Matthew Vasquez, PhD, LMSW

Dr. Vasquez is the co-founder of the Highland Training Institute,  Vice-President of the Center for Transformational Resilience, Inc., an Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Northern Iowa, and former trauma therapist. For the last 10 years, he has taught, conducted research, and provided consultation services on the effects of stress, trauma, innovative treatments, and trauma-informed care all over the country.

In his work, Dr. Vasquez strives to help educate others in understanding the complexities of trauma and its impact on individuals, families, and communities. He has won numerous teaching awards across multiple universities for his dynamic and innovative teaching style. His past research has focused on the effects of body and movement-based interventions (e.g., yoga, tai chi, KINNECT and Rainbowdance ®) on stress disorders and trauma, and the effects of chronic neglect and maladaptive caregiving on child mental health and development. His current area of focus is on integrating functional medicine in the treatment of trauma, long-term stress, and pain disorders. Dr. Vasquez has presented his research nationally, has been published in numerous academic journals, and featured on National Public Radio and in the Washington Post.

Dr. Vasquez currently provides training and consultation services on stress-mitigation and trauma-informed care practices across a variety of settings, including school districts, residential treatment centers, outpatient mental health practices, hospitals, child welfare agencies, first responder agencies (police, fire, EMS, and dispatch centers), non-profits, along with regional and national entities such as Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Midwest Trauma Services Network, and the International Trauma Center.

Dr. Vasquez has developed an innovative, easy to learn, body-centered therapeutic approach to trauma treatment called Integrated Somatic Regulation ®, which incorporates the latest science regarding trauma and its effects on the brain and body, and utilizes elements from various body-centered practices, including body-based psychotherapy, EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy, yoga, and body-centered self-compassion approaches. It can be used to safely treat those who have experienced long-term, complex and developmental trauma. This approach developed through clinical practice with highly traumatized individuals, extensive review of the latest research, and collaboration with some of the top trauma experts in the field.

Bret Blackmon, PhD, NCC

Dr. Bret Blackmon: From the Front Lines of Crisis to Foundational Change

Dr. Bret Blackmon is a co-founder of the Highland Training Institute, dedicated to equipping our society's frontline professionals with the skills to thrive, not just survive. A recognized expert in resilience, trauma-informed practice, and organizational training, Dr. Blackmon brings a unique perspective forged over two decades as a practitioner, academic, and leader.

His experience is deeply rooted in crisis. Early in his career, he served as a multi-systemic therapist working with children in the justice system, and later deployed to Biloxi, MS, to assist in the intensive recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina. This on-the-ground reality informs his current work.

As an Associate Professor of Research at LSU and President of the Center for Transformational Resilience, Inc., Bret translates complex research into immediate, actionable strategies. A testament to this is his founding of the Mississippi Person Centered Practices Institute (MS-PCPI), a partnership that has successfully trained over 5,000 mental health and medical professionals in practical, person-centered approaches.

Bret’s mission is simple: to support the dedicated professionals in public safety, schools, and human services by giving them the evidence-based tools they need to stay resilient, effective, and whole.

Luba Bijelic, MA, LMHC, NCC

Luba holds a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa and is a distinguished National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). She is also the Executive Director of Bijelic Counseling and Consulting, LLC. Her leadership qualities are exemplified through her previous role as president of the American Counselors Association Branch of Iowa and her current position as a board advisor for the Mental Health Counseling program at the University of Northern Iowa.

Luba is a highly experienced mental health professional known for her compassionate and empathetic approach to helping individuals on their healing journey. She has extensive experience working with children, couples, families, veterans, and refugees. With a focus on trauma recovery and self-compassion, Luba brings a unique perspective to her work that is informed by both her professional training, clinical practice, and her personal insights. Through her extensive research and specialization in areas such as self-compassion, mindfulness, sleep, and intuitive eating, she demonstrates her commitment to providing the highest level of evidence-based clinical interventions.  She is currently working toward becoming a registered yoga teacher, which will allow her to continue integrating body-based practices into her clinical practice. 

Believing strongly in the transformative potential of self-compassion, Luba is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experiences with others. Luba has developed innovative and effective therapeutic interventions that prioritize the power of self-compassion, mind-body connection, and body-based approaches. She travels widely conducting a variety of workshops, seminars, and support groups, where her empowering facilitation style has been praised by participants who found comfort, safety, and support under her guidance. Her innate ability to connect with others and her extensive professional background has made her a trusted guide and ally for many on the path toward healing and self-compassion.

Outside of work, Luba enjoys nature walks and practicing mindfulness, which she believes has transformative effects on one's well-being. She actively champions the power of self-care and self-expression as essential components of healing and incorporates these practices into her daily life.

Luba's extensive experience and expertise, dedication to empowering individuals to achieve healing through self-compassion, and multilingual skill set (i.e., fluent in Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian), has led her to become a sought-after presenter and a source of inspiration to many. Her commitment, passion, and expertise shine through her work, and she continues to positively impact the lives of those she encounters. With her wealth of experience and expertise, she is well-equipped to provide teaching and consulting services to a wide range of agencies and organizations.

Shamra Boel-Studt, PhD, MSW

Shamra is the Director of the Institute for Quality Children’s Services and an Associate Professor in the College of Social Work at the Florida State University. Dr. Boel-Studt has 20 years of experience in practice, training/technical assistance, research, and evaluation spanning the child welfare, children’s mental health, and juvenile justice systems. Her research focuses on the quality and effectiveness of services for youth served in out-of-home care settings. Dr. Boel-Studt has extensive experience collaborating with public and private agencies to promote quality services across child service systems. Her major contributions include developing and validating the Quality Standards Assessment for children’s out-of-home care. She serves as Principal Investigator, leading the development of Florida’s legislatively mandated statewide accountability system for residential care (F.S. 409.96(25)). She is also collaborating with the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and the University of Texas Health at San Antonio to lead the development of a comprehensive continuous quality improvement and training platform as part of the Residential Treatment Center Project that aims to treat children with acute behavioral health needs while supporting family preservation.

Frank Grijlava, MSCC, MPH

Director: Midwest Trauma Services Network

Frank came through the California system as a child adopted into a family challenged with mental health and substance abuse issues. Raised in the East Bay area of Northern California Frank attended 9 different schools in his first 9 years. Raised in a challenging home in a challenging environment both geographically and historically, Frank has a unique perspective that translates for many of our most traumatized communities, families and children. Frank negotiated his way into the military and his first professional training was as a special warfare diver attached to the Marine Mammal program of the United States Navy where he spent 8 years honing behavior modification skills, stress management and understanding the dynamics of nonverbal communication. Later, as a stay at home dad for 2 kids and a student of psychology he became aware of and struggled with development, his own trauma exposure, and behavioral progressions and sequencing. This led to a journey of self-exploration and an academic focus on psychological trauma.

Frank has worked with the International Trauma Center since 1999 and deployed to Ground Zero to manage a team of clinicians working with a federal agency in “the dig” to stabilize them ongoing as they did their difficult work. Frank also worked extensively throughout Louisiana and Mississippi in the aftermath of Katrina. Frank has worked abroad in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, Nepal, Jordan, Haiti and several other countries for agencies like Save the Children, USAID, the World Bank and the International Center for the Protection of Victims of Torture to develop interventions and train clinicians working with children.

As Director of the Midwest Trauma Services Network and senior vice president of programming for the International Trauma Center he has spent the last several years introducing and training selected trauma informed evidence based practices as well as designing and implementing innovations specific to people from at-risk environments through the OJJDP. Frank currently consults in several states for trauma in schools, foster and adoptive parents, community change through trauma informed care and provides direct psychoeducation and coaching to complexly traumatized children and families. Frank has a BS in disaster psychology with an emphasis on mental health, an MS in Public Health with a focus on child mental health and an MS in clinical counseling with trauma theory as the primary theoretical framework. Frank is the proud father of two gifted and resilient college students who are also interested in human services. His mission is to create a world that understands the impact of trauma and abuse on children, families, communities and culture by teaching, challenging and learning everywhere he goes.

Mary T. Hanken, LCSW

Mary Takewell Hanken, LCSW has more than eight years of experience working within the fields of social work and human services in Louisiana and Mississippi. Mary is a native of Ponchatoula, Louisiana who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Sciences in 2014 from Southeastern Louisiana University. During her time at Southeastern, Mary was named the Southeastern Division of Student Affairs’ Outstanding Woman in 2014, served as the Chief Justice for the Student Government Association, and served as the President of Theta Phi Alpha Sorority. She then went on to earn her Master of Social Work degree in 2016 from The University of Southern Mississippi. During her time in her masters program, Mary served as the president of the Student Association of Social Workers and was also named the Southern Miss School of Social Work’s Outstanding Graduate Student. Mary has dedicated her career and her personal life to making an impact on and a difference for those she encounters. 

Mary obtained her clinical license in 2021 and in her current professional role serves as a School Based Therapist for the Capital Area Human Services District School Based Behavioral Health Program in Baton Rouge, LA. Through her work, Mary supports a caseload of elementary aged clients with complex behavioral, emotional, and social needs by giving them individualized and specialized support. Mary has made a commitment to being a lifelong learner having earned certifications in Family Interaction Training, LivingWorks ASIST Suicide Intervention Training, Yoga4Classrooms Training, Journey of Hope, and is currently pursuing supervision and certification through the Center for Mind-Body Medicine Training. 

Mary currently, and happily, resides in East Baton Rouge Parish with her husband Cody Hanken, son Crue, and her fur-children, Bentley (dog), Dabbs (cat), and Nox (cat).

Amber Hoff, LMFT, SHRM-CP

Amber Hoff is a professional who wears many hats, including Trauma-informed Therapist, SHRM-CP, Executive Coach, Data Analyst, and small business owner. Amber’s career has been led with a
passion for ensuring that every business, client, and entity she works with leaves with a sense of purpose, drive, and connectedness to their values and goals. She opened her own private practice
in 2017, working not only to treat clients as a Certified EMDR Therapist, but to work with local businesses and government entities to bring trauma-informed care and mentally healthy workplaces
to her community. She provides trainings and presentations regarding a wide range of topics based on client needs.

In addition to her therapist credentials, she also is an Executive Coach and Human Resources Consultant for local businesses. Amber is also currently enrolled in a MBA program with a focus on
Management, with an anticipated graduation date of August 2026. She served as a Human Resources Business Partner for Martin Gardner Architecture in Marion, Iowa from 2023-2025. In the time that she partnered with MGA, she worked diligently to improve the workplace culture, provide 1:1 coaching, improve total rewards, streamline onboarding and offboarding, improving and implementing new performance metrics tailored to Architecture, and served as Trauma Informed Consultant regarding the building of trauma-informed spaces. She has also worked to improve compliance and improve and implement relevant policies in their Employee Handbook. One policy
on the use of Generative AI, was featured in the book AI Meets AEC by Jerry Guerra.

As a consultant, Amber brings her trauma-informed therapy experiences, paired with Human Resources, Data Analytics, and Executive Coaching experience to work with a wide range of issues
from a unique perspective, leading to tailored solutions for difficult challenges faced by clients. Amber can assist with strategic planning and implementation, change management, as well as working with Executives and Leadership to ensure organizational success from the top down. Amber’s passion lies in the entire employee lifecycle, with emphasis in employee wellbeing and engagement, as well as organizational culture enhancement. Amber’s unique background also
makes her skilled in conflict mediation and resolution, compliance, training and ongoing employee development, data-driven decision making, and performance management. Amber takes great pride in her community and has been a Marion Chamber of Commerce
Ambassador since 2018, celebrating with both new and longstanding businesses in her community. She is also currently serving as the Membership Chair on the Eastern Iowa Human Resources
Association (EIHRA).

In her personal time, Amber enjoys watching the Minnesota Wild (no matter how often they disappoint her), reading, being outdoors, crafting/artistic adventures, and spending time with her family and her three dogs, Avery, Nyx, and Leto.

Tammy Kolbo, BA, BSN, E-RYT 500, C-IAYT

Tammy Kolbo joined the treatment team of Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, MS, in 2005. Initially, she was hired at The Women’s Center where she taught yoga and wellness principles to women in recovery from eating disorders and chemical dependency. In 2006, she began her work at Gentle Path, now called Gratitude, and created the Behavioral Health Yoga Therapy Program currently offered as a complementary therapy for healing and personal transformation for patients in recovery from sex addictions. She also works with Next Step, a program for men and substance abuse and the Professional Enhancement Program, a partial hospitalization program specially designed to help men and women with interpersonal difficulties, addictive disorders, and professional issues. She teaches patients mindfulness, body awareness, breath work, meditation and relaxation. With a passion to educate and inspire, she empowers patients to face each day with hope and courage and to take the peace and freedom that yoga provides into their everyday lives in recovery. Tammy presents at state and regional professional conferences on the topics of Self-Care and Resilience for Stress Management, Trauma, and Addiction.

Tammy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, both from the University of Mississippi. Her past experience includes working as a Patient Care Coordinator at a residential treatment center for mild depressive disorders. As a Registered Nurse, Tammy has worked with patients suffering from neurological disorders and practiced as an Intensive Care Nurse at Baptist Hospital in Jackson and at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. She also has an extensive background in the Fitness Industry and first became certified to teach in 1984 through the Kenneth Cooper Institute in Dallas, TX. For over 40 years she has taught group fitness, personal training and private instruction. In 2001 she began her studies in the practice of yoga and is currently certified at the highest rank with Yoga Alliance. In 2002 she opened Hattiesburg’s first yoga studio, The Yoga Room, and remains owner, director and primary teacher. She is a member of The International Association of Yoga Therapists and completed her certification as a Yoga Therapist in 2017.

Traci M. Ludwig, LISW, ACSW, RYT-200

Traci has for the past 20 years worked as a therapist who specializes in the treatment of stress and trauma responses caused by childhood maltreatment, intimate partner violence, and sexual assault. She uses a variety of evidenced-based and trauma-specific interventions such as sensorimotor psychotherapy, EMDR, and trauma-sensitive yoga. She uses the latest stress-science in her work such as the Polyvagal theory which helps form a lens of one’s unique nervous system and its specific response to stress. Over the past several years, she has offered numerous evidence-based, body-based, strategy-filled workshops to colleagues, therapists, educators, and yoga instructors. In addition, she has co-authored trauma-sensitive movement modules to support classroom educators to provide mental health support to their students. She facilitated research investigating the impact of trauma-sensitive yoga on trauma, depression, and overall mental health, which was featured on NPR. She has volunteered countless hours delivering psychoeducation and therapeutic movement to those in need that may not otherwise have access. Traci is committed to sharing her knowledge and experience as invitations to connect with all.

Dr. Robert Macy, PhD, DMT

Dr. Robert Macy is trained as a theatre artist, Taoist martial artist, dance movement therapist, developmental traumatologist, and disaster behavioral health manager. He has developed body-based psychological trauma interventions, and has launched the design, development, dissemination and implementation of trauma informed care assessment and intervention service delivery systems in the United States and overseas focusing on schools, residential treatment centers, inpatient units, communities of color with high priority populations, emergency services and large-scale community engagement. Dr. Macy is the Founder

and President of the International Trauma Center-Boston, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of The Boston Children’s Foundation, also in Boston, which has worked closely with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health for 25 years.

Dr. Macy is a founding member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), where he is a primary content provider and National Master Trainer for the development of Psychological First Aid, and primary content provider and National Master Trainer for Skills for Psychological Recovery. He has co-chaired

the NCTSN Terrorism and Disaster Network Committee and continues as a senior consultant to the NCTSN Terrorism and Disaster Center and has led numerous response and behavioral health recovery teams during national and international mass casualty events and disasters.

Dr. Macy is a senior response member for the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC). He is activated by DTAC for major terrorist attacks and natural disasters in the US providing Crisis Counseling Programs (CCP) and continuum of care trauma focused interventions for youth, family, schools and community. Dr. Macy was one of 12 experts in the nation to be selected to membership for the Barack Obama commissioned Attorney General’s Federal Advisory commission on Children Exposed to Violence as part of Attorney General Eric Holder’s broader Defending Childhood Initiative.

Dr. Macy designs, implements and evaluates trauma focused psychosocial resiliency initiatives, violence prevention programs, and Trauma Informed Care initiatives in the United States, Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa.

Nicole Miller, MSW

Nicole is a behavioral interventionist with over 8 years’ experience in elementary school settings where she has worked with children, their families, and teachers to help create a trauma-informed environment. A Life-Changer of the Year nominee, Nicole developed the Fearlessly Me! empowerment program geared toward connecting fifth and sixth grade female students with women with strong ties to the local community. Nicole earned her BSW and MSW from the University of Southern Mississippi and is currently employed in a local Gulf Coast school district’s alternative school program. She has won numerous awards for her efforts in the schools for her work with her students and families. Over the years, she has researched and presented at state-wide and national conferences on the impact of trauma and its effect on children within the school setting. Her research and efforts have been published in an academic journal and have been showcased on PACES Connection news briefs and local news channels.

Nicole’s focus is to provide a family-wide, culturally responsive approach to trauma-informed education. She believes in the importance of seeing a community change and growth, and therefore, is a strong proponent of introducing community partners as collaborators to her projects and ideas for success in all her work.

Candice Selwyn, PhD

Dr. Candice Selwyn is an Associate Professor of Research in the College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama. She received her PhD in Clinical-Counseling Psychology from the University of South Alabama in 2016, during which she completed an American Psychological Association-accredited internship in Clinical Psychology at the Medical College of Georgia/Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, GA. During internship, Dr. Selwyn received emphasis training on the Psychology of Women, with a particular focus on working with women who had experienced interpersonal trauma. She went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship in Resiliency and Integrative Care Initiatives at the Gulf Coast Behavioral Health and Resiliency Center where she later served as Women's Mental Health and Trauma Services (WMHTS) Coordinator. As WMHTS Coordinator, she developed, implemented, and supervised trauma-informed initiatives within the greater Mobile, Alabama community. Within her current academic position, Dr. Selwyn currently leads a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed sexual assault response and prevention program on the campus of the University of South Alabama. 

 Dr. Selwyn’s interests continue to focus on conditions that are over-represented among women, including risk for and recovery from gender-based violence and interpersonal trauma. Her current work specifically focuses on the ways in which healthcare delivery can minimize or potentiate impacts of interpersonal trauma on women's health, especially among frequently oppressed populations such as racial/ethnic minorities and women with low socioeconomic status. 

As a native of Mobile, AL, Dr. Selwyn is passionate about improving healthcare services within the Gulf Coast region, particularly among under-served, disadvantaged, and trauma-exposed populations. Ultimately, she hopes to promote healing among local survivors of interpersonal trauma by improving access to and quality of trauma-informed services along the Gulf Coast. 

Courtney Williams, MSW, BSW

Courtney Williams has over 20+ years in the Human Services Profession with experience in Case Management, Residential Care, Community Mental Health and with Mississippi’s Medicaid Waiver Home and Community Based Services. While Courtney has obtained a Bachelor’s and Master of Social Work, her passion lies in training direct care providers on how to support people with disabilities, creating plans of care for all persons receiving services and coaching agencies on establishing foundations of support at all levels of the organization. She is currently leading the state of Mississippi as the first and only Program Director for the Mississippi Person Centered Practices Institute and is a National Certified Person Centered Thinking Trainer, Mentor Trainer, and Plan Facilitator with The Learning Community for Person Centered Practices. Williams is also a Certified Ambassador for Charting the LifeCourse with Nexus National Network, which values the core belief that all people and their families have the right to live, love, learn, work, play and pursue their life aspirations in their community.

Presently, Courtney is working closely with The Mississippi Division of Medicaid on developing Advanced Skills Trainings to create better systems of care within the state.

Karen Zilberstein, MSW, LICSW

Karen Zilberstein, MSW, LICSW is a practicing psychotherapist and Clinical Director of the Western Massachusetts chapter of A Home Within. She is also a researcher who has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles on attachment, trauma, and various aspects of working with children and families in the child welfare system, with a special focus on youth with intersecting differences. Her narrative nonfiction book, Parents under pressure: Struggling to raise children in an unequal America, won two 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. A forthcoming book on working with children and families in the child welfare system will be published by Guilford Press in 2026.