Event Speakers
Peter A. Levine, PhD
Peter A Levine, PhD., is the developer of Somatic Experiencing®, a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma. He holds doctorates in both Biophysics and Psychology. He is the Founder and President of the Ergos Institute for Somatic Education and the Founder and Advisor for Somatic Experiencing International. Dr. Levine recently finished his Autobiography, An Autobiography Trauma: A Healing Journey, and is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma (published in over 29 languages). He has received Lifetime Achievement awards from Psychotherapy Networker and from the US Association for Body-Oriented Psychotherapy. He continues to teach trauma healing workshops internationally. Learn more at somaticexperiencing.com.
Chinwé Williams, PhD
Chinwé Williams, PhD is a Licensed and Board-Certified therapist with expertise spanning a variety of domains, including child and adolescent development, somatic psychology, and anxiety and trauma management. Dr. Chinwe’ is a sought-after clinician, speaker, and consultant. She has dedicated her career to empowering individuals, families, and clinicians through her extensive knowledge, unwavering compassion, and dynamic approach to mental and emotional wellness. Dr. Chinwé has served in corporate, school, and faith-based work settings. She has also worked 15 years in academia, having taught graduate counseling students at institutions such as Georgia State University, University of Central Florida, Argosy University, and Rollins College. These experiences have honed her ability to connect deeply with diverse audiences and equip them with tools to navigate the complexities of mental health.
Dr. Chinwé is a frequently invited speaker and the co-author of the best-selling book Seen: Healing Despair and Anxiety in Kids and Teens Through the Power of Connection, the book, Beyond the Spiral: Why You Shouldn’t Believe Everything Anxiety Tells You, and the newly released book, Calm, Courageous, and Connected.
Outside of her professional achievements, Dr. Chinwé is a wife and the proud mother of three wonderful children. Her family treasures moments spent exploring nature trails, indulging in delicious meals at local restaurants, and cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs!
Bessel van der Kolk, MD
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, is a clinical psychiatrist whose work integrates mind, brain, body, and social connection in the understanding and treatment of trauma. An internationally recognized leader in the field of psychological trauma, he is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific articles and several books, including Psychological Trauma, the first integrative text on the subject; Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society; and The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
Pat Ogden, PhD
Pat Ogden, PhD, is a pioneer in somatic psychology, the creator of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy method, and founder of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. Dr. Ogden is trained in a wide variety of somatic and psychotherapeutic approaches, and has over 45 years of experience working with individuals and groups. She is co-founder of the Hakomi Institute, past faculty of Naropa University (1985-2005), a clinician, consultant, and sought after international lecturer. Dr. Ogden is the first author of two groundbreaking books in somatic psychology: Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment (2015) both published in the Interpersonal Neurobiology Series of W. W. Norton. Her third book in this series, The Pocket Guide to Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, published in 2021, and she is working on Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for Children, Adolescents and Families with Dr. Bonnie Goldstein. Her current interests include groups, couples, children, adolescents, and families; complex trauma; Embedded Relational Mindfulness; implicit bias, intersectionality and culture; the relational nature of shame; presence, consciousness, and the philosophical/spiritual principles that underlie Sensorimotor Psychotherapy.
Arielle Schwartz, PhD
Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, EMDR-C, E-RYT, is a licensed psychologist, certified complex trauma professional, EMDR Consultant, and Kripalu yoga teacher. She is an internationally sought-out speaker and a leading voice in the field of trauma recovery. She is the author of eight books including The Complex PTSD Workbook, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma, and Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga.
She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Fielding Graduate University and holds a Master’s degree in Somatic Psychology through Naropa University. As an internationally sought out teacher, she works in collaboration with world renowned institutions including the Polyvagal Institute, Psychotherapy Networker, PESI, Sounds True, The Shift Network, The Embody Lab, Yoga International, YogaUOnline, and the Cambridge Health Alliance.
As the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy, Dr. Schwartz offers an integrative, mind-body approach to trauma treatment that includes relational therapy, somatic psychology, EMDR Therapy, parts-work therapy, and therapeutic yoga. She specializes in applied polyvagal theory which focuses on addressing imbalances within the autonomic nervous system that underlie most mental and physical health conditions.
Dr. Schwartz provides informational mental health and wellness updates through her writing, public speaking, social media presence, and blog. She believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.
Licia Sky
Licia Sky is the co-founder and Global Ambassador of the Trauma Research Foundation. She is a somatic educator, artist, singer-songwriter, and bodyworker who works with individuals recovering from trauma and trains mental health professionals to use mindful movement, theater exercises, writing, and voice as tools for attunement, healing, and connection.
She is a regular instructor in trauma healing workshops throughout the U.S. and has spent the past decade teaching expanded awareness practices to clinicians and laypeople around the world.
Rick Hanson, PhD
Rick Hanson, PhD is a psychologist, Senior Fellow at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and NYT best-selling author. His seven books have been published in 33 languages, and include Making Great Relationships, Neurodharma, Resilient, Hardwiring Happiness, Just One Thing, Buddha’s Brain, and Mother Nurture – with over a million copies in English alone. He’s the founder of the Global Compassion Coalition and the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, as well as the co-host of the Being Well Podcast – which has been downloaded over 25 million times. His free newsletters have over 260,000 subscribers and his online programs have scholarships available for those in need. He’s lectured at NASA, Google, Oxford, and Harvard. An expert on positive neuroplasticity, his work has been featured on CBS, NPR, the BBC, and other major media. He began meditating in 1974 and has taught in meditation centers worldwide. He and his wife live in Northern California and have two adult children. He loves the wilderness and taking a break from emails.
Deb Dana, MSW, LCSW
Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author and speaker. Her work is focused on using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma. She delves into the intricacies of how we can use an understanding of the organizing principles of Polyvagal Theory to change the ways we navigate our daily lives. Deb is well known for translating Polyvagal Theory into a language and application that is both clear and accessible — and for her pioneering Rhythm of Regulation® methodology, tools, techniques, and practices which continue to open up the power of Polyvagal Theory for professionals and curious humans from all walks of life.
Linda Thai, MSW, LMSW
Linda Thai, MSW, LMSW (she, her) is a trauma therapist who specializes in cutting edge brain- and body-based modalities for the healing of complex developmental trauma. As an educator and consultant, she is gifted with the capacity to contextualize, synthesize, and communicate complex and nuanced issues pertaining to trauma, attachment, and the nervous system, including the impact of oppressive systems upon identity, mental health and well-being.
Linda is passionate about breaking the cycle of historical and intergenerational trauma at the individual and community levels, and deeply believes in the healing power of coming together in community to grieve.
Born in Vietnam, raised in Australia, and now living in Alaska, Linda is a former child refugee who is not only redefining what it means to be Vietnamese, to be Australian, and to be a United States-ian… she is redefining what it means to be wounded and whole and a healer.
Raymond Rodriguez, Rev., MSW, LCSW
Raymond Rodriguez, LCSW-R, Rev., is an Afro-Latino Clinical Social Worker with over twenty years of experience in working with community-based programs. He received his Social Work degree from Columbia University School of Social Work. He is a family therapist with clinical interests in the areas of immigration, diversity, LGBTQ empowerment, spirituality, and working with marginalized communities. In the last decade he has become a trauma specialist assisting clients with complex psychological trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He is certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). He has extensive training and practice in family systems therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, Internal Family Systems, and Emotionally Focused Therapy.
Raymond has served as a counselor faculty at Hostos Community College of the City University of New York; is faculty and a member of the Executive Committee of the Trauma Studies Center of the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy; and is faculty at the Integrative Trauma Studies Program of the National Institute for the Psychotherapies. He has served as faculty with the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute and as an Adjunct Lecturer at Columbia University School of Social Work and Smith College School of Social Work. He formerly served on the Boards of the National Association of Puertorrican and Hispanic Social Workers and the No More Fear Foundation. He lives in Westchester, NY (on unceded Lakota lands) with his partner, son, and dogs.
Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, MFT
Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, MFT, is an internationally respected somatic psychotherapist, trauma specialist, Continuum teacher, and somatic educator with over thirty years of clinical and teaching experience. She is a founder of the Hakomi Institute of California and the creator of Embodywise, a platform for embodied learning. Manuela developed the Innate Somatic Intelligence Trauma Therapy Approach (ISITTA), an advanced training for therapists, and co-developed the Hakomi Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training. She is the author of four influential books: Trauma-Sensitive Movement, Embodied Psychedelic Therapy: A Somatic Guide, 125 Somatic Psychotherapy Tools for Trauma and Stress, and 8 Keys to Practicing Mindfulness. Her work continues to inspire practitioners worldwide who are bringing depth, embodiment, and somatic wisdom into therapeutic, healing, and collective spaces.
David Treleaven, PhD
David Treleaven, PhD, is a writer, educator, and trauma professional specializing in the intersection of mindfulness and trauma. He is the author of the acclaimed book Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness (2018) and the follow-up Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness Workbook (2025), both published by W. W. Norton. His original book has been translated into 10 languages and continues to shape mindfulness practices and teaching worldwide. David’s work has been incorporated into leading mindfulness teacher trainings around the world. He’s been invited to teach at institutions such as the Oxford Mindfulness Center, Brown University, UCLA, and various mindfulness organizations across Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. His teaching has also extended to esteemed centers such as Spirit Rock Meditation Center, the Shambhala Mountain Center, the Esalen Institute, and the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York.
Clarissa Cigrand, PhD, LPC,
Clarissa Cigrand, PhD, LPC is Content Expert at the Awake Network where she contributes to the design of summits and workshops and leads the Integration and Practice Labs, helping participants bring insights into embodied practice.
Aside from her work at the Awake Network, she is an Assistant Professor at Naropa University, a clinical supervisor, published researcher, and practicing counselor. Her work explores the reimagining of education through contemplative epistemologies, integrative wisdom traditions, and transformative learning experiences.
Jordan Quaglia, PhD
Jordan Quaglia, PhD, is an author, professor, and public speaker who has spent over a decade researching and teaching on mindfulness, compassion, and boundaries. He is the author of From Self-Care to We-Care: The New Science of Mindful Boundaries and Caring from an Undivided Heart (Shambhala, 2025), which explores how to harmonize care for ourselves and others through science-based practices.
Jordan is Associate Professor of Psychology at Naropa University, where he directs the Cognitive and Affective Science Laboratory and serves as Research Director for the Center for the Advancement of Contemplative Education. A recognized expert in the science of compassion, he has been named a Fellow by the Mind & Life Institute, a Contemplative Social Justice Scholar by Contemplative Mind in Society, and a panelist for multiple United Nations Day of Vesak conferences.
In addition to his academic work, Jordan co-developed and regularly teaches an eight-week compassion training curriculum that has reached hundreds of individuals. He frequently presents to diverse audiences, bridging cutting-edge science with contemplative practice and lived insight to make his work both accessible and transformative.
Bonnie Badenoch, PhD
Bonnie Badenoch, PhD, LMFT (retired), has been a therapist, mentor, teacher, and author, spending the last 22 years integrating the discoveries of relational neuroscience into the art of therapy. In 2008, she co-founded the nonprofit agency Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind (nurturingtheheart.org) to offer this work to the community of therapists, healthcare providers, and others interested in becoming therapeutic presences in the world. For 30 years, she has supported trauma survivors and those with significant attachment wounds to reshape their neural landscapes for a life of meaning, resilience, and warm relationships. These days, Bonnie is moving into semi-retirement, mentoring four of her long-term students in offering immersion trainings for therapists and others. These groups cultivate the capacity for presence through the development of deep listening and the embodiment of the principles of interpersonal neurobiology. Her conviction that wisdom about the relational brain can support healing experiences for people at every age led to the publication of Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology in 2008 and The Brain-Savvy Therapist’s Workbook in 2011. Bonnie’s latest writing is The Heart of Trauma: Healing the Embodied Brain in the Context of Relationships (2017). These books seek to build a bridge between science and practice with clarity, compassion, and heart.