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the space in-between. the connection.

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Wired for Fear, not Fun: Why the Holidays Challenge Kids with Traumatic Pasts

The holidays may be the most wonderful time of the year for some, but for abused, neglected and substance exposed children and their families, the holidays can be incredibly challenging. Join Harmony Family Center for this info packed webinar focusing on the neurodevelopmental effects of childhood trauma. Caregivers will leave with a deeper understanding of challenging behaviors and solid strategies for a more peaceful holiday season.

How to Talk With Your Child About Suicide

Talking about suicide is hard, and it’s even harder to think about having to do this with your own child.  Research and practice show that opening up lines of communication between parents and children can help reduce the likelihood that a child will attempt suicide.  Offering concrete, real life supports – especially nurturing relationships - reduce that likelihood even more.

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Sadly, suicide is on the rise across all age groups and races in our country.  A therapist and mother will discuss why some children may be more at risk to attempt suicide than others and the signs to look for.  Then, they will give some practical tips for how to plan for the conversation, what to say and not to say, and how to build in supports for your child.  They will also talk about what to do in a crisis situation and what to expect when professionals are called upon for help. 

Trauma Informed Yoga

Check back for more info on this soon!

Rhythm in Relationships

Check back for more info on this soon!

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Trainers

Keith A. Bailey, Ph.D.

Keith is the Training Director for Harmony Family Center and has over 30 years of experience working with children and families.  He served children in residential treatment, day treatment, group care, and foster care and has worked as a Consultant for the University of Tennessee’s Social Work Office of Research and Public Service, where he trained child welfare staff and foster parents, developed curricula, and offered technical support.  He has trained and consulted across the U.S. and Canada as an independent consultant and on behalf of the Child Welfare League of America and the National Technical Assistance Center.

Keith earned a B.A. in Psychology from Tennessee Wesleyan College, an M.Div. from Duke University, and an M.S. in Child Development and Ph.D. in Human Ecology, with a concentration in Child and Family Studies, from the University of Tennessee.  He is a Professionally Certified Trainer for Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and a ChildTrauma Academy Fellow. 

Sinead Doherty, CMHC

Sinead Doherty is a Family Therapist with Harmony's Adoption/Guardian Support and Preservation program, and is certified in Phase 1 of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics. 

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Sinead is a Clinical Mental Health Counselor with experience conducting individual, group and family therapy with children, adolescents and parents. She has received training in child centered play therapy and has worked as a school counselor in elementary and middle school settings, providing individual and group counseling, guidance lessons, career and college preparation.  She holds a Master of Science in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health & School Counseling with a Certificate in Grief, Trauma & Loss from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Sinead is active in Youth Ministry in the Episcopal Church.

Allison Cooke Douglas

Allison Cooke Douglas is the Resource Center Manager at Harmony Family Center.  She has been a teacher for over 15 years.  Allison began her career working with children as a Montessori certified early childhood educator but shifted to parent training and education, after serving as a foster parent herself.  She was the lead Parents as Tender Healers (PATH) training specialist in Knox County, TN facilitating classes for all prospective foster families, the regional representative to the Tennessee Foster and Adoptive Care Association, team member on a Breakthrough Series Collaborative focusing on trauma assessment and treatment for children under 4.  Allison a trainer for Tennessee’s Building Strong Brains: ACEs Initiative.  She is certified in both The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (Phase II) and The Neurosequential Model in Education.  She and her husband Jonathan are grateful to share their lives with their four children, adopted via foster care.

Kindal Akers, MA

Kindal is the Clinical Training Manager in Harmony’s Adoption Support and Preservation program. Kindal received her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology and Religion from Carson-Newman University, and her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, with a specialization in Childhood and Adolescence from Richmont Graduate University. Kindal has over 13 years of experience in working with children and adults and who have a history of complex trauma. She has served children and families in residential treatment centers, outpatient therapy, therapeutic family camp and day camp, and in-home therapy settings. Kindal is a HealthRHYTHMS Group Empowerment Drumming facilitator, and leads drumming and rhythm activities for wellness and regulation. She has completed the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics Phase 1 and Phase 2 certification.

Lauren Thomas, LMSW, RYT

Lauren worked as an expectant/birth parent counselor for two years at Bethany Christian Services and with homeless populations for two years, providing case management and assisting in access to housing.  She is currently a family therapist with Harmony Family Center's Adoption/Guardianship Support and Preservation program.  

Lauren received her BSW and MSW from the University of Tennessee, including a Treatment of Trauma Graduate Certificate.  Lauren is a Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT-200) and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance; she has additional trauma informed yoga training for children through YogaFit for Warrior Kids.  She also is certified in Phase 1 of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics and has additional training in the Attachment, Regulation, and Competence (ARC) model, EMDR, and Nurturing Parenting.  

Michelle Whaley, LPSW

Michelle received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work from East Tennessee State University and is a Licensed Advanced Practice Social Worker. Her professional experience includes over 20 years of work with children and families in Tennessee. Michelle was trained in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) in 2014 through Texas Christian University, and was certified as a TBRI Educator in 2015. She completed Circle of Security Parenting training in 2015 and is a registered Parenting Facilitator. Michelle recently completed the Child Trauma Academy’s Phase II Certification in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics and EMDR training. She was the former Clinical Manager of Harmony’s Adoption Support and Preservation Program prior to moving into the Family Preservation Director position.

Franny Alexander

Franny has been an adoptive and foster mother for over 10 years. She currently serves as support to the Resource Center and FOCUS programs. Additionally, Franny facilitates and leads the FUSE parent support groups in the East Tennessee area. Franny is certified as an Educational Advocate.

Marianne Wright, LMFT

Marianne serves as Harmony‘s Therapeutic Services Director, received her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Asbury Theological Seminary and her Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Accounting. She draws from her experience in both the fields of business and mental health in her work with Harmony’s Therapeutic Services programming and Animal-Assisted Therapy programming. 

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Marianne started her career working in a community mental healthcare setting primarily serving children with complex developmental trauma. During her time there, she developed and implemented a school based mental health program in an effort to remove common barriers to treatment. She incorporates her knowledge of treatment modalities such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Sensorimotor Arousal Regulation Treatment, and attachment focused family therapy in Harmony’s Therapeutic Services.

Alyssa Loy, OT (Guest Presenter)

Alyssa is an occupational therapist who is now collaborating with Harmony Family Center. Alyssa has over 2.5 years of experience as a licensed OT working with pediatrics in an outpatient setting. Alyssa is passionate about the pediatric population and has a strong interest in sensory processing disorder. Alyssa graduated from Western Michigan University in 2017 with her masters degree in Occupational Therapy, and a bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Health Services. Alyssa completed her fieldwork in the Knoxville area and currently resides in Maryville.

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