Authors

Sarah Adams is a social worker in Santa Barbara, CA. She earned her Master of Arts in Social Work at the University of Southern California and now works with youth and teenagers in Santa Barbara.

Steven Aitchison is the UK’s top personal development blogger. He has a BSc in Psychology. He has written several books and guides for personal development. You can read more about Steven through his blog Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life.

Diana Alonso is currently a senior at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she is pursuing a degree in Psychology. She is currently a Friday Night Live intern at the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. As an intern, she works with the youth at educating the community about the dangers of underage drinking. Some of the projects have included working on implementing a policy that will hold the adult/s responsible if the minor/s is injured due to alcohol use. In the future she plans on pursuing a Clinical Psychology degree and work in the field of Forensic Psychology.

Bonnie Badenoch, Ph.D., LMFT is the co-founder of Center for Brain-Wise Living, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness of the brain, mind, and relationships in the service of creating a more awake and compassionate world.  She is the author of Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology (W. W. Norton, 2008). Her website is www.brainwisetherapist.org.  She also works with the Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies (GAINS).

Born in Washington D.C., Jo Barrington now lives in Santa Barbara, California.  She has been interested in psychological ideas and theory from early in her life and for the last 26 years she has edited psychological books and videos, with a little creative writing on the side!

Samantha Bean is a student at the University of California Santa Barbara. Finishing up a degree in Comparative Literature and Professional Writing, Bean is pursuing the career path she has devoted herself to since she was a child: writing. She writes for PsychAlive as well as  interns at the Santa Barbara Independent, and has her sights set on advocacy writing for social justice.

Sonali Beaven is a student in pursuit of a degree in both psychology and women’s and gender studies. She is currently a volunteer at CALM working with children who have endured trauma. She has also been certified in domestic violence counseling and youth psychological first aid. She aims one day to have a career in clinical psychology.

Fred Branfman is a writer and political activist who only began studying his psychology in his ‘50s. He’d advise anyone to do it in their 20s, but has also found it’s never too late to start. He has found the ideas presented in Psychalive.org have vastly improved his energy and sense of aliveness, capacity for feeling, friendships and relationship with his wife.

Robyn E. Brickel, MA, LMFT is the director and lead therapist at Brickel and Associates, LLC in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, which she founded in 1999. She specializes in the therapeutic treatment of individuals (adolescents and adults), couples, families and groups. Robyn E. Brickel offers treatment and psychoeducational services for many life issues and transitions, such as: A history of trauma and/or abuse, including Dissociation; Addictions, as well as Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) issues; Body Image issues and Eating Disorders; Self-Harming behaviors, including Emotional intensity and instability; Anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders; Challenged family systems; Chronic illness; Co-dependency; Dysfunctional relationships; Life transitions; Loss and bereavement; Relationship distress; Self esteem; GLBTQ and sexual identity issues/struggles; Stress reduction. She is an LMFT, as well as a trained trauma & addictions therapist who has helped countless clients make and maintain positive changes in their lives. To learn more about Robyn E. Brickel, visit her website.

Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist and the Executive Director of the National Center for Veterans Studies at The University of Utah. Dr. Bryan served in the U.S. Air Force and is an Iraq War veteran. He currently researches suicide and suicide prevention strategies, and has received millions of dollars in federal funding to develop new treatments to prevent suicide attempts in the military. He is considered a leading national expert on military suicide.

Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is a psychotherapist at Pediatric and Adolescent Psychology Associates in Arcadia, California, where she sees children and provides parenting consultations. She speaks to parents, educators, and clinicians all across the country, and she has written for numerous venues, most recently the PBS series “This Emotional Life.” She also co-hosts a web-based parenting show called The Intentional Parent. Tina is also the author of “Whole-Brain Child,” a Revolutionary Parenting book co-authored by Dr. Dan Siegel. Read more from Dr. Bryson on her website, http://tinabryson.com.

Natalie Buchwald, LMHC is the founder and clinical director of Manhattan Mental Health Counseling. As a practitioner of holistic psychotherapy, Natalie’s treatment approach places an emphasis on the mind-body relationship and is both experiential and pragmatic.

Dr. Jenny C. Yip’s experiences with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) began long before her current position as Executive Director of the Renewed Freedom Center.  Since childhood, Dr. Yip has fought her own personal battle with OCD.  Inspired by her struggles and motivated to helping others overcome theirs, Dr. Yip has dedicated her professional career to treating families and individuals with severe OCD, performance and sports anxiety, body image issues, and related anxiety disorders. Dr. Yip has developed her own innovative treatment modality integrating Mindfulness Training and Strategic Paradoxical Techniques with CBT in the treatment of children and adolescents.  She’s published numerous articles, presented at more than 35 national and international conferences, and worked to train other professionals in the field to be effective clinicians. She holds a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University, Washington, DC – an APA accredited program.  She is an Institutional Member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF), a Clinical Member of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), and a Clinical Member of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).  She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Psychology Association (LACPA) where she chairs the Membership Committee and the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Special Interest Group (CBT SIG).

About the Renewed Freedom Center
Located in Los Angeles, CA, the Renewed Freedom Center (RFC) was established in 2008 by Dr. Jenny C. Yip as a way to help those suffering from OCD and anxiety disorders.  Dr. Yip and the RFC’s mission are to provide the most effective and state of the art treatment available for those suffering from a variety of anxiety and body-image based conditions.  For more information visit www.RenewedFreedomCenter.com or contact Edie Trott at edie@blupr.com.

© 2009 Renewed Freedom Center for Rapid Anxiety Relief Division of Strategic Cognitive Behavioral Institute, Inc.

Dr. Nicole Cammack was born and raised in Richmond, VA. She currently resides in Washington, DC where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development from Howard University, and her Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University. Additionally, she completed a specialized postdoctoral fellowship with the Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Cammack is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in the State of Maryland. She currently serves as the Program Director of the Primary Care-Mental Health Integration clinic, where she provides mental health services to veterans in a co-located primary care setting. Services that she provide include brief individual therapy, couples therapy, and culturally responsive therapeutic groups that focus on race-based trauma, military sexual trauma, and resilience. Lastly, she leads the Diversity Training Subcommittee and promotes efforts to increase diversity and cultural competency among psychology graduate trainees, and she is an active participant on several leadership councils through the VA Medical Center.

Dr. Cammack is passionate about mental health awareness, treatment, and reducing the mental health stigma, particularly as it relates to Black communities. Both her clinical and research interests have continually focused on mental health issues specific to the Black community and identifying ways to address the cultural and systemic issues that impact Black mental health and wellness. This passion is what led to the development of Black Mental Wellness. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she enjoys traveling, and spending time with her daughter, family, and friends.

Joyce Catlett, M.A., author and lecturer, has collaborated with Dr. Robert Firestone in writing 12 books and numerous professional articles. Most recently, she co-authored Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships (APA Books, 2005), Beyond Death Anxiety: Achieving Life-Affirming Death Awareness (Springer Publishing, 2009) and The Ethics of Interpersonal Relationships (Karnac Books, 2009), with Robert Firestone  PhD. Ms. Catlett began her career in psychology in 1972, working with autistic children at the Camarillo State Hospital Children’s Treatment Center in Camarillo, CA. A founding member of Glendon Association, she has been a national lecturer and workshop facilitator in the areas of child abuse prevention and couple relations. With Glendon, she has co-produced 40 video documentaries on a wide range of mental health topics. Ms. Catlett was also instrumental in the development and training of instructors in the Compassionate Child Rearing Education Program and in training mental health professionals in Voice Therapy Methodology.

Marcus has a degree in psychology, a master’s degree in health psychology, he is a writer at Writerzone and has worked within the NHS as well as private organizations. Marcus started psysci a psychology and science blog in order to disseminate research into bitesize, meaningful and helpful resources that are interesting and insightful and often help people on the right track to improving their lives.

Christine A. Courtois, PhD, ABPP is a Psychologist in independent practice in Washington, DC where she is the principal of Courtois & Associates, PC. She received her PhD from the University of Maryland in College Park, in 1979. Dr. Courtois is immediate Past-President of Division 56 (Psychological Trauma) of the American Psychological Association and has recently published a revision of Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (2010, 1988) and Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: An Evidence-Based Guide (2009) co-edited with Dr. Julian Ford. Her new book, The Treatment of Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-Based Approach, co-authored with Dr. Ford, will be published by Guilford later this year. She is currently co-editing another book with him on the treatment of complex traumatic stress disorders in children (Guilford) and co-editing a book with Drs. Donald Walker and Jamie Aten on trauma and spirituality (American Psychological Association Books) to be published in 2013. She has authored two other books, Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines (1999) and Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A Workshop Model (1993). Dr. Courtois has published numerous articles and chapters on related topics. She is a Founding Associate Editor of the new APA Division 56 journal, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy. She is Co-Founder (in 1990, with Joan Turkus, MD) of The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program, Washington, DC where she served as Clinical and Training Director for 16 years.

Angelina Cruz is a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara majoring in psychology. She works in the Vision Lab for the psychological and brain sciences department at UCSB, and volunteers at the Goleta Valley Hospital taking care of the elderly. Her goal is to use her knowledge and skills in psychology to help individuals live a better life mentally and emotionally. Angelina intends to pursue a Ph.D in Neuropsychology.

Caroline DeLoreto, MFT, MA in Education and M.A. in Clinical Psychology, lives happily with her partner Adam in Santa Barbara, CA. She is the author of the children’s book, The Yawn That Went Around the World. She has worked as a Learning Specialist, Life Skills Teacher, and an Outdoor Trip Coordinator at a middle school for the past 14 years. She has worked as a school counselor with kids from pre-school through high school for five years. She has a private therapy practice, specializing in children, teens and parents.

Caroline’s main sense of purpose in life is to learn and study what it means to be human: mentally, emotionally, and physically. She is fascinated by people’s facial expressions and the different trance states people go into. She is especially interested in the brain and how it affects everything people do in their daily lives. Two of her favorite phrases are, “Ike: The world is what you think it is” and “Don’t Always Believe What You Think.”

Dr. John Draper is an expert in crisis center practices, with over 25 years of experience in crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Since 2004, he has served as the director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-TALK) funded by SAMHSA. Dr. Draper is also the Executive VP of National Networks at the Mental Health Association of New York City, and administers other national crisis support networks, including the SAMHSA-funded Disaster Distress Helpline, technical and backup support for the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line, and the NFL Life Line.

George S. Everly, Jr., Ph.D., ABPP, FAPA, FAPM serves on the faculties of The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Everly has spent almost 40 years, and traveled to over 25 countries, lecturing on and researching the psychological aspects of disaster. In addition, he has served on the faculties of the FBI National Academy, FEMA, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). He is the author of over 20 books on stress, psychological crisis intervention, disaster mental health, and human resilience. His latest books are: Strategic Planning in Psychological Crisis Intervention and Disaster Response,  Stronger! and The Johns Hopkins Guide to Psychological First Aid. Dr. Everly maintains an international practice in entrepreneurship, executive, and leadership coaching.

Lena Firestone is a writer and new media specialist. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of California, Irvine. She currently works at PsychAlive.org and leads private writing workshops in Santa Barbara, CA.

Naomi Firestone is writer, who blogs for the Huffington Post. She is interested in psychology and child development.

Sara Firestone is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist working in private practice in Santa Barbara. Sara is experienced working with children, adolescents, and families, including parents experiencing postpartum depression and anxiety.

Robert W. Firestone, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author, theorist and artist. He is the Consulting Theorist for The Glendon Association. He is author of numerous books including Voice Therapy, Challenging the Fantasy Bond, Compassionate Child-Rearing, Fear of Intimacy, Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice, Beyond Death Anxiety The Ethics of Interpersonal Relationships, Self Under Siege, and recently his collection of stories Overcoming the Destructive Inner Voice.  His studies on negative thought processes and their associated affect have led to the development of Voice Therapy, an advanced therapeutic methodology to uncover and contend with aspects of self-destructive and self-limiting behaviors. Firestone has applied his concepts to empirical research and to developing the Firestone Assessment of Self-destructive Thoughts (FAST), a scale that assesses suicide potential. This work led to the publication of Suicide and the Inner Voice: Risk Assessment, Treatment and Case Management. He has published more than 30 professional articles and chapters for edited volumes, and produced 35 video documentaries. His art can be viewed on www.theartofrwfirestone.com. You can learn more about Dr. Firestone by visiting www.drrobertwfirestone.com.

Dr. Lisa Firestone is the Director of Research and Education at The Glendon Association. An accomplished and much requested lecturer, Dr. Firestone speaks at national and international conferences in the areas of couple relations, parenting, and suicide and violence prevention. Dr. Firestone has published numerous professional articles, and most recently was the co-author of Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships (APA Books, 2006), Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice (New Harbinger, 2002), Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy (APA Books, 2003) and The Self Under Siege (Routledge, 2012).

Follow Dr. Firestone on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Peter Fonagy, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, as well as the Freud Memorial Professor  of Psychoanalysis and Head of the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology at University College London. Dr. Fonagy’s clinical expertise centers around issues of borderline psychopathology, violence and early attachment relationships. He is also the Chief Executive of the Anna Freud Centre and training and supervising analyst in the British Psycho-Analytical Society in child and adult analysis.

Sarah Fraser is an international executive coach and workshop facilitator at her London-based company, Happiness Express. She holds a diploma in Personal Performance Coaching, is a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality profiler. Sarah worked for 13 years in the high-tech industry as a marketer and brand director, before deciding to pursue her passion of helping people go from “I wish I was” to “I am.” Since 2009, Sarah has coached people all over the world towards happiness and high performance with an emphasis on personal branding and authentic leadership, strengths-based coaching, and workplace well-being.

Dr. Friedman is a clinical psychologist who has recently relocated his private practice to West Los Angeles from San Mateo, California after 25 years. He specializes in adult and adolescent psychotherapy, with a particular interest in attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology and mindfulness practice. He is on the clinical faculty of Chope Hospital in San Mateo and the Wright Institute in Berkeley, and has been responsible for arranging continuing education programs for the San Mateo County Psychological Association for the past 10 years.

Al Galves is a retired psychologist who lives in Las Cruces, NM.  He is a member of the board of directors of the International Society for Ethical Psychology and Psychiatry  and MindFreedom International.  He is the author of Harness Your Dark Side: Mastering Jealousy, Rage, Frustration and Other Negative Emotions.  His website is at www.algalves.com.

James Garbarino is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Cornell University and at Loyola University Chicago. From 2006-2020, he held the Maude C. Clarke Chair in Humanistic Psychology and was founding Director of the Center for the Human Rights of Children at Loyola University Chicago. From 1995-2006, he was Elizabeth Lee Vincent Professor of Human Development and Co-Director of the Family Life Development Center at Cornell University.

He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Dr. Garbarino has served as consultant or advisor to a wide range of organizations, including the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse, the National Institute for Mental Health, the American Medical Association, the National Black Child Development Institute, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, and the FBI.

Among the books he has authored or edited are: Listening to Killers: Lessons Learned from My 20 Years as a Psychological Expert Witness in Murder Cases (2015), Miller’s Children: Why Giving Teenage Killers a Second Chance Matters for All of Us (2018), Children and the Dark Side of Human Experience (2008), See Jane Hit: Why Girls Are Growing More Violent and What We Can Do About It (2006). And Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence (2002); Parents Under Siege: Why You Are the Solution, Not the Problem, in Your Child’s Life (2001); Lost Boys: Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them (1999.

Dr. Garbarino has won many awards from his work in the fields of trauma and abuse. He serves as a consultant for media reports on children and families. Since 1994, he has served as a scientific expert witness in criminal cases involving issues of violence and children.

Dr. James Gilligan, M.D., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine, Adjunct Professor in the School of Law, and Collegiate Professor in the School of Arts and Science at New York University. He is a former president of the International Association for Forensic Psychotherapy. He is the author of Violence: Reflections on a National Epidemic, Preventing Violence: Prospects for Tomorrow, Why Some Politicians Are More Dangerous Than Others. As a faculty member of the Harvard Medical School for many years, he headed the Institute of Law and Psychiatry, and directed mental health services for the Massachusetts prisons and prison mental hospital. He served as an expert witness in the litigation that was the subject of the Supreme Court decision in Plata V. Brown.

Carol Gilligan is best known as the author of In a Different Voice, described by Harvard University Press as “the little book that started a revolution.”  Her pioneering work on women’s psychology and girls’ development led her to be named by Time magazine in 1996 as one of the 25 most significant Americans. Her books include: The Birth of Pleasure: A New Map of Love, The Deepening Darkness: Patriarchy, Resistance, and Democracy’s Future (with David Richards), and most recently, Joining the Resistance. A member of the Harvard faculty for over 30 years, Gilligan held the university’s first chair in gender studies; she is currently University Professor of Applied Psychology and the Humanities at New York University.ce.

Deryl Goldenberg, Ph. D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara California. He has focused his work on Male Psychology and Couples Relationship issues as well as families with over 30 years’ experience helping children/teens and their parents.  Dr. Goldenberg’s areas of expertise are in-depth individual and couples therapy and providing intervention services to children with emotional and developmental disorders.  To learn more about Dr. Goldenberg, visit www.drderylgoldenberg.com or email him here.

Dr. Goldstein is the co-founder of The Center for Mindful Living in Los Angeles and has published extensively and is author of numerous articles, chapters, and blogs. These include Uncovering Happiness: Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion, the bestselling book The Now Effect: How This Moment Can Change the Rest of Your Life, Mindfulness Meditations for the Anxious Traveler and co-author of A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook and MBSR Everyday: Daily Practices from the Heart of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction.

He has also created several mindfulness-based programs including the Mindfulness at Work program for eMindful.com recognized by the National Business Group on Health for its success in stress management, Basics in Mindfulness Meditation: A 28 Day Program and co-developed CALM – Connecting Adolescents to Learning Mindfulness with his wife Stefanie Goldstein, PhD.

Dr. Goldstein’s unique ability to make complex concepts simple has led him to be invited to speak nationally and internationally with mental health professionals, educators, business leaders and lay audiences.

Learn more about Dr. Goldstein here: www.elishagoldstein.com

The focus of Dr. Bonnie Goldstein’s work is to foster and heal relationships through the lens of attachment theory, somatic and mindful awareness, and the dynamic interaction of group psychotherapy. In 1989 Dr. Goldstein founded and has continued to direct the Lifespan Psychological Center. She is the Associate Programming Director for Lifespan Learning Institute, offering professional training seminars which bring together leading professionals from around the world to present their latest research and critical thinking, specializing in a Sensorimotor Psychotherapy approach to treating children, adolescents, and families.

Dr. Goldstein holds dual licenses in the state of California in Psychology and Social Work, completed her B.A. MSW, and Ph.D. at UCLA, her Ed.M. at Harvard University, and teaches graduate students at USC’s School of Social Work. She is certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and is the Southern California coordinator of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute’s Trauma, Developmental/Attachment, and Certification trainings.

Dr. Goldstein has assembled and disseminated information, developed outreach programs for UCLA extension, and produced creative presentations of trauma-related information, including a book for children and their families, I’ll Know What to Do: A Kid’s Guide to Natural Disasters. Her professional publications include The Handbook of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy: Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment Vol. I & II and Understanding, Diagnosing, and Treating Attention-Deficit Disorder/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents: an Integrative Approach.

Cameron Gordon is a student at the University of California at Santa Barbara pursuing a double major in English and Spanish. Both passionate about writing and promoting the importance of mental health, Gordon aspires to attain a career centered around writing and education.

Dr. Leslie Greenberg is a co-founder of emotion-focused therapy (EFT), He is also the director for the Emotion-Focused Therapy Clinic housed at York University. Greenberg is a founding member of the Society of the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) and the Society for Constructivism in Psychotherapy (SCP). He is the author of several books, including Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy: The Dynamics of Emotion, Love and Power and Emotion-Focused Therapy for Depression and Emotion Focused Therapy. Theory and Practice

Támara Hill, MS is a therapist specializing in child and adolescent behavioral and mood disorders including trauma. She works with families to help them understand their options within the mental health system and helps kids utilize their strengths in the home, school, and community. As an internationally quoted therapist and media contributor, Tamara aims to empower families from various walks of life to gain further knowledge and rediscover authentic living. Visit her sites at Anchored-In-Knowledge or Caregivers, Family, & Friends.

Kevin Hines is a speaker, author and advocate for mental and behavioral health. He is one of 33 Golden Gate Bridge jump survivors. He is the sole survivor actively spreading the message of living mentally well and the prevention of suicide. Kevin has spoken to over three hundred thousand people about his firsthand experience with suicidal thoughts and his eventual attempted suicide. Kevin has been featured in the critically acclaimed film “The Bridge,” by innovative film maker Eric Steel, on Larry King Live with Mr. King, 20/20, Anderson Cooper 360 with Sanjay Gupta, Good Morning America with Charlie Rose, and Irelands famed Tonight with Vincent Brown. He has also written several articles about the prevention of suicide and mental health in America and recently published the memoir Cracked…Not Broken, Surviving & Thriving After a Suicide Attempt.

Laura Hout is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified TEAM therapist. She specializes in helping people overcome a legacy of trauma and addiction in their family of origin; in particular she assists men and women battling Binge Eating Disorder and Food Addiction. She created “Beyond Overeating” workshops and writes about the challenges of living in an obesogenic environment.

http://laurahout.com/

Tyler is an experienced researcher and writer for organizations that help troubled teen boys. His writing offers real life experiences, humor, and hope for parents of difficult teens. Tyler enjoys bringing honest solutions to families looking for ways to heal. He helps parents by writing valuable information on topics such as education, social media use, behavioral and mental disorders, as well as addiction, Tyler has helped hundreds of families in need. Follow Tyler on: Twitter | LinkedIn

Elise Jamison is an 18 year old from Canfield, Ohio. She will be attending the university of South Carolina honors college in the fall.

Kristina “Kristy” Jansen is Chief Content Officer at the Optimist Daily, a free positive news-service delivering solutions news to your inbox every day. She also produces a weekly radio show, Solutions News and serves as Chief of Staff at the Optimist Daily’s publishing partner, the World Business Academy. She holds a master’s degree in Psychological Anthropology from the University of California, San Diego and an undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Kristy is passionate about building a better future and communicating the tremendous possibilities available in the world. Her research interests include conscious mass media, socially responsible entrepreneurialism, intentional communities, nonviolent civil resistance, regenerative economies, smart science fiction and, of course, the positive power of rational optimism.

David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, is an internationally recognized suicidologist. Dr. Jobes is a Professor of psychology and Associate Director of Clinical Training at The Catholic University of America.  His research and writing in suicide has produced numerous peer reviewed publications (including five books on clinical suicidology).

Dr. Jobes is a past President of the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and was a recipient of that organization’s 1995 “Shneidman Award” in recognition of early career contribution to suicide research. Dr. Jobes also received the 2012 AAS “Dublin Award” in recognition of career contribution in suicidology.

Dr. Jobes has served as a research consultant to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has been a consultant to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, the FBI, the Department of Defense, and Veterans Affairs. Dr. Jobes is a member of the Scientific Council of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Board certified in clinical psychology (American Board of Professional Psychology), Dr. Jobes has over 30 years of clinical practice experience and continues to maintain a private clinical and forensic practice at the Washington Psychological Center.

Mike Jones is interested in alternative remedies and natural beauty. He writes on these topics for https://homeremedyshop.com/. Also, Mike wants to transition to raw-veganism so he’s always checking for new health benefits of veggies and fruits. Mike is very active on Facebook and Twitter. 

JON KABAT-ZINN, PH.D., is founding Executive Director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is also the founding director of its renowned Stress Reduction Clinic and Professor of Medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He teaches mindfulness and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in various venues around the world.  He received his Ph.D. in molecular biology from MIT in 1971 in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate, Salvador Luria.

He is the author of numerous scientific papers on the clinical applications of mindfulness in medicine and health care, and of a number of books for the lay public:  Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness (Delta, 1991); Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life (Hyperion, 1994); Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness (Hyperion, 2005); and Arriving at Your Own Door: 108 Lessons in Mindfulness (Hyperion, 2007).  He is also co-author, with his wife Myla, of Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting (Hyperion, 1997); and with Williams, Teasdale, and Segal, of The Mindful Way Through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (Guilford, 2007).  Overall, his books have been translated into over 30 languages.

Philip Karahassan is a Psychotherapist and the founder of www.TherapyIn.London with a private practice in Cavendish Square, Central London. His blog, Philip on tech (www.therapyin.london/blog) has concerned itself with how the willingness and need to adopt technology into our lives has affected the society we live in, as well as the way we relate to others and indeed ourselves. Philip is studying for his MSc in Psychology at UEL, after which will  hope to start his doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

Yael Kent is a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara majoring in psychology and global studies. Yael is actively involved in intimacy and relationship research and works in the Close Relationships Lab for UCSB’s psychology department. Yael also works on campus at the UCSB Children’s Center and plans to pursue a Master’s in child development.

Debra Kessler, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the care of children and their families. Dr. Kessler was awarded her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University. While working as an RN in Pediatric Intensive Care, she pursued a Masters Degree in Pediatrics from UCLA to further her skills in caring for children. After a career in nursing that included bedside nursing, Kessler chose to focus her attention on addressing the emotional needs of children and their families by obtaining a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at California School of Professional Psychology. Her post-doctorate work was done with Child Development Institute treating autistic and developmentally challenged preschool and young children and at Reiss-Davis Child Study center addressing the needs of school children, adolescents and their families. She has contributed to Infant/Child Mental Health, Early Intervention, and Relationship-Based Therapies: A Neurorelational Framework for Interdisciplinary Practice (Lillas &Turnbull 2009). Dr. Kessler has an active practice in Montrose, California. In a family centered manner, she treats a range of developmental and emotional issues including adoption/attachment difficulties, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, autism/Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, learning challenges, regulatory difficulties and other issues that interfere with children reaching their potential.

Gloria Kopp is a psychology writer at Bigassignments. She loves writing about health, yoga and psychology, and is working on her Studydemic educational blog. Gloria is a regular contributor at Microsoft and Australian Help blogs.

Carol Krucoff, E-RYT, is the author of “Healing Yoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain” (New Harbinger, 2010), co-author with Mitchell Krucoff, MD, of “Healing Moves: How to Cure, Relieve and Prevent Common Ailments with Exercise” (Healthy Learning, 2009), and creator of the audio home practice CD “Healing Moves Yoga.” Visit her website, www.healingmoves.com.

Avigail Lev, PsyD, is a psychotherapist, author, and executive coach in the Bay Area. She is the director of the Bay Area CBT Center, a clinic in San Francisco that provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for individuals and couples. She specializes in integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Schema Therapy and has coauthored three books on strengthening relationships including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Interpersonal Problems, The Interpersonal Problems Workbook, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Couples. She has presented her research at national and international conferences and provides consultation, trainings, and workshops on utilizing evidence-based treatments. You can find more information about Avigail Lev at www.BayAreaCBTcenter.com.

Peter A. Levine, Ph.D. is the developer of Somatic Experiencing®, a body-awareness approach to healing trauma, and the Director of The Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. Dr. Levine holds doctorate degrees in both Medical Biophysics and in Psychology. He spent 35 years studying stress and trauma and has contributed to numerous scientific and popular publications. Dr. Levine was a stress consultant for NASA on the development of the space shuttle project, as well as a member of the Institute of World Affairs Task Force of Psychologists for Social Responsibility in developing responses to large-scale disasters and ethno-political warfare. He has authored several books, including international best seller, Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma and his most recent book, In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. In 2010, Dr. Levine received the Life Time Achievement award from the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP).

Distinguished professor and Certified Love Educator, Pat Love, Ed.D. is known for her warmth, humor, and commitment to learning. For more than 25 years, she has contributed to relationship education and personal development through her books, articles, training programs, speaking, and media appearances. Learn more at www.patlove.com.

Child psychologist “Dr. Mac” has helped kids and families for over forty years. A graduate of Dartmouth and the University of Virginia, he is the Clinical Director of the Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara and co-author of two highly acclaimed parenting books — How’s Your Family Really Doing? and Who’s the Boss?  He offers a free webinar called The 4 Essential Keys to Parenting Strong-Willed Kids, and has been featured in national newspapers, magazines, radio programs, CNN, Time Magazine, Inside Edition, Time for Kids,  AOL,  and At Home-Live.

Dr. Gia Marson is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Malibu, CA. Marson is also a consultant, integrative medicine health coach, and longtime meditation practitioner. She served as the founding director of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Counseling and Psychological Services Eating Disorders Program, a psychologist on the UCLA Athletic Care Committee, and recently helped launch the Nourish for Life outpatient program at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. She is also a frequent contributor to Goop, Psychology Today, and Recovery Warriors online publications – and author of The Binge Eating Prevention Workbook: An Eight-Week Individualized Program to Overcome Compulsive Eating and Make Peace with Food.

Alexandra graduated in 2012 from UCSB with her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Applied Psychology.  She has always enjoyed studying psychology, specifically human interaction.  She is currently implementing her leadership experience through her retail management position, while at the same time, interning for Psychalive.  Her passions include writing and singing, and she aspires to get her Master’s in Sociology.  For now, she is staying busy and constantly planning for her future.

Collin McShirley grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She attended UCSB and received her BA in Art History and later attended Antioch University and received her MA in clinical psychology. She is a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern who is certified and specializes in the treatment of disordered eating, body image, and self esteem. She has a private practice in Santa Barbara where she is partnered with psychiatrist Dr James Mervis. Her passion is working with individuals, couples, families, and seniors.

Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D. is  a founder of Cognitive Behavioral Modification and has been voted one of the 10 most influential psychotherapists of the Century. Dr. Meichenbaum is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, and maintains a private practice as a clinical psychologist. As an expert in the treatment of PTSD, Dr. Meichenbaum has presented throughout North and Central America, Israel, Japan, and the former Soviet Union.  This workshop presents the essence of Dr. Donald Meichenbaum’s approach to  PTSD.  As a clinician and researcher, he has treated all age groups for traumas suffered from violence, abuse, accidents, and illness.Dr. Meichenbaum is the author and co-author of numerous books including: A  Clinical Handbook/Practical Therapist Manual for Assessing and Treating Adults with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Stress Inoculation Training, Pain and Behavioral Medicine, Facilitating Treatment Adherence and Roadmap to Resilience.  His book, Cognitive Behavior Modification: An Integrative Approach, is considered a classic in its field.  He also serves as the editor of the Plenum Press Series on Stress and Coping.

Kristin Neff, Ph.D. is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on self-compassion, being the first one to operationally define and measure the construct over a decade ago. In addition to her pioneering research into self-compassion, she has developed an eight-week program to teach self-compassion skills in daily life, co-created with her colleague Dr. Chris Germer, called Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC). Her book, Self-Compassion, was published by William Morrow in April, 2011.

Kristin studied communications as an undergraduate at the University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1988). She did her graduate work at University of California at Berkeley (Ph.D., 1997), studying moral development with Dr. Elliot Turiel. Her dissertation research was conducted in Mysore, India, where she examined children’s moral reasoning. She then spent two years of post-doctoral study with Dr. Susan Harter at Denver University, studying issues of authenticity and self-concept development. Her current position at the University of Texas at Austin started in 1999, and she was promoted to Associate Professor in 2006.

During Kristin’s last year of graduate school in 1997 she became interested in Buddhism, and has been practicing meditation in the Insight Meditation tradition ever since. While doing her post-doctoral work she decided to conduct research on self-compassion – a central construct in Buddhist psychology and one that had not yet been examined empirically.

In addition to her pioneering research into self-compassion, she has developed an 8-week program to teach self-compassion skills. The program, co-created with her colleague Chris Germer, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, is called Mindful Self-Compassion. Her book, Self-Compassion, was published by William Morrow in April, 2011.

Prof. Dr. Yasmin Nilofer Farooqi (Tamgha-i-Imtiaz) is currently working as Professor and Ex-chairperson at the Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. She received her M. Sc (Gold Medal) from University of the Punjab and her M.A and Ph. D from Temple University. Dr. Farooqi gained her Doctoral Internship in Clinical Psychology from State of New Jersey and her Post-Doc from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dr. Farooqi has published more than 60 research papers in international journals and significant publications and has written chapters in national and international edited books. She has been an International Affiliate Member of APA, a member of the Consulting Editorial Board of Journal of Psychology in Africa and a Referee for APA “Journals of Abnormal Psychology,” “Journal of Clinical & Counseling Psychology,” and “Professional Psychology.” The winner of more than 50 esteemed awards, Dr. Farooqi has promoted international understanding of Islamic perspective of mental health and psychotherapy for the welfare of Muslim clients across the globe through her publications, research work and oral presentations at international conferences.

John C. Norcross, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist, a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Scranton, and Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University.  He specializes in the areas of  psychotherapy, clinical training, and self-change. Dr. Norcross is the acclaimed author of the self-help book Changeology, as well as hundreds of professional journal publications and books. He is past-president of the American Psychological Association’s Division of Psychotherapy and the Division of Clinical Psychology. He has served as an APA council representative and as a director of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. Learn more about Dr. John C. Norcross’ work at the Changeology website.

Daniella Pavone is an undergraduate at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She is majoring in psychology and minoring in applied psychology. The opportunity to be at UCSB has allowed her to pursue her love for learning, analyzing, researching information, and applying it to individual growth and development. She is active research assistant and volunteers in a number of on and off campus activities. Daniella is currently working toward pursuing a career in clinical psychology.

Dr. Lee Phillips is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Dr. Phillips has worked in several mental health and substance abuse treatment settings including outpatient community mental health, inpatient treatment, and private practice for the past 11 years. He is a speaker and has lectured on topics including preventative services, anxiety and stress management, caregiving stress, depression in the elderly, mindfulness and cognitive strategies for chronic pain, ethical decision making, and the assessment of mental disorders. He has published in the Journal of Baccalaureate Social Work, conducting a research study on LGBTQ-Affirmative Teaching at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Understanding Program Directors Views. He is an adjunct professor in the Master of Social Work Program with the School of Social Work at Western New Mexico University. Dr. Phillips currently is in private practice in Washington, DC, where he specializes in treating chronic illness and sexual dysfunction. He is currently writing his first book, Sex & Love When You Are Sick. His website is www.drleephillips.com

Leaving behind a successful career as a corporate strategist, Hilary has spent the last decade diving deep into neuroscience, neuro-linguistic programming, cognitive behavior, industrial psychology, theology, and Advanced PSYCH-K®. She has used these modalities to help both everyday people and celebrities rewire the software of their minds so they can experience radical and rapid growth personally, professionally, and relationally. As a mindset expert, Hilary helps elite performers shatter their deepest limits and live their best lives.

Diana Raab is a memoirist, poet, blogger, workshop facilitator, thought provoker, and speaker. She’s the award-winning author of eight books, including two memoirs—Regina’s Closet: Finding My Grandmother’s Secret Journal and Healing with Words: A Writer’s Cancer Journey—and four poetry collections, the latest called Lust. She’s also the editor of two anthologies, Writers on the Edge: 22 Writers Speak about Addiction and Dependence, and Writers and Their Notebooks.

Dr. Raab has published more than 1,000 articles and has been anthologized in various publications such as The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, The International Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Qualitative Report, Boiler Room Journal, Elephant Journal, Boomer Café, The Writer, Passager, and Rattle. She was also a Pushcart nominee. Her doctoral research focused on the transformative and empowering aspects of memoir writing, connecting Maslow’s theory of metamotivation and creativity, and emphasizing the advantages of reaching one’s full human potential.

For more than fifty years, Dr. Raab’s passion and expertise has been writing for healing, transformation, and empowerment. She has been on this creative path since she was a young girl, when her mother gave her a Kahlil Gibran journal to help her cope with the suicide of her beloved grandmother. She is also a two-time cancer survivor who inspires others to chronicle their journeys as they seek wholeness and self-realization.

Dr. Raab is very interested in creativity and what drives the creative process. In addition to a PhD in transpersonal psychology, she holds a BA in health administration, nursing, and journalism; and an MFA in nonfiction writing. She is also a registered nurse and was a medical journalist for more than 25 years.

Dr. Raab serves on a number of boards, including Poets & Writers, and Beyond Baroque; and she is a trustee for the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). She blogs regularly for Psychology Today and also pens an inspirational monthly newsletter featuring writing for transformation, psychological tidbits, book reviews, and upcoming events. Readers may sign up on her website at: www.dianaraab.com.

Diane Renz, MA, LPC, is a Neuroscience Practical Applications Facilitator, Licensed Psychotherapist, and Founder & Director of the Center for Healthy Habits. As a nationwide speaker, seminar teacher, and writer, she translates the current neurobiological science of Attention into user-friendly tools to build best Habits of Body, Brain, and Behavior. Learn more about services available local or long-distance, visit her at CenterforHealthyHabits.com.  inHabit Body, reInform Brain, change Behavior™

Marianne Riley is a psychotherapist and a professor of psychology. Marianne work’s with a range of different issues, but specializes in body image, self-esteem, eating disorders, ADHD, anxiety and depression.

Dr. Donna Rockwell, Psy.D., L.P. is a licensed clinical psychologist, adjunct faculty member, community outreach worker, columnist, and mindfulness meditation teacher. Dr. Rockwell specializes in both mindfulness and celebrity mental health. She works with clients in her private practice and teaches public meditation classes. You can watch Dr. Rockwell on YouTube or read more of her blogs at The New Existentialists.

Michael D. Rosberg, Ph.D., is both a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (MFT) who began treating refractory mentally ill patients in 1979.  He has provided treatment, trained, and taught in multiple treatment environments including both outpatient and inpatient settings.

Bethany Saltman is an award-winning editor, writer, researcher, and consultant. Her work can be seen in magazines like the New Yorker, New York Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, Parents, Town & Country, and many others. Her research and editing clients include super-sonic, best-selling and award-winning authors like Andrew Solomon and Wednesday Martin. Bethany also serves as a strategic coach, helping writers and entrepreneurs at all stages of the creative process envision and execute their projects, including book proposals, content development, Big Ideas, messaging, and the like. Learn more about Bethany by visiting her website.

Kirk J. Schneider, Ph.D. is a leading spokesperson for existential-humanistic psychology and the recent past editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.  Dr. Schneider is an adjunct faculty member at Saybrook University and Teachers College, Columbia University, a founding member of the Existential-Humanistic Institute, and the author/editor of 10 books including The Polarized Mind and Awakening to Awe.

Dr. Allan Schore is on the clinical faculty of the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, and at the UCLA Center for Culture, Brain, and Development. He is author of four seminal volumes,Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self, Affect Dysregulation and Disorders of the Self, Affect Regulation and the Repair of the Self, and The Science of the Art of Psychotherapy, as well as numerous articles and chapters. His Regulation Theory, grounded in developmental neuroscience and developmental psychoanalysis, focuses on the origin, psychopathogenesis, and psychotherapeutic treatment of the early forming subjective implicit self.

His contributions appear in multiple disciplines, including developmental neuroscience, psychiatry, psychoanalysis, developmental psychology, attachment theory, trauma studies, behavioral biology, clinical psychology, and clinical social work. His groundbreaking integration of neuroscience with attachment theory has lead to his description as “the American Bowlby,” with emotional development as “the world’s leading authority on how our right hemisphere regulates emotion and processes our sense of self,” and with psychoanalysis as “the world’s leading expert in neuropsychoanalysis.”

The American Psychoanalytic Association has described Dr. Schore as “a monumental figure in psychoanalytic and neuropsychoanalytic studies.”

Marjorie Schuman, Ph.D.  is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in mindfulness-informed psychodynamic/ relational psychotherapy. Currently in private practice in Santa Barbara,  Dr. Schuman is also a psychoanalyst and faculty of the Los Angeles Institute and Society for Psychoanalytic Studies. She co-founded The Center for Mindfulness and Psychotherapy in Santa Monica.

Dr. Schuman is the author of Mindfulness-Informed Relational Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis: Inquiring Deeply, forthcoming from Routledge Press in January 2017.

Learn more about Dr. Schuman here: http://www.drmarjorieschuman.com/

Dr. Barbara Ford Shabazz is currently the Psychology Program Director at South University, author of Intentional Balance, and the owner of Intentional Activities. For over 20 years, she has served students, clients, and the larger community as an instructor, advisor, speaker, consultant, therapist, and coach.

Her clinical training commenced during an undergraduate practicum, where she initiated a collaborative partnership among the community elementary school teachers, parents, students, and university practicum enrollees. She has worked primarily in the Hampton Roads Virginia area with the community services board, various high schools, therapeutic foster care agencies, a pediatric medical practice, and a non-profit organization. Dr. Shabazz had the opportunity to hone her expertise in the mental health field through participating in her doctoral internship with Kern County Mental Health and practicing as a Resident in Psychology with a local psychotherapy practice, which provides services to a broad spectrum of clients.

Close relationships with community organizations have helped to inform this educator’s roles and responsibilities in academia. Dr. Shabazz not only facilitated a myriad of psychology courses for her alma mater’s undergraduate and graduate programs, participated in student advising, and created a student-led colloquium series for the senior citizen neighbors, but she also had the honor of being recognized as favorite faculty. Additional classroom experience has offered invaluable lessons for practical application. Her position as an online professor helped to ensure competence with current trends and best practices in the field.

More recently, Dr. Barbara has been drawn to the study of positive psychology, which was the impetus for seeking certification with the Coaching and Positive Psychology Institute. As a practicing certified personal and executive coach, her goal with Intentional Activities is to tap into the inherent strengths of each client, equipping them with the tools necessary to live a more action-oriented and authentic life.

Dr. Shabazz earned her B.A. in psychology from Norfolk State University. She subsequently attended Regent University where she completed the requirements for her M.A. in Community and School Counseling , and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She is in a unique position to effect change from the classroom to the community, as she adeptly bridges theory and practice in her work with diverse populations.

BARBARA FORD SHABAZZ PSY.D. , CPEC CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, CERTIFIED PERSONAL AND EXECUTIVE COACH 757.305.7656 b.shabazz@intentionalactivities.com www.intentionalactivities.com

Madeline Sharples has worked most of her life as a technical writer and editor, grant writer, and proposal manager. She fell in love with poetry and creative writing in grade school and decided to fulfill her dreams of being a professional writer later in her life. Madeline is the author of Leaving the Hall Light On, a memoir about how she and her family survived her older son’s suicide, which resulted from his long struggle with bipolar disorder. She and her husband of 40 years live in Manhattan Beach, CA.

Daniel J. Siegel received his medical degree from Harvard University and completed his postgraduate medical education at UCLA with training in pediatrics and child, adolescent and adult psychiatry.  He served as a National Institute of Mental Health Research Fellow at UCLA. Dr. Siegel is currently clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he is on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain, and Development and the Co-Director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. An award-winning educator, he is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of several honorary fellowships. Dr. Siegel is also the Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute. He serves as the Medical Director of the LifeSpan Learning Institute and on the Advisory Board of the Blue School in New York City, which has built its curriculum around Dr. Siegel’s Mindsight approach.

He is the author of The Developing Mind, Second Edition, published on March 14, 2012,  The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being (Norton, 2007), The Mindful Therapist: A Clinician’s Guide to Mindsight and Neural Integration (Norton, 2010), Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology: An Integrative Handbook of the Mind (Norton, 2012), Mindsight: The New Science of Personal Transformation (Bantam, 2010) as well as two parenting books, Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive (Tarcher/Penguin, 2003) with Mary Hartzell, M.Ed. and The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind (Random House, 2011) with Tina Payne Bryson, PhD.

Ronee Smith Griffith, Ph.D. is an ethicist and licensed psychologist. She is the Founder of The Relational Ethics Institute (1988) and has taught professional ethics education for over twenty years.  She has served on the Ethics Education Task Force of the American Psychological Association and collaborated with the Ethics Co-Chairs of the Canadian Psychological Association. In addition to professional organizations, she frequently speaks to churches, schools, universities, civic groups, and social service agencies. In her psychotherapy practice in Atlanta, Georgia, she specializes with adults and couples.

Dr. Sheldon Solomon is a psychologist and the Ross Professor for Interdisciplinary Studies at Skidmore College. He is best known for developing Terror Management Theory, along with Jeff Greenberg and Tom Pyszczynski, which is concerned with how humans deal with their own sense of mortality. Dr. Solomon is the author or co-author of more than 100 articles and several books, including In the Wake of 9-11: The Psychology of Terror. He’s been featured in several films and TV documentaries as well as countless radio interviews.

Maureen is a multimedia storyteller who serves as an Editorial Consultant for PsychAlive. A creator of both non-fiction and scripted content, she produces women-centered shorts across digital platforms while writing and producing dramedies for film and television. She holds a BA in Creative Writing/Screenwriting from Southern New Hampshire University. Connect with Maureen at linkedin.com/in/maurvelouslife

Bonnie Sultan is a noted expert in the field of criminal justice and mental health with two Masters Degrees: Sociology with a Criminology concentration and Forensic Mental Health Counseling. Ms. Sultan specializes in institutional culture, prisoner reentry, and the intersection of mental health and justice.

As a federal grant reviewer, she is an expert in analyzing collaborative criminal justice programs. Ms. Sultan has had the opportunity to work in correctional, county, city, federal, and not-for-profit settings. She brings an understanding of prison and jail culture to our shared work and how these cultures impact persons living, working, and returning from these environments. As a published author, public speaker, and invited panelist for numerous conferences, she greatly enjoys giving back to the field in order to foster better care and services for all.

Bonnie currently serves as a consultant to the County of Santa Cruz, California focusing on AB-109 policy and programming. She serves as a member of the Santa Cruz Smart on Crime Initiative.

Watch Bonnie discuss the tragic Sentor Giffords shooting on PBS Newshour.

Sultan, B. (2006). The Insanity of Incarceration and the Maddening Re-Entry Process: A Call for Change and Justice for Males with Mental Illness. The Georgetown Journal of Poverty Law and Policy. XIII(2), 357-382.

Megan Thiels is a student at the University of California, Santa Barbara majoring in Psychology and Communication. She is involved in the Greek community on campus and volunteers for various organizations in the Goleta and Santa Barbara area. In the future, Megan intends to pursue a career in marketing.

Margie is a relationship counselor and communications coach who also works as a family lawyer specializing in collaborative and non-adversarial methods of dispute resolution. Her book, written with colleague Dr Richard Chambers, Mindful Relationships comes out early next year. Visit her at www.margieulbrickcounselling.com

Michael Vallejo is a licensed clinical social worker with a private therapy practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He specializes in helping children and teens with mental health concerns. He is passionate about providing effective and compassionate care. He is an advocate for mental health awareness, and is the founder of Mental Health Center Kids, a website that provides resources and support for parents, teachers, and mental health professionals who care for children and teens.

Nita Vallens, PsyD, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified hypnotherapist. She specializes in helping people develop deeply meaningful relationships and breaking old patterns. The focus of her private practice is couples, addictions, career testing and helping veterans.

Her career began in the corporate world, receiving certification as a career counselor and managing career development programs. She also helped create a structure for chemical dependency treatment to help employees. Dr. Nita is a licensed psychotherapist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Southern California University for Professional Studies, with a Master of Arts Degree in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from California State University, Northridge.

While transitioning from working for the largest employer in the state to opening a private practice, she worked in a variety of settings including mental health centers and private agencies. Her experience in areas such as relationship counseling, intimacy issues, life transition, addiction, co-dependency, and unification of mind, body and spirit. Dr. Nita’s private practice is in Sherman Oaks, CA.

www.DrNitaVallens.com

www.KeysToRecoverynewspaper.com

Sherrie M. Vavrichek, LCSW-C, is the author of The Guide to Compassionate Assertiveness: How to Express Your Needs and Deal with Conflict While Keeping a Kind Heart (New Harbinger Publications, 2013). Ms. Vavrichek has spoken at national conferences and written about a variety of topics including assertiveness, relationships, mindfulness, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders,  parenting and family issues, and body focused repetitive behaviors. She is a senior staff clinician at the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her website is www.compassionateassertiveness.com

Rachel Walsh is pursuing her MA in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University of Santa Barbara where she also received her BA with an emphasis in Child Development and Education. She has worked with individuals who have developmental disabilities and their families for over 5 years, and has taught inclusive yoga classes to help integrate these individuals with the local community. Rachel’s love for these families has led to her volunteering with the Down Syndrome Association of Santa Barbara County, Alpha Resource Center and Mission Community School.

A CA-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with years of experience specializing in individual therapy, Christian therapy, parenting, relationship, and women’s issues, Meredith currently has a private practice in Carlsbad, CA. Ultimately, her desire is to help her clients manage their own feelings and issues more effectively, creating space for joy and fulfilment in
their relationships and lives. Learn more at www.meredithwatkins.net.

Amy Williams is a free-lance journalist based in Southern California and mother of two. As a parent, she enjoys spreading the word on positive parenting techniques in the digital age and raising awareness on issues like cyberbullying and online safety.

Angela Wurtzel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University. Angela is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a certified eating disorder specialist with the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals.

Writer, artist, and educator Elizabeth Wyatt has been teaching writing and literature for ten years, and making art since she can remember. She holds a B.A. in English from Southern Methodist University, and Master of Fine Arts and Master of Arts degrees in poetry and English, respectively, from the University of California at Irvine. She has edited and published various literary stuffs. Elizabeth began practicing yoga in 2003 and teaching in 2012, and continues to explore and experiment with somatic and expressive modalities for healing and creativity. From early childhood, she trained extensively in musical and performing arts; as a distance runner, she has a few marathons, half-marathons, and mountain running events under her belt. She now lives in Joshua Tree, California, where she enjoys rock climbing as an exciting extension of her yoga practice. She offers classes and workshops in Southern California (lilasomatics.com), and blogs at http://elizabeth-wyatt.com/.

Danny Zamir, Psy.D. is the president of the Anxiety and Panic Disorders Clinic of Santa Barbara. He obtained his psychology license in California in 2013 after completing training at UCLA and UCSD in CBT, behavioral health, and mindfulness-based approaches to mental health. Dr. Zamir specializes in working with individuals who are dealing with symptoms of anxiety, panic, PTSD, OCD, phobias, and social anxiety. His approach to therapy integrates several empirically supported treatment models to help people to meet their goals and improve their lives. If you’d like to know more, please visit https://anxietysantabarbara.com/

An award-winning newspaper reporter, Jody Zarkos is the sports editor at KECH and KSKI Radio in Sun Valley, Idaho, where she resides with her husband and two children.

Brian Zeng is the owner of Ponbee.com. He is an entrepreneur by spirit. Through Ponbee, Brian would like to share his insights on an array of topics related to business, e-commerce, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. His recent collection of motivation quotes will surely help you to see failure and success in a different perspective.