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Speaker Bios

Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW
Susan Pease Banitt, LCSW is a Harvard trained psychotherapist with thirty-five years experience in mental health work. She is an expert in traumatic states and alternative healing modalities by virtue of practice, research and her own journey of healing. Susan conducts her holistic private practice in the diverse healing community of Portland, Oregon. Her first book The Trauma Toolkit: Healing PTSD From the Inside Out is due out in Spring 2012.

Marilyn Bennet MA LMHC
Marilyn Bennett has a broad range of experience in the counseling field, including facilitating guided imagery for people with life-threatening illnesses and providing therapy to adults and adolescents with complex trauma issues in both outpatient and residential settings. She has worked with both men and women on a variety of problems ranging from anxiety and depression to co-occurring substance abuse disorders. She has also assisted individuals seeking personal growth or dealing with difficult changes in their lives.

Carol Broad
Carol is a D.I.D survivor, who lives in the United Kingdom. A mum to three grown up children, she was diagnosed with D.I.D in 2008. A former Government employee she is currently on her journey of recovery, whilst studying for a degree. She has delivered training in the UK to both professionals, D.I.D survivors, and their families in order to increase awareness of D.I.D. Carol recently delivered her training at the renowned Bowlby Centre in London to professionals working within the field of dissociation. She is keen to ensure her negative experiences in earlier life, which resulted in her dissociation, are used to positive effect now, hence training others of the condition that has had a major impact upon her life, and the life of her family. Carol, in her spare time, likes gardening and creative activities, alongside spending time with her children.

Fanita Cappello LCSW
Fanita Cappello is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has been married for 17 years. At the age of 21 she adopted 3 boys the ages of 1,3, and 4 whose parents died from AIDS. Fanita has extensive professional experience in the field of traumatic stress and trauma related disorders. She also has extensive personal experience in fighting the cycle of sexual abuse in her own family.
Fanita is a survivor of continuous childhood rapes, severe sexual abuse, severe physical abuse and severe emotional abandonment, from the ages of 7 to 18 years of age. Fanita's first 5 years of her life were filled with repeated exposure to domestic violence between her mother and her father! Fanita is the founder and director of Unlimited Hope,LLC in Homestead Fl, a private practice where counseling and education is provided for children as well as adult survivors of sexual and physical abuse. She is currently working on her first book and various other projects to continue spreading the word to others who have been severely sexually and physically abused and suffer from Dissociative Disorder , that "they are not crazy or alone," and there is Unlimited HOPE.

Madison Clell
The inner child movement seemed like a load of hooey to Madison Clell so her ultimate irony was being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder in 1992. Now, even more ironically, she speaks publicly about her DID. In the past, her friends and loved ones laughed in her face when she insisted she didn't have D.I.D. After 8 years of incessant therapy, she is integrated and she wants to tell you all about it. Seeing a lack of accessible post-D.I.D. models and mentorship during her therapy years, Madison decided that dignity was overrated, and by sharing her foibles, she hopes others will realize, 'If this dingbat can integrate and heal, it is with absolute certainty that I can too.' She created CUCKOO comics in 1996, followed by a CUCKOO graphic novel, and in 2009 CUCKOO the play was premiered in San Francisco to sold out audiences. At this point she figures she might as well push her CUCKOO empire to the pinnacle of world domination, starting with her lecture at the inaugural Infinite Mind conference. Despite lying on the floor and hollering into the mike during that presentation, Madison has been invited back - so clearly, her evil plan is working. More information on Madison's false bravado and CUCKOO can be found at www.madisonclell.net.

Deb Croteau
Deb Croteau is an educator/speaker who is currently employed with Sylvan Learning Center as a Director of Education. Deb's life felt like a huge unraveled pile of knotted up strings when as an adult she began to deal with her complex DID situation. She knew that Jesus had allowed her to survive abuse at a very young age through disassociation. Therefore, when she began her healing, she asked Him to lead her through her return to wholeness by taking those threads of her broken life and weaving together a beautiful tapestry. After many years of hard work, much prayer and consistent therapy with Monica Taffinder at Grace Clinic, the Lord brought Deb to a place of wholeness once again. She shares her story because she knows that only through her personal walk with God and the people He put in her path to help her heal, is she able to be the whole and alive person she is today. She wants to encourage others that hope and healing is possible when a redeeming and restoring God is involved in the process.

Vishakha Desai
Vishakha Desai is President of Asia Society, an international organization committed to strengthening partnerships and promoting mutual understanding among Asians and Americans. She met Robert Oxnam just when his DID condition was diagnosed and they have been married for over 18 years. A noted scholar of Asian art and culture, Desai has collaborated with Robert Oxnam on both Asia related discussions as well as presentations on DID and partnership

Ophelia de Serres
Ophelia de Serres brings over 8 years of experience in the field of assaulted women and children's advocacy. She co-founded the non-profit organization (Wo)Men Speak Out™ , with her husband Christopher de Serres. Its mission is to educate communities in the area of rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Ophelia is passionate in her advocacy outreach, finding it imperative to provide quality services to communities. Serving a diverse population in the field of mental health she sits on the board of directors with An Infinite Mind and works with victims of domestic violence with local law enforcement.

Jeanne C. Folks, D.Min, LPC
Jeanne C. Folks is a clinically trained licensed professional counselor and psychotherapist with more than 30 years of experience treating PTSD and Dissociative Disorders. In addition, Dr. Folks has taught as an adjunct professor in the department of psychology for 25 years at Central Connecticut State University as well as teaching Principles of Clinical Medicine and Mind-Body-Spirit Medicine at the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine.

Judith Gulko Ph.D.
Dr. Judith Gulko is a clinical psychologist who has been treating people for over twenty years. She specializes in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, and eating disorders.

David Baker-Hargrove, Ph.D., LMHC, DAPA, CCFC
Dr. Baker-Hargrove is a psychotherapist, speaker, and organizational consultant. He has presented at international, national, state and regional conferences. He has testified before the Florida State Legislature, Orange County Commission, and Orlando City Council regarding the mental health impact of discrimination on GLBT persons. He serves as both a peer grant reviewer and review committee chair for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. He is an accomplished administrator, specializing in organizing and rehabilitating nonprofit organizations. An expert in treating post traumatic stress, he works with individuals that have been traumatized in combat situations, disasters, and from sexual/physical/emotional abuse. In November 2001, he provided mental health support to police, firemen, and construction workers at World Trade Center Ground Zero in New York City. He currently works in private practice in downtown Orlando.

Gulnora Hundley PhD, LMHC
Dr. Hundley is a licensed mental health counselor by the Florida Department of Health to provide counseling and psychotherapy services. She has extensive experience treating adults with a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, psychological trauma, relationship issues, and life transitions. Dr. Hundley utilizes Humanistic/Experiential approach in counseling with emphasis on individual growth and self-worth. She received specialized training in Neurofeedback, an alternative method in treating individuals with trauma. Currently Dr. Hundley is a faculty member at the Counselor Education Program, and Clinical Director of the Community Counseling Center, UCF.

Dr. Marc Greenfield, Psy.D
Dr. Marc Greenfield has been a psychologist in Miami since 1985. During those years he was coordinator of psychiatry at Variety Children Hospital for 10 years. There he developed and implemented treatment strategies for emotionally handicapped children and adolescents. He has been an advisor on children's programming to major networks. He has worked with WLRN on both sides of the camera creating and presenting programs for parenting. He has given numerous presentations to teachers and parents for the Miami Dade County School System. He is currently the Mental Health Chair of the Student Health Advisory Committee to the Superintendent. During the Gulf War he worked with the Israeli government designing programs for children to minimize the trauma of SCUD missile attacks and chemical warfare. Dr. Greenfield is the developer and driving force behind The Children's Survival Net-work, nonprofit organizations dedicated to providing comprehensive services for abused and neglected children and adolescents. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Miami and maintains a private practice. In his practice Dr. Greenfield has successfully helped children, adolescents and parents, and adult's deal with a wide variety of emotional difficulties. Included in his areas of focus are: Depression & Anxiety, Divorce, difficulties with attention and organizational skills, Aspergers Disorder, Social difficulties, Trauma, Abuse, Neglect, PTSD and Dissociative Disorders.

Janet and Jeff Laird
Janet Laird, an Advanced Level WRAP® Facilitator, has been conducting wellness workshops in Northern California since 2005. WRAP® stands for Wellness Recovery Action Plan, a well- known self-management system that promotes self-determination and choice for empowerment. Sharing from her own experiences with mental health issues, including being diagnosed with DID, as well as drawing on her extensive research resourcefulness, she is able to engage participants effectively in writing their own plan for wellness preventing relapse. Janet will be assisted by her husband of 30 years, Jeff Laird.

Chonteau Blake McElvin
Chonteau Blake McElvin has lived a quiet life in the hills of Minneola, FL for 11 years. She shares a home with her husband, sons and their four legged pooch. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work and has worked in the Social Services field for 17 years. She has counseled adolescent teenagers and their families for 11 years at a program for girls. She has been a student and teacher of the Healing Spiritual Arts for 20 years. She is a Certified Reiki Master, Herbalist and Wellness Coach. Chonteau has logged hundreds of hours in nature, read dozens of books, articles and attended numerous workshops and classes from numerous schools. She has completed working on a herbal correspondence course with Susun Weed and now is fulling a life long dream to become a Certified Health and Nutrition Coach. She currently attends The Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

Lee Norton Ph.D., M.S.W., L.C.S.W
Dr. Norton is a Diplomat, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, is clinical director of the Center for Trauma Therapy, with offices in Indian Harbour Beach, FL, and Nashville, Tennessee. She has worked in the field of traumatology for 30 years, and has studied under prominent members of the trauma community, including Dr. Charles Figley. Dr. Norton uses a collaborative approach to trauma treatment that includes psychiatry for stabilization and grounding, intensive outpatient treatment, and close, consistent follow-up care by a family systems and trauma therapist. Dr. Norton has an interest in trauma treatment in international settings. She has been a consultant in the Philippines in the area of traumatic stress and dissociative disorders in children rescued from the sex trade and violent homes. In July, Dr. Norton presented at the XXXVIX Congress of the International Academy of Law and Mental Health at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, on the topic of trauma and dissociation in forensic populations. She also traveled to La Paz, Bolivia, in October, where she consulted with La Palabra Heche Vida, regarding the assessment and treatment of ex-prostitutes. She and George Woods, M.D., are contributors to the upcoming text, Encyclopedia of Trauma, due to be published this year. Dr. Norton works with Inez Dalton, M.D., and Judith Siegler, Ph.D. in Indian Harbor Beach, Florida, and maintains a clinic in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rebeca Porter
Rebeca Porter is an ACE-certified Advanced Health Specialist. She owns Wherever Wellness In-Home Personal Training and specializes in serving medical populations.

Connie Porter-Richard PhD
Dr. Porter-Richard is a psychotherapist and founder of Discovery Institute, a counseling and education center with a mind/body focus, dedicated to serving people in recovery from harmful life events and experiencing life transitions. She has extensive experience in the fields of mind/body psychotherapy, death & dying, and disaster mental health. Dr. Porter-Richard is also the founder of ISSTD's only Florida component group.

Kim Snow MA
Kim Snow, M.A. is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Winter Springs, Florida. She received a B.S. and B.A. from Georgetown University, an M.A. from George Washington University, and trained at the National Children's Medical Center. She has worked with traumatized children and adults for over 30 years.

Marlene Steinberg, MD
Dr. Marlene Steinberg is an authority on the diagnosis and treatment of dissociative disorders. She is the developer of The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D, American Psychiatric Press) which is considered the diagnostic standard in the field. Dr. Steinberg has many academic and clinical publications, as well as The Stranger in the Mirror: Dissociation, The Hidden Epidemic, a popular work providing context, education, hope and comfort for trauma survivors (www.strangerinthemirror.com.) Dr. Steinberg maintains a private practice in Naples, Florida, working with patients in a highly-intensive treatment program addressing dissociative symptoms.

Monica Taffinder, LMHC, LMFT
Monica Taffinder is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and co-founder of Grace Clinic. Monica has been counseling since 1999, after earning her Master's degrees from Reformed Theological Seminary in Counseling and Biblical Studies. She enjoys working with people on issues of dissociative disorders, depression, anxiety, sexual abuse recovery, trauma, femininity and gender identity, and strengthening core relationships. Originally from Texas, Monica came to Orlando after working for several years with a Christian organization in Texas and in Russia. Monica enjoys traveling, gardening, writing, and being with her friends and family.

William Tollefson, Ph.D.
William Tollefson, Ph.D. is a nationally known author, publisher, international speaker, radio personality and radio co-host as well as the former owner and founder of the internationally known WiiT Program (Women's Institute for Incorporation Therapy) that was dedicated to the treatment of DID, Dissociative Disorders and PTSD. Dr. Bill is a well-known expert on the effects of and treatment of abuse, Dissociative Disorders, DID, PTSD, stress, and trauma. After 35 years as a therapist in inpatient psychiatric settings, Dr. Bill has moved into the unique field of Life Coaching. He is a certified master life coach, PTSD coach, holistic addiction recovery coach, board certified hypnotherapist, certified reality therapist, board certified clinical psychotherapist, certified incorporation therapy therapist, certified rapid reduction technique therapist and certified SRTT coach.

Heather Beatty and Keith Willenson
Heather and Keith live with their son and adopted daughter. Their daughter has been living with Heather since she was 14 and is diagnosed with PTSD and DID due to abuse in her birth family.

For more information, please contact healingtogether@aninfinitemind.com.

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