Founder, Director & Lead Trainer

Jamie Marich, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LICDC-CS, REAT, RYT-200, RMT

 Jamie Marich is the author of EMDR Made Simple: 4 Approaches for Using EMDR with Every Client (2011), and four other books on trauma recovery and the expressive arts. Jamie's journey with EMDR began as a client in 2004, and she's offered EMDR as a clinician since 2006. An EMDRIA Certified Therapist, Approved Consultant, and Education Provider, Jamie was the EMDRIA Research Poster Award Winner in 2008 for her qualitative research on EMDR and addiction. Jamie's doctoral dissertation on the use of EMDR in addiction continuing care was later published in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, a major APA journal. Jamie travels internationally speaking on topics related to EMDR, trauma, addiction, and mindfulness while maintaining a private practice (Mindful Ohio) in her home base of Warren, OH.  Jamie formerly volunteered for the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) as a logistics coordinator and a consultant. She is the developer of the Dancing Mindfulness practice (and author of Dancing Mindfulness: A Creative Path to Healing and Transformation), holds the credential of Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (IEATA), and is a Reiki Master teacher. Jamie is a Certified Integrated Amrit Method (I AM) Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) and has training in several other trauma-informed and recovery yoga approaches. Additionally, Jamie developed the Yoga Unchained approach to trauma-informed yoga with Jessica Sowers. Along with Institute for Creative Mindfulness senior faculty member Dr. Stephen Dansiger, Jamie's latest book EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma Focused Care, released from Springer Publishing in 2017. Marich’s writing and work on Dancing Mindfulness was featured in the New York Times in 2017.  Jamie is the winner of the 2015 President's Award from NALGAP: The Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Addiction Professionals and Their Allies for her inclusive work in trauma and addiction. She also delivered a TEDx talk on trauma in 2015, available on YouTube.

Listen to her interview on the Trauma Therapist Podcast

Senior Faculty Members

Amber Stiles-Bodnar, M.S.ED., LPCC-S, LCDC-III

Amber is a Licensed Supervising Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-S) and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC III). She earned a Master of Science in Education in Community Counseling from Youngstown State University. Amber has worked in mental health and chemical dependency treatment providing therapy as a residential, outpatient and dual diagnosis counselor. Her distinctive background includes 12 years of law enforcement experience allowing her a unique insight when helping those in specialized occupations such as police, fire, EMS and the armed forces. She has provided trainings focused on trauma and its effects on individuals, including children, at a national level. Amber is a Certified EMDR Therapist and Approved Consultant through the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA). She is also a member of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, the American Counseling Association, the Ohio Counseling Association, and volunteers for the EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP). Amber has been a practicing psychotherapist for over 10 years specializing in PTSD/issues related to abuse and trauma, addiction treatment (chemical and behavioral), co-occurring disorders, LGBT, women and children’s issues. Amber has dedicated herself to improving the lives of those faced with trauma and hardships which is evidenced in her clinical work with adults, children and families. She is the clinical director of Blue Star Family Counseling Services, Inc., a frequent sponsor of our EMDR Therapy trainings.

Stephen Dansiger, PSY.D., LMFT

Stephen Dansiger, PsyD, MFT played CBGB and Max’s Kansas City in the late 70s; drank, played drums in a toy rock band and then got sober in the late 80s; became an international educator and rocker again in the 90s; and a sought after clinician, writer and meditation teacher in the 2000s. Dr. Steve attempted to "cure" Marc Maron on WTF, is an EMDRIA Approved Consultant/Certified EMDR therapist, and provides EMDR Basic Training and Advanced Topics courses with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. He helped set up the premiere Buddhist addictions rehab center, Refuge Recovery Treatment Center in 2015. At the center he developed and instituted the MET(T)A Protocol (Mindfulness and EMDR Treatment Template for Addictions), a design for addictions agency treatment using Buddhist Mindfulness and EMDR Therapy as the theoretical orientation and primary clinical practices. The MET(T)A Protocol is now being implemented at other treatment centers nationally and internationally, and transferability of the protocol to other environments such as private practice and general mental health agencies is in progress. He first presented on MET(T)A at EMDRIA Conference 2016 in Minneapolis, and is scheduled to provide an updated version at EMDRIA Conference 2018 in Atlanta in October. He is the author of Clinical Dharma: A Path for Healers and Helpers (StartAgain, 2016) and avidly blogs and podcasts on topics related to mental health, recovery, and mindfulness. Besides maintaining a private practice in Larchmont Village in Los Angeles, he travels nationally and internationally speaking and teaching on Buddhist psychology, EMDR therapy, the MET(T)A Protocol, trauma, addictions, and clinician self-care. He has been practicing Buddhist mindfulness for almost 30 years (including a one year residency at a Zen monastery), and teaches dharma classes regularly at Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society in Los Angeles, and at other centers nationally and internationally. His second book (co-authored with ICM founder Dr. Jamie Marich), EMDR Therapy and Mindfulness for Trauma-Focused Care, is available now from Springer Publishing. For more, go to www.drdansiger.com

Listen to his interview on the Trauma Therapist Podcast

Affiliate Faculty Members

Monica O'Connell, MA, LMFT, LADC

Monica O’Connell, MA, LMFT, LADC is located in Minneapolis and provides national training on the intersections of trauma, addiction and mental health. She previously worked with the nation’s only LGBTQ exclusive dual diagnosis treatment center where she offered supervision and trauma therapy. Monica has a thriving private practice supporting clients and providing consultation and supervision. Her dog Louie is a certified therapy dog and visits the treatment center frequently.

Listen to her interview on the Trauma Therapist Podcast

Suzanne (Suzi) Rutti, MSW, LISW-S

Suzanne (Suzi) Rutti, MSW, LISW-S is a Clinical Social Worker based in Columbus, OH. Suzi specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults who have experienced a range of traumatic events. She is trained in a variety of evidence-based practices, including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has presented to numerous local and national audiences on the importance of providing trauma-informed care to community members. She provides clinical supervision and EMDR consultation to area clinicians, and co-facilitates the Children Affected by Violence Task Force of Central Ohio. Previous experience includes employment as a trauma therapist at the Mount Carmel Crime & Trauma Assistance Program, and treatment coordinator in the partial hospitalization program at St. Vincent Family Centers. Visit Suzi's website by clicking HERE.

Teresa Allen, MS, LMFT

Teresa Allen, M.S., MFT, is a licensed psychotherapist and EMDR consultant in Oakland, California. She works primarily with adults abused as children and persons recovering from addiction and trauma, including those with dissociative disorders. She worked in outpatient and residential recovery centers for 14 years and has a special interest in using EMDR to support recovering addicts and alcoholics. Teresa has been in private practice since 2003 and incorporated EMDR in her work beginning in 2005. She is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant, offering guidance and encouragement to other therapists learning the EMDR approach to psychotherapy. Teresa is currently an affiliate faculty member with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness. Visit Teresa's website by clicking HERE.

Layla Asamarai, Psy.D., LP

Layla Asamarai, Psy.D., LP is a licensed Clinical Psychologist based in Minnesota. She has practiced EMDR therapy since 2006. Dr. Layla has extensive experience working with trauma survivors including refugees and survivors of torture, as well as individuals with complex trauma and dissociation. In addition to her work in the Twin Cities, she has over 8 years of clinical experience in Dubai UAE where she led a psychology department for nearly 5 years and was in private practice for over 3 years. In addition to providing direct service to clients, she enjoys teaching and providing training and consultation to mental health professionals.  She is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant, and is Affiliate Faculty with The Institute for Creative Mindfulness.  More information can be found at www.luminousmind.us

Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D.

 Mara Tesler Stein, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist based in Chicago, IL who has been in private practice for more than 20 years. She specializes in grief and trauma, the emotional aspects of medical crisis, especially around pregnancy & parenting, and providing developmentally supportive, relationship-based care to families. She presents internationally on these issues and consults to health care providers and hospitals, guiding their efforts to improve the level of psychological support and care to families during and subsequent to medical crisis. She is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant, and is Affiliate Faculty in training with The Institute for Creative Mindfulness. Mara is also certified in Emotion-Focused Couples and Family Therapy and is a Gottman Institute Certified Relationship Therapist. She is the co-author of Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child: The Emotional Journey (Fulcrum, 2004) and Intensive Parenting: Surviving the Journey through the NICU (Fulcrum, 2013). More information can be found at docmara.com