Under the deal, OneSpan and Nok Nok will launch a joint solution that combines OneSpan's Mobile Security Suite with Nok Nok's S3 Authentication Suite, a set of tools that help companies comply with FIDO standards by leveraging multi factor biometric authentication technology. The low-friction solution offers phishing-resistance technology including geolocation, jailbreak and rootkit detection, device binding, device identification, and application shielding with Runtime Application Self-Protection (RASP).
At FinovateFall 2017, OneSpan presented under the name VASCO, debuting the OneSpan Sign (then eSignLive) Digital Lending Solution. The solution leverages the blockchain and e-signature capabilities to offer a compliant, digital lending solution. OneSpan boasts more than 10,000 customers, including more than half of the top 100 global banks. Scott Clements is CEO.
Business solutions company VASCO is making a major pivot today, along with a fully-fledged rebrand, as well as an acquisition to support the company's new objectives.
VASCO, now known as OneSpan, has narrowed its focus to become an anti-fraud platform. OneSpan will trade on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "OSPN." It is expected to begin trading on Monday, June 4.
OneSpan offers a Trusted Identity platform (TID), an API-based solution that aims to reduce fraud associated with onboarding and transactions while offering an enhanced experience for the end user. TID's new Intelligent Adaptive Authentication reviews and scores data pulled from user behavior, devices, and transactions to offer a real-time view of user security without interfering with the user experience.
Bolstering today's transition is OneSpan's acquisition of Dealflo for $54.5 million (£41 million). Founded in 2009 and headquartered in the U.K., Dealflo offers configurable onboarding solutions to financial services clients. The company has partnerships with Equifax, TransUnion's iovation, Mitek, and VASCO's eSignLive (now OneSpan Sign).
Dealflo has operations across North America and EMEA, and is headquartered in London. The Dealflo team will join OpenSpan, working to bring Dealflo's solutions into new geographic markets.
OneSpan presented as VASCO at FinovateFall 2017 in New York. The company debuted the OneSpan Sign (then eSignLive) Digital Lending Solution. The solution leverages the blockchain and e-signature capabilities to offer a compliant, digital lending solution. Last month, the company teamed up with Finovate alum nCino to offer nCino clients access to an electronic signature solution.


Los Angeles based The Interrupters have been playing Rancid songs better than Rancid themselves lately. It's a fair point, because jokes aside, the resemblance between the two bands is uncanny when it comes to the Oi!-based ska/punk atmosphere. Their third album "Fight The Good Fight" echoes both the rebellious spirit of punk's origins as well as the 90s style Fat Wreck/Epitaph melodies from the heydey of the genre, so it's a welcome reminder of how attitude-fueled, rowdy punk rock used to sound like in the good ol' days in a time where we're lacking in frequency when it comes down to introducing new classics to the genre.
Speaking of attitude, that's the perfect starting point for the inevitable Distillers comparisons. Because just like the godly Brody Dalle during her triumphant years as The Distillers vocalist, The Interrupters vocalist Aimee carries herself with similarly gritty, attitude-driven style, featuring a dirty croon that puts most of her male colleagues to shame. Think Bad Cop/Bad Cop except even more rowdy and snarly, like a female version of Tim Armstrong during the best Rancid years when they released a classic after another in a string of releases that put them to the top of the festival billings for the rest of their lives.
It's quite a statement, but "Fight The Good Fight" really is that good of a record. You best get your skanking shoes on, as the band's infectiously catchy melodies deliver the upstroke guitars and party atmosphere associated with ska punk better than anyone else right now in the genre. From the rowdy "Not Personal" to the ridiculously catchy "Title Holder" and "Broken World", the record is jam-packed with snarly, whiskey-drenched quality tunes that will have you playing this record years from today with the same enthusiasm as the first couple of listens. At a perfect length at just around 30-minutes, it's the record you should give to anyone who says ska is dead to prove them dead wrong.


Accepted papers will be published by one SCIE and EI compendex indexed journal, which is affiliated to the IOS Press--Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering (BMME).
IOS Press is an independent, international STM publishing house established in 1987 in Amsterdam. One of their guiding principles is to embrace the benefits a lean organization offers. While their goal is to keep things simple, they strive to meet the highest professional standards. Their business practices are straightforward, transparent and ethical.
Their dedicated and experienced employees are their greatest asset. Guided by their core staff in Amsterdam, they manage a global network of editors, authors, librarians, representatives, agents, book importers, content hosts and typesetters, who all actively contribute to their business. They value and sustain long-term relationships with all of their contacts.
They prefer informality and are open and flexible in their daily business. Their streamlined organizational structure enables us to minimize bureaucracy and communicate on a very personal level, quickly and efficiently. They want to make working with IOS Press a pleasant and rewarding experience.
IOS Press is a reliable partner for any publishing project. They are committed to quality and meeting the challenges of juggling constant deadlines. Since the STM publishing industry is rapidly changing, they devote substantial resources into staying on top of new technologies and into driving innovation.
Accepted papers from iCBEB2014 have been published in Issue 6/Volume 24 in the journal 'Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering'. These papers have already been indexed by Science Citation Index-Expanded (SciSearch®), Scopus, Pubmed, Compendex and others databases after seven weeks publication.


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FOURTH TIME LUCKY ON A CLASSIC MULL MOUNTAIN CIRCUIT
Published 25th September 2019, 10:16
MIDDAY on Mull, and I have just touched the cairn that marks the summit of Beinn Fhada and my 'compleation' of the Grahams.
To reach this pile of rocks at the highest point I have passed under the now traditional archway of walking poles held aloft by friends and members of the Munro Society.
Waiting at the cairn are celebratory bottles of fizz. There are handshakes and kisses, and, equally importantly, a selection of cakes and other goodies. But there are also blue skies and sunshine. Now that is a break in tradition. Often these final days are masked by mist and coated in a degree of wetness ranging from drizzle to heavy, pounding rain.
It isn't all sweetness and light. There's a strong wind, so strong, in fact, that when we arrived on the shores of Loch na Keal it was hard to avoid being shunted sideways. It drives directly into our faces on the initial march over boggy ground to gain the slope ahead. The grasses are waving in synchronicity like a driven sea, the loch filled with herds of white horses thundering across the blue.
Doubts start surfacing about the plan to do the full circuit from Beinn Fhada over A' Chioch and round to Ben More. If the wind is demonstrating such power at this low level, what will it be like high on the ridge?
I had been thwarted from sampling this classic on three previous occasions, once by naivety-stroke-ignorance in my early mountain days, twice later by the weather. A memorable springtime ascent came to an abrupt halt at the top of Ben More when we gazed down at intimidating ice-painted slopes, the other simply by the misery of the 'normal' lack of clarity brought about by mist and rain.
Beinn Fhada, the long mountain, is well named. Once on the ridge, there is a succession of rises and dips, culminating in a steep final push to a rocky rampart with some minor handwork needed.
This is all done to the accompaniment of superb vistas; Loch na Keal and its captive isle of Eorsa behind, the dark shadow of Ben More's skyline to the right, the rugged, scree ravaged walls of the impressive Beinn a' Ghraig on the left.
With all the elements coming together at the right time, Beinn Fhada was turning out to be an inspired choice for the finish of a list of smaller hills that proved far more challenging than mere height would suggest. It was a round that had started almost by default and by halfway through I was debating whether to keep going. I'm glad I stuck with it: I came to admire and even love these hills, and the run-in provided many moments to rival outings on bigger rivals.
We regrouped before the last push, then formed up for the celebration. It seemed unlikely, but the wind was less ferocious here than it had been on the ground. Suddenly, the Ben More circuit was back on the agenda.
Sunbathing and celebrations fulfilled, the party split, and seven of us dropped south for the steady climb to the dark, pointed peak of A' Chioch. There was a rough path weaving its way through outcrops and crags, but as the angle steepened just below the summit it was simply a case of putting hand to rock and hauling ourselves up to the final platform.
Depending on the direction of light, the volcanic rock of Ben More's north-east ridge can take on an almost flawless blackness, a dark beast with a hypnotic, enticing beauty. Resistance is useless – the only way is straight up.
The wind perked up again at the col, reminding us of its potential, but once over the gap and clinking our way along the shattered path, it was soon forgotten. A cairn provided a marker for a steep clamber up a long, broken chimney which gains height quickly. We emerged on to a small platform for some respite, or, as it is more often put, a chance to admire the views. And what views.
The eyes are drawn down the jagged edge of the ridgeline to A' Chioch with unknown drops into a dark void, but the whole of the island is laid out under your feet.
Loch Scridain was a shining, silver slash, the sun radiating from it with nuclear intensity, Iona a distant smudge. The Paps of Jura rose on the horizon, their ruggedness masked in pale blue, the flatlands of Islay to their left.
We wandered down the easier route to the road, the wind growing stronger the lower we got, a strange end to a momentous day. Fourth time lucky, and a fitting finale in every respect.
Ben More - A'Chioch

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Tag Archives: therapy
Unwanted Wants Pt. I
"All I want for Christmas is a nice present" complained Suzy. "I don´t even want the ´thing´" she said, making quotation marks in the air with her fingers. "I really just want someone in my life that cares about me enough to give me one"
"Be careful what you wish for" Amanda said, "Bill will give me anything I want but I hate every second of my life I spend with him"
"Of course! In fifteen years of marriage he´s given you herpes and gonorrhea" Suzy said.
Amanda sighed "If it weren´t for the kids…" she lost her train of thought but snapped back quickly, "Hey, how´s that roommate search coming?"
"I have two interviews tomorrow" Suzy answered.
"Great! Both are girls, I presume?" Amanda prodded.
Suzy hesitated.
"No!" Amanda said, "Don´t do this to yourself, again. You know if the guy is halfway good looking, you´ll pick him. Then, you´ll be fucking him in a few weeks after moving in and your life will be a certain disaster in a few months"
"Therapy is helping! And besides, very few people answered the ad. I´ve filtered it down to these two; a guy and a girl. I want to see which I click with more" Suzy defended herself.
"We both know how this plays out" Amanda said, "I just don´t wanna say 'I told you so' again"
"Look, I´ll give more consideration to the girl if it makes you feel any better" Suzy said.
"Because I know you, it doesn´t make me feel any better" Amanda said.
Suzy laughed nervously.
The next day, Suzy was escorting a very handsome man to the lobby of her apartment building. "I had one other interview today, but she couldn´t come" she lied.
"Oh yeah?" Justin said.
"I don´t think I´ll need to reschedule, you are perfect. I think you´ll fit right in" she said.
"That´s great! But maybe out of curiosity you should see them, though" he answered.
"That won´t be necessary" Suzy said, looking into Justin´s eyes, imagining going to the beach with him.
"That´s great then! When can I move my stuff in?"
"Whenever you want, I´ll just need the security deposited we discussed…" Suzy said before Justin cut her off.
"Can I just bring a few things over tonight and get you that deposit next week?" Justin asked.
"That sounds great!" Suzy answered, but in her gut she felt a familiar twang that meant the opposite was true. "I´ll be home all day. Come when you want"
"Ok", Justin said as he leaned in for a hug.
Suzy inhaled the sweat yet masculine aroma from the chest area of Justin´s cotton t-shirt. "Hmmmmmm" she thought to herself.
Continue to Unwanted Wants Pt. II
Tags: bad relationships, codependency, creative writing, creativity, dilemma, friendship, God, love, micro fiction, micro short stories, Micro Story, Psychology, relationships, series, short short story, short stories, short story, therapy
Categories Series, Short Stories, Writing


April 2017 - ID Studios, Inc.
After 11 years in the same location, we were busting at the seams and needed to find a new home to inspire our designers and demonstrate our passion. We found it just down the street in a 5,000 s.f. open office mezzanine filled with natural light. The space is complete with roll up garage doors, operable skylights, collaboration areas and flexible work space. Next time you're in the area, stop in and say hello.
If you missed our open house party, check out the photos here on Facebook.


This beautiful and unique city of lakes is a magnificent depiction of the Royal era. And is a must long weekend getaway.
One of the Reasons I Travel.. So that I can Shoot these Clear Night Skies.in Long Exposure.. And sit back to see those stars Forming those Sceneries.
A father and son meditating at and relishing a temple which is placed at the highest pedestal of Sikhism. The evening setting with lights and reflection adds to the already soothing ambience. No wonder why Golden temple never fails to mesmerise and spellbound every soul.
One exit opens up to another entrance..the history got different vibes all togther..


WATCH YOUR FINGERS! This cutter can take multiple reams of paper and cut it all at once with a single drop of the blade. The imagination is not limited to standard sizes and shapes. For that reason, the Challenge Champion power-operated cutter is an invaluable tool. With infinite possible adjustments, sturdy guides and a guide light that allows for pinpoint alignment, the Champion can accurately handle business cards, binder spines and covers, bleed trimming and anything demanded of it.


This summer is flying by, and I've been a little focused on finishing my current WIP. It's slowed down my reading ability! But it's still a new month which means giveaway time! So while I'm catching up on a few new reads to review, here's my June Bookshelf giveaway. Just leave me a comment here or on my Facebook post, and you're entered to win your choice of one of these books.
Winner announced next week Friday!
Hi Susan! I know what you mean about writing interfering with your reading.
I hope you had a great 4th, and I'm can't wait to hear more about your WIP!


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Kimberly Brown and Lydia Muthiani
Ensuring the education of the girl-child must be achieved through a crosscutting strategy that links various development priorities and engages a variety of stakeholders.
This week at the 59th convening Session for the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York, the international community will acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments made towards achieving gender equality and advancing women's rights in the 20 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing Platform) by 189 countries. The Beijing Platform is the single most comprehensive policy roadmap for governments in addressing these 12 critical areas of concern towards the empowerment of women: poverty; education and training; health; violence; armed conflict; economy; power and decision-making; institutional mechanisms; human rights; media; environment; and the girl-child.
Twenty years later, these issues remain imperative in the struggle for women's full and equal enjoyment of their human rights the world over, especially as the international community finalizes a post-2015 development agenda to more aggressively address the objectives enshrined in the Millennium Development Goals. Most importantly, this watershed moment serves as an opportunity for critical reflection of challenges that have prevented successful implementation of the Beijing Platform and a chance for meaningful appreciation of the achievements made. It is more important than ever that urgent and sustained action is maintained to shift the prevailing paradigms and to transform structures and institutions relating to economic, political and social concerns in the fight for gender equality – which is not a goal in and of itself, but an imperative pillar underpinning the achievement of the global development agenda.
Critical to the review process for the Beijing Platform is the assessment of individual countries; especially around issues pertaining to the girl-child – as the woman of tomorrow – particularly in the full attainment of the goals of equality, development and peace. In most African countries where higher enrollment of girls into primary schools has been registered in the last 20 years, this number tapers off at the higher levels. The factors influencing this dramatic decrease in participation include "forced or coerced early marriages, unplanned or early pregnancies, cultural norms, gender based violence, and competing needs for the limited resources of poorer families."[1] In further elaborating the manifestation of the latter cause, particular influences include: child labour; trafficking; subjugation to economic activities such as transactional sex – such as 'sex for water' and 'sex tourism'; and, the overall denigration of the girl's or woman's worth and contributory function – including financial – to the family and society, mostly pursuant to negative socialization processes.
The education of the girl child is a fundamental objective of the Beijing Platform and the global development agenda. Furthermore, the majority of African countries have made positive obligations towards this right as a party to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa.[2] However, achievement of this goal is not possible without recognizing the interrelated nature of this right with others issues that detrimentally hinder the progress of girls: including sexual and economic exploitation; harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and child marriage; and, the lack of access to nutrition, physical and mental health care. Owing to this complicated web of issues surrounding the experience of the girl child, girls have continued to enjoy fewer rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence than boy children.
The factors and causes, which continue to besiege the entry, retention and performance of girls in schools must be investigated, appreciated and addressed as a matter of urgency. By actively challenging and addressing adulterated notions, attitudes and practices which construct the role and utility of girls as that solely to undertake the often burdensome familial and community responsibilities and tasks, the government would make greater strides towards fulfilling its obligations of ensuring that the right to education – both for girls and boys – is realized on an equal footing and with equal importance.
These causes may not seem believable to most people, but they are a reality: including pressures related to responsibilities attendant and expectations exerted within the home and community setting. Leaving the declining performance and "dropping off" of girls from schools unattended translates to a future in which a majority of those who access university education are boys. That will then leave Africa in a more hostile environment for the realization of gender equality, where women participate in the formal economy in steadily decreasing numbers. Affirmative action has been in place for many years; there may not be many more concessions that the society shall assent to in order to accommodate for tertiary education for women and girls. The symptoms of decline and regression are evident: they need be addressed at this level.
Ensuring the education of the girl child, through the often-tumultuous and adult-formative years of adolescence, must be achieved through a crosscutting strategy that links various development priorities and engages a variety of stakeholders. In this time of reflection on Africa – and the world's progress – in ensuring the realization of gender equality for our women and girls, let us remain hopeful. Lasting transformative social change linked with progressive economic development is possible; it simply must be for the sake of the continent's daughters, and education for all is the key to such success.
* Kimberly Brown is an avid international human rights lawyer, working with Equality Now on their Adolescent Girls' Legal Defense Fund (AGLDF) projects in Africa. Ms. Brown holds a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a B.A. cum laude in International Studies from Fordham University.
* Lydia Muthiani is the immediate former Deputy Executive Director/Programmes Manager at the Coalition on Violence against Women – Kenya (COVAW). Ms. Muthiani is currently undertaking a Masters of Studies in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nairobi and a post-graduate diploma from the Kenya School of Law. She is an advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a member of the Law Society of Kenya.
[1] Beijing +15: How Far Have We Come, How Far to Go? Assessing the Implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in Kenya (November 2009), http://tinyurl.com/orp53u4
[2] See African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, specifically Article 11 re: Education, http://caselaw.ihrda.org/doc/acrwc/view/, and Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, specifically Article 12 re: Education and Training, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/women-protocol/
* THE VIEWS OF THE ABOVE ARTICLE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR/S AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PAMBAZUKA NEWS EDITORIAL TEAM
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Microsoft Acquires Bethesda Softworks – The Buttonwood Tree
INVESTMENT BANKINGMERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
By moneymakersmentor	 Last updated Dec 3, 2020
On Monday Sept. 21, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced that they are planning to acquire ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks. The acquisition will be completed through a cash deal valued at $7.5 billion. Executive Vice President of Gaming at Microsoft and Head of Xbox Phil Spencer, provided more details about the deal in a blog post on Xbox's website.
This acquisition will be Microsoft's third largest, behind Skype and LinkedIn. The tech conglomerate has also bought several independent American and European video game studios over these past couple of years, bringing the number of gaming studios they own from 15 up to 23, including Bethesda.
Microsoft Praises Bethesda
Spencer praised Bethesda in Xbox's blog post, stating "As one of the largest, most criticall…
Cure Hydration Earns $2.6 Million in Seed Capital
Fed Extends Four Lending Programs to Sustain the Economy –
DoorDash Set for Fourth Quarter IPO, Facing Legal Injunction…
Israeli FinTech eToro Plans to go Public
Bodyport Raises $11.2 Million for Virtual Cardiac Clinic
Nana Technologies Earns $6 Million in Seed Funding
Ant Group's IPO Set to be One of the Biggest in History


Explore the local arts scene through First Fridays, a free event sponsored by the adjacent Uptown Arts District. The mansion features a local artist every first Friday of the month in Spring, Summer and Fall. Refreshments are served and guests are invited to view first floor rooms of the mansion.


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THE GLOBAL EXCHANGE CONFERENCE 2023
ADDICTION • WELLNESS • MENTAL HEALTH • LEADERSHIP
Click here to find the Global Exchange Conference on LinkedIn Find the Global Exchange Conference on Facebook Receive Event Alerts!
GET ALERTS FOR GXC 2023
Exhibitor / Sponsor Registration
Global Advisory Team
Our Featured Presenters
Dr. Gabor Maté
A renowned speaker and bestselling author, Dr. Gabor Maté is highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress and childhood development.
Rather than offering quick-fix solutions to these complex issues, Dr. Maté weaves together scientific research, case histories, and his own insights and experience to present a broad perspective that enlightens and empowers people to promote their own healing and that of those around them.
After 20 years of family practice and palliative care experience, Dr. Maté worked for over a decade in Vancouver's Downtown East Side with patients challenged by drug addiction and mental illness. The bestselling author of four books published in over twenty-five languages, Dr. Maté is an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. His book on addiction received the Hubert Evans Prize for literary non-fiction. For his groundbreaking medical work and writing he has been awarded the Order of Canada, his country's highest civilian distinction, and the Civic Merit Award from his hometown, Vancouver. Dr. Maté is also co-developer of a therapeutic approach, Compassionate Inquiry, now studied by hundreds of therapists, physicians, counselors, and others internationally.
Margaret Trudeau
Margaret Trudeau is celebrated as Canada's sensational first lady in the 1970's, and is respected for her work as a mental-health issues advocate. From becoming a prime minister's wife at a young age, to the loss of both her son and her former husband, to living with bi-polar disorder, Margaret shares her personal stories to remind others of the importance of nurturing the body, mind, and spirit.
Margaret is the author of four books, including her bestselling title, Changing My Mind, which charts her life's ups and downs, and her latest title, The Time of Your Life, which offers women an inspirational and practical approach to creating a healthy, happy, secure and satisfying future.
Margaret sits on the Executive Advisory Board of the UBC Mental Health Institute as a community advocate, and she is the Honorary President of WaterAid, a charitable Canadian non-governmental agency that is dedicated to helping poor communities in developing countries build sustainable water-supply and sanitation services. She is also the proud mother to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Dr. Peter Levine
Dr. Peter Levine a Senior Fellow with the Meadows Institute, holds doctorates in both medical biophysics and psychology. He is the developer of Somatic Experiencing® (SE), a naturalistic body-awareness approach to healing trauma, and teaches it all over the globe. He is the founder of the Foundation for Human Enrichment and was a stress consultant for NASA during the development of the space shuttle. Dr. Levine is the author of Healing Trauma, Sexual Healing and the best-selling book, Waking the Tiger; he co-authored, with Maggie Kline, Trauma Through a Child's Eyes and Trauma-Proofing Your Kids. His newest book, In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness, is a testament to his lifelong investigation into the connection between evolutionary biology, neuroscience, animal behavior, and more than 40 years of clinical experience in the healing of trauma. He was honored in 2010 when he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy (USABP).
Marianne Williamson is a bestselling author, political activist and spiritual thought leader.
For over three decades Marianne has been a leader in spiritual and religiously progressive circles. She is the author of 14 books, four of which have been #1 New York Times best sellers. A quote from the mega best seller A Return to Love, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…" is considered an anthem for a contemporary generation of seekers.
Williamson founded Project Angel Food, a non-profit that has delivered more than 13 million meals to ill and dying homebound patients since 1989. The group was created to help people suffering from the ravages of HIV/AIDS. They have since expanded their service to any person battling critical illness. She has also worked throughout her career on poverty, anti-hunger and racial reconciliation issues. She has advocated for reparations for slavery since the 1990's and was the first candidate in the 2020 presidential primary season to make it a pillar of her campaign. In 2004, she co-founded The Peace Alliance and supports the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace. In addition, she advocates for a cabinet level Department of Children and Youth to adequately address the chronic trauma of millions of American children. In 2021, Marianne launched MarianneWilliamson.Substack.com and the TRANSFORM Podcast.
Marianne is a native of Houston, Texas.
Dr. James Flowers
For nearly three decades, Dr. James Flowers has been one of the most recognized and respected names in the field of chronic pain, addiction, and pain recovery. With his broad educational background and extensive experience in evaluating and treating mental health, chronic pain, and co-occurring addiction, he is recognized as an expert.
Dr. Flowers has completed several fellowships in behavioral pain management and has completed clinical rotations at the top healthcare institutions in the country.
He developed mental health, pain, and addiction recovery programs for some of the country's best-known healthcare and addiction treatment centers. He directed medical and clinical programs integrating evaluation, diagnosis, and healthcare planning with treatment to promote successful recovery.
Dr. Flowers co-founded several well-known, exclusive treatment programs throughout the country, dedicated to his passion – that of designing multidisciplinary mental health and addiction treatment with medical and clinical protocols – to help individuals suffering from mental health, addiction, chronic pain, and other underlying disorders, successfully recover. With a demonstrated commitment to creating positive change in the lives of his clients, he is dedicated to progressive healthcare, human healing, and developing healthcare systems that best serve this population.
Dr. Flowers has been executing the protocol for assessments and evaluations for many years. Still, in founding J. Flowers Health Institute, he has advanced the process to satisfy a great void - to provide truly comprehensive assessment and evaluation for those who need a diagnosis and develop post-evaluation treatment recommendations. Having spent over 28 years in the medical and clinical community, Dr. Flowers is uniquely qualified to assemble some of the finest health care professionals in the world to perform these evaluations and provide treatment.
Over the years, Dr. Flowers' passion and dedication to his clients, as well as his unique approach, has earned him an exceptional reputation as one of the nation's premier experts. He is a popular public speaker and lecturer to audiences across the United States and abroad and has led an exceptional and distinguished career.
Dr. Flowers' latest endeavor is hosting his weekly podcast "Understanding the Human Condition." In each episode of Understanding the Human Condition, Dr. Flowers and his most-admired mentors, respected colleagues, and VIP guests share valuable insight into underlying health causes, conditions, and issues. These in-depth yet approachable episodes are an excellent resource for both private individuals and industry professionals.
Dr. Constant Mouton
MBChB, FCPsychSA, KNMG psychiatrist, CAI
Constant Mouton is a registered psychiatrist currently living in The Netherlands. He works with clients and their families throughout Europe and focuses on providing culturally sensitive mental health care for people with addiction and complex mental health problems.
During his studies as a medical doctor and later specializing as a (neuro)psychiatrist in South Africa, he was trained to work cross-culturally, respecting and utilising peoples' cultural heritage, religion and spiritual beliefs to understand and treat the person in their context better. In addition, having lived and worked abroad, he has a personal understanding of the challenges of being an immigrant and expat.
As a trained medical specialist, he has experienced the value of the bio-psycho-social model of psychiatry. His studies and own experience also led him to approach mental health and addiction problems holistically and engage and utilise the strengths of clients, their families and communities.
The Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu, "I am because we are", resonates throughout his work. He believes that by working collaboratively, we access combined resilience and restore connectedness between people. Through this connection, we are stronger and able to overcome adversity. Furthermore, the connectedness creates a space in which we can learn, improve and grow, bettering our own lives and those of others. The process of personal growth, recovery and healing occurs when we learn to focus on our strengths and resilience, creating our own story of mastery and success.
Dr. Karol Darsa
Dr. Darsa is a licensed psychologist and trauma specialist. She is the author of The Trauma Map and founder of Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Center. Her 22 years of clinical experience in trauma and mental health disorders established her as a coveted speaker on trauma treatment at worldwide conferences, treatment centers and universities including USC, UCLA and Cal Lutheran. Her expertise using evidence-based trauma treatments combining Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, Brainspotting and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy established her as a trauma specialist. She helps clients release and heal from their trauma using an approach that is gentle but direct.
in 2002, Dr. Darsa studied under Christine Schenk, founder of the CHRIS-Technique, an energy therapy focused on teaching clients how to ground themselves in their bodies. In 2012, Dr. Darsa co-created Invisible War Recovery, a program designed to treat military sexual trauma survivors. She learned that clients who become dysregulated due to traumatic events or emotional disorders benefit from a finely attuned, gentle, body-based process to help heal and reconnect mind and body.
During Dr. Karol Darsa's 20-plus years of therapeutic clinical practice, she developed a finely attuned, body-based method to heal and reconnect the mind and body. You will feel understood and safe throughout the gentle process taught in The Trauma Map.
Dr. Darsa's deep understanding of trauma healing was developed at her acclaimed treatment center, Reconnect Integrative Trauma Treatment Center. Her groundbreaking method is now directly available to you through this healing toolbox lovingly offered in The Trauma Map: Five Steps to Reconnect With Yourself.
Professor David Nutt
David Nutt is Chair of the Drug Science Scientific Committee and currently the Edmund J Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology and Head of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Centre for Academic Psychiatry in the Division of Brain Sciences, Dept of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London. He is also visiting professor at the Open University in the UK and Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He is the founder of Drug Science and has held many leadership positions in both the UK and European academic scientific and clinical organizations. These include presidencies of the European Brain Council, the British Neuroscience Association, the British Association of Psychopharmacology and the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology as well as Chair of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. He is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, of Psychiatrists and of the Academy of Medical Sciences. He is also the UK Director of the European Certificate and Masters in Affective Disorders courses and a member of the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy.
David has edited the Journal of Psychopharmacology for over twenty five years and acts as the psychiatry drugs advisor to the British National Formulary. He has published over 500 original research papers and a similar number of reviews and books chapters, eight government reports on drugs and 35 books, including one for the general public, 'Drugs Without the Hot Air', which won the Transmission book prize in 2014 for Communication of Ideas.
Dr. Tian Dayton
Dr. Tian Dayton is a senior fellow at The Meadows and Director of The New York Psychodrama Training Institute. She is the author of fifteen books including Neuropsychodrama in the Treatment of Relational Trauma, The ACoA Trauma Syndrome: How Childhood Trauma Impacts Adult Relationships, Emotional Sobriety: From Relationship Trauma to Resilience and Balance, Trauma and Addiction: Ending the Cycle of Pain Through Emotional Literacy, Heartwounds: The Impact of Unresolved Trauma and Grief on Relationships, The Living Stage: A Step by Step Guide to Psychodrama and Experiential Therapy, The Magic of Forgiveness
. She is a Huffington Post blogger and creator of innerlook.com.
Films and videos include The Process, a 73 minute award-winning docudrama that uses Psychodrama to tell stories of Addicts and ACOAs, and Psychodrama and Trauma Resolution Training Tape, a compressive psychodrama training tape illustrating the effect of unresolved trauma on the personality and its resolution through psychodrama and sociometry. They are available on her website.
Dr. Tian Dayton has a Master's in Educational Psychology and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. She is a board-certified trainer in Psychodrama and a licensed Creative Arts Therapist, as well as a certified Montessori teacher. Dr. Dayton is the director of The New York Psychodrama Training Institute where she runs training groups in psychodrama, sociometry and experiential group therapy. She is a nationally renowned speaker, expert, and consultant in psychodrama, trauma and addiction and has served as their director of program development for eight years. Dr. Dayton was on the faculty at NYU for eight years teaching psychodrama. She is a fellow of the American Society of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy ASGPP, a winner of their scholar's award and of the President's award. She serves as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy and sits on the professional standards committee. She is also the winner of The Mona Mansell Award and The Ackermann Black Award. Dr. Dayton has been a guest expert on NBC, CNN, MSNBC, Montel, Rikki Lake, John Walsh, and Geraldo.
Dr. Lou Cox
Dr. Louis D. Cox is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who has been practicing for over fifty-five years. His areas of expertise include the following:
Creating Conscious Team Dialog
Dr. Cox consults with different types of teams (executive/management teams, musical bands, community organizing teams) around developing and maintaining creative strategies for meeting their goals. His "Conscious Conversation" workshop trains teams to maintain a strong connection to their collective skills, intelligence, connection, and creativity, and to circumvent the barriers to sustaining creative team communication. This results in sustained high performance. Past clients include The Disney Corporation, AT&T, American Airlines, Sony Corporation, International Creative Management, Big Foote, as well as numerous successful rock and roll bands, including Aerosmith, REM, and Bon Jovi.
Alcoholism and Addiction
Dr. Cox is an expert in the area of alcoholism and addictions. He is experienced in the techniques designed to enable a family group or business colleagues to deal effectively with the insidious and destructive power of addictive disorders. Dr. Cox works individually with persons suffering from an addiction. He has also done trainings for the staff of several alcoholism and addiction treatment centers around the USA, UK, and Europe.
Dr. Cox is trained in a variety of psychotherapeutic techniques, including psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy, psychodrama, and cognitive therapy. He also teaches mindfulness, meditation, and a method of deep self-inquiry. Through individual and group sessions, as well as workshops, he assists his clients in releasing the grip of conditioned limiting self-definitions, and in re-connecting with the power and joy inherent in the Native Self.
Dr. Cox also supervises other therapists in their practice of psychotherapy.
A Conscious Life: Cultivating the Seven Qualities of Authentic Adulthood. Conari Press, 1996. This book explores the nature of being an adult by describing the inner operating principles of a fully present and empowered adult. It includes exercises for the development of these qualities.
Ego: The Ghost in Your Machinery. Epigraph Books, 2018. This book explores the nature of the ego, ways to release its grip, and how to consistently access the resources of our Native Self.
Emotions, Integrity, and Teams in the Workplace. Ethical Management, 1997.
Somebody Stole the Team's Brain. At Work: Stories of Tomorrow's Workplace, 1997.
Andrew Lovell & Anthony Gorry
AjoiA - a musical and sound therapy sensory experience.
Andrew Lovell is probably best known for being the percussionist and member of multi-platinum and award-winning band M People, and has performed with artists such as Soul II Soul, Sting and Dame Evelyn Glennie.
Andrew is a qualified Cranio-Sacral Therapist, a Somatic Experience Practitioner and Sound Therapist. He walks a Shamanic path and is currently studying Child Psychotherapy.
Anthony Gorry is a musician, producer and writer who has collaborated with worldwide-selling artists including Moby, Gwen Stefani, Diplo and Richard Ashcroft.
More recently, Anthony has been involved in a number of diverse projects. He co-produced the music for a documentary using the sounds of the blue whale in Iceland, working with a BAFTA award-winning production team.
Yin yoga and meditation are a strong foundation in Anthony's life, and he is passionate about growing, harvesting and cooking his own food.
Dr. Alberto Pertusa
Dr Alberto Pertusa is a Psychiatrist working in private practice in London, UK. He is also the founder of the London Psychiatry Clinic.
Dr Pertusa has extensive clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, including complex cases with anxiety, depression or addiction. He is particularly interested in how being on the ADD/ADHD spectrum can be associated with a higher risk for developing substance or process addictions.
Dr Pertusa is also very interested in the relationship between ADHD and certain problems such as Imposter Syndrome and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, and how this can increase the risk of certain addictive behaviors that can act as coping mechanisms to deal with emotional distress.
Dr Pertusa has a keen interest in Functional Medicine and how it can be applied to Psychiatry. He is also very interested in the potential use of ketogenic diets in mental health and is the founder of KetoMind, a service that offers medically supervised treatment for mental health disorders using ketogenic diets.
Dr Pertusa completed his medical studies and graduated in Medicine in Spain in 2001. He then completed his PhD at the Institute of Psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, King's College London. UK. He has published numerous scientific papers and has been an independent reviewer for several scientific journals. He also completed a Masters in Science (MSc) in Affective Neuroscience (Anxiety, Depression and related disorders) at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, and another MSc in Research Methodology in Health Sciences (Barcelona, Spain).
Dr. Jonathan Garabette
Treatment of Mental Health Conditions with Ketogenic diets: a new paradigm in Psychiatry
Dr. Garabette is a Consultant Psychiatrist working privately and in the NHS. He is a GMC registered specialist in the fields of both General Adult Psychiatry and Medical Psychotherapy.
He trained as a medical doctor at Guy's King's and St Thomas's Medical School, University of London, obtaining first class degree in Neuroscience before graduating in Medicine and Surgery in 2004. He then undertook specialist psychiatry training at the prestigious South London and Maudsley training scheme, then other renowned schemes at Oxford and South West London and St George's. He has additional qualifications in mental health research and biomedical and health education and has held honorary research, lecturer and psychotherapist posts at the Institute of Psychiatry, St George's University of London and Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. He has consultant experience in general psychiatry, forensic psychiatry and medical psychotherapy and is also heavily involved in training future specialists in psychiatry, and is appointed by Health Education England tas the training programme director for Medical psychotherapy training at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
His clinical approach is about providing individualised, bespoke care and believes that optimising the therapeutic relationship and understanding the whole person, rather than just the diagnosis, are essential in improving long-term emotional and mental health, and in improving performance and wellbeing. In this talk, he will explore possible avenues by which psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy may in the future assist such a holistic treatment approach.
Dr. Neil Brener
The representation of madness in 19 century operas
Dr Neil Brener has been a Consultant Psychiatrist since the early 1990s.
Dr Brener was an examiner for the Royal College of Psychiatrists for ten years in part I and part II of the MRCPsych. He is proud to be associated with teaching medical students and postgraduates. Dr Brener obtained a degree in medicine from the University of London in 1984 and MRCPsych from the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Dr Brener has lectured abroad on a number of occasions and is associated with the issue of mental health in India. He is also a regular speaker at international conferences in both the UK and abroad. Dr Brener has an extensive medico-legal practice providing reports on adult survivors of sexual abuse. He has given evidence in court on a number of occasions and undertakes a good deal of work around litigation and some areas of crime.
Dr Brener is an avid theatre-goer and has had a long association with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has also worked with a number of leading directors on the psychiatric aspects of productions, including People, Place and Things. He regularly attends the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was a West End co-producer of War Horse and The History Boys.
Dr Brener is a keen horse-rider, specialising in dressage. He competes on his Hanoverian mare Frumma and trains with international Grand Prix rider Paul Friday.
Dr. Richard Schwartz
Richard Schwartz began his career as a family therapist and an academic at the University of Illinois at Chicago. There he discovered that family therapy alone did not achieve full symptom relief and in asking patients why, he learned that they were plagued by what they called "parts." These patients became his teachers as they described how their parts formed networks of inner relationship that resembled the families he had been working with. He also found that as they focused on and, thereby, separated from their parts, they would shift into a state characterized by qualities like curiosity, calm, confidence and compassion. He called that inner essence the Self and was amazed to find it even in severely diagnosed and traumatized patients. From these explorations the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model was born in the early 1980s.
IFS is now evidence-based and has become a widely-used form of psychotherapy, particularly with trauma. It provides a non-pathologizing, optimistic, and empowering perspective and a practical and effective set of techniques for working with individuals, couples, families, and more recently, corporations and classrooms.
In 2013 Schwartz left the Chicago area and now lives in Brookline, MA where he is on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Professor John Kelly
Dr. Kelly is the Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine at Harvard Medical School - the first endowed professor in addiction medicine at Harvard. He is also the Founder and Director of the Recovery Research Institute at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Associate Director of the Center for Addiction Medicine (CAM) at MGH, and the Program Director of the Addiction Recovery Management Service (ARMS). Dr. Kelly is a former President of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Society of Addiction Psychology, and is a Fellow of the APA and a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has served as a consultant to U.S. federal agencies and non-federal institutions, as well as foreign governments and the United Nations. Dr. Kelly has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, chapters, and books in the field of addiction medicine, and was an author on the U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. His clinical and research work has focused on addiction treatment and the recovery process, mechanisms of behavior change, and reducing stigma and discrimination among individuals suffering from addiction.
Dr. Matthew Walker
Sleep is your superpower
Sleep is your life-support system and Mother Nature's best effort yet at immortality, says sleep scientist Matt Walker. In this deep dive into the science of slumber, Walker shares the wonderfully good things that happen when you get sleep -- and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don't, for both your brain and body.
Dr. Matthew Walker is a former Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and currently is Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the founder and director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Walker's research examines the impact of sleep on human health and disease. He has received numerous funding awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. To date, Walker has published over 100 scientific research studies.
Dr. Walker is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Why We Sleep, which was recently selected for the prestigious Sundance Book Festival.
Dedicated to the communication of science, Dr. Walker is an internationally recognized speaker, having been invited to give talks at the prestigious Royal Institution (Ri) and Royal Society for the Arts (RSA) in London, The Smithsonian in the U.S., and he has also given three Google talks. Dr. Walker is also a popular media discussant and frequent feature on mainstream television outlets including the BBC and CBS, as well as popular radio outlets such as the BBC World Service and NPR.
Dr. Walker has also helped create the recent National Geographic documentary, Sleepless in America, and the PBS NOVA special, Memory Hackers. Most recently, he has contributed to the BBC Horizon documentary, Curing Alzheimer's. His numerous presentations include several Google Tech talks and radio features on the BBC and NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross, City Arts & Lectures, Hidden Brain, Science Friday, and Forum: NPR.
Dr. Walker holds numerous U.S. patents concerning consumer-based sleep recording, sleep tracking, and sleep stimulation. He also owns several patents focused on the commercial use of consumer-based sleep measures as they apply to health, technology, business, and enterprise.
Previously, Dr. Walker has served as Chief Scientist and scientific counsel for numerous technology companies, including Hello and Fitbit. Currently, Dr. Walker is a Sleep Scientist at Google. Here, Dr. Walker helps the scientific exploration of sleep in health and disease.
Dr. Kristin Kirkpatrick
Kristin Kirkpatrick is the former lead dietitian and manager of Wellness Nutrition Services at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a Senior Fellow at Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, where she created the Fuel Well nutrition program. A bestselling author, experienced presenter, and award-winning dietitian, Kristin is a sought-after national speaker on a variety of nutrition and wellness-related topics, appearing on the TODAY show, NBC Nightly News and The Dr. Oz Show. She has also contributed to national publications including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, TIME, Runners World, Oprah, Martha Stewart Living, Food Network, Costco Connection, Self, Women's Health, TODAY.com, The Huffington Post, US News and World Report, and she is a featured expert on Cleveland Clinic's Health Essentials. The Huffington Post named Kristin "one of 35 diet and nutrition experts you need to follow on Twitter," and in December 2017, her show The New Rules of Food aired nationally on PBS.
Kristin's career began in Washington, DC, where she assisted in lobbying efforts for medical nutrition therapy reform on behalf of the American Dietetic Association Policy and Advocacy group. She then went on to become the regional coordinator of the Hearts N Parks program in Montgomery County, Maryland. During her time there, she designed, implemented, and measured health promotion programs within the Washington, DC metro area. Kristin then returned to Ohio to work for the Cleveland Clinic's Department of Cardiovascular Genetics. She eventually became the lead dietitian in the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. In addition, she serves on Dr. Oz's medical advisory board as well as the advisory board for Lose it!
Kristin has more than 17 years of experience in the health management arena and holds an MS in health promotion management from American University and a BA in political science from George Washington University. A Licensed Registered Dietitian in the state of Ohio, In May 2012 she received the Ohio Outstanding Dietetic Educator of the Year Award. In January 2017, Kristin published her first book, Skinny Liver: A Proven Program to Prevent and Reverse the New Silent Epidemic—Fatty Liver Disease.
Dr. Claudia Black
Claudia Black, Ph. D. is the clinical architect and actively involved in the Claudia Black Young Adult Center at The Meadows. She works with the executive director and clinical director and their team assessing and enhancing the quality of the program. She is frequently on site speaking with clients and family members. She serves as a Senior Fellow and has been a clinical consultant at The Meadows Treatment Center in Arizona since 1998.
Claudia Black's seminal work with children impacted by substance abuse in the late 1970s created the foundation for the adult child movement. Today Claudia is a renowned author and trainer internationally recognized for her pioneering and contemporary work with family systems and addictive disorders. She sits on the Advisory Board for the National Association of Children of Addiction, and the Advisory Committee for Camp Mariposa®, The Eluna Foundation's national addiction prevention and mentoring program.
Claudia' pioneering contributions are many:
She would be the first to name and coin the dysfunctional family rules, "Don't Talk, Don't Trust, Don't Feel."
She described the phenomena of delayed stress, emotional trauma, the child's denial process,
the phenomena of "looking good" kids as they relate to growing up with addiction, and hence the meaning and phraseology of "Adult Child of Alcoholics".
She utilized art therapy in the context of group work with young children that offered a model for children's programs for the past three plus decades.
She broke the barrier and openly discussed physical and sexual abuse in the context of addictive families.
Her work, her passion has been ageless and offers a foundation for those impacted by addiction to recover, and gives our professional field a library of both depth and breadth.
Dr. Black is the recipient of numerous national awards including the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Washington School of Social Work, the 2010 Conway Hunter Award for excellence in the field of addictions, the 2012 Robert Rehmar Addiction Professional Award, the 2014 Father Joseph C. Martin Professional Excellence Award and the NAADAC 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Black has been a keynote speaker on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada. Her workshops have been presented to an extraordinarily wide array of audiences including military academies, prison systems, medical schools, and extensive mental health and addiction programs. Claudia has extensive multi-cultural experiences working with agencies and audiences in Japan, Brazil, Australia, Scotland, Iceland, Germany, England and Canada. Many of her books and videos have been translated and published abroad.
Claudia is the author of It Will Never Happen To Me, Changing Course, My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has A Disease, Repeat After Me, Relapse Toolkit, A Hole in the Sidewalk, Depression Strategies, Straight Talk, Family Strategies, Anger Strategies, Deceived: Facing Sexual Betrayal, Lies and Secrets, The Truth Begins With You, Intimate Treason and her most recent book Unspoken Legacy. She has produced several audio CDs and over twenty DVDs. All of Claudia's materials are available through Central Recovery Press on her website www.claudiablack.com.
Dr. Derick Anderson, PsyD.
The Founder of Invictus Performance Inc, Dr. Derick Anderson is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been in practice for over two decades. Dr. Anderson began his career in performance psychology working with the Miami Dolphins under Coach Jimmy Johnson. After three years of working with the team, Dr. Anderson continued his career in sports as a consultant for the NFL.
Opportunities with the U.S. Army Pacific Command and the Army Corps of Engineers drew Dr. Anderson away from sports for a time to develop leadership and communication skills for civilian and military leadership. Transitioning from working with the Military back to working with the civilian sector Dr. Anderson began working with the U.S. Marshals, FBI, Interpol and the Internet Crime Against Children Unit (ICAC). In his role with these organizations, he provided Wellness strategies for investigators and provided profiles of child predators and other violent offenders. Over time, other interesting opportunities presented themselves within the state prison system, alcohol and drug rehabilitation industry and corporate consulting.
Jim Soda
Jim is a licensed clinician with over 15 years of experience working with sports performance and mental health. Jim started his sports career in broadcasting, working for ESPN radio in Orlando and Tampa. Jim spent 5 years working with the Tampa Rays before transitioning into residential substance use disorder and mental health treatment. Jim spent the next decade working as a therapist, director, and eventually starting a center for young men in early recovery.
With two masters degrees, one in Vocational Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling from The University of South Florida, and one in Sports Psychology from Ashford University, Jim has been able to work in both crisis management and performance improvement. Jim is a solution-focused therapist who believes that the mental strength skills needed to succeed in the high performance world, can also benefit those needing to turn their life around. Jim has spent a large part of his treatment experience working in adventure and activity based therapy with young adults. This experience has benefited him greatly when it comes to his more recent work with Major League Baseball, the NBA the NHL, Red Bull and his private practice work with athletes in South Florida. Jim is Certified as a Mental Performance Consultant.
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Annie Peters, PhD, LP
"The Allure of Self-Destruction: How Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) Can Redefine Addiction Recovery"
Pain and suffering are ubiquitous, and the great secret is that many of us have an inner experience so unpleasant that we act in ways that temporarily please, but ultimately destroy us – body, mind, and spirit. Once an addiction or other disorder manifests, even the strongest motivation to change often results in countless unsuccessful efforts to recover. Understanding the various manifestations of the self-destructive urge, as well as theories describing its causes, is key to helping people move in valued directions in the presence of pain. This presentation will provide a summary of the ACT approach to addiction treatment and the research supporting it. Participants will practice evidence-based ACT techniques designed to build awareness of self-destructive thoughts, develop psychological flexibility, and create new cognitive-behavioral pathways to recovery-oriented living.
Define ACT principles such as experiential avoidance and cognitive fusion, including their significance in the development of addiction and co-occurring disorders
Describe the empirical evidence and theoretical models supporting ACT as an effective intervention for people with substance use disorders
Practice cognitive exercises to build awareness and acceptance of self-destructive thoughts and respond with self-compassion and value-focused action
Annie Peters, PhD, LP, is Director of Research and Education at the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) and Executive Director of the NAATP Foundation for Recovery Science and Education (FoRSE), leading the national effort to further understand substance use disorders through collaborative quality improvement and research. Dr. Peters is a clinical psychologist with 15 years of experience in substance use and mental health assessment, psychotherapy, education, and leadership.
Ruth Ann Rigby, CRS
Ruth Ann Rigby, CRS currently serves as the Chief Development Officer at BRC Healthcare in Austin, TX. She has been a leader in the behavioral health and addiction recovery field for over 24 years with 25 years in Recovery. She represents the very principles that she strives for every day—honesty, integrity, humility, and grace.
Rigby is a prominent figure in the addiction recovery and mental health industry working with some of the leading treatment providers in the nation. Most recently she was recognized by High Watch Recovery Center with the Marty Mann Award presented in the Fall of 2021. She has also been recognized by a Resolution from former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant in 2020 for her dedication to fighting for those caught in addiction within our communities and nationally. Also in 2020, she was awarded the Fred R. French Award for Excellence presented by C4 Recovery Foundation for her outstanding service in the field of addiction with the emphasis on mentoring and/or educating others. Because of her consistent ethical and professional standards, she was recognized nationally at the 2018 Admissions and Marketing Symposium with the Silver Shoe Award. In 2008, she was appointed by former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour to serve on the Mississippi Drug Court Advisory Board to offer her first-hand knowledge and insight into strengthening the Drug Court System.
Rigby has served on the board of numerous community organizations, church leadership committees, and behavioral health associations such as the Mississippi Association of Drug Court Professionals, Central Mississippi Chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependency, Mississippi Association of Addiction Professionals, American Diabetes Association, National Alliance for Mental Illness (Mississippi Chapter) and National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers.
In her spare time, Ruth Ann serves on the Advisory Board for the Center for Hope and Healing at Broadmoor Baptist Church where she is on-call to work with any family that crosses her path. She is dedicated to fighting for those caught in addiction and ending the cycle of dependency. Her leadership in action has been proven repeatedly by her tireless energy and passion to change and save a person's life. Ruth Ann, along with her husband LTC (Ret) Joseph Rigby, are cofounders of a 501c3 nonprofit organization called First Responders of Mississippi. They created this organization to help first responders (Individuals, Families and Agencies) in their greatest time of need with assistance, wellness, and hope.
Rigby and her husband Joseph along with their (3) Cocker Spaniels—Graciee, Cailee and Darbee reside in Madison County MS on their farm "Stil-Wurkin Farm"
Barry Jacobson
Barry Jacobson, a former Executive for the Walt Disney Company, is the principal owner of Barry Jacobson Consulting. The firm provides insight and hands-on training to companies in building a culture of excellence, focusing on leadership and management practices, employee engagement, event operations, and customer-centric experiences.
While at Disney, Barry's leadership roles included Disney Resort Operations, Food and Beverage, Convention Operations, Event Management, and Premium Services. As Director of Event Management, Barry was responsible for planning, organizing, and delivering events directly related to the Disney brand: Disney Corporate Retreats, Board of Director Conferences, Annual Shareholder Meetings, Investor Conferences, marketing press events, and theme park and resort grand openings teams: Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, and the Disney Cruise Line. Barry was selected to lead the Inaugural 2009 D23 Expo, Disney's first-ever fan exposition held at the Anaheim Convention Center. Most recently, Barry launched the opening of these signature Disney experiences: Golden Oak, a private residential community, Club 33, Disney's in-park membership clubs, and Disney's Spa and Salon operations.
Barry's career has taken him from Disney, the finest name in family entertainment, to the Dallas Cowboys, the greatest name in sports entertainment. As the Cowboys Vice President of Special Events, Barry was responsible for premium services for suites, private clubs, and corporate/stadium wide events, including hosting Superbowl XLV. He was also General Manager with ClubCorp, Director of Convention and Conference Management at Venetian and Palazzo Resort for the Sands Corporation, and Director of Meetings and Education for Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
Marvin Ventrell
Marvin Ventrell became the CEO of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) in 2015, continuing his 30-year career as a lawyer, association director, teacher, and addiction treatment executive. NAATP, founded in 1978, is professional membership association of addiction treatment providers whose mission is to provide leadership, advocacy, training, and member support services that ensure the availability and highest quality of addiction treatment.
Mr. Ventrell's career has been devoted to advocating for populations in need and building legal and health care system responses to meet those needs. In addition to serving in executive leadership roles in several national social welfare and justice agencies, he has authored two textbooks on law and social justice, book chapters and professional articles on law, medicine, social services, behavioral health, and addiction treatment and recovery.
Prior to joining NAATP, Marvin served as Program Director at Harmony Foundation, and as a consultant to the CeDAR, both Colorado based addiction treatment centers. He has served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and has received distinctions including an American Bar Association National Advocacy Award, the National Council of Juvenile Court Judges Meritorious Service to the Children of America Award, the University of Colorado School of Medicine Award for Career Contributions, and the Innovator Award from given for impact in the field of recovery through innovation, commitment, and dynamic thinking. Under Mr. Ventrell's leadership, NAATP has emerged as a powerful voice for addiction treatment under his vision of quality, professionalism, equity, and ethics.
He can be reached at NAATP National headquarters in Denver, CO at www.naatp.org, info@naatp.org, or 888.574.1008.
Greg is the award-winning filmmaker of feature length documentaries, The Anonymous People and Generation Found. In 2015, he executive produced the historic UNITE to Face Addiction Rally on the National Mall when tens of thousands of people including from around the world gathered alongside major musicians to end the silence surrounding addiction. He also produced the launch of the first-ever Surgeon's General Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health: Facing Addiction in America. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, ABC World News, LA Times, and countless other news outlets. He also serves as a member of the United States of Care's Voices of Real Life advisory group.
Greg is a health policy consultant and communications specialist, providing strategic oversight and direction to numerous initiatives. Most notably, Greg manages the Alliance for Addiction Payment Reform, a national collaboration aimed at improving outcomes for patients, payers, and health systems, and served as a managing editor of the Addiction Recovery Medical Home Alternative Payment Model. Greg has over a decade of experience working with non-profits and government agencies on addiction. As person in long-term recovery from addiction himself, Greg's work has been dedicated towards creating positive changes in access to quality health care and recovery supports for the over 20 million struggling. Greg received his master's degree in addiction public policy and media production from New York University.
Jason Perillo
Jason is Vice President of Communications and Chief Marketing Officer at High Watch Recovery Center. He is a communications strategist with many years of experience in healthcare and advocacy.
Prior to his work at High Watch, Jason was a political operative with years of experience in campaign operations, press, social and digital media, grassroots organizing, and television and direct mail.
He has managed and advised candidates for U.S. Congress, state legislatures, and statewide office. He has also served as an advisor to state party initiatives and has overseen caucus campaign committee efforts.
Jason is a frequent presenter at conferences, seminars, and webinars speaking primarily about public affairs, advocacy, and the ethics of marketing. He is proud of the work that his team does
in maintaining close ties with alumni and in sharing High Watch's expertise with colleagues both locally and around the world.
Nanette Zumwalt
Nanette Zumwalt is currently recognized as one of the top interventionists and an industry expert, both nationally and internationally. Nanette began working in the field of mental health and addiction treatment nearly three decades ago as a direct care technician at inpatient acute psychiatric hospitals. With her vibrant and engaging personality, knowledge, experience, and sincere desire to help those in need, it is no surprise that her career has included various management titles throughout top national therapeutic schools and recovery programs.
Early on in her career, Nanette notes that she developed a specific passion for the "willing but not able" individuals struggling in treatment transitions. In 2002, Nanette began the journey of developing, building, and growing Hired Power. Under her care and leadership, Hired Power has taken the pioneering role in clinically supporting adolescents, young adults, and adults during the high risk and critical transition periods of recovery.
Dan Valha
Daniel S. Valha is the CEO of KDV Consulting, a boutique consulting firm for the meetings industry.
Dan is the former Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations for the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and the Veterinary Meeting and Expo (VMX). He led operations, leadership initiatives, and oversaw event operations, sales, customer service, and exhibits teams. VMX is the largest Veterinary conference of its kind and recognized as one of the top 20 medical conferences and expos in the world. In his previous roles, Dan oversaw meetings and events totaling $100+ million in revenue as Senior Vice President of Global Accounts at ConferenceDirect.
Dan served as Walt Disney World Resort's Managing Sales Director, which included leading National Sales teams for all Disney properties, Disney Cruise Line, and Resorts around the globe, with a specific focus on the group and convention line of business. In addition, Dan directed the Sales and Marketing efforts as Hyatt Hotels Divisional Director of Sales & Marketing for the Northeast region.
Jerry Schwab
Jerry Schwab is the CEO of High Watch Recovery Center in Kent, CT.
He has over twenty years of experience as an executive with non-profit healthcare organizations.
With Jerry at the helm, High Watch has experienced tremendous growth while remaining true to its mission as the world's first treatment center founded on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. During Jerry's tenure, High Watch opened its first-ever sober living opportunities, which it offers on four different properties. High Watch's new detoxification center provides detox care for the first time in the organization's history. Jerry and the High Watch team also opened "The Hilltop", which is a partial hospitalization program situated in an ornate villa in the hills of Litchfield County, Connecticut.
"Wilson's Bakery and Cafe" opened in the summer of 2021 and is dedicated to providing career opportunities for High Watch alumni and others in the program. Also in 2021, High Watch initiated an effort to educate the world about addiction by starting "High Watch Media", which is focused on developing films and documentaries about recovery.
Outside of his work with High Watch, Jerry is very active in charitable social service organizations. Domestically, Jerry has served as a municipal Ethics Commissioner, as a Board member of the Pomperaug Health District, and as a member of the Connecticut Department of Public Health EMS Advisory Board and the Council on Alcoholism and Addiction.
Dr Marc H Boff, DPT/ATC/CES/PE
Dr. Boff is a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Certified Athletic Trainer, and a Strength and Conditioning Coach who is not only an expert in his profession but is also extremely passionate about the intersection of health, wellness and function. With over 20 years of professional sports experience as a physical therapist and trainer for the NBA, he has been able to transform bodies and change lives with incredible success. His Los Angeles-based company, MHB (Manage your Health and Body) Fitness, grew from his own philosophy to take ownership of managing one's health and body. MHB Fitness is a concierge health and wellness service that specializes in providing an elite level of individualized client care in addition to consulting services.
With the belief that optimal physical health can only be achieved in conjunction with optimal mental and spiritual health, Dr. Boff utilizes a comprehensive approach incorporating human movement with lifestyle to create customized programs designed to meet the specific goals of each individual.
Dr. Boff has also served as the Director of Sports Medicine for NBC's reality weight-loss series "The Biggest Loser." Dr. Boff graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Brandeis University in 1996 and went on to earn an MSPT in 2002 and DPT in 2005 from Simmons College.
Sam Quinlan
Samantha Quinlan works in the Behavioural, Mental and Emotional Health sector and is the founder of the international conference on Addiction -iCAAD. She has extensive knowledge and networks on specialist issues across the world on Addiction and mental health.
Sams reputation in the events industry catapulted when she co-founded the Brighton Fringe Festival in the UK over 25 years ago. Today the month-long city festival attracts over half a million people.
Today Sam is working with The Global Exchange 2022 to deliver a diverse programme of knowledge and skills and is leading a team of experts in developing a programme that honours the four foundation tracks of the conference – Mental Health, Addiction, Wellness and Leadership.
She has devised and delivered programmes for vulnerable adults and young people, adolescents with extreme childhood trauma, workplace leadership and solutions and adults with learning disabilities.
Sam, in her own time and as a volunteer, has helped support 100s of people. She reflects that when she needed help, she was one of a lucky few and could access service without charge or bias, so today she strives to connect those in need to the right help or signpost them to organisations that can help.
Sam likes to build theatre sets in her spare time and would one day love to perform again!
Nikki Soda
Nikki Soda is a passionate advocate for recovery, experienced marketer, and meeting planner. With over 10 years of nonprofit and corporate meeting planning, she brings an energy and level of professionalism used to create successful outcomes. Prior to working in the healthcare industry, Nikki was an event planner and organized large scale events while working for both corporate and nonprofit organizations. Her background in recovery led her to shifting into the behavioral health field. Previously, Nikki has worked in the capacity of Director of both Business Development and Marketing for nationally recognized treatment facilities, as well as overseeing several Alumni programs while being on the board of the Treatment Professionals and Alumni Services. Advocacy and Public Policy are two passions that Nikki continuously puts effort into, through volunteering and community engagement.
Nikki holds a BA in Communication from the University of Tampa. Her experience working on both the front end and back end of treatment has given her a wealth of knowledge and has contributed to her understanding of systems within the field of substance use.
Gary S. Seidler
Gary Seidler has been one of the foremost advocates of the addictions. and mental health field for the past 40-plus years as a book, magazine publisher and professional conference organizer.
Gary began his career as a newspaper reporter, editor, political speech writer, in the Metropolitan Toronto area before joining the Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario as its Press Officer. For them he created a trade newspaper, The US Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
In 1976, Gary immigrated once again, to the United States, where he co-founded Health Communications (HCI), a self-help publishing company, and US Journal Training. ( USJT), orchestrating over 250 continuing education conferences throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand for health professionals in the addictions and mental health field.
Gary is the co-author of Chicken Soup for the Recovery Soul, Chicken Soup for the Horse Lovers Soul, Heart Reconnection, and Success Stories from The Heart.
Gary with his life partner, Sheri Laine, an acupuncturist, herbalist, author, and wholeness guide, share Global Synergistic Living (GSL), a consulting group focusing on education, healthy living, loving and communicating.
Gary lives in Santa Monica, CA. He is most proud of his three adult children and three awesome grandchildren.
Robbin Mooney
Robbin Mooney has served in the behavioral health industry since 1998, creating and implementing dynamic marketing solutions, design, and branding strategies for a variety of companies and institutions.
Business development, public relations, and recovery advocacy roles have been her passion, and through these roles she's found a way to help others find a full and successful life.
Robbin is co-founder and Chief Development Officer of J. Flowers Health Institute, an integrative mental health and medical concierge healthcare center, offering comprehensive health and wellness evaluations and treatment services located in Houston, Texas.
Robbin was recognized in 2021 by the Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce celebrating many of Houston's leading executive women and men entrepreneurs. Robbin also currently serves on the board of directors for the Humane Society of Southern Coastal Georgia.
Robbin served as the Outreach and Communications Liaison for Crossroads Centre Antigua 4 years which is an internationally recognized addiction treatment program founded by Eric Clapton in 1998 as a holistic, 12- step medical model providing detox and residential services.
Hand-picked by Oprah Winfrey as one of her Super Soul 100 changemakers, Jeff helms Commune Media — offering an assemblage of in-depth wellness courses, podcasts, and other media featuring the field's foremost experts, including Deepak Chopra, Russell Brand, and Sharon Salzberg. "Our goal is to democratize well-being," says Jeff. As creator of the global Wanderlust festivals, host of the popular Commune podcast (120,000 monthly downloads), and the author of three books, Jeff presents his audience with knowledge and guideposts to becoming their best selves. Classes, podcasts, and books offer a roadmap to creating a better society through compassion, community-building, and hands-on activism. An expert in mindfulness and a sociopolitical commentator with a degree in political science and American history from Columbia University, Krasno digs to find common ground when people divide along political lines, and offers a path to connection.