Shanelle Wenell, LMFT (Speaker/Presenter): has been working as a mental health provider since 2015 but in the field of mental health since 2002. She graduated from Adler Graduate School in 2015 and is a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. Shanelle’s love for animals brought her into an unconventional path into the field of therapy through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy working with first responders, veterans, and homeless youth. Since then, Shanelle has taken a profound commitment to helping BIPOC individuals and families navigate the aftermath of complex trauma. With a specialized focus on supporting victims and their families affected by gun violence and fatality, domestic violence, narcissistic abuse, sex trafficking, and other crimes. Shanelle provides compassionate and evidence-based therapeutic care. Her approach integrates trauma-informed practices such as brain spotting, attachment and ensuring a safe and supportive environment for healing and recovery. Dedicated to empowering and educating her clients, Shanelle works diligently to restore hope, resilience, relational connection and well-being in those who have experienced profound adversity.

Arilda Surridge, MA, LMFT (Host/Event Organizer/Speaker/Presenter): is a Hispanic-Bilingual mental health professional with extensive experience and specializations. She is a Certified EMDR Therapist, an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Advanced Credit Provider. Arilda also finds great value in Co-Facilitating EMDR Basic Trainings. Additionally, Arilda is an approved Clinical Supervisor, a trainer and continuing education provider, and a Level 3 trained therapist in Gottman Couples Therapy. Arilda’s expertise encompasses a broad range of mental health issues, with a particular focus on trauma, anxiety, depression, and couples therapy. She brings a specialized understanding to her work with early trauma, complex PTSD, and recent and ongoing traumatic stress. Her skills extend to addressing trauma and treating affairs within couples, as well as providing therapy for other mental health providers. Arilda, is also skilled in creating therapy intensives/retreats for clients to incorporate an integrative/holistic approach to their treatment. Additionally, Arilda has organized local and destination Wellness Retreats for Couples, Individuals, and mental health professionals, promoting the importance of integrative care.

Sandra Paulsen, Ph.D. (Keynote Speaker), is an international instructor, author, and illustrator known for her work with EMDR in complex trauma, including structural and somatic dissociation, and trauma held in implicit memory. She pioneered the protocol for using EMDR with highly dissociative individuals, emphasizing the importance of screening for dissociation before administering EMDR. Since 1993, Sandra has trained thousands of mental health professionals in these specialized procedures. Her recent work includes “The Beauty and Burden of Autism: An Illustrated Guide and Workbook” (2024) and the upcoming “Indigenous Trauma and Dissociation: Healers, Psychotherapies, and the Drum.” She coedited “The Neurobiology and Treatment of Traumatic Dissociation: Toward an Embodied Self” and authored several guides, including “Looking Through the Eyes of Trauma” and “When There Are No Words.” Sandra is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. She resides in a log house on Bainbridge Island, near Seattle, Washington, where she conducts intensive three-day treatments. More information can be found on her website: www.paulsenpsychology.com.

Emily Reiner, LPC, LCMHC, RPT (Speaker/Presenter): Is a professional counselor, Air Force veteran, and author with a passion for exploring all things wellness. Emily began her counseling career in 2018 and has spent the following years exploring how “wellness” shows up in people’s lives. As a Registered Play Therapist, she saw firsthand how life experiences play a role in how people show up in the world, how they interact in relationships, how they construct their identity, and how they experience “wellness”, even in the earliest years of life. Emily’s continued work with clients all across the age spectrum showed that these experiences continue to shape us as we navigate our lives. She work with her clients to help them discover their whole self, have compassion and nurture their tender pieces, and make space for joy by capitalizing on the integrative tapestry of wellness. Emily’s work emphasizes compassion and the integration of diverse elements of wellness to create a fulfilling and balanced life.

Bonnie Walchuk, MA, LMFT, ATR-BC, is President and Founder of nonprofit, Dream Big Wellness. Bonnie brings extensive experience in therapeutic practices and clinical training, focusing on art therapy’s impact on emotional and psychological well-being. She specializes in supporting adults experiencing cancer, medical trauma, chronic illness, chronic pain, end of life, grief and loss, life transitions, and globally mobile populations. Bonnie is dedicated to advancing the field of art therapy through innovative and culturally sensitive practices. She has served as an Art Therapist facilitator at 13 retreats since May 2022 and continues to expand opportunities for art therapy and mental health continuing education training. www.dreambigwellness.org

Karin is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California who originally immigrated from Salzburg, Austria as an AMI trained international Montessori Teacher (Bergamo, Italy). Her relationship to nature and animals, in particular horses, shaped her teaching career of over 20 years, where she quickly moved towards program development and application, providing profound wilderness experiences for children and adults via hikes, camping trips, music, equine therapy and vision quests. She was instrumental in the design of a Montessori “Erdkinder Program” (Children of the Earth) for local schools in both Austria and California. A personal encounter and conversation with Victor Frankl fueled her desire to move towards the field of psychology, to assist both children and adults with authentic expression of emotional needs and wellbeing in an existential-humanistic manner (here and now approach) and with the emerging field of Ecopsychology in mind. In her second career as a psychologist, she has been working in community mental health for the past 25 years with marginalized groups as well as the SMI (severely mentally ill population) in indigent counties. She served in crisis intervention, provided conservatorship evaluations, served on the children’s team and TAY (transitional age youth) as a therapist and program co-ordinator providing nature based programs and equine therapy. She has also served as an outreach co-ordinator and liaison to the local Native American Tribes who provided valuable insight on the healing power of nature and rituals. In subsequent years, Karin moved from county mental health towards medical clinic work for the underserved and focused on providing meaningful programs and therapy for chronic pain patients as well as homebound seniors. Currently, Karin has a virtual private practice where she sees adults of all ages and all walks of life. Karin’s therapeutic approach is trauma informed, existential- humanistic and strongly rooted in attachment theory. She is familiar with a variety of therapeutic modalities and likes to keep up to date with neuropsychology and holistic approaches to both physical and emotional health. She is a strong believer that the healing power of nature and the field of Ecopsychology is a valuable tool and particularly relevant in a post Covid world.

Melissa Perry, MA/P., LPC, LCPC (Speaker/Presenter), is a licensed clinical psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience in behavioral health. Specializing in anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, and burnout, particularly among first responders and medical professionals, Melissa has made a significant impact on countless lives. Her career spans inpatient mental health facilities, community nonprofits, military settings, and private practice. Melissa’s approach is rooted in empathy, creating a safe space for clients to explore their experiences. She utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities, including ACT, DBT, EMDR, and psychedelic and somatic practices, tailoring each journey to meet her clients’ unique needs. Her work in the psychedelic space over the past five years reflects her holistic approach, addressing not just symptoms but empowering clients to reclaim their narratives. Melissa is passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and advocates for the rights and needs of all. Through workshops, retreats, and seminars, she inspires personal growth and resilience, fostering a culture of healing within communities.

LaReesa Hooper, LMFT, LADC (Speaker/Presenter): is the founder of Therapeace Counseling in St. Paul, MN. She graduated from Adler Graduate School in 2014 with an emphasis on Marriage and Family Therapy and holds a certificate in Co-occurring Disorders. LaReesa has extensive experience working in community mental health, county mental health, and school-based mental health services, with a focus on serving BIPOC and underserved communities. In addition to running her practice, LaReesa carries a small caseload, providing personalized care to her clients. She has a particular special interest and specialized training in narcissism and narcissistic abuse, trauma, and chemical dependency. As an advocate for mental health awareness, LaReesa is a guest speaker on various programs, including podcasts and Minnesota Public Radio (MPR). Her diverse background and dedicated approach make her a compassionate and knowledgeable therapist committed to supporting her clients’ mental health and well-being.

Shannon Price is a LMFT (Speaker/Presenter): with over 20 years’ experience in the field of mental health and 12 years’ experience in teaching and education. As the owner and co-founder of three successful group practice clinics, Shannon has dedicated her career to helping individuals, couples, and adolescents navigate their journey towards healing and growth. Shannon has extensive training and certification in DBT and EMDR, was well as licensure in four states. Her primary focus areas include: trauma, personality disorders, anxiety, depression and issues around school choice and accommodations. Shannon’s experience extends beyond her practice as she is also a WA State and AAMFT Approved Supervisor; mentoring future and pre-licensed therapists in their pursuit of licensure, mentorship and private practice/entrepreneurship skills. In addition, she also trains alongside two therapy dogs, using animal-assisted therapy to create a safe and comforting environment for her clients. Shannon’s love for animals doesn’t stop there, as she is also a paw parent to four lovable doggos. When she’s not busy helping others, Shannon enjoys exploring new places with her family, as she is also a proud wife and mother of two teens and one young college-age kiddo.