Continuing & Professional Studies, Palo Alto University

John Sommers-Flanagan is a professor of counseling at the University of Montana, a clinical psychologist, and author or coauthor of over 100 publications, including nine books, and numerous professional video trainings. Some of his books, co-written with his wife Rita, include Tough Kids, Cool Counseling, Clinical Interviewing, Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice, and Suicide Assessment and Treatment: A Strengths-Based Approach. John is a sought-out keynote speaker and professional workshop trainer in the areas of (a) counseling youth, (b) working with parents, (c) suicide assessment, and (d) happiness. He has published many newspaper columns, Op-Ed pieces, and an article in Slate Magazine. In his wild and precious spare time, John loves to run (slowly), dance (poorly), laugh (loudly), produce home-made family music videos, and create helpful and quirky blogposts at johnsommersflanagan.com.

Karen Roller is an associate professor of counseling at Palo Alto University, and clinical coordinator of Family Connections, a parent-involvement preschool serving low-resource migrant families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her doctorate is in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Somatic Psychology, which introduced her to about 40 somatic modalities for trauma resolution, including Somatic Experiencing. As a clinical traumatologist and compassion fatigue therapist, she is focused on training the next generation of mental health professionals to embody reliable clinical efficacy of trauma-informed care for the underserved, who often rely on the free services of student trainees to resolve egregious complex traumas, while also preserving the wellness of the practitioner. Karen learned Spanish in school and living abroad in Spain and Latin America, and is still learning more nuance after 45 years of practice. She found upon launch to Practicum that this would define her clinical career because of the tsunami of unmet need for language-concordant services, so she developed Bilingual Certification in Spanish for Counseling department students. Among her greatest blessings is to be embedded in a network of Latinx colleagues, clients, and students who have been raised in communalism and are driven by love for the greater good. The generosity of clients, students, and loving colleagues keeps her wanting to grow and be useful to more people. She finds that practitioners called to global mental health outreach embody a selflessness to which she aspires, and she will never have words to adequately describe her appreciation for the communities that trust such workers with the rawness of their pain. Her clients have proven to her the universal necessity of secure attachment to cope with injustice and trauma, so she studies everything possible to facilitate that security wherever possible.

Dr. Kelly Coker, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University and is a licensed professional counselor (#4490) in North Carolina. Kelly has conducted research and published findings in refereed journals related to substance abuse prevention and intervention, clinical training and supervision, the use of play in counseling and supervision, and the importance of program evaluation and assessment in counseling. She has also served on the editorial board of the Journal of Counseling and Development (JCD), the flagship journal for the American Counseling Association. Kelly has also co-edited a book on using family systems approach in applying the DSM-5 to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning, and has presented at numerous regional and national conferences.

Florence a.k.a Dr. Flo founded Global Trauma Research because she trusts that anyone can get through a traumatic event with the right support. She believes her purpose is to be used by God and through leadership, help people attain their goals by means of prayer, education, counseling, and support. Florence obtained a post-doctorate certificate at Harvard Medical School in Global Mental Health: Trauma & Recovery. Florence also earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Executive Counselor Education and Supervision from Duquesne University; Master of Sciences degree in Mental Health Counseling; and Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and English from the City University of New York, College of Staten Island. Florence is a National Certified Counselor and Approved Clinical Supervisor. Florence oversees GTR’s national and international initiatives. She initiates revenue-driven programs that have a high impact on underrepresented groups. Florence has over a decade worth of experience in social services, counseling, and trauma. Florence's research specialty is treatment efficacy of post-traumatic stress in underrepresented groups, as well as incorporating alternative techniques such as play, music, art, and massage therapy in counseling. Florence's modalities are Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Psychodynamic. Florence also uses her knowledge and experience in the classroom, and serves as an Associate Professor at CUNY Brooklyn College, and Visiting Lecturer at New York University (NYU).