compassion Counseling and Consulting, LLC and has an employment relationship with Rhythm of Regulation. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Amy Stenger-Sullivan is a member of the American Counseling Association.

 

Cherie Bridges Patrick, PhD, LISW-S, CCTP

Dr. Cherie Bridges Patrick is a leadership educator, coach, psychotherapist, author, and founder of Paradox Cross-Cultural Consulting, Training & Empowerment, LLC. Her work seeks to advance healing as justice and growth as a pathway to liberation. She relies on Polyvagal Theory to understand how trauma and stress impact not only who we are, but the justice we claim to seek, and the outcomes we want to achieve.

Cherie prioritizes relational safety and believes that how we talk about what we talk about matters profoundly. The first step in creating safety is to understand and respond to your own safety needs and learn how to feel safe in your own body. What that, safety – not comfort – is the foundation of every aspect of her work.

Cherie’s role is to be a compassionate presence and witness while she accompanies folks on their own healing journeys. She travels alongside leaders, counselors, and teachers who are committed to justice and antiracism and supports them in developing the resources to inquire into and hold the charge that accompanies trauma, chronic stress, and life in general. Cherie is excited to join Deb Dana’s Rhythm of Regulation training series as a new consultant.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Cherie Bridges Patrick is the owner and senior administrator of Paradox Cross-Cultural Consulting, Training and Empowerment, LLC and has an employment relationship with Maandeeq Mental Health & Training Institute. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Cherie Bridges Patrick is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the International Leadership Association.

Rachel Joy Rockey, MS, LPC

Rachel Joy Rockey LLC

Rachel Joy Rockey, MS, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, currently a psychotherapist, mentor, and coach in a private practice in the forest of the Pacific Northwest. Throughout her 20+ year career, Rachel has worked in community mental health with the marginalized, oppressed, and populations of limited access to resources. Rachel has trained as a doula, a yoga instructor, a Reiki master teacher, and is an aspiring death doula. In her pursuit of more wisdom around the nervous system, she also acts as a supportive farmer to a flock of 70 chickens and roosters assisting them with having beautiful lives, while studying their activities, how their nervous systems respond to different daily scenarios, while taking notes.

Rachel draws from her own unique experience as an autistic woman to inform her professional life, she assists neurodivergent individuals in accessing their nervous systems and forming their own language around their personal embodied practice.

Rachel’s daily life and professional practice are informed by anti-racism and are central to her world view, as well as how she implements nervous system regulation.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Rachel Rockey maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Clackamas County Mental Health. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Rachel Rockey has no relevant non-financial relationships.

 

Manal Aldabbagh

Manal Aldabbagh is an embodiment coach, where she helps her clients reconnect to their bodies and gain access to their body’s wisdom. In the last few years, she immersed herself in learning about the nervous system, specifically the polyvagal theory, which influenced her work and deepened her understanding of the BodyMind connection.

Manal believes in the uniqueness of each individual and the embodied personal power that emerges as a result of holistic self-knowing where the brain, mind, body, and soul aligns. Manal is also a free dance and movement facilitator for over ten years, previously offering workshops and classes in many countries, such as Houston, Seoul, Jeddah, and Dubai. Manal studied with numerous teachers in the field of Somatics and Embodiment. Nia, Dancing Mindfulness, Leadership Embodiment, IFS, Trauma and Polyvagal-informed practice and 5R highly influence her work.

For more on her education and training, go to manalaldabbagh.com.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Manal Aldabbagh is the co-founder of Embodiment in Arabic and maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Manal Aldabbagh is a podcast host of Start the Conversation.