Training

Deidra Brown, LMSW is a Community Behavioral Health Clinician for the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department, Behavioral Health Services where she provides consultation with youth, families, and service providers to ensure effective service delivery.  She was a PS-R study liaison for a 5-year federal grant serving juvenile justice involved youth.  Before that, Deidra supported youth as a middle school basketball, track, and field coach, and as Director of Native American Affairs at Eastern New Mexico University.

Deidra is a Nurtured Heart Certified Trainer, presents on youthful problem sexual behavior.  She is dedicated to serving and supporting indigenous communities through direct services for youth and families and teaching about the impact of historical and current trauma within indigenous communities.

Brittany Howell-Abbate, LPCC is a licensed mental health therapist and clinical supervisor at All Faiths Children’s Advocacy Center, in Albuquerque, NM.  She specializes in working with children and families impacted by trauma and adversity and is a rostered Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) clinician and supervisor. She is passionate about re-establishing positive family interactions, healthy decision making, and providing psychoeducation about the importance of self-regulation and nurturing relationships.

Brittany provided vital leadership in a 5-year federal grant evaluating Practice Self-Regulation™ with vulnerable youth and was directly involved in model development, pilot, facilitation, supervision, and training of new facilitators.  Brittany is dedicated to promoting intergenerational family support that builds protective factors to enhance all family member’s resilience and motivation for life-long health and well-being.

Scott Patterson, LPCC, LADAC is the Statewide Behavioral Health Manager for the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts where his work focuses on improving outcomes for individuals involved in criminal justice with mental health and substance misuse needs. He promotes opportunities for cross-system collaboration aimed at increasing access to trauma responsive services for system involved youth, adults, and families. He has worked in a variety of settings including outpatient and intensive outpatient programs, sub-acute and acute care, and residential treatment. His clinical focus has included youth and adults with intellectual impairment, disaster mental health, substance misuse, and problem sexual behavior.  He works extensively to enhance child welfare and juvenile justice prevention and intervention services in rural and underserved communities.

Scott participates in federal grant studies to enhance effective service delivery and presents on his experiences at grantee conferences.  He is a volunteer member of an integrative health Medical Reserve Corps team providing disaster mental health services to individuals, families and communities experiencing catastrophic events.  He is multi-lingual in Spanish, French, and Swedish.

Melonie Pinder, LMHC-QS is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC-QS) and Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) who pursued this passion after 10 years in marketing and sales for the hospitality industry.  Her expertise includes in-home family therapy, school-based services, and criminal justice work in county jails. She owns Pinder Counseling located in Central Florida which is a group practice offering therapy services for individuals and couples. She also enjoys mentoring and supervising provisionally licensed interns as well as newly licensed therapists who intend to begin their own private practices.

She has provided extensive training on research-based strategies for addressing substance abuse, domestic/intimate-partner violence, and effective parenting. Melonie is a Practice Self-Regulation™ National Trainer and Marketing Coordinator.

Diana Moser-Berg, PhD is a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LCMHC-S) and Integrated Care Clinical Manager at Smith Family Wellness Center at Project 658, a free clinic located in Charlotte, NC that primarily serves the international community, marginalized, and underserved residents of Mecklenburg County.  She works tirelessly through budget development and oversight, grant writing, and grant program oversight to collaborate with community stakeholders through integrated development of diverse trauma-informed communities.

Diana has completed substance abuse, global mental health, and trauma recovery programs through Yale and Harvard Universities.  She is a certified Safe Crisis Management Instructor, and has extensive experience providing trauma-informed services through child welfare; juvenile, family, and treatment courts systems in several states; and program development for balanced and restorative justice. She works extensively with young people and adults facilitating multiple evidence-based practices.

Brian is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC), and National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC). He is EMDR trained, and a certified instructor in Crisis Prevention and Safe Crisis Management, practicing in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Specialist in Group Work (ASGW), and the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA). Brian has worked throughout Indiana in behavioral health since 1990, providing substance abuse, trauma-informed care, and mental health treatment. Settings include acute care, residential, outpatient, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs.

Brian has presented at national, regional, and local conferences on substance abuse, trauma, and other related mental health topics. He is a published author, and has worked as an Associate & Adjunct Professor at Indiana University/Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) since 2004, where he teaches Trauma-Informed Care for graduate counseling students.

Melanie Edwards is a psychotherapist and parenting skills provider at Hope Community Clinic, a free integrated care service in Charlotte, North Carolina. She provides trauma-informed, culturally relevant therapy for clients from diverse religious, racial, linguistic, socio-economic, and geographic backgrounds.

Melanie is committed to increasing mutual understanding and promoting health and healing among individuals, communities, and societies. Prior to mental health work, Melanie was a United States Foreign Service Officer. She managed and facilitated public diplomacy programming, including the Fulbright and International Visitors Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Canada, South America, and the Caribbean.

Elizabeth is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Adult Nurse Practitioner. She has worked at Planned Parenthood for over 25 years at PPNCSNJ, and the national office. As Chief Projects Officer, she oversees the Patient Navigation program, Research Department, and a variety of clinical and patient projects.  She maintains a clinical practice and is proud to protect and defend rights and access to sexual and reproductive health for everyone.

Tierra Kirkland is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC). She has extensive experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults in outpatient, school settings, shelters, and community agencies focusing on best practice transition planning, complex trauma, multi-system involvement, and youthful sexual behavior.

She is a PS-R national trainer, Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (C.A.R.E) Facilitator, and presents through various platforms locally and nationally. Tierra is a strong community partner and serves on committees to improve outcomes for children and families and promote system-wide improvements in trauma-informed care. She challenges false narratives that thwart growth and healing and firmly believes that, “your current situation is not your final destination”.

Yafi Joseph, LMHC, LPC is licensed as both a Mental Health and Professional
Counselor. She has extensive experience supporting children, adolescents and adults in outpatient and intensive in-home therapy focusing on trauma-informed, mindful, holistic personalized care. Yafi is part of a Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT), working to strengthen and foster reunification for youth and their families.

She owns Lifestyle Wellness Counseling in Southern Virginia and offers psychotherapy, meditation practice, and yoga for individuals, families, and couples. Yafi is committed to improving mental health and well-being through advocacy, evidence-based practice, and culturally congruent intervention strategies that enhance motivation and self-efficacy.