Child and Adolescent Mental Health in an Uncertain Time:
Reintegration Strategies for Classroom and Community

Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD, is a clinician, researcher and teacher in the area of post-traumatic stress. His work integrates developmental, neurobiological, psychodynamic, and interpersonal aspects of the impact of trauma and its treatment.

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

Jennifer Cohen Harper, MA, E-RCYT, is an author and educator who works to support all children and teens in the development of strong inner resources through the tools of yoga and mindfulness. Her goal is to help kids, and those who care for them, thrive in the world regardless of circumstances, and navigate the many challenges they face with a sense of personal power and self-awareness.

Mona Delahooke, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 25 years of experience caring for young children and their families. With a special focus on early childhood development, she is a senior faculty member and Mental Health Working Group Co-Chair of the Profectum Foundation, an organization dedicated to advancing the development of neurodiverse children, adolescents, and adults.

Janine Halloran, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 17 years of experience working with children, teens and their families. She is the founder and CEO of Coping Skills for Kids, where she creates and curates tools & resources to help adults teach kids healthy ways to deal with stress, anxiety and anger.

Dr. Dawn Huebner is a Clinical Psychologist and Parent Coach specializing in the treatment of anxiety. She is the author of 9 books for children including the perennial bestseller, What to Do When You Worry Too Much, and more recent, Outsmarting Worry. Dr. Huebner’s newest book, Something Bad Happened provides support for children learning about big bad things happening in the world.

Daniel A. Hughes, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in the treatment of children and adolescents who have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma and attachment disorganization. He helped to develop Dyadic Developmental psychotherapy, an attachment-focused treatment model that relies on the theories and research of attachment and intersubjectivity. He is known for creating the PACE Model which facilitates play, acceptance, curiosity, and empathy when working with children.

Jennifer Lefebre, PsyD, RPT-S, TCTSY-F, is a clinical psychologist, registered play therapist supervisor, and trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator. She is the president-elect for the New England Association for Play Therapy. Her clinical and research interests focus on the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, adults, and families whose lives have been impacted by complex trauma. Dr. Lefebre has extensive experience working with young children (0-5), adult survivors of severe childhood abuse and neglect, first responders, and combat veterans.

Eboni Webb, PsyD, HSP earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology (MSPP). She began her clinical work as assistant clinical director and program director at Mental Health Systems, PC (MHS), one of the largest providers of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) in the United States.

Christopher Willard, PsyD, is one of the world's leading experts on mindfulness with young people, having trained thousands of professionals and young people on the practice and benefits of mindfulness. He is a psychologist and consultant based in Boston, working individually as well as consulting to schools, hospitals, and other organizations. Additionally, he is the author of multiple books on psychology, child development, contemplative practice, and more.

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

Dafna Lender, LCSW, serves as the program director at The Theraplay Institute in Evanston, IL and is certified as a practitioner, supervisor, and trainer in both Theraplay and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP). Dafna trains psychotherapists internationally in these methods and trains in three languages. She is also a supervisor and author in the field of treating attachment and trauma issues in children.

Sophia Ansari, LPCC, is the Co-founder of the Let’s Play Therapy Institute. She has worked with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. She provides workshops on play therapy to mental health professionals and educates parents and teachers on the importance of play as it relates to development and learning in the school setting. She is a passionate research trainer who has bridged her knowledge of neuroscience and creative therapies to provide in-depth, highly experiential trainings at local, state, and national events and conferences.

Josué Cardona, MS, earned a master’s in mental health counselling and trained in Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy (REBT) at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City. He has worked with clients ages 4 to 84 through in-home, community, and outpatient counselling.

Nicholas Kardaras, PhD, LCSW-R, is a psychologist, best-selling author, internationally renowned speaker and expert on mental health, addiction, and the impact of our digital age. He has developed clinical treatment programs all over the country and is the founder and chief clinical officer of Maui Recovery in Hawaii, Omega Recovery in Austin, and the Launch House in New York.

David M. Pratt, PhD, MSW, is in private practice and Director of the Mood Management Program at the Western New York Psychotherapy Services in Amherst, NY. He is presently on faculty with the University at Buffalo, School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education and a member of New York State, Office of Mental Health Advisory Board on Evidence-Based Treatments for Youth.

Lynne Kenney, PsyD, is the nation’s leading pediatric psychologist in the development of classroom cognitive-physical activity programs for students grades K-6. Dr. Kenney develops curriculum, programming, and activities to improve children’s cognition through coordinative cognitive-motor movement, executive function skill-building strategies, and social-emotional learning.

David D. Nowell, PhD, is a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice in Northborough, Massachusetts. He offers consultations to patients on an inpatient rehabilitation unit and is an adjunct instructor in neuropsychology to graduate students in the Clark University psychology program. He serves as a physician advisor with the University of Massachusetts Medical School Disability Evaluation Service where he was the former clinical director of the Learning Disability Assessment Program.

Cheryl Catron, M.Ed., LPCC-S, RPT-S, is a long-time educator and mental health clinician who has over 19 years serving students with a wide variety of academic and mental health needs. In her most recent role as a school-based mental health clinician, she provided therapy and support services for K-5 students with differing clinical issues including depression, anxiety, social skills, ADHD, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. In addition to this, Ms. Catron also served as a consultant for and collaborator with teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school staff members.

Tinashe Blanchet, M.ED, BS, is a former high school math teacher with over 15 years of experience in education and teacher training. Tinashe has over 10 years of experience as a user and trainer of G Suite for Education. As a Google Certified Innovator and Trainer, Tinashe is uniquely equipped to help your school or district go one-to-one with Chromebooks. She can also support interactive whiteboards, mobile tablets, and laptop devices.

Wendy Durant, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC, CSOTP, BC-TMH, a licensed professional counsellor, LA Certified Teacher and Guidance Counselor who serves as CEO and executive director of DuraCARE Counseling & Consulting Services, an internationally accredited outpatient clinic that provides mental health, play therapy, and substance abuse services to children, adolescents, and adults.

Marcus Stein, M.ED, a Google Certified Trainer who serves as the professional development director for AXI Education Solutions. Along with a team of expert educators and instructional technology coaches, he conducts ongoing on-site and virtual instructional technology professional development to Parishes and Counties across the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Nicole Williams, M.ED, a LA Certified Education Leader and Teacher and Google Certified Trainer. She founded the Luminescent Leader, a boutique leadership development consulting company, and works with organizations such as UnboundEd and the XQ Institute, who are equally committed to dismantling systems that benefit from the marginalization of our nation's children, to support schools and educators nationally. Nicole has also served a leadership coach, an elementary grade school leader, and a special education teacher.

Terry Casey, PhD, is a Licensed Psychologist, HSP health service provider with over 30 years of professional experience, including a 16-year tenure as the director of counselling & psychological services for a non-profit agency with over 30 counsellors at over a dozen locations. He is in private practice in Franklin Tennessee, teaches ethics and professional issues in counselling at Lipscomb University’s graduate program in clinical mental health counselling, and guest lectures at Trevecca University’s PhD program in Clinical counselling.

Vicki Steine, DSC, LCSW, has been a social worker for 18 years, working in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and works with children and adults with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and Tourette’s’ syndrome in her private practice in the Atlanta area. Dr. Steine received her Master’s in social work from the University of Georgia and her Doctorate of Science in holistic nutrition from Hawthorn University. She is Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition through the National Association of Nutrition Professionals, a Nutrition Certified Practitioner through the Integrated and Functional Nutrition Academy, and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Christina Reese, LCPC, Ph.D., has been working with children impacted by trauma for over 15 years, and has recently completed training as a TBRI Practitioner. Dr. Reese, a recognized attachment and trauma professional, has created a comprehensive guide that explains attachment over a lifetime. Her book, Attachment: 60 Trauma-Informed Assessment and Treatment Interventions Across the Lifespan (PESI, 2018), offers trauma-informed strategies to facilitate connection, rebuild trust and restore positive emotions.

Tony L. Sheppard, Psy.D., CGP, FAGPA, specializes in treating young people suffering from psychiatric issues including self-harm and suicide. A licensed psychologist and certified group psychotherapist, Tony brings over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults to his clinical practice. In addition to his private practice, Groupworks, he has trained hundreds of clinicians, educators, nurses, and physicians across the country in the treatment of self-harm and suicide, and is the author of a training curriculum in group psychotherapy. Click here for information about Tony L. Sheppard