Self-States and Polyvagal Theory

Andrew Rodriguez presents a model for explaining vulnerability to addiction and other ineffective coping styles based on the concepts of self-states. This model has multiple applications and is approachable for average clients to understand. He will then present the basics of polyvagal theory, the latest discovery in neuroscience that has been revolutionizing the treatment of trauma. He will reveal how the discoveries from polyvagal theory validate the self-state model presented.

Andrew Rodriguez, MS, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the director of Integrity Christian Counseling in Pottstown, PA. He also serves as the campus counselor at the University of Valley Forge. He's trained in EMDR, Flash, and other trauma reprocessing approaches such as VSDT and Image Transformation Therapy. He's a certified Reintegrative Therapist and a certified clinical trauma professional. He specializes in working with individuals with various sexual struggles. He's also the creator of the YouTube channel, PsychoBible, where he enjoys "babbling about psychology and theology."

Color EMD: A Safe, Effective, Efficient and Well-Tolerated Protocol for Processing Traumatic Events with a Spiritual Integration.

The EMDR model of healing is a very complex model requiring education, consultation, experience, more education, more consultation, more experience.

In addition, it can be very confusing and overwhelming process for both clients and therapists. Safety may be an issue for both, because they can’t handle the full standard EMDR protocol. Time and financial constraints may be an issue for both because the need for limitations. Highly charged recent events may interfere with the therapeutic process. To help you with these and other challenging situations this workshop has been created. In this workshop, I will illustrate how you as a therapist can easily integrate God into the process and safely, effectively, efficiently, process traumatic stress much faster than the typical clinical experience. All of this is done using Colorful EMD in a unique way of tasking the working memory.

Michael McCratic, LMFT, BCETS, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Diplomate and Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress from the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. In 1990 he was trained by the originator of EMDR, Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. He became a Senior Facilitator for the EMDR Institute in 1992 and then became certified in EMDR and an Approved Consultant for EMDR International Association in 1998. He has taught various workshops throughout the Bay Area. In addition, he has taught for Northern California Bible College, Fuller Theological Seminary, and the University of California – Hayward Campus (Chemical Dependency Division). He has been the Center Director for Christian Family Counseling, Christian Counseling Centers, and Trinity Life Solutions and is the Founding Director of Trinity Life Counseling. He has over 32 years of experience counseling and teaching in the Christian Community. He is best known for his expertise in three areas: trauma resolution using EMDR and ImTT., various types of addictions and obsessions, and simplifying marital and attachment work. 

Professional Intervention Program for Adversity (PIPA)

PIPA is an innovative program that enables mental health professionals to provide individual or group care in situations o adversity. PIPA professionals are able to identity traumatic stress and provide appropriate interventions. A six-module trauma intervention program that brings basic theory and three practical exercises for group (or individual) intervention for old or recent memories.

Esly Regina Carvalho, Ph.D., T.E.P. is a Brazilian-American clinical psychologist and implemented the EMDR therapy movement in her native country. She also was instrumental in establishing thriving EMDR communities in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Venezuela, and worked in Portugal and Spain early on in her career as a Trainer of Trainers of EMDR therapy, accredited by Francine Shapiro (of blessed memory) and the EMDR Institute.  

She also coordinates the work of a small ministry for emotional healing and leans on her initial training as a Psychodrama who specialized in groups, both as psychotherapy as well as therapeutic.  She brings this integration to her work with the PIPA Program, by having developed a program that brings the possibility of group work with AIP (Adaptive Intervention Processing) interventions. Esly is married to a retired missionary who grew up in China, served the people of Ecuador, and lived in Latin America in his duties with Compassion International as well as Insight for Living (Chuck Swindoll). She has an adult married daughter, and loves those grandchildren!! 

Mental Health and Biblical Self-Care for the EMDR Clinician

In secular culture, self-care is an ethical imperative - yet what does Biblical self-care look like? This session will explore the connection between the EMDR clinician’s self-care and their own mental health - all from a Biblical perspective.

Penney Siddiqui, LCSW, CCS, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Specialist, and EMDR clinician. She is also founder and executive director of Better Things, Inc., a faith-based non-profit ministry focused on serving the mental health needs of first responders, clergy, healthcare workers, and educational personnel.  In private practice for almost 20 years, Penney has journeyed with people through a wide range of challenges including adoption, attachment, anxiety, depression, parenting difficulties, relationship issues, and trauma.   Penney is currently working on her doctoral dissertation exploring counselor self-care and mental health.  Penney, her husband, and their two children reside in the United States. 

Carrie Breedlove MS, LPC EMDR-Certified Carrie Breedlove is an experienced and dedicated therapist who helps women find joy on their unchosen grief journeys. With over 20 years of experience in outpatient mental health, Carrie has an understanding of the complexities of grief and loss and how to help women navigate these challenges through Christian-based, trauma responsive therapy.

Carrie has her master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of North Texas. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and is EMDR-Certified. Her passion for creative and Christ-centered therapy stems from her own 17-year journey with infertility and personal experience with navigating complicated grief within her family.

Carrie is a well-respected leader and is actively involved in various networks and support groups. She is one of the founders of the Christian Therapists of North Texas networking group, The DFW First Responders Support Network, and Recovery to Practice. She is also Vice President of Community Engagement for Denton Recommends, a local North Texas networking and referral group. Carrie is an active member of the DFW Comfort Connection, a group of providers and organizations who offer assistance to women experiencing infant and pregnancy loss. 

Dr. Kirstin Dolby, PhD is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Canadian Certified Counsellor, Certified EMDR Therapist, and Certified First Responder Counsellor with a PhD in Counseling & Psychological Studies from Regent University. She is the owner of Head Strong Counselling Services & Academy of Traumatology Inc., founder of The Head Strong Project, developer of First Responder Impact Event Support Services (FRIESS) and full time faculty lead at Yorkville University. She is also a firefighter recruit with the Courtenay Volunteer Fire Department set to complete her training and become a member in fall of 2023.

Kirstin is highly experienced in working with individuals suffering from trauma related injuries and specializes in working with first responders. She is a therapist that utilizes a holistic approach to therapy with the utilization of EMDR and other therapeutic modalities to help individuals process and reprocess recent and deeply rooted impact events. She works closely with multiple organizations to help bring healing to the hurt and suffering by meeting individuals where they are at and walking along side them.

Kirstin is supported by her own network of colleagues, brothers and sisters in service, her husband of 20 years and her four sons. In her fun time, she can be found coaching her boys high school rugby teams or in the west coast waters getting her own element therapy.

Jenelle Linden, MS, MA, LMHC, LPC, LCPC Jenelle Linden is a licensed clinical therapist in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. She received her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College and Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, a MS in Education from Ohio University, and a BS in Education from Central Michigan University. She is currently a Consultant in Training and a Certified EMDR Therapist. Her recent works include an EMDR and Christianity Workshop that is now in distance learning format. Jenelle has also created an EMDR Protocol Form for practitioners.

As Christian EMDR therapists, it is vital we unite and collaborate from a historical Christian perspective with discernment and truth. As we unite, the soundness of our apologetics directly impacts our work as we reach the wounded and traumatized through the healing processes of EMDR, researching Truth filled ways to bring God into that healing in a sound and biblical way. I look forward to learning from all of you!
More information at: 1 Identity Counseling

Jim Mitchem, Chaplain (MAJ) United States Army   Jim is credentialed by the Army as a Family Life Chaplain, currently stationed at Fort Stewart Georgia. He is a graduate of the Army’s Family Life Program at Fort Bragg which included a MA in Counseling from Webster University with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. His other Degrees include an M.Div. and an MA in Leadership from Liberty University. He is fully trained in EMDR and EFT and also utilizes SFBT and Family Systems therapy. He brings 20 years of Pastoral Counseling to his practice and approaches counseling from a trauma perspective with an emphasis on attachment injuries.  

Jim began his military career in 1989 with deployments to Desert Storm, Somalia, and Haiti. He took a break in service where he served as an EMT-I and Rescue Technician and later became the county Chaplain. He returned to the Army in 2009 and continued to deploy multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan. He married the love of his life in 1991, has three children and three grandchildren. He plans to retire from military service in about three years and begin a private practice in either NC or SC focusing on trauma and working with Veterans and First Responders.

Panel Moderator
Kim Garrett, LCSW-S, LCDC, CCISM is a Certified Therapist in EMDR and Consultant-in-Training.  She is also a  Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) approved instructor and Love and Logic Trained Facilitator. Over the course of her career, she has worked in an array of positions in direct care and administration, including acute care psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, private practice, public schools, a local mental health authority, and has been an adjunct professor of social work at both the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University.  

She is currently in private practice at Fort Worth Counseling and Intervention in Fort Worth.  Kim also serves as an Elder at Pathway Church in Burleson, TX.  She has spoken at services and presented at church seminars on the topics of mental health issues, parenting, marriage, addiction, faith and parenting, suicide, and bullying.   Kim has also served as a Youth Sponsor for ten years, including developing a ministry for community kids, going to camps, and mentoring youth.   She has served on mission trips to Nicaragua as well as locally (night shelters, homeless church services).

Esly Regina Carvalho, Ph.D., T.E.P. is a Brazilian-American clinical psychologist and implemented the EMDR therapy movement in her native country. She also was instrumental in establishing thriving EMDR communities in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Venezuela, and worked in Portugal and Spain early on in her career as a Trainer of Trainers of EMDR therapy, accredited by Francine Shapiro (of blessed memory) and the EMDR Institute.  

She also coordinates the work of a small ministry for emotional healing and leans on her initial training as a Psychodrama who specialized in groups, both as psychotherapy as well as therapeutic.  She brings this integration to her work with the PIPA Program, by having developed a program that brings the possibility of group work with AIP (Adaptive Intervention Processing) interventions. Esly is married to a retired missionary who grew up in China, served the people of Ecuador, and lived in Latin America in his duties with Compassion International as well as Insight for Living (Chuck Swindoll). She has an adult married daughter, and loves those grandchildren!! 

Alina Garbuz, PhD, LPC   Dr. Alina Garbuz, PhD is a Clinical Trauma Specialist, EMDRIA Certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) Therapist and Consultant with specialties in PTSD,  Complex Trauma, Attachment and Relational Trauma, Suicide Bereavement, Disaster Trauma and International Trauma. She has Certificates in Neuroscience, Brain Health Coaching, and Professional Life Coaching. Along with her private practice work, Alina is a Guide for Healing Trauma Programs at Onsite Workshops in TN and an adjunct professor for the Masters of Counseling Program at Yorkville University where she enjoys teaching the Trauma and Crisis class.  

Alina was born in Ukraine and raised in the USA in a family of 6 children. She loves to travel for fun with her friends and for work with her non-profit Beautiful Minds Project; a organization focused on  When she is not working, she spends her time with her golden retriever Nala, doing anything outdoors in her home state of Colorado, and traveling to see her nieces and nephews who are scattered all over the states. Her simple pleasures are coffee, books, and great discussions with the people she loves.    

Jenelle Linden, MS, MA, LMHC, LPC, LCPC Jenelle Linden is a licensed clinical therapist in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. She received her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grace College and Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, a MS in Education from Ohio University, and a BS in Education from Central Michigan University. She is currently a Consultant in Training and a Certified EMDR Therapist. Her recent works include an EMDR and Christianity Workshop that is now in distance learning format. Jenelle has also created an EMDR Protocol Form for practitioners.

As Christian EMDR therapists, it is vital we unite and collaborate from a historical Christian perspective with discernment and truth. As we unite, the soundness of our apologetics directly impacts our work as we reach the wounded and traumatized through the healing processes of EMDR, researching Truth filled ways to bring God into that healing in a sound and biblical way. I look forward to learning from all of you!
More information at: 1 Identity Counseling

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Andrew Rodriguez, MS, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the director of Integrity Christian Counseling in Pottstown, PA. He also serves as the campus counselor at the University of Valley Forge. He's trained in EMDR, Flash, and other trauma reprocessing approaches such as VSDT and Image Transformation Therapy. He's a certified Reintegrative Therapist and a certified clinical trauma professional. He specializes in working with individuals with various sexual struggles. He's also the creator of the YouTube channel, PsychoBible, where he enjoys "babbling about psychology and theology."

Maggie Roney MS, NCC, LPC,  FMP,  ICP is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and IASIS Certified Provider.   She has a private practice in the North Texas area where she works to serve ages 12 and up, individuals, and families. She also has a heart for first responders and those in the military.  She is a certified EMDR Consultant, certified in Gottman and trained in Brainspotting.  

Additionally, Maggie has completed her certification at the School of Applied Functional Medicine and obtained her certification to be a provider of IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback.  She works with various types of trauma and disorders.  Maggie is currently working with colleagues in starting Valored Cohesion Solutions, a nonprofit organization that will serve first responders, active military, veterans and their families using EMDR and IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback for treatment.

Panel Moderator
Wendy Copeland, MA, LPC, CIRT, CCTP, ICP  is a licensed professional counselor, psychotherapist, speaker, and the founder of Hope’s Lantern Counseling and Therapy & Associates in North Texas. She is a Certified EMDR Therapist and EMDR Consultant, Certified Imago Relationships Therapist, and Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner. She is also a Certified IASIS Micro Current Neurofeedback Provider.  Wendy’s professional background includes over 25 years of clinical work in inpatient and outpatient settings (pediatric, adolescent, and adult); traumatic brain injury; hospice and bereavement; crisis intervention; and in private practice.   Wendy specializes in relationship issues, attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, integrated trauma care, and trauma resiliency leading to post-traumatic growth.    

Wendy also volunteers, serves, and speaks in settings of human overwhelm and suffering. This includes the bereaved, the relationally hurting,  first responders, and those walking through cancer.  She is currently helping launch a non-profit initiative, Valored Cohesion Solutions, that will serve first responders, active military, veterans and their families using EMDR and IASIS Microcurrent Neurofeedback for treatment.