Janina Fisher, PhD

Janina Fisher, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and former instructor at The Trauma Center, a research and treatment center founded by Bessel van der Kolk. Known as an expert on the treatment of trauma, Dr. Fisher has also been treating individuals, couples, and families since 1980.

She is the past president of the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, an EMDR International Association Credit Provider, Assistant Educational Director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, and a former Instructor, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Fisher lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on topics related to the integration of the neurobiological research and newer trauma treatment paradigms into traditional therapeutic modalities.

She is co-author with Pat Ogden of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Attachment and Trauma (2015) and author of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation (2017) and the forthcoming book, Working with the Neurobiological Legacy of Trauma (in press).

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Janina Fisher has an employment relationship with the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. She is a consultant for Khiron House Clinics and the Massachusetts Department of MH Restraint and Seclusion Initiative. Dr. Fisher receives royalties as a published author. She receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. Dr. Fisher has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Janina Fisher is on the advisory board for the Trauma Research Foundation. She is a patron of the Bowlby Center.

Richard C. Schwartz, PhD

IFS Institute

Richard Schwartz began his career as a family therapist and an academic at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There he discovered that family therapy alone did not achieve full symptom relief, and in asking patients why, he learned that they were plagued by what they called "parts." These patients became his teachers as they described how their parts formed networks of inner relationship that resembled the families he had been working with. He also found that as they focused on and, thereby, separated from their parts, they would shift into a state characterized by qualities like curiosity, calm, confidence and compassion. He called that inner essence the Self and was amazed to find it even in severely diagnosed and traumatized patients. From these explorations, the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model was born in the early 1980s.

IFS is now evidence-based and has become a widely-used form of psychotherapy, particularly with trauma. It provides a non-pathologizing, optimistic, and empowering perspective and a practical and effective set of techniques for working with individuals, couples, families, and more recently, corporations and classrooms.

In 2013, Schwartz left the Chicago area and now lives in Brookline, MA where he is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Richard Schwartz is the Founder and President of the IFS Institute. He maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Harvard Medical School. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Schwartz receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Richard Schwartz is a fellow of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare and is a member of the American Family Therapy Academy and the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy. He is a contributing editor for Family Therapy Networker. Dr. Schwartz serves on the editorial boards for the Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, the Contemporary Family Therapy, the Journal of Family Psychotherapy, and the Family Therapy Collections.

Stephen W Porges, PhD

Kinsey Institute, Indiana University and Department of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill

Stephen W. Porges, PhD, is a distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium within the Kinsey Institute. He holds the position of Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland and is a founder of the Polyvagal Institute. Dr. Porges served as president of both the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He has published approximately 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers across several disciplines including anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, critical care medicine, ergonomics, exercise physiology, gerontology, neurology, neuroscience, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, psychometrics, space medicine, and substance abuse. His research has been cited in more than 50,000 peer-review publications. In 1994, Dr. Porges proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. The theory is leading to innovative treatments based on insights into the mechanisms mediating symptoms observed in several behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders.

He is the author of The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation (Norton, 2011), The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe (Norton, 2017), Polyvagal Safety (Norton, 2021), co-author with Seth Porges of Our Body Polyvagal World (Norton, 2023), and co-editor with Deb Dana of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies (Norton, 2018). Dr. Porges is also the creator of a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol™, which currently is used by approximately 3,000 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, to reduce hearing sensitivities, and to improve language processing, state regulation, and spontaneous social engagement.

Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C, DAPA

Lisa Ferentz, LCSW-C, DAPA, is a recognized expert in the strengths-based, de-pathologized treatment of trauma and has been in private practice for over 35 years. She presents workshops and keynote addresses nationally and internationally, and is a clinical consultant to practitioners and mental health agencies in the United States, Canada, the UK and Ireland.

She has been an adjunct faculty member at several Universities, and is the Founder of “The Ferentz Institute,” now in its 11th year of providing continuing education to mental health professionals and graduating over 1,200 clinicians from her two certificate programs in Advanced Trauma Treatment.

In 2009, she was voted the “Social Worker of Year” by the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work. Lisa is the author of Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Trauma Survivors: A Clinician’s Guide, 2nd Edition (Routledge, 2014), Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors: A Workbook of Hope and Healing (Routledge, 2014), and Finding Your Ruby Slippers: Transformative Life Lessons From the Therapist’s Couch (PESI, 2017). Lisa also hosted a weekly radio talk show, writes blogs and articles for websites on self-harm and self-care, and teaches on many webinars.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Lisa Ferentz maintains a private practice and is the Founder and President of the Ferentz Institute. She receives royalties as a published author and is a consultant for Northwest Hospital. Lisa Ferentz receives a speaking honorarium and product royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Lisa Ferentz is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Psychotherapy Association.

David Kessler, MA, RN, FACHE

David Kessler is one of the world’s foremost experts on grief and loss. His experience with thousands of people on the edge of life and death has taught him the secrets to living a happy and fulfilled life, even after life’s tragedies.

He is the author of six books, including his latest bestselling book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. He co-authored two books with Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Life Lessons and On Grief and Grieving, updating her 5 stages for grief. He also co-wrote, You Can Heal Your Heart with Louise Hay. He authored Visions Trips and Crowded Rooms: Who and What You See Before You Die. His first book, The Needs of The Dying received praise from Saint (Mother) Teresa.

David’s personal experience as a child witnessing a mass shooting while his mother was dying in a hospital helped him begin his journey. For most of his life, David has taught physicians, nurses, counselors, police, and first responders about the end of life, trauma, and grief. However, despite his vast knowledge of grief, his life was turned upside down by the sudden death of his twenty-one-year-old son.

David’s volunteer work includes being a founding member of Project Angel Food, a well-known and loved non-profit organization. He currently serves on the board of The Farrah Fawcett Foundation which provides cancer research, patient assistance, and prevention efforts. He also serves as Specialist Reserve for the Los Angeles Police as well as having served on the Red Cross’s disaster services team.

He has a new online model of grief support called Tender Hearts with over 25 groups each as well as one of the most respected Grief Certification programs. He is the founder of www.grief.com, which receives millions of visits yearly providing helpful resources to over 167 countries.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: David Kessler is the is the co-founder and President Emeritus of Project Angel Food. He is a published author and receives royalties. David Kessler receives a speaking honorarium and recording and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: David Kessler is a board member for the Farrah Fawcett Foundation. He is a team member of the Health Care Executives of Southern California, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Red Cross.

Jennifer Sweeton, PsyD, MS, MA

Dr. Jennifer Sweeton is a licensed clinical psychologist, author, and internationally-recognized expert on trauma, anxiety and the neuroscience of mental health. Dr. Sweeton was trained in the use of EMDR as a treatment method during her time as a clinical psychologist with the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs where she worked with active service members and combat veterans with PTSD.

She has been practicing EMDR for nearly a decade and has treated a variety of populations using EMDR and other memory reconsolidation approaches, including combat veterans, individuals with PTSD and complex trauma, and those suffering from treatment-resistant anxiety.

She completed her doctoral training at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, and the National Center for PTSD. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in affective neuroscience from Stanford University and studied behavioral genetics at Harvard University.

Dr. Sweeton resides in the greater Kansas City area, where she owns a group private practice, Kansas City Mental Health Associates. She is a past President of the Oklahoma Psychological Association, the President of the Greater Kansas City Psychological Association for 2019 and holds adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Sweeton offers psychological services to clients in Oklahoma, Kansas, and internationally, and is sought-after trauma and neuroscience expert who has trained thousands of mental health professionals in her workshops.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Jennifer Sweeton is in private practice. She has an employment relationship with the Oklahoma City VAMC. Dr. Sweeton receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.  She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Jennifer Sweeton has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.
 

Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, LMFT, CHT

Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, LMFT, CHT, is a somatic psychotherapist, international teacher of Somatic Psychology, author and consultant. She is the founder of Embodywise and co-director of Hakomi California. She trains and consults professionals in varied fields, including health professionals and business leaders. Her trainings in the United States, Australia, Germany, China and Israel bring together 25 years in-depth clinical practice and teaching. She integrates Hakomi Mindful somatic Psychotherapy, Somatic trauma therapies, embodied mindfulness practices and movement therapies.

Manuela is the founder of ISITTA trauma training. Her trauma teachings are grounded in an inside-out approach that utilizes the depth of the body’s innate healing capacity.

Manuela is the author of several books, including 125 Somatic Psychotherapy tools for Trauma and Stress (PESI 2018), 8 Keys to Practicing Mindfulness: Practical Strategies for Emotional Health and Well Being (W.W. Norton 2015). Visit Manuela’s website to find out more about her work: www.embodywise.com.

David Jobes, PhD, ABPP

Washington Psychological Center PC

David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, is a Professor of psychology and Associate Director of Clinical Training, and Director of the Suicide Prevention Lab at The Catholic University of America. His research and writing in suicide has produced well over 150 peer-reviewed publications (including six books on clinical suicidology).

As an internationally recognized suicidologist, Dr. Jobes is a past President of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and is the recipient of that organization’s 1995 “Edwin Shneidman Award” in recognition of early career contribution to suicide research. Dr. Jobes has been named the recipient of the 2012 AAS “Dublin Award” in recognition of career contribution in suicidology. He also received the 2016 “Marsha Linehan Award” from the American Association of Suicidology in recognition of his contributions to research in clinical suicidology. Dr. Jobes has served as a consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the FBI, the NSA, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Department of Defense, and Veterans Affairs. Dr. Jobes is Fellow of the American Psychological Association in clinical psychology and he is a board certified in clinical psychology (American Board of Professional Psychology). He maintains a private clinical and forensic practice in Washington, DC.

Speaker Disclosure:

Financial: David Jobes is the director of The Catholic University of America Suicide Prevention Lab. He is a professor of psychology at the Catholic University of America. Dr. Jobes receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: David Jobes is a fellow of the American Psychological Association.
 

Frank Anderson, MD

Frank Anderson, MD, completed his residency and was a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is both a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He specializes in the treatment of trauma and dissociation and is passionate about teaching brain-based psychotherapy and integrating current neuroscience knowledge with the IFS model of therapy.

Dr. Anderson is a lead trainer at the IFS Institute with Richard Schwartz and maintains a long affiliation with, and trains for, Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Center. He serves as an advisor to the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP) and was the former chair and director of the Foundation for Self-Leadership.

Dr. Anderson has lectured extensively on the Neurobiology of PTSD and Dissociation and wrote the chapter “Who’s Taking What” Connecting Neuroscience, Psychopharmacology and Internal Family Systems for Trauma in Internal Family Systems Therapy – New Dimensions. He co-authored a chapter on What IFS Brings to Trauma Treatment in Innovations and Elaborations in Internal Family Systems Therapy, and recently co-authored Internal Family Systems Skills Training Manual.

His most recent book, entitled Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems was released on May 19, 2021.

His memoir, To Be Loved, is set to be released on May 7, 2024.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Frank Anderson maintains a private practice. He is the Executive Director of the Foundation for Self Leadership and has employment relationships with The Trauma Center and The Center for Self Leadership. Dr. Anderson receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Frank Anderson is a member of the New England Society Studying Trauma and Dissociation and the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.

Lynn Lyons, LICSW

Lynn Lyons, LICSW, is an internationally recognized psychotherapist, author, and speaker with a special interest in interrupting the generational patterns of anxiety in families. Her skill-based approach to anxiety focuses on the need to teach families about HOW anxiety works and what families can do to pull members out of the powerful “anxiety cult” that demands obedience to its need for certainty and comfort. Lynn’s approach uses humor, playful connection, and a constant focus on DOING, an umbrella strategy she has taught to thousands of professionals and families.

Lynn is the co-author with Reid Wilson of Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents and the companion book for kids Playing with Anxiety: Casey’s Guide for Teens and Kids. She is the author of Using Hypnosis with Children: Creating and Delivering Effective Interventions and has two DVD programs for parents and children.

She maintains a private practice in Concord, New Hampshire where she sees families whenever she’s not on the road teaching.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Lynn Lyons maintains a private practice and receives royalties as a published author. She receives compensation as an international presenter. Lynn Lyons receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Lynn Lyons is a contributing author for Psychotherapy Networker.

Dafna Lender, LCSW

The Theraplay Institute

Dafna Lender, LCSW, is an international trainer and supervisor for practitioners who work with children and families. She is a certified trainer and supervisor/consultant in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) and an EMDR therapist. Dafna’s expertise is drawn from 25 years of working with families with attachment in many settings: at-risk after school programs, therapeutic foster care, in-home crisis stabilization, residential care and private practice. Dafna’s style, whether as a therapist or teacher, is combining the light-hearted with the profound by bringing a playful, intense and passionate presence to every encounter. Dafna is the author of Integrative Attachment Family Therapy (2023) and co-author of Theraplay® - The Practitioner’s Guide (2020).

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dafna Lender maintains a private practice. She is a published author and receives royalties. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dafna Lender is an author for Psychotherapy Networker.

Meg Jay, PhD

Meg Jay, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of human development at University of Virginia. She’s the author of The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now and Supernormal: The Secret World of the Family Hero.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Meg Jay maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Meg Jay has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

Claudia Black, PhD

Claudia Black, PhD, is a renowned addictions and codependency expert, author and trainer internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. Since the 1970s, Dr. Black's work has encompassed the impact of addiction on young and adult children. She has offered models of intervention and treatment related to family violence, multi-addictions, relapse, anger, depression and women's issues. Dr. Black designs and presents training workshops and seminars to professional audiences in the field of family service, mental health, addiction and correctional services. She is the Sr. Editorial Advisor for Central Recovery Press and serves as Senior Clinical and Family Services Provider for Las Vegas Recovery Center. She serves on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Children of Alcoholics, and the Advisory Council of the Moyer Foundation.

Dr. Black is the recipient of numerous national awards, including the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Washington School of Social Work.

Dr. Black has been a keynote speaker on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. Her workshops have been presented to an extraordinarily wide array of audiences, including military academies, prison systems, medical schools, and extensive mental health and addiction programs. Claudia has extensive multi-cultural experiences working with agencies and audiences in Japan, Brazil, Australia, Scotland, Iceland, Germany, England and Canada. Many of her books and videos have been translated and published abroad.

Claudia is the author of Depression Strategies, It Will Never Happen To Me, Changing Course, My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has A Disease, Repeat After Me, It’s Never Too Late to Have A Happy Childhood, Relapse Toolkit, A Hole in the Sidewalk, Straight Talk, The Stamp Game, Family Strategies, Anger Strategies and her newest title Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets. She has produced several audio CDs and over twenty DVDs. All of Claudia's materials are available from her website, www.claudiablack.com.
 

Daniel Siegel, MD

Mindsight Institute

Daniel J. Siegel, MD, is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics and child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry. He is currently a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, founding co-director of UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center, founding co-investigator at the UCLA Center for Culture, Brain and Development, and executive director of the Mindsight Institute, an educational center devoted to promoting insight, compassion, and empathy in individuals, families, institutions, and communities.

Dr. Siegel's psychotherapy practice spans thirty years, and he has published extensively for the professional audience. He serves as the Founding Editor for the Norton Professional Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology, which includes over 70 textbooks. Dr. Siegle's books include his five New York Times bestsellers: Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence; Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain, Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human, and two books with Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline. His other books include: The Power of Showing Up, also with Tina Payne Bryson, PhD, The Developing Mind, The Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology, Mindsight, The Mindful Brain, The Mindful Therapist, Parenting from the Inside Out (with Mary Hartzell, MEd), and The Yes Brain (also with Tina Payne Bryson, PhD). He has been invited to lecture for the King of Thailand, Pope John Paul II, his Holiness the Dalai Lama, Google University, and TEDx.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Daniel Siegel is the clinical professor at the UCLA School of Medicine, the medical director of Lifespan Learning Institute, the executive director of Center for Human Development and Mindsight Institute, and the founding editor of Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Daniel Siegel receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Daniel Siegel serves on the advisory board for Gloo and Convergence in Washington, D.C.

Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD

Trauma Research Foundation

Bessel van der Kolk, MD, has spent his career studying how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences, and has translated emerging findings from neuroscience and attachment research to develop and study a range of potentially effective treatments for traumatic stress in children and adults.

In 1984, he set up one of the first clinical/research centers in the US dedicated to the study and treatment of traumatic stress in civilian populations, which has trained numerous researchers and clinicians specializing in the study and treatment of traumatic stress, and which has been continually funded to research the impact of traumatic stress and effective treatment interventions. He did the first studies on the effects of SSRIs on PTSD; was a member of the first neuroimaging team to investigate how trauma changes brain processes, and did the first research linking BPD and deliberate self-injury to trauma and neglect in early childhood.

Much of his research has focused on how trauma has a different impact at different stages of development, and that disruptions in care-giving systems have additional deleterious effects that need to be addressed for effective intervention. In order to promote a deeper understanding of the impact of childhood trauma and to foster the development and execution of effective treatment interventions, he initiated the process that led to the establishment of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), a Congressionally mandated initiative that now funds approximately 150 centers specializing in developing effective treatment interventions, and implementing them in a wide array of settings, from juvenile detention centers to tribal agencies, nationwide.

He has focused on studying treatments that stabilize physiology, increase executive functioning and help traumatized individuals to feel fully alert to the present. This has included an NIMH-funded study on EMDR and NCCAM funded study of yoga, and, in recent years, the study of neurofeedback to investigate whether attentional and perceptual systems (and the neural tracks responsible for them) can be altered by changing EEG patterns.

His efforts resulted in the establishment of Trauma Center, that consist of a well-trained clinical team specializing in the treatment of children and adults with histories of child maltreatment, that applies treatment models that are widely taught and implemented nationwide, a research lab that studies the effects of neurofeedback and MDMA on behavior, mood, and executive functioning, and numerous trainings nationwide to a variety of mental health professional, educators, parent groups, policy makers, and law enforcement personnel.

Dr. van der Kolk is the author of the NY Times best-selling book The Body Keeps The Score.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a professor at Boston University School of Medicine, the Director of the Trauma Center, and the National Complex Trauma Network. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. van der Kolk receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk has no relevant non-financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Linda Graham, MFT

Linda Graham, MFT, is an experienced psychotherapist in the San Francisco Bay Area, bestselling author and international speaker. She integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness practices, and relational psychology in her worldwide trainings. She is the author of Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being, winner of the 2013 Books for a Better Life award and the 2014 Better Books for a Better World award. She publishes a monthly e-newsletter, Healing and Awakening into Aliveness and Wholeness and weekly Resources for Recovering Resilience. For more information visit www.lindagraham-mft.net

Linda draws on her own experiences of healing and awakening as well as more than two decades of integrative study, practice and teaching of transformational psychotherapies, vipassana meditation, life coaching, and facilitating groups and workshops to become a skillful guide interweaving many paths of compassionate, conscious connection. She is passionate about integrating the paradigms and practices of modern neuroscience, Western relational psychology and Eastern contemplative practice.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Linda Graham maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She presents professionally and receives compensation, and she receives royalties as a published author. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Linda Graham has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Howard Schubiner, MD

Howard Schubiner, MD, is an internist at Providence Hospital in Michigan and a professor at Michigan State University. He’s the author of Unlearn Your Pain, Unlearn Your Anxiety and Depression and coauthor of Hidden from View.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Howard Schubiner is an attending physician at Children’s Hospital of Michigan; harper Hospital; Hutzel Hospital; and Detroit Receiving Hospital.  He is a faculty member at Providence Hospital. He is an author for Mind Body Publishing and receives royalties. Dr. Schubiner receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Howard Schubiner is a Fellow for the American Academy Pediatrics; a Fellow for the American College of Physicians; and a Fellow for the Society for Adolescent Medicine.

Gabor Maté, MD

Gabor Maté, MD, is a renowned speaker and bestselling author. Dr. Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress and childhood development.

His Compassionate Inquiry approach draws from his professional work as a physician as well as his personal experience, having suffered trauma as an infant in Nazi-occupied Hungary, and his adult struggles with behavioral addictions, depression, and an ADHD diagnosis.

As an author, Dr. Maté has written several bestselling books published in more than 20 languages on five continents, including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction; When the Body Says No: Exploring The Stress/Disease Connection; and his newest book, The Myth of Normal.

Among other honors, Dr. Maté has received the Hubert Evans Prize for Literary Non-Fiction, an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Simon Fraser University, and the Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian distinction.

"Trauma is not what happens to us. It’s what happens inside of us as a result of what happens to us.”

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Gabor Maté receives compensation as a presenter. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Gabor Maté has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Michael Mithoefer, MD

Michael Mithoefer, MD, is clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Carolina. In 2009, he completed & published the first FDA approved clinical trial of MDMA assisted psychotherapy for treatment-resistant PTSD, followed by completion of a Phase II trial. He is overseeing a multisite Phase III study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in 13 sites around the US (including the Trauma Research Foundation), and another MDMA-assisted psychotherapy multisite study in Europe and Israel.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Michael Mithoefer has employment relationships with Bassett Healthcare Network, Medical University of South Carolina, and MAPS Public Benefit Corporation. He has an ownership interest in Awakn Life Sciences and serves on the scientific advisory board. Dr. Mithoefer receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Dr. Michael Mithoefer is a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.

Sabrina N'Diaye, PhD, LCSW-C, MDiv

Sabrina N’Diaye, PhD, LCSW-C, MDiv, is an integrative psychotherapist, storyteller, and peacebuilder based in Baltimore, MD. She recently completed her first book, The Laugh of Love.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Sabrina N'Diaye is the founder and clinical director of The Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing. She has employment relationships with The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, The Ferentz Institute, Saybrook University, and the Maryland University of Integrative Health. Sabrina N'Diaye receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Sabrina N'Diaye has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Richard Sears, PsyD, PhD, MBA, ABPP

Richard Sears, PsyD, PhD, MBA, ABPP, is a licensed psychologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, board certified in clinical psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), runs a private psychology and consultation practice, and is the director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation. He has run hundreds of mindfulness groups and was lead clinician in the first brain scan study involving mindfulness with children and adolescents. He is also an adjunct professor in the University of Cincinnati psychology department, clinical research faculty at the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, volunteer professor of psychiatry & behavioral neurosciences at the UC College of Medicine, and a former research/psychologist contractor with the Cincinnati VA Medical Center.

His most recent books include ACT with Anxiety (PESI); The ACT Flip Chart (PESI); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Mindfulness Toolbox (PESI); Mindfulness: Living Through Challenges and Enriching Your Life in the Moment (Wiley-Blackwell); Building Competence in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (Routledge); and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (Wiley-Blackwell).

Dr. Sears is a sixth-degree black belt in Ninjutsu, and once served as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama with his teacher, Stephen K. Hayes. He has studied Eastern Wisdom for over 40 years, receiving ordination in three traditions, and transmission as a Zen master.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Richard Sears maintains a private practice and has employment relationships with the University of Cincinnati, Alliance Integrative Medicine, and Wright State University. He receives compensation as a consultant. Dr. Sears receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Richard Sears is the founder and director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness and Meditation and is a member of the American Board of Professional Psychology, the Academy of the American Board of Clinical Psychology, and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences. He is a peer reviewer for Mindfulness and a book reviewer for John Wiley & Sons, Inc, and Routledge.

Abi Blakeslee, PhD, MFT, CMT, SEP

Abi Blakeslee, PhD, MFT, CMT, SEP
I am a SE faculty and a marriage and family therapist. I have a master’s in counseling and Depth Psychology and a Ph.D. in Clinical and Somatic Psychology. My dissertation, with a committee that included Dr. Daniel Siegel, generated original research on the role of implicit memory in Somatic Experiencing. My clinical experience is with individuals, couples, children, and families treating a broad base of issues. I draw from over a decade and a half of experience with SEI, teach throughout the country and internationally, and consult worldwide. I am currently conducting evidence-based research on SE to promote its use in trauma informed statewide care initiatives. You can access several SE research publications I have written on my website. I reside in Bozeman, Montana (right outside of Yellowstone National Park), and currently specialize in providing SE individual and group consultations for SE students of all levels. I have faculty level online group case consultations a Saturday of most months. You can join by going to my website www.abiblakeslee.com. I focus on giving practical details in building SE skills and how to integrate various frameworks into your SE practice such as psychodynamic therapy, object/relations, the psychobiological principals of attachment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, and SE touch skills. Please feel free to email at somatics4healing@yahoo.com, or sign up to receive information about trainings, lectures, and SE research at www.abiblakeslee.com.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Abi Blakeslee is the founder of Implicit Psychotherapy, maintains a private practice, and has employment relationships with Somatic Experiencing International and Ergos Institute for Somatic Education. She receives a speaking honorarium and product royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Abi Blakeslee is a member of the American Association for Marriage Family Therapists, the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy, the Women in Neuroscience, and the Society for Neuroscience.

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 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

Mary Jo Barrett, MSW

Mary Jo Barrett, MSW, is the founder and director of the Center for Contextual Change, and the coauthor of Treating Complex Trauma: A Relational Blueprint for Collaboration and Change and Systemic Treatment of Incest.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Mary Jo Barrett is the founder and director of the Center for Contextual Change. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Mary Jo Barrett has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD

From early in his storied career in the therapy world, Ken Hardy, PhD, has confronted ignorance of the BIPOC experience and maintained a decades-long, unwavering focus on training and challenging practitioners on issues of oppression, diversity, whiteness, and trauma. His voice has attracted consistent media attention, and his many appearances include the Oprah Winfrey Show, Dateline NBC, and 20/20. As much an activist and bridge builder as a practitioner and healer, he continues to shape our pivotal dialogues as president of the Eikenberg Academy for Social Justice and director of its Institute for Relationships in New York City. His latest book, The Enduring, Invisible, and Ubiquitous Centrality of Whiteness, is being called “the book we’ve been needing to cultivate a society where multiple ideologies can coexist without domination, marginalization, or indoctrination."  

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kenneth Hardy has employment relationships with Eikenberg Institute for Relationships and Eikenberg Academy for Social Justice . He receives royalties as a published author. Kenneth Hardy receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Kenneth Hardy has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Shadeen Francis, LMFT

Shadeen Francis, LMFT, is a therapist, professor, and author specializing in sex therapy and social justice. She trains organizations and is a guest expert for various media outlets, including CBC, NBC, and Fox.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Shadeen Francis has employment relationships with The People's Therapy Group and Council for Relationships. She serves as a clinical advisor for Actually Wellness and is a co-founding expert for Mine'd. Shadeen Francis receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Shadeen Francis is a member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, Women of Color Sexual Health Network, the Association of Black Sexologists and Clinicians, the Family Therapist Education & Advocacy Movement, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She is an ad-hoc reviewer with Routledge Press.

Noah S Garcia, MA, LPC-S, NCC

Noah S. Garcia, MA, LPC-S, NCC, is a licensed professional counselor supervisor and owner of NextQuest Counseling in Austin, TX. He is a clinical consultant on LGBTQIA+ issues, particularly those facing the transgender community. He runs the weekly therapy podcast NextQuest Podcast.

Deran Young, LCSW

Black Therapists Rock

Deran Young, LCSW, is the Founder of Black Therapists Rock, an organization that includes over 20,000 professionals committed to reducing intergenerational trauma in marginalized communities.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Deran Young has employment relationships with Brene Brown Education and Research Group, Internal Family Systems Institute, and Black Therapists Rock, Inc. 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: Deran Young has no relevant non-financial relationships.

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.

Jada McCray, LCSW-C

Jada McCray, LCSW-C, has been a clinician in Baltimore City for more than a decade. Her work through BTST Services involves leading one of Baltimore’s most cutting-edge and culturally competent practices, with over 200 employees, servicing 4,000 clients statewide.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Jada McCray is co-owner and executive director at BTST Services. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Jada McCray has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.
 

Susan Johnson, EdD

Dr. Sue Johnson is an author, clinical psychologist, researcher, professor, popular presenter and speaker and a leading innovator in the field of couple therapy and adult attachment. Sue is the primary developer of Emotionally Focused Couples and Family Therapy (EFT), which has demonstrated its effectiveness in over 30 years of peer-reviewed clinical research.

Sue Johnson is founding Director of the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) and Distinguished Research Professor at Alliant University in San Diego, California, and Professor, Clinical Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia, Canada, as well as Professor Emeritus, Clinical Psychology, at the University of Ottawa, Canada.

Dr. Johnson is the author of numerous books and articles including Attachment Theory in Practice: EFT with Individuals, Couples and Families (2019) The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection (3rd edition, 2019), and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy with Trauma Survivors (2002).

Sue trains behavioral health providers in EFT worldwide and consults to over 75 international institutes and affiliated centers who practice EFT. She also consults to Veterans Affairs and the U.S. and Canadian militaries.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Sue Johnson has employment relationships with University of British Columbia, Campbell & Fairweather Psychology Group, Alliant International, University Ottawa, Couple and Family Institute, and the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Johnson receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Sue Johnson serves on the editorial board for the American Journal of Family Therapy (AJFT) and the journal Couple and Family Psychology: Research & Practice.

Terry Real, LICSW

Private Practice

Terry Real, LICSW, is an Internationally Recognized Family Therapist, Speaker and Author. Terry founded the Relational Life Institute (RLI), offering workshops for couples, individuals and parents around the country along with a professional training program for clinicians wanting to learn his RLT (Relational Life Therapy) methodology.

A family therapist and teacher for more than 25 years, Terry is the best-selling author of I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression (Scribner), the straight-talking How Can I Get Through to You? Reconnecting Men and Women (Scribner), and most recently The New Rules of Marriage: What You Need to Make Love Work (Random House). Terry knows how to lead couples on a step-by-step journey to greater intimacy – and greater personal fulfillment.

A senior faculty member of the Family Institute of Cambridge in Massachusetts and a retired Clinical Fellow of the Meadows Institute in Arizona, Terry has worked with thousands of individuals, couples, and fellow therapists. Through his books, the Institute, and workshops around the country, Terry helps women and men, parents and non-parents to create the connection they desire in their relationships.

Terry’s work, with its rigorous commonsense approach, speaks to both men and women. His ideas on men’s issues and on couple’s therapy have been celebrated in venues from “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show” and “20/20,” to “Oprah” and The New York Times.

A proponent of “full-throttle marriage,” as described in The New Rules of Marriage, Terry has been called “the most innovative voice in thinking about and treating men and their relationships in the world today.”

The New York Times book review described Terry’s work as: “A critical contribution to feminist psychology (that) brings the Men’s movement a significant step forward.” Robert Bly hailed it as “moving onto new ground in both story and song. Exhilarating in its honesty.”

Terry’s Relational Life Institute grew out of his extensive and empathic experience. He teaches people how to make their relationships work by providing products and services designed to teach the principles of Relational Life™, so that everyone can enjoy full respect living and craft a healthy life legacy.​

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Terrence Real is the founder of Relational Life Institute. He receives royalties as a published author. Terry Real receives a speaking honorarium, recording, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Terrence Real has no relevant non-financial disclosures.

John M. Gottman, PhD

John Gottman, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Washington, where he established “The Love Lab” and conducted much of his award-winning research on couple interaction and treatment. Dr. Gottman has studied marriage, couples, and parent relationships for nearly four decades. He has authored or co-authored over 200 published articles and more than 40 books, including: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work, The Relationship Cure, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child: The Heart of Parenting, and The Man’s Guide to Women.

World renowned for his work on marital stability and divorce prediction, Dr. Gottman’s research has earned him numerous national awards, including: Four five-year-long National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Awards; The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Distinguished Research Scientist Award; The American Psychological Association Division of Family Psychology Presidential Citation for Outstanding Lifetime Research Contribution; The National Council of Family Relations 1994 Burgess Award for Outstanding Career in Theory and Research.

Dr. Gottman, together with his wife Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, is the co-founder of The Gottman Institute, which provides clinical training, workshops, services, and educational materials for mental health professionals, couples, and families. He is also the co-founder and Executive Director of the Relationship Research Institute which has created treatments for couples transitioning to parenthood and couples suffering from minor domestic violence.

Dr. Gottman has presented hundreds of invited keynote addresses, workshops, and scientific presentations to avid audiences around the world including Switzerland, Italy, France, England, Israel, Turkey, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Norway. A wonderful storyteller and expert, Dr. Gottman has also appeared on many TV shows, including Good Morning America, Today, CBS Morning News, and Oprah, and he has been featured in numerous print articles, including Newsweek, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Glamour, Woman’s Day, Men’s Health, People, Self, Reader’s Digest, and Psychology Today.


Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. John Gottman is the co-founder and chief scientist of Gottman Inc. and has an employment relationship with the Relationship Research Institute. He receives a grant from the Administration for Children and Family and the Kirlin Foundation. Dr. Gottman receives royalties as a published author. He receives a speaking honorarium, book royalties, and recording royalties from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Dr. John Gottman is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the American Psychological Association, and the American Psychological Society National.

Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP

Juliane Taylor Shore, LMFT, LPC, SEP, is a teacher of interpersonal neurobiology.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Juliane Taylor Shore is the founder and clinical director of IPNB Psychotherapy. She maintains a private practice. She receives a speaking honorarium from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Juliane Taylor Shore is a member of the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, and the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute.

Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD

The Gottman Institute

Julie Schwartz Gottman, Ph.D., is the co-founder and President of The Gottman Institute, and Clinical Supervisor for the Couples Together Against Violence study. A highly respected clinical psychologist, she is sought internationally by media and organizations as an expert advisor on marriage, sexual harassment and rape, domestic violence, gay and lesbian adoption, same-sex marriage, and parenting issues. Creator of the immensely popular The Art and Science of Love weekend workshops for couples, she also designed and leads the national certification program in Gottman Method Couples Therapy for clinicians. Her other achievements include: Washington State Psychologist of the Year; Author/co-author of five books, including, Ten Lessons to Transform Your Marriage, And Baby Makes Three, The Marriage Clinical Casebook, 10 Principles for Doing Effective Couples Therapy, and The Man’s Guide to Women; Wide recognition for her clinical psychotherapy treatment, with specialization in distressed couples, abuse and trauma survivors, substance abusers and their partners, and cancer patients and their families.

Inspiring, empowering, respectful, and kind, Julie’s leadership of The Gottman Institute has made it possible to identify and integrate the expertise of her staff, therapists, and the wider research and therapeutic community. Her commitment to excellence and integrity assures that as The Gottman Institute grows, it continues to maintain the highest ethical and scientific standards.

She is in private practice in the Seattle area, providing intensive marathon therapy sessions for couples. She specializes in working with distressed couples, abuse and trauma survivors, those with substance abuse problems and their partners, as well as cancer patients and their families.

Drs. John and Julie Gottman currently live on Orcas Island, near Seattle, Washington. They conduct weekly and intensive couples therapy sessions, provide small group retreats, teach workshops and clinical trainings, and give keynote presentations around the world.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman is the co-founder of the Gottman Institute and Affective Software, Inc. She is the clinical director of The Relationship Research Institute, and she maintains a private practice. Dr. Schwartz Gottman is the owner of Gottman Couples' Retreat. She is a guest lecturer at the University of Puget Sound and Seattle Community Colleges, and she receives compensation as an international speaker. She is a published author and receives royalties, and she receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman is a member of the American Psychological Association.

IAN KERNER, PhD, LMFT

Ian Kerner, Ph.D., LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist and nationally recognized sexuality counselor who specializes in sex therapy and couples therapy. He's a New York Times best-selling author of multiple books, including She Comes First and Passionista.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Ian Kerner maintains a private practice. He is co-director at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy. Dr. Kerner is an author for Harper Collins; and Simon & Schuster and receives royalties. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Ian Kerner is a member of the American Association of Sexuality Therapists, Counselors and Educators (AASECT); the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT); and the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR).
 

Suzanne Iasenza, PhD

Suzanne Iasenza, PhD,  is faculty at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy where she is Co-Director of the Sex Therapy Program and teaches at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. She is author of the book Transforming Sexual Narratives: A Relational Approach to Sex Therapy.

Alexandra Solomon, PhD

Alexandra H. Solomon, PhD, is staff clinical psychologist, member of the teaching faculty in the marriage and family therapy graduate program, and clinical assistant professor of psychology at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. In addition to her clinical work with couples and individuals, Solomon teaches graduate and undergraduate students. One of her courses is Northwestern University’s internationally renowned “Building Loving and Lasting Relationships: Marriage 101,” which combines traditional and experiential learning to educate students about key relational issues like intimacy, sex, conflict, acceptance, and forgiveness. Solomon’s work has been widely cited, and her articles on love and marriage have appeared in The Handbook of Clinical Psychology, The Handbook of Couple Therapy, Family Process, Psychotherapy Networker, and other top publications in psychology. Her work also appears in O Magazine and The Huffington Post, and she is a frequent interviewee and contributor for the Oprah Winfrey Network, Yahoo! Health, The Atlantic, CBS Early Show, NPR, Psychology Today, and WGN Morning News. She is a sought-after speaker for corporate, collegiate, and professional audiences on topics related to modern love. Solomon lives in Highland Park, IL, with her husband, Todd, and their two children, Brian and Courtney.

George Faller, MS, LMFT

Prior to a career in the field of mental health, George Faller, MS, LMFT spent 20 years as a NYC Firefighter and NYC Police Officer. His experience as a FDNY Peer Counselor, particularly following the events of 9/11, sparked his passion to help those impacted by trauma.

He is a certified trainer/supervisor/therapist in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and founder of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused therapy where he serves as president. He is a supervisor with the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) and teaches classes at the Ackerman Institute for the Family in Manhattan. He is a licensed marriage & family therapist currently practicing in Connecticut and New York. George is the director of training at the Greenwich Center for Hope & Renewal in Connecticut and is on board of the Porter Cason Institute at Tulane University in New Orleans.

George brings a unique and varied experience to his practice. Whether he is providing marriage therapy to Wall Street executives, leading a conference for the United States Military or equipping therapists from around the globe, his ability to inspire is far-reaching. George is also committed to bringing EFT to underprivileged populations and pushing the leading edge of effective therapy.

George is the coauthor of the books True Connection, Sacred Stress, and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy and cohost of podcast Foreplay Radio. For more information go to www.georgefaller.com and checkout www.successinvulnerability.com

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: George Faller is the Director of Training for the Center For Hope & Renewal, and the President of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy. He is the co-host of the ForePlay Radio Podcast, leader of Success in Vulnerability, and adjunct professor at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. George receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: George Faller has no relevant non-financial relationships.

Tammy Nelson, PhD

Tammy Nelson, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed psychotherapist, Board Certified Sexologist, Certified Sex Therapist, and Certified Imago Relationship Therapist. She has been a therapist for almost 30 years and is the executive director of the Integrative Sex Therapy Institute. She started the institute to develop courses for psychotherapists as the need grew for certified, integrated postgraduate sex and couple’s therapists in a growing field of mental health consumers who need more complex interventions for their relationship needs.

Dr. Tammy is a TEDx speaker, Psychotherapy Networker Symposium speaker and the author of several books, including Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together (Quiver, 2008) and the best-selling The New Monogamy: Redefining Your Relationship After Infidelity (New Harbinger, 2013), as well as When You’re the One Who Cheats: Ten Things You Need to Know (RL Publishing Corp., 2019) and the upcoming Integrative Sex and Couples Therapy (PESI, 2020).

She has been a featured expert in New York Times Magazine, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Rolling Stone magazine, TIME Magazine, Redbook, Glamour, The Sun, and The London Times. She is the host of a popular podcast on iTunes, “The Trouble with Sex”, and writes for the Huffington Post, YourTango, ThriveGlobal, and medium.com. Dr. Tammy can be followed on her blog, www.drtammynelson.com/blog.

James Furrow, PhD

James Furrow, Ph.D., is an EFT certified practitioner, supervisor and trainer. He’s a recognized leader in the development and practice of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). Together with EFT originator, Susan Johnson, Ed.D., Jim co-authored Becoming an EFT Therapist: The Workbook and was co-editor of The EFT Casebook, along with other works specific to the practice of EFT with couples and families. His presentations are well regarded nationally and internationally for their substantive, practical and inspiring focus.

Jim maintains an active research program studying the process of EFT and its outcome. His research interests focus on couple therapy, interpersonal relationships, and resilience with at-risk youth. Formerly the Freed Professor of Marital and Family Therapy at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, he has trained psychologists and marital and family therapists in couple therapy for over two decades. He is a clinical member and an approved supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a member of the National Council on Family Relations, and a Certified Family Life Educator.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. James Furrow maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship Seattle University. He is a published author and receives royalties. Dr. Furrow is a consultant with Consultation, Research, and Training in Marital and Family Therapy. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. James Furrow is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, the Association for Psychological Science, the International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, and the National Council on Family Relations.

Stephen Snyder, MD

Stephen Snyder, MD, is a sex and relationship therapist and the author of the new book Love Worth Making: How to Have Ridiculously Great Sex in a Long-Lasting Relationship.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Stephen Snyder maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Mt. Sinai. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Snyder receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Stephen Snyder is a member of the Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) and the American Association of Sex Educators Counselors and Therapists (AASECT).

David Treadway, PhD

David Treadway, PhD, has been a therapist and trainer for 40 years. His latest book is Treating Couples Well: A Practical Guide to Collaborative Couple Therapy. He’s also the author of Home Before Dark and three other books.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: David Treadway maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Treadway Training Institute. He receives royalties as a published author. David Treadway receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from PESI, Inc. and Psychotherapy Networker. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: David Treadway is a member of the American Family Therapy Association and American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. 

Ramani Durvasula, PhD, LCP

Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a licensed clinical psychologist, Professor of Psychology at California State University, Los Angeles, and the Founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training & Consulting, a company that offers a range of programs focused on educating survivors, clinicians, coaches and businesses on the impacts of narcissism on health, wellness and functioning. She’s the author of Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility, Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship With A Narcissist. Dr. Ramani also has a popular YouTube channel that focuses on narcissism and difficult relationships, mental health, and societal expectations. Her work has been featured at SxSW, TEDx and on a wide range of media platforms including, Red Table Talk, the Today Show, Oxygen, Investigation Discovery and Bravo. She is also a featured expert on the digital media mental health platform MedCircle. Dr. Durvasula’s research on personality disorders has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and she is a Consulting Editor of the scientific journal Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Durvasula is a brutally honest voice on the struggles raised by narcissism in the US and globally.  

Laura Copley, PhD, LPC

Laura Copley, PhD, LPC, is the Director of Aurora Counseling & Wellbeing and Founder of The Life Pathways and an international speaker on toxic relationships.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Laura Copley founder and director of Aurora Counseling & Well Being. She receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Copley receives a speaking honorarium from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Laura Copley is a member of the Virginia Counselors' Association.

William Doherty, PhD

William Doherty, PhD, is a professor and director of the Minnesota Couples on the Brink Project at the University of Minnesota. He is co-author of the book Helping Couples on the Brink of Divorce: Discernment Counseling for Troubled Relationships, with Steven Harris. He is cofounder of Better Angels, an initiative to depolarize America.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. William Doherty has an employment relationship with the University of Minnesota. He receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. William Doherty is a member of the National Council on Family Relations, the International Council of the Institute on the Holocaust and Genocide in Jerusalem, and the American Psychological Association.

Leslie Korn, PhD, MPH, LMHC, ACS, FNTP, BCTMB

Leslie Korn, PhD, MPH, LMHC, ACS, FNTP, BCTMB, is a renowned integrative medicine clinician and educator specializing in the use of nutritional, herbal and culinary medicine for the treatment of trauma and emotional and chronic physical illness. She is known for her dynamism and humor providing clients effective alternatives to psychotropics. She completed her graduate education in the department of psychiatry and public health at Harvard Medical School and her life training in the jungle of Mexico where she lived and worked alongside local healers for over 25 years. She directed a naturopathic medicine and training clinic facilitating health, culinary and fitness retreats. She is licensed and certified in nutritional therapy, mental health counseling, and bodywork (Polarity and Cranial Sacral and medical massage therapies) and is an approved clinical supervisor. She introduced somatic therapies for complex trauma patients in outpatient psychiatry at Harvard Medical school in 1985 and served Acupuncture and faculty at National College of Naturopathic Medicine.

She is the author of the seminal book on the body and complex trauma: Rhythms of Recovery: Integrative Medicine for PTSD and Complex Trauma, 2nd Edition (Routledge, 2012, 2023); The Brainbow Blueprint: A Clinical Guide to Integrative Medicine and Nutrition for Mental Well Being (PESI, 2023), Nutrition Essentials for Mental Health (W.W. Norton, 2016), Eat Right Feel Right: Over 80 Recipes and Tips to Improve Mood, Sleep, Attention & Focus (PESI, 2017); Multicultural Counseling Workbook: Exercises, Worksheets & Games to Build Rapport with Diverse Clients (PESI, 2015); The Good Mood Kitchen (W.W. Norton, 2017); and Natural Woman: Herbal Remedies for Radiant Health at Every Age and Stage of Life (Shambhala, 2019). She was a founder of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, a Fullbright scholar in Herbal Medicine and an NIH-funded scientist, in mind/body medicine. She is an approved clinical supervisor and is the research director at the Center for World Indigenous Studies where she designs culinary and herbal medicine programs with tribal communities engaged in developing integrative medicine programs.

Peter Fraenkel, PhD

Peter Fraenkel, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and associate professor at City College of New York. He is the author of numerous publications, including Sync Your Relationship, Save Your Marriage, and the forthcoming books, Relationships on the Brink: Last Chance Couple Therapy and The Complete Guide to Couple Therapy: From Happy to Last Chance Across the Lovespan.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Peter Fraenkel maintains private practice and has an employment relationship with the City College of New York. He receives a grant for Fresh Start for Families from HELP USA and receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Fraenkel receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Peter Fraenkel is a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Family Therapy Academy, the National Council on Family Relations, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, and the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy.

Jonah Paquette, Psy.D.

Jonah Paquette, PsyD, works for Kaiser Permanente in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he’s the director of clinical training for a postdoctoral residency program. He’s the author of Real Happiness: Proven Paths for Contentment, Peace, and Well-Being.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Jonah Paquette has an employment relationship with The Clinic and receives compensation as a consultant and trainer. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Paquette receives a speaking honorarium, recording royalties, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Jonah Paquette is a member of the American Psychological Association, the California Psychological Association, and the Marin County Psychological Association.

Andrew Tatarsky, PhD

Andrew Tatarsky, PhD, is developer of IHRP and author of Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: A New Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Problems. He’s founder and director of the Center for Optimal Living, a treatment and professional training center based on IHRP.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Andrew Tatarsky is the founder and director of Tatarsky Institute and maintains a private practice. He receives royalties as a published author. Dr. Tatarsky receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Andrew Tatarsky is a member of the American Psychological Association and the New York State Psychological Association. He serves on several journal review boards, for a complete list contact PESI, Inc.

Britt H. Rathbone, LCSW-C

Britt Rathbone, LCSW-C, provides mental health services to adolescents and their families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. He has 30 30 years of experience working directly with adolescents and families, is a "top therapist" for adolescents, teaches graduate students, trains therapists and leads a highly regarded and successful clinical practice. he lectures often on the value of DBT with young people. He is a dynamic and passionate speaker and his trainings consistently receive the highest ratings. He is the coauthor of Dialectical Behavior Therapy for At-Risk Adolescents, What works With Teens: A Professional's Guide to Engaging Authentically with Adolescents to Achieve Lasting Change, and Parenting a Teen Who Has Intense Emotions (New Harbinger, 2016).

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Britt Rathbone is the founder and director of Rathbone & Associates and has employment relationships with Washington Center for Mental Health Training and the University of Maryland School of Social Work. He receives royalties as a published author. Britt Rathbone receives a speaking honorarium, product, and book royalties from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Britt Rathbone is a volunteer for DBT- Linehan Board of Certification. He is a member of the Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, the National Association of Social Workers, the American Group Psychotherapy Association and the Registry of Group Psychotherapists.

Elliott Connie, MA, LPC

Elliott Connie, MA, LPC, is a Texas-based psychotherapist in private practice and the founder/director of The Solution-Focused University, an online learning community that trains and provides resources for professionals who want to master the Solution Focused approach in their work. Over the course of his 15-year clinical career, Elliott has successfully worked with thousands of individuals, couples, and families using a solution-focused model to help them achieve their desired outcomes. He is an experienced speaker who has gained international recognition for training hundreds of practitioners throughout the United States, Australia, Europe and Asia on the solution-focused treatment model. Elliott is the author/co-author of four books, including Solution-Focused Brief Therapy with Clients Managing Trauma (Oxford University Press, 2018), The Solution focused Marriage: 5 Simple Habits That Will Bring Out the Best in Your Relationship (The Connie Institute, 2012), Solution Building in Couples Therapy (Springer, 2012), and The Art of Solution Focused Therapy (Springer, 2009).

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Elliott Connie is the founder of The Solution Focused Universe and maintains a private practice. He receives royalties as a published author. Elliott Connie receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Ellicott Connie is a member of the American Counselor Association and the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association.

Jennifer Udler, LCSW-C

Jennifer Udler, LCSW-C, of Positive Strides Therapy, moved her Maryland practice outside ten years ago. She's presented widely on the positive effects of doing therapy in motion and outdoors. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Psychotherapy Networker, Outside Magazine, and on Sirius XM radio.
 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Jennifer Udler is the owner of Positive Strides, LLC. She receives a speaker honorarium from Psychotherapy Networker and PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationship with an ineligible organization to disclose.
Non-financial: Jennifer Udler has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.

Edward Hallowell, MD

Edward (Ned) Hallowell, MD, is a psychiatrist, ADHD expert, Founder of The Hallowell Centers, and NYT bestselling author of 22 books, including Driven to Distraction, Delivered from Distraction, and most recently ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction. He’s been featured on 20/20, 60 Minutes, Oprah, Dateline, the View, and more.

Speaker Disclosures:

Financial: Edward Hallowell is the founder of Hallowell Centers. He is an author and receives royalties. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.

Non-financial: Edward Hallowell is a member of the American Psychiatric Association.
 

Kenneth Carter, PhD, ABPP

Kenneth Carter, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at Oxford College of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Carter received his MA and PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a postdoctoral master’s degree in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickerson University. Dr. Carter has taught clinical psychopharmacology classes at Emory University since 2005 and has presented highly rated psychopharmacology workshops to clinicians throughout the United States since 2010. Dr. Carter has served as senior assistant research scientist in the Epidemic Intelligence Service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He has been a psychotherapist and researcher for more than 20 years during which time he has garnered awards from the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and the University of Michigan. Dr. Carter has presented at numerous conferences and written several books and articles on introductory psychology, neuropsychology and psychopharmacology.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Kenneth Carter has employment relationships with Positive Impact Health Centers and Oxford College of Emory University. He is a published author and receives royalties. Dr. Carter receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Kenneth Carter is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the Neuroscience Education Institute, the American Association for the Advancement of Pharmocotherapy, and the American Board of Professional Psychology.

John J Ratey, MD

John J. Ratey, M.D., is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is the coauthor, with Edward Hallowell, of the books Driven to Distraction, Answers to Distraction, and Delivered from Distraction.

Speaker Disclosure:

Financial: John Ratey is an associate clinical professor at Harvard Medical School. He is an affiliate staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Ratey is an author and receives royalties. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: John Ratey is a member of the American Psychiatric Association.
 

Courtney Armstrong, LPC, MHSP

Courtney Armstrong, LPC, MHSP, is the founder of the Institute for Trauma Informed Hypnotherapy and author of Rethinking Trauma Treatment: Attachment, Memory Reconsolidation, and Resilience. She has over 25 years’ experience and is a board-certified Fellow in clinical hypnotherapy who has trained thousands of mental health professionals nationally and internationally in creative, brain-based strategies for healing trauma. She is a bestselling author of the book, The Therapeutic “Aha!”: 10 Strategies for Getting Clients Unstuck and Transforming Traumatic Grief and contributes to publications such as Psychotherapy Networker, Counseling Today, and The Neuropsychotherapist. She has been featured as a trauma and grief expert on national television and radio programs and is the owner/director of Tamarisk: A Center for Mind-Body Therapy in the state of Tennessee.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Courtney Armstrong is the founder and president of Courtney Armstrong Consulting and Training Services and the Institute for Trauma Informed Hypnotherapy. She receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Courtney Armstrong serves on the Clinical Hypnosis Education and Training Committee of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis. She is a member of the American Mental Health Counselor's Association, the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association, and the Chattanooga Area Psychotherapy Association.

Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW

Center for Relationship and Sexual Health

Joe Kort, PhD, LMSW, is a board-certified sexologist and the founder of The Center for Relationship and Sexual Health, and runs a private practice in Royal Oak, Michigan. Dr. Kort, a therapist, coach and author, has been practicing psychotherapy for more than 38 years and has spoken internationally on the subject of gay counseling. He specializes in sex therapy, LGBTQ affirmative psychotherapy, sexually compulsive behaviors, and IMAGO relationship therapy designed for couples to enhance their relationship through improved communication. Dr. Kort is a blogger for the Huffington Post and Psychology Today on issues of sexuality. He has been a guest on the various television programs on mixed orientation marriages and “sexual addiction”. Dr. Kort is the author of several books, including, LGBTQ Clients in Therapy, 10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do to Find Real Love, and Is My Husband Gay, Straight or Bisexual.  

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Joe Kort maintains a private practice and has an employment relationship with Modern Sex Therapy Institutes. He receives royalties as a published author, and he receives a speaking honorarium and book and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. He has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Joe Kort is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Institute for Imago Relationship Therapy, and the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists.

Catherine Pittman, PhD, HSPP

Saint Mary's College

Candice Richardson Dickens, MAC, LCPC, LCADC, CCTP

Cra counseling & consulting agency

Candace R. Dickens is a PESI Faculty Member and Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland as well as the District of Columbia. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Saybrook University. She is a strong advocator for creating culturally sensitive counter spaces that promote racial/ethnic healing, identity formation and group resiliency. Her proudest accomplishments as an advocator for racial healing are found in her creating the BIPOC Provider Directory Color of Trauma and Healing, and founding Kujichagulia, a BIPOC therapeutic counseling group for African American female students attending Bowling Green State University. She is a popular speaker and has been featured at major conferences such as NAADAC National Conference, the Maryland Tuerk Conference, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland Conference, Black Mental Health Alliance Conference, the Psychotherapy Networker, and Boston University School of Social Work.