Our team of leaders.
Center for Trauma and Embodiment's team of professionals comprises decades of experience in mental health, social work, education, movement, and mindfulness practices.
Organizational Staff & Collaborators
Dave Emerson, YACEP
Co-Director
Founder of TCTSY; co-author of Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga; author of Trauma Sensitive Yoga In Therapy
My pronouns are he/him
Dave Emerson, YACEP, TCTSY-F,
Co-Founder & Co-Director Massachusetts, United States
Dave is the co-founder of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) and the co-founder and co-director of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at the Justice Resource Institute in Massachusetts. Dave has provided training internationally since 2006 and has developed, conducted, and supervised TCTSY groups for rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, residential programs for youth, active duty military personnel, survivors of terrorism, and Veterans Administration centers and clinics and more. He is the author or co-author of numerous papers on yoga and trauma; the co-author of Overcoming Trauma through Yoga; and the author of, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy.
Jenn Turner, LMHC
Co-Director
Editor of Embodied Healing: Survivor and Facilitator voices from the practice of Trauma Sensitive Yoga
My pronouns are she/her
Jenn Turner, LMHC RYT, TCTSY-F/S
Co-Founder & Co-Director Massachusetts, United States
Jenn has had the honor of working with survivors of trauma for all of her career. Along with working in private practice as a trauma-informed therapist, Jenn is the Co-Director of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment where she works to oversee training and supports the development of body-first interventions for healing from trauma. Jenn also leads trainings in Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) throughout the U.S, provides consultation to organizations on how to become more trauma informed at all levels. Jenn co-founded the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI in 2018.
Sydney Spears, PhD
Leadership Team Member
Author of Finding Self-Compassion: A Mindfulness Workbook for Getting to Know and Love Yourself
My pronouns are she/her
Sydney Spears, PhD, LCSW, TCTSY-F
Leadership Team Member Missouri, United States
Sydney Spears (she/her) is a certified TCTSY-F facilitator, 200 hour yoga teacher, Center of Trauma and Embodiment Leadership Team member, and a private practice psychotherapist specializing in working with survivors of complex trauma and sociocultural trauma. Sydney has deep passion for advancing sociocultural equity and social justice for underserved communities across the globe. Additionally, she is highly committed to providing anti-oppressive practices and trauma-sensitive yoga facilitation into her clinical psychotherapy work.
Karen Schwartz, LMSW, C-IAYT
Director of Operations
My pronouns are she/her
Mindy Levine, YACEP, E-RYT 500
Donor Engagement Coordinator
My pronouns are she/her
E Ragonese
Digital Content Manager
My pronouns are they/them
Anna Malmi, TCTSY-F
Recertification Coordinator
My pronouns are she/her
Desmonette Hazly, MA, MSW, PhD, CBAB
CFTE Consultant & Collaborator
My pronouns are she/her
Elena Mamatas, TCTSY-F
Bookkeeper
My pronouns are she/her
Dave Emerson, YACEP
Co-Director
Founder of TCTSY; co-author of Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga; author of Trauma Sensitive Yoga In Therapy
My pronouns are he/him
Dave Emerson, YACEP
Co-Director
Founder of TCTSY; co-author of Overcoming Trauma Through Yoga; author of Trauma Sensitive Yoga In Therapy
My pronouns are he/him
Dave Emerson, YACEP, TCTSY-F,
Co-Founder & Co-Director Massachusetts, United States
Dave is the co-founder of Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) and the co-founder and co-director of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at the Justice Resource Institute in Massachusetts. Dave has provided training internationally since 2006 and has developed, conducted, and supervised TCTSY groups for rape crisis centers, domestic violence programs, residential programs for youth, active duty military personnel, survivors of terrorism, and Veterans Administration centers and clinics and more. He is the author or co-author of numerous papers on yoga and trauma; the co-author of Overcoming Trauma through Yoga; and the author of, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga in Therapy.
Jenn Turner, LMHC
Co-Director
Editor of Embodied Healing: Survivor and Facilitator voices from the practice of Trauma Sensitive Yoga
My pronouns are she/her
Jenn Turner, LMHC RYT, TCTSY-F/S
Co-Founder & Co-Director Massachusetts, United States
Jenn has had the honor of working with survivors of trauma for all of her career. Along with working in private practice as a trauma-informed therapist, Jenn is the Co-Director of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment where she works to oversee training and supports the development of body-first interventions for healing from trauma. Jenn also leads trainings in Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) throughout the U.S, provides consultation to organizations on how to become more trauma informed at all levels. Jenn co-founded the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI in 2018.
Jenn Turner, LMHC
Co-Director
Editor of Embodied Healing: Survivor and Facilitator voices from the practice of Trauma Sensitive Yoga
My pronouns are she/her
Jenn Turner, LMHC RYT, TCTSY-F/S
Co-Founder & Co-Director Massachusetts, United States
Jenn has had the honor of working with survivors of trauma for all of her career. Along with working in private practice as a trauma-informed therapist, Jenn is the Co-Director of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment where she works to oversee training and supports the development of body-first interventions for healing from trauma. Jenn also leads trainings in Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) throughout the U.S, provides consultation to organizations on how to become more trauma informed at all levels. Jenn co-founded the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI in 2018.
Program Staff & Collaborators
Sarah Carter,
LMHC, RDT
TIIP Co-Director
My pronouns are she/her
Sasha Garfunkel Corrado,
LICSW
TIIP Co-Director
My pronouns are she/her
Valerie Krpata,
LICSW
TIIP Co-Director
My pronouns are she/her
Krystal Pérez, TCTSY-F
TCTSY Certification Program Coordinator
My pronouns are she/her
Keri Sawyer, TCTSY-F, YACEP, RYT 500, BBA
TCTSY Trainer Coordinator
My pronouns are she/her
Candace Liger, NASM-SPS, CE
TIWL Director
My pronouns are she/they
Mariah Rooney, MSW, LICSW
TIWL Co-Founder & Consultant
My pronouns are she/they
Licensed TCTSY Trainers
Board of Directors
Dr. Tiffany Johnson
Christina Davis
Riefqah Jappie
Dr. Kerry-Ann Williams
Manuela Montagnana
Ingrid Lindberg
Maria Levin, CPA
Treasurer
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