Carmen Richardson
Carmen Richardson, MSW, RSW, RCAT, REAT is founder and director of Prairie Institute of Expressive Arts Therapy in Calgary, Alberta and offers training, consultation and supervision to professionals and community agencies. Carmen has trained play therapists, arts/expressive arts therapists, social workers, psychologists, and other helpers at various venues across Canada and the US. She brings 30 years experience to her full time private practice and is a registered clinical social worker, registered art therapist and registered expressive arts therapist. She has completed many trainings in body-oriented therapies, including Integrative Body Psychotherapy (IBP), Level 1 in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Trauma, and Inner Relationship Focusing. Carmen is also trained in E.M.D.R. and A.R.T. (Accelerated Resolution Therapy). Carmen is an Advanced Certified Trauma Practitioner and Certified Agency trainer with the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children where she teaches Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy for a variety of therapeutic agencies in the US. Carmen also teaches more intensive trauma trainings based on her book, “Expressive Arts Therapy for Traumatized Children and Adolescents”.
Lori Gill
Lori Gill is the founder and lead trauma therapist of the Attachment and Trauma Treatment Centre for Healing (ATTCH) www.attch.org. She is Certified Trauma Specialist (CTS), Consultant Supervisor, and Trainer, for the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC) and a former Psychology Professor with 16 years of clinical experience working with children, youth, and adults.
Lori is an engaging and sought after presenter and clinical supervisor who provides trainings and consultations throughout Canada and the United States. She is referred to as a dynamic and passionate presenter who relays information in a manner that is easily translated into clinical practice. Learn more about recent trainings Lori has facilitated via this link.
Lori is honoured to have received an Award of Excellence in 2014 for her contributions to the trauma field and to have been qualified as an expert witness in the fields of trauma, attachment, and reconciliation therapy. She is the creator of a 10-Week Attachment Informed Parenting Program that has supported strengthening of parent-child relationships for biological, foster, and adoptive parents. She is presently working on the completion of a book and treatment program for working with attachment dysregulation.
What others are saying about Lori's trainings re: overall comments and the most valuable aspects of their experience:
Opening my eyes to my client’s traumas that I might have missed. Recognized my in-depth initial assumptions are so valuable.
I appreciated the understanding I gained of how the brain functions during trauma and how to assist with regulation during these times.
The most helpful aspect were the real case examples, practical strategies, and suggested supplementary resources.
Case conceptualization was fantastic. I wish so much we had access to your level of knowledge around trauma and how/what we need to support children.
I don’t know where to begin because it’s all been so extremely informative. Love the practical application.
The personal-clinical experiences shared, experiential exercises, video.
It was all excellent, especially newest research and case examples.
Love your genuineness and look forward to future learning and collaboration with you.
Senior staff say it was one of the best trainings they ever attended so thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise on sensory integration. I will be incorporating this in to my practice.
Validity trauma informed CBT is not the preferred treatment approach with kids who have experienced trauma, this needs to be more reinforced.
Linking trauma response to other types of diagnosis/misdiagnosis. Some really great insights about “abnormal” trauma experience.
Very knowledgeable presenter; all the handouts/resources included in slides and our packages. The more practical tools and assessments and strategies were valuable.
I hope you could tell how much we all enjoyed your presentation tonight. You taught us a lot about accepting others and going to where they are in their struggle and helping them find solutions. We're all inspired by your lovely positive attitude. Thanks again - you're a wonderful teacher!
Lori is an engaging and sought after presenter and clinical supervisor who provides trainings and consultations throughout Canada and the United States. She is referred to as a dynamic and passionate presenter who relays information in a manner that is easily translated into clinical practice. Learn more about recent trainings Lori has facilitated via this link.
Lori is honoured to have received an Award of Excellence in 2014 for her contributions to the trauma field and to have been qualified as an expert witness in the fields of trauma, attachment, and reconciliation therapy. She is the creator of a 10-Week Attachment Informed Parenting Program that has supported strengthening of parent-child relationships for biological, foster, and adoptive parents. She is presently working on the completion of a book and treatment program for working with attachment dysregulation.
What others are saying about Lori's trainings re: overall comments and the most valuable aspects of their experience:
Opening my eyes to my client’s traumas that I might have missed. Recognized my in-depth initial assumptions are so valuable.
I appreciated the understanding I gained of how the brain functions during trauma and how to assist with regulation during these times.
The most helpful aspect were the real case examples, practical strategies, and suggested supplementary resources.
Case conceptualization was fantastic. I wish so much we had access to your level of knowledge around trauma and how/what we need to support children.
I don’t know where to begin because it’s all been so extremely informative. Love the practical application.
The personal-clinical experiences shared, experiential exercises, video.
It was all excellent, especially newest research and case examples.
Love your genuineness and look forward to future learning and collaboration with you.
Senior staff say it was one of the best trainings they ever attended so thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise on sensory integration. I will be incorporating this in to my practice.
Validity trauma informed CBT is not the preferred treatment approach with kids who have experienced trauma, this needs to be more reinforced.
Linking trauma response to other types of diagnosis/misdiagnosis. Some really great insights about “abnormal” trauma experience.
Very knowledgeable presenter; all the handouts/resources included in slides and our packages. The more practical tools and assessments and strategies were valuable.
I hope you could tell how much we all enjoyed your presentation tonight. You taught us a lot about accepting others and going to where they are in their struggle and helping them find solutions. We're all inspired by your lovely positive attitude. Thanks again - you're a wonderful teacher!
Cher Curshen
Cher is an Expressive Arts Therapist, Trauma Specialist, Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist and Therapeutic Touch Recognized Practitioner, with over 17 years experience working with families, children, youth and adults. She has experience working broadly across the GTA within health and social service agencies and in school settings supporting individuals living with life limiting illness, trauma, complex and traumatic grief, anticipatory grief and loss, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety and addictions. Cher subscribes to the code of ethics and standards of practice of the Ontario Psychotherapy Association and OACCPP.
She completed training in the field of expressive arts therapy at CREATE Canada in 1999 at which time she started a private therapy practice which she continues to operate and enjoy - Bigheart Integrative Arts Therapy Studio www.bigheartstudio.com. She acquired a certificate in Narrative Therapy in 2015 and MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) and is currently at supervision level of a Certification as a Clinical Trauma Specialist through the Traumatology Institute Canada. She continues to bring new learning and skills to her practice through ongoing professional education such as Mindfulness Meditation, TF-CBT for children, Narrative Therapy and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and these are incorporated into Cher’s work with individuals. She uses a number of highly effective treatment therapies for resolving traumatic event symptoms that interfere with present living in addition to offering clinical trauma assessments.
Cher is grounded, calm, highly compassionate, energetically strong and balanced making her a soothing presence as therapist, body energy therapist and trauma specialist. Although talk therapy is common when visiting Cher she encourages creative expression within a variety of art modalities that include; visual arts, music and voice, poetry, writing and storytelling. Her relationship with individuals is guided by a person centered approach, genuine caring and respect and her belief in the capacity for healing and growth. She infuses her practice with positive life energy and dedication and utilizes creative arts techniques in a gentle, sensitive and active way.
Cher’s experience in the use of body energy therapy with individuals living with the effects of trauma symptoms, depression, anxiety, and physical and emotional pain has proven to be a highly beneficial process for many. The body energy therapy process is based largely on the feeling sense of the body and is not entirely a cognitive one. Cher has found this to be ideal in calming and soothing somatic responses to trauma.
Cher has provided consultation, program development, trainings, group facilitation, and therapy services with the following agencies: Dorothy Ley Hospice, Toronto East General Hospital, UHN Recreational Therapists, The Voice Of Older Adult Centres, Native Child and Family Services, Aids Committee of Toronto (ACT), Sherbourne Health Centre, Casey House Hospice, Hospice Toronto, Trillium Health Centre, Bereaved Families of Toronto, Bereaved Families of Halton Peel, Gildas Club, Wellspring, Alzheimer's Society, Rexdale Community Health Centre and Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House.
Cher is deeply involved in her own healing work and regularly receives treatments in modalities that are the same or similar to those she offers. She believes that art is a healing agent that works from within and enjoys living her life through creativity.
She completed training in the field of expressive arts therapy at CREATE Canada in 1999 at which time she started a private therapy practice which she continues to operate and enjoy - Bigheart Integrative Arts Therapy Studio www.bigheartstudio.com. She acquired a certificate in Narrative Therapy in 2015 and MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) and is currently at supervision level of a Certification as a Clinical Trauma Specialist through the Traumatology Institute Canada. She continues to bring new learning and skills to her practice through ongoing professional education such as Mindfulness Meditation, TF-CBT for children, Narrative Therapy and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and these are incorporated into Cher’s work with individuals. She uses a number of highly effective treatment therapies for resolving traumatic event symptoms that interfere with present living in addition to offering clinical trauma assessments.
Cher is grounded, calm, highly compassionate, energetically strong and balanced making her a soothing presence as therapist, body energy therapist and trauma specialist. Although talk therapy is common when visiting Cher she encourages creative expression within a variety of art modalities that include; visual arts, music and voice, poetry, writing and storytelling. Her relationship with individuals is guided by a person centered approach, genuine caring and respect and her belief in the capacity for healing and growth. She infuses her practice with positive life energy and dedication and utilizes creative arts techniques in a gentle, sensitive and active way.
Cher’s experience in the use of body energy therapy with individuals living with the effects of trauma symptoms, depression, anxiety, and physical and emotional pain has proven to be a highly beneficial process for many. The body energy therapy process is based largely on the feeling sense of the body and is not entirely a cognitive one. Cher has found this to be ideal in calming and soothing somatic responses to trauma.
Cher has provided consultation, program development, trainings, group facilitation, and therapy services with the following agencies: Dorothy Ley Hospice, Toronto East General Hospital, UHN Recreational Therapists, The Voice Of Older Adult Centres, Native Child and Family Services, Aids Committee of Toronto (ACT), Sherbourne Health Centre, Casey House Hospice, Hospice Toronto, Trillium Health Centre, Bereaved Families of Toronto, Bereaved Families of Halton Peel, Gildas Club, Wellspring, Alzheimer's Society, Rexdale Community Health Centre and Toronto’s Ronald McDonald House.
Cher is deeply involved in her own healing work and regularly receives treatments in modalities that are the same or similar to those she offers. She believes that art is a healing agent that works from within and enjoys living her life through creativity.
Sarah Connolly, MSW, RS
From a young age Sarah was inspired by the transformative nature of the wilderness and adventure experiences in her own life as well as in the lives of others. This interest sparked a lifelong connection to nature and a commitment to fostering the health and resilience of individuals, families and communities. Inspired by the powerful and inherent nurturing force of nature through the connection of the body, self and others, she continues to be passionate about facilitating adventure experiences that cultivate personal discovery and social change. Sarah has spent the last 10 years leading and facilitating wilderness and adventure therapy experiences with youth with addiction and mental health concerns, and women who are survivors of violence. As an Aboriginal (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) mental health counselor at White Owl Native Ancestry in Kitchener, Ontario, Sarah came to appreciate the value of a holistic approach in addressing issues connected to trauma, addiction and mental health and carries this forward in her work today. Sarah graduated with an undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Guelph and has a Masters of Social Work from the University of Windsor.
Prior to her work as a trauma therapist at the Attachment and Trauma Centre for Healing (ATTCH), Sarah was the Outward Bound Canada Coordinator at Portage Ontario, a residential treatment centre for youth with addictions. During this time, Sarah facilitated wilderness and adventure experiences including multi-day dogsledding, canoeing, rock climbing, and hiking trips as well as day programs for groups of 4 to 40 people. Sarah also practices as a Therapist in the School-Based Program at Pathstone Mental Health in St. Catharines, Ontario. Sarah has been a sessional instructor at Brock University where she taught Adventure-Based Learning in Recreation. As a yoga instructor, Sarah finds the healing power of mind-bodywork and integrating sensory and somatic experiences to be an important part of her approach to therapy.
Sarah specializes in working with children, youth and families facing challenges connected to trauma, attachment, grief and loss, mental health and addictions. Sarah utilizes Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) techniques, mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, self-compassion, attachment-focused therapy, ecotherapy and expressive art therapy. Her clients have characterized Sarah as compassionate, grounded, non-judgmental, engaging, calming and supportive in their process of healing. She has felt fortunate to witness the journeys of personal growth and recovery through her work in various roles as a therapist, educator, advocate and facilitator.
Prior to her work as a trauma therapist at the Attachment and Trauma Centre for Healing (ATTCH), Sarah was the Outward Bound Canada Coordinator at Portage Ontario, a residential treatment centre for youth with addictions. During this time, Sarah facilitated wilderness and adventure experiences including multi-day dogsledding, canoeing, rock climbing, and hiking trips as well as day programs for groups of 4 to 40 people. Sarah also practices as a Therapist in the School-Based Program at Pathstone Mental Health in St. Catharines, Ontario. Sarah has been a sessional instructor at Brock University where she taught Adventure-Based Learning in Recreation. As a yoga instructor, Sarah finds the healing power of mind-bodywork and integrating sensory and somatic experiences to be an important part of her approach to therapy.
Sarah specializes in working with children, youth and families facing challenges connected to trauma, attachment, grief and loss, mental health and addictions. Sarah utilizes Narrative Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) techniques, mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, self-compassion, attachment-focused therapy, ecotherapy and expressive art therapy. Her clients have characterized Sarah as compassionate, grounded, non-judgmental, engaging, calming and supportive in their process of healing. She has felt fortunate to witness the journeys of personal growth and recovery through her work in various roles as a therapist, educator, advocate and facilitator.
Carol Cowan, RSW, EFT Therapist, Yoga Instructor
Carol Prentice is a Registered Social Worker, Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner and Trainer, Yoga Instructor and Reiki Practitioner. Carol is known for her exquisite blend of Western Psychology and Eastern Healing traditions as she guides each of her clients closer to experiencing profound peace in their lives.
Carol was certified as an E.F.T. Practitioner by the founder Gary Craig in 2008. Carol has witnessed profound healing using E.F.T. with clients that have experienced trauma, loss, emotional/physical/sexual abuse, accidents and addictions. With her knowledge and experience, Carol has published a book called “The Hidden Secrets of E.F.T.” which is available on www.amazon.com. Having always been drawn to study the mind/body/ spirit connection, Carol’s path led her to completing her Yoga teacher training. She has completed specific training in teaching Trauma Sensitive Yoga with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. Carol has been teaching Hatha Yoga with devotion since 2006. Vipassana and Mindfulness Meditation are also part of her teachings. Learn more at: www.carolcowan.ca
Carol was certified as an E.F.T. Practitioner by the founder Gary Craig in 2008. Carol has witnessed profound healing using E.F.T. with clients that have experienced trauma, loss, emotional/physical/sexual abuse, accidents and addictions. With her knowledge and experience, Carol has published a book called “The Hidden Secrets of E.F.T.” which is available on www.amazon.com. Having always been drawn to study the mind/body/ spirit connection, Carol’s path led her to completing her Yoga teacher training. She has completed specific training in teaching Trauma Sensitive Yoga with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk. Carol has been teaching Hatha Yoga with devotion since 2006. Vipassana and Mindfulness Meditation are also part of her teachings. Learn more at: www.carolcowan.ca
Sean Robb, PhD candidate in neuropsychology
Sean Robb is a PhD candidate in neuropsychology at Brock University. He holds an internship Niagara Health System and works predominantly with individuals who are experiencing neural compromise and subsequent comorbid psychiatric symptoms as well as treatment resistant psychopathology. His work has focused primarily on those in poverty and who would not have access to neuropsychological services otherwise. In his research, Sean investigates the relationship between acquired brain injury and comorbid mood disorders, as well as arousal-based neurohabilitative techniques to aid these individuals. He has published in the fields of brain injury and psychiatry and has presented his research at both national and international conferences.