Advisory Board

Joy R. Samuels, D.MIN., LPC-MHSP, NCC, has over 25 years experience as a licensed professional counselor, Fellow in Thanatology, chaplain, and ordained minister. She teaches in the graduate clinical mental health psychology department at Lipscomb University and at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in the United Methodist Church Course of Studies. She maintains a private counseling practice and supervises those seeking licensure as a LPC-MHSP. Dr. Samuels holds D.MIN. and MDIV. degrees from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC. Additionally, she holds an MS degree in counseling psychology from California State University, Northridge, CA, and a counseling certificate in substance abuse from the Northern Virginia Community College, Annadale, VA. Among her areas of expertise are individual, couples and family counseling, trauma and bereavement, and post-masters supervision.

Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD, NCC, LMHC, DCMHS is a bestselling author and psychotherapist. She has been in practice for 20 years. She is an American Mental Health Counseling Association Diplomate (one of 100 in the U.S.) and an AMHCA Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Child and Adolescent Counseling (one of 20 in the U.S.). Dr. Sarkis received her degrees and training from the University of Florida. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a National Certified Counselor. She also is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator. She maintains a private practice in Tampa, Florida, where she specializes in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and anxiety. Dr. Sarkis is a blogger for Psychology Today and The Huffington Post. Her website is www.stephaniesarkis.com.

Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT, EMDR-C is a clinical psychologist, internationally sought-out teacher, therapeutic yoga instructor, and leading voice in the healing of PTSD and complex trauma. She is the author of five books based upon her integrative, mind-body approach to trauma recovery: The Complex PTSD Workbook; The Post Traumatic Growth Guidebook; A Practical Guide to Complex PTSD; EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology; and The Complex PTSD Treatment Manual. Her unique blend of spirituality and science can be found in her writings, guided trauma recovery programs, and applied Polyvagal Theory in yoga for trauma recovery. Dr. Schwartz is an accomplished teacher who guides therapist in the application of EMDR, somatic psychology, parts work therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of trauma and complex trauma. She is a longtime meditation and yoga practitioner with a passion, kindness, compassion, joy, and a succinct way of speaking about very complex topics - along with a passion for the outdoors; all of which she incorporates into her work as founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy in Boulder, Colorado where she maintains a private practice providing psychotherapy, supervision, and consultation. Dr. Schwartz believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart. Discover more at drarielleschwartz.com.

Betsy Shandalov, OTR/L, C-IAYT, AWC, is a holistic Occupational Therapist and has worked as a clinician, educator and supervisor in rehabilitation, community re-entry and the school setting. Her extensive knowledge of disease and disability with adults and children in a variety of settings combines with her complementary holistic treatments to provide a new level of understanding of how the brain and the immune system work together for natural and therapeutic healing. Betsy teaches clients to empower themselves to prevent injury, heal an existing injury and help with pain management and trauma throughout the lifespan. She works with individuals and families helping to find balance in their minds and bodies by using Ayurveda, Yoga therapy, Meditation and Mindfulness for healing.

Betsy is a certified yoga therapist through the International Association of Yoga Therapists and is certified as a yoga kids' teacher and trainer by Yoga Kids International. She has advanced training in trauma through The Center for Mind-Body Medicine in Washington, D.C. and is a Level I Reiki practitioner. She recently completed her Ayurvedic Medicine Training for wellness coaching and this past year authored a chapter on Meditation in an Integrative Medicine Textbook for Rehab Professionals.

George Simon, PhD, has specialized in disturbances of personality and character for over 30 years. He is widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities on manipulative personalities and other problem characters. Dr. Simon received his PhD in clinical psychology from Texas Tech University, and, until just a few years ago, he maintained an active private practice, during which he served both individuals with serious character disturbances and their relationship partners.

He has also served as the supervising psychologist for the Arkansas Sex Offender Risk Assessment program, as well as in their only inpatient treatment program for offenders. His books, In Sheep’s Clothing, Character Disturbance - The Phenomenon of our Age, and The Judas Syndrome, are all bestsellers. Dr. Simon has appeared on CNN and the Fox News Network, and he has conducted over 200 instructional seminars and workshops nationwide. He is a full clinical member of ATSA and a Diplomate of the American College of Forensic Examiners. 

Erica H. Sirrine, PhD, LCSW, FT, is a licensed clinical social worker, qualified clinical supervisor, and professor of social work at Southeastern University. She has over 18 years of counseling and practice experience in the field of death, dying, and bereavement and has been awarded the distinction of Fellow in Thanatology by the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Dr. Sirrine has conducted and published peer-reviewed research on the continuing bonds maintained by survivors following a death, and she is the author of Sammy’s Story, an anticipatory grief counseling book for young children experiencing the serious illness of a loved one.

Sean G. Smith, MSc, FP-C, CEN, CFRN, CPEN, CCRN-CMC (Adult), CCRN-K (Neonatal), CCRN-K (Pediatric), is a flight nurse-paramedic who has practiced and taught Trauma Care, Tactical Medicine, Emergency/Critical Care and Prehospital Emergency Medical Services, both in the military and the civilian world. He holds degrees in nursing and molecular biology, is a graduate of Duke University’s Legal Nurse Consulting program and is currently pursuing a master’s degree through the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. He holds multiple advanced specialty certifications as well as extensive instructor qualifications in critical care and emergency medicine. Career highlights include numerous author/co-author credits, including: a best-selling Laboratory Medicine textbook, a chapter on Shock in Trauma Nursing Core Curriculum, and a section in the newly released Resuscitation Crisis Manual. Sean consults on clinical, legal and certification prep for numerous high-profile hospital systems (Yale, Mayo…). He routinely lectures at national/international conferences, has completed 50 + medical missions (Dominican Republic, Honduras, Morocco, Liberia, and Haiti), and medical support to the NASA Space Shuttle Program.

Pavel Somov, PhD is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Pittsburgh, PA. He holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from SUNY Buffalo, with 20+ years of clinical experience and is the author of numerous books on self-help 7 of which are on mindfulness-based applications to a variety of psychological issues.

Dr. Somov is on the Advisory Board for The Mindfulness Project (London, UK). Over the years, Dr. Somov has conducted a variety of continued education workshops domestically and internationally on the topics of shame and guilt and self-criticism, on mindful eating, on perfectionism, on anger management, and on mindfulness applications for worry, dysthymia, insomnia and substance use. His work has been discussed in a variety of radio interviews (Martha Stewart's Radio/Whole Living, Fully Alive!, etc.) and mentioned in a variety of print publications (Martha Stewart'sBody + Soul Magazine, Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine).

Dr. Somov offers an original, mindfulness-based approach to working with perfectionism, self-criticalness, and negative self-view/self-esteem issues. A recent, randomized study—published by Mindfulness Journal—shows that Somov’s approach (described in his 2010 book Present Perfect) is effective as a standalone intervention. The study found that those who had read Present Perfect experienced a statistically significant reduction of self-criticalness, a result that was still maintained at a six weeks follow-up (Wimberley, Mintz, & Suh, Mindfulness, Nov. 2015).

Vicki Steine is a Doctor of Science in Holistic Nutrition and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private practice working with children and adults. She has worked in the field of mental health for over twenty years. She is currently in private practice and specializes in treating neurological disorders, addiction, and trauma. Knowing that the brain and the body are connected, Dr. Vicki uses a combination of lifestyle education, mind/body therapies and talk therapy in her practice. She is a Board Certified Nutrition Professional, Integrative Nutrition Certified Practitioner, Certified HeartMath Practitioner, and Brainspotting Therapist. She is also trained in Emotional Freedom Technique, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Exposure Therapy. She is a national speaker for PESI teaching an integrative approach to psychotherapy.

Mike Studer, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS, CEEAA, CWT, CSST, FAPTA has been a PT since 1991, a board certified in neurologic PT in 1995, and a private practice owner since 2005. Dr. Studer has been an invited speaker covering 50 states, 10 countries, and 4 continents speaking on topics ranging from cognition and psychology in rehabilitation, aging, stroke, motor learning, motivation in rehabilitation, balance, dizziness, neuropathy and Parkinson Disease. Dr. Studer is a co-founder and co-owner of Spark Rehabilitation and Wellness in Bend, OR. He is an adjunct professor at Oregon State University’s DPT program, where he leads the coursework on motor control. Mike has adjunct duties at several other DPT programs and assists the USC-led national network of neurologic PT residencies (Neuroconsortium) as well. Mike is the co-owner of Spark Rehabilitation and Wellness, a multidisciplinary Healthy Aging and Neurology rehabilitation clinic, also in Bend. In 2011, Mike was recognized as Clinician of the Year in the Neurologic and (in 2014) the Geriatric Academies of the APTA. He received the highest honor available in PT in 2020, being distinguished as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA in 2020, joining a group of under 300 persons at the time for the history of the profession. Mike’s honors additionally reflect his service for Vice Presidency of the Academy of Neurologic PT, the Mercedes Weiss award for service to the Oregon chapter of APTA. He holds a trademark in dual task rehabilitation and has a patent pending on the same. Over his career, Mike has authored over 35 articles, 6 book chapters, and routinely has clinical research projects in affiliation with one of many universities. He is a consultant to Major League Baseball on the motor control of pitching and hitting. As a very fun and lighthearted note, Mike is the four time and current WR holder for the fastest underwater treadmill marathon, a mark that was set most recently in January 2022.