Post-Traumatic Growth Summit

Janina Fisher, PhD, is the assistant educational director of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute and a former instructor at Harvard Medical School. An international expert on the treatment of trauma, she is the author of Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Self-Alienation and is co-author with Pat Ogden of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Attachment and Trauma. She is known for her work on integrating neuroscience research and newer body-centered interventions into traditional psychotherapy approaches. More information can be found on her website: www.janinafisher.com.

Manuela Mischke-Reeds, MA, LMFT, is a licensed somatic psychotherapist, international teacher and speaker, author and meditation teacher. She co-directs and teaches at the Hakomi Institute of California and is the developer of “From Trauma to Dharma”, a somatic trauma training for professionals. Manuela is the author of Somatic Psychotherapy Toolbox (PESI, 2018), 8 Keys to Practicing Mindfulness (W.W. Norton, 2015) and was a contributor to Hakomi Mindfulness-Centered Somatic Psychotherapy.

Manuela brings together 25 years of in-depth clinical practice and teaching in somatic trauma therapies, Hakomi psychotherapy, attachment and infant mental health work, Buddhist meditation practices and movement therapies. Her approach to working with trauma is an inside out approach that utilises the depth of the body’s knowledge. Her unique teaching gift is inspiring how we live our lives from the reverence and awareness of interconnection.

Pam Stavropoulos, PhD, is a Sydney based educator, consultant and psychotherapist. A former Fulbright Scholar and twice winner of the Pierre Janet Writing Award for the best clinical, theoretical or research paper in the field of dissociation and/or trauma, she is a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) and co-authored the nationally and internationally endorsed Practice Guidelines for Clinical Treatment of Complex Trauma (2019, 2012). Formerly Head of Research with the Blue Knot Foundation, Pam has held lectureships at the University of New England and Macquarie University, from which she left her tenured position to study and practise psychotherapy, and is a former Program Director of the Jansen Newman Institute, Sydney. The author of Living under Liberalism: The Politics of Depression in Western Democracies (2008) she has written research reports in the community health sector and is a clinical supervisor who specialises in complex trauma-related issues.

Dr Fiona Pienaar is a Clinical Advisor for Whakarongorau Aotearoa (NZ); and Senior Clinical Advisor for Mental Health Innovations (MHI), a UK-based charity using data to develop innovative digital mental health products. MHI runs Shout, a digital text platform, on which thousands of trained volunteers, supervised by clinicians, support the UK population when they are struggling with their mental health. Fiona is an accomplished public (and digital) speaker and interacts confidently with the media.

Fiona has a PhD in Behavioural Science from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, a MEd in Counselling, a Professional Certificate in Coaching (Henley Business School, England) and various other counselling, teaching and special needs qualifications.

Fiona has a background of over 30 years of teaching and counselling in schools, counsellor/psychotherapist education in higher education institutes, educational and mental health resource development, academic and clinical supervision, private practice and mental health consultation, coaching, research, media interaction and writing.

Fiona has taught on the post graduate Counselling and Psychotherapy programmes at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and the University of Cambridge, England. Her career has developed across South Africa, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

Renata Porzig-Drummond, PhD, teaches at the University of Adelaide. She uses an interactive presenting style that is engaging and emphasises practical application in a clinical context. Renata holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and a BSc Psychology (Hon) from Macquarie University; a GradDip in Psychology and a BA from the University of Sydney; and a Certificate of Holistic Counselling from Nature Care College. Renata’s research has focused on behaviour change, particularly on the use of emotion-focused and cognitive-behavioural strategies in effecting behaviour change.

Her research has been published in leading academic journals, including Behaviour Research and Therapy, Australian Social Work, and Social Science & Medicine. Renata’s clinical experience includes crisis counselling, psychological assessment, and working with clients with a variety of mental health issues. Renata is a member of the Australian Psychological Society and the International Coaching Federation.

Dr Nitin Shukla is amongst very few Psychiatrists, to be a practitioner, trainer and RANZCP accredited faculty and supervisor of psychotherapy. Dr Shukla works with a stable foundation in psychotherapy, from formal training and extensive practice of psychotherapy and teaching of 15 years.

Winner of ‘Best Psychotherapy of the Year’ award in 2002, by the Indian Psychiatric Society and RANZCP accredited Faculty and Supervisor of Psychotherapy and Addiction Psychiatry, accredited Faculty Adult and C-L Psychiatry, he has extensive clinical experience: Lead Consultant in Psychiatry for specialist Addiction Psychiatry service (SUMITT), Crisis and Acute Treatment Team (CATT) and GP-Shared Care. Consultant in Acute Psychiatry Inpatient Unit, Community Mental Health, Adult Prevention and Recovery Centre (PARC). Currently working in private practice and a public Dual diagnosis rehabilitation centre.