Your Instructors
Veronique Mead, MD, SEP
Veronique (Vair-uh-neek) Mead, MD, MA, SEP, PPNP was an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Obstetrics at the New Hampshire-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency program before changing careers to retrain as a Somatic Trauma Therapist at Naropa University.
For the past 25 years she has been integrating existing research on trauma into a new model for understanding chronic illness. The role of risk factors typically begin years or decades before onset and she has developed “Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs)” as a guide to identify 10 categories of risk that offer opportunities for prevention and treatment. The model emphasizes the need for trauma-informed care in medical practice and beyond.
Veronique shares the research for people with chronic illness, health professionals and others on her blog, Chronic Illness Trauma Studies, including her personal journey of gradual recovery from disabling chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and asthma using these trauma and nervous system perspectives. You can see her full bio here.
Veronique (Vair-uh-neek) Mead, MD, MA, SEP, PPNP was an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Obstetrics at the New Hampshire-Dartmouth Family Practice Residency program before changing careers to retrain as a Somatic Trauma Therapist at Naropa University.
For the past 25 years she has been integrating existing research on trauma into a new model for understanding chronic illness. The role of risk factors typically begin years or decades before onset and she has developed “Adverse Babyhood Experiences (ABEs)” as a guide to identify 10 categories of risk that offer opportunities for prevention and treatment. The model emphasizes the need for trauma-informed care in medical practice and beyond.
Veronique shares the research for people with chronic illness, health professionals and others on her blog, Chronic Illness Trauma Studies, including her personal journey of gradual recovery from disabling chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and asthma using these trauma and nervous system perspectives. You can see her full bio here.
Cheryl Azlin, PsyD
Dr. Azlin started her professional career on a nursing track. In 1981, she became a Registered Nurse and worked as a specialist in perinatal nursing for 10 years. During that time, she became very interested in the integration of psychological theory and biological/medical theories and practice, completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology.
She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in 1993. She then completed her doctoral internship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, with intensive training in inpatient child psychiatry, pediatric behavioral medicine, consultation to medical units, and psychological testing. While continuing to specialize in her psychological work with children and adolescents, Dr. Azlin did further post-doctoral work at the North Shore Children’s Hospital, in Salem Massachusetts.
In the following years, she developed a private practice working with children, families, couples, and individuals. In addition, she worked as adjunct faculty at several universities. Relocating to Seattle in 2008, she has worked in faculty positions and as a consultant to PsyD program development.
Dr. Azlin’s theoretical orientation combines interpersonal, psychodynamic, and existential traditions. However, she has also trained under several theoretical orientations, including structural/strategic family therapies, and makes use of multi-modal treatment methods to best address the needs of her clients. She is now applying this broad background to facilitate the theoretical and clinical training of doctoral students at AUS and maintains a small private practice in Redmond, WA. Dr. Azlin is currently focused on helping AUS doctoral psychology students to uniquely create and develop their own careers as psychologists.
Kate White, MA, BCBMT, RCST, CEIM, SEP, PPNE, PLC, Founder of PPSI
Kate White is an advanced bodyworker and somatic trauma resolution therapist who has been involved with pre- and perinatal health for over 30 years, starting with maternal and child health, family planning, and health education as an international professional, to a practitioner of the healing arts as a bodyworker working with pregnant mothers, families and babies. Her qualifications include: BA and MA in communications Certifications in prenatal massage, infant massage, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner Training and over 25 years of study and training in Prenatal and Perinatal Somatic Psychology with many leading pioneering practitioners. She is founder and former Director of Education for the Prenatal and Perinatal Educator Certificate course for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, 2013-2019. Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Prenatal and Perinatal Programs, Co-Creator of Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics and Prenatal and Perinatal Healing Online, Creator of Baby Dynamics Clinical training, Leading Edge Somatic Skills Seminars, and the Whole Family Clinic You can see a complete list of her trainings and education here.
Kate White is an advanced bodyworker and somatic trauma resolution therapist who has been involved with pre- and perinatal health for over 30 years, starting with maternal and child health, family planning, and health education as an international professional, to a practitioner of the healing arts as a bodyworker working with pregnant mothers, families and babies. Her qualifications include: BA and MA in communications Certifications in prenatal massage, infant massage, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner Training and over 25 years of study and training in Prenatal and Perinatal Somatic Psychology with many leading pioneering practitioners. She is founder and former Director of Education for the Prenatal and Perinatal Educator Certificate course for the Association for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, 2013-2019. Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Prenatal and Perinatal Programs, Co-Creator of Integrated Prenatal and Perinatal Dynamics and Prenatal and Perinatal Healing Online, Creator of Baby Dynamics Clinical training, Leading Edge Somatic Skills Seminars, and the Whole Family Clinic You can see a complete list of her trainings and education here.
Gwenaëlle Thomas, PhD
Gwenaëlle (Gwen-Eye-Yell) joined Leiber Institute of Brain Development in 2022 as a scientific project manager. Before joining the Lieber Institute, she earned her neurobiology doctorate at Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her dissertation work with Kafui Dzirasa, M.D., Ph.D. and Marc Caron, Ph.D. investigating the role of dopamine in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and characterizing the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of a novel antipsychotic drug in vivo. Her graduate training included extensive behavioral neuroscience, neuroanatomy, molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, neuroengineering, and machine learning, in addition to clinical exposure in psychiatry and neurology. While in graduate school, she co-founded BlackInNeuro, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and served as the director of communications. Prior to her studies at Duke University, she earned the Meyerhoff Scholarship and completed a dual degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Psychology B.S. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her undergraduate research focused on elucidating schizophrenia pathophysiology and applied bioinformatics, animal behavior, genetics, and neuroengineering.
Gwenaëlle (Gwen-Eye-Yell) joined Leiber Institute of Brain Development in 2022 as a scientific project manager. Before joining the Lieber Institute, she earned her neurobiology doctorate at Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her dissertation work with Kafui Dzirasa, M.D., Ph.D. and Marc Caron, Ph.D. investigating the role of dopamine in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and characterizing the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of a novel antipsychotic drug in vivo. Her graduate training included extensive behavioral neuroscience, neuroanatomy, molecular and cellular biology, pharmacology, neuroengineering, and machine learning, in addition to clinical exposure in psychiatry and neurology. While in graduate school, she co-founded BlackInNeuro, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and served as the director of communications. Prior to her studies at Duke University, she earned the Meyerhoff Scholarship and completed a dual degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Psychology B.S. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her undergraduate research focused on elucidating schizophrenia pathophysiology and applied bioinformatics, animal behavior, genetics, and neuroengineering.
Shatia M.Owsley, MS, PPNE, CEIM, CYT
Shatia Owsley is a holistic psychosocial and trauma practitioner who has worked in the maternal health and social services field for over 18 years. Her professional journey has allowed her to work closely with teen moms, infants and children with complex medical conditions, as well as women and families with varying life transformations. In 2010, Shatia began shifting her approach to incorporate more eastern and holistic health practices to empower her clients. She earned a masters in Health Education and Promotion, focusing her studies on educating BIPOC women on the benefits of a healthy mind, body and spirit connection during pregnancy. Shatia has continued to advance her studies by pursuing various trainings and certifications in the following areas: maternal social justice, pre and perinatal psychology, birth trauma processing, trauma informed yoga, breathwork, Calm Birth Meditation, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), indigenous postpartum care practices, ecological breastfeeding, infant massage, and various forms of energy healing (reiki, quantum healing, sound bath therapy, etc.).
Shatia's goal when working with families is to listen, empower, coach and support them as they re-discover that they are the experts of their lives. She serves as a supportive presence as they face the many adventures of life on their own terms. Shatia is a part of a growing community of holistic and spiritual healers, as well as medical and mental health professionals dedicated to the connection of the mind, body and spirit. www.indigowomb.com [email protected]
Shatia Owsley is a holistic psychosocial and trauma practitioner who has worked in the maternal health and social services field for over 18 years. Her professional journey has allowed her to work closely with teen moms, infants and children with complex medical conditions, as well as women and families with varying life transformations. In 2010, Shatia began shifting her approach to incorporate more eastern and holistic health practices to empower her clients. She earned a masters in Health Education and Promotion, focusing her studies on educating BIPOC women on the benefits of a healthy mind, body and spirit connection during pregnancy. Shatia has continued to advance her studies by pursuing various trainings and certifications in the following areas: maternal social justice, pre and perinatal psychology, birth trauma processing, trauma informed yoga, breathwork, Calm Birth Meditation, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), indigenous postpartum care practices, ecological breastfeeding, infant massage, and various forms of energy healing (reiki, quantum healing, sound bath therapy, etc.).
Shatia's goal when working with families is to listen, empower, coach and support them as they re-discover that they are the experts of their lives. She serves as a supportive presence as they face the many adventures of life on their own terms. Shatia is a part of a growing community of holistic and spiritual healers, as well as medical and mental health professionals dedicated to the connection of the mind, body and spirit. www.indigowomb.com [email protected]