Expert Trainers

Colette Anderson, LCSW, is the Executive Director of The Connecticut Women’s Consortium (CWC). She has spent over 30 years working in behavioral health. Her expertise is in trauma-informed systems change and she spearheads multiple groups and initiatives across the state to promote trauma-informed, gender responsive care. She also trains and presents on a number of topics including trauma, gender, staff care, and healing arts for diverse audiences and agencies. In October 2016, Colette was awarded the National Association of Social Workers – Connecticut Chapter Social Worker of the Year Award.

Debra Borzellino, LMFT, has a career that has extended over 30 years. Her career began as a sales representative and sales manager for medical services for a national corporation. Deb returned to higher education and obtained a Master of Science Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy focusing on systemic dynamics, conflict resolution and strength-based development. Deb has achieved Clinical Fellowship and Clinical Supervisor status from the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. In the non-profit sector, Deb was responsible for leading over twelve unique state funded programs. Ensuring the fulfillment of contract requirements, building strong relationships with payor sources and communities served, development of leaders and teams, enhancement of services provided, and data driven outcomes/reporting were among several of the functions. As a leader, honoring an organizations’ mission, values and strategies have been critical to mentoring successful teams.

Michael Chadukiewicz, PhD, works with individuals, businesses, non-profit organizations, educational institutes, and community organizations seeking to build cohesive teams, improve interpersonal communication, implement, and manage change, and transform culture. His work is grounded in economic, environmental, and social sustainability practices with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism. He is an Affiliate Researcher with Yale PRCH (Program for Recovery and Community Health). The focus of Michael’s research is social justice advocacy as a path to promoting the recovery and social inclusion of people experiencing addiction, mental health challenges, and discrimination through focusing on their strengths and the valuable contributions they make to their communities. He is on the board of director of Havens Harvest, a food recovery nonprofit, and is the activist liaison for the board of the Peace and Justice Studies Association. He practices advocacy and activism as a member of Witnesses to Hunger New Haven and serves on the State of Connecticut’s Affordable Housing Plans Working Group. He earned his Ph.D. from Nova Southeastern University with a dual concentration in Conflict in Organizations, Schools, and Healthcare and Conflict & Crisis Management.

Alicia Davis, PCC, is a Professional Certified Coach, former CT Licensed Massage Therapist and partner in the coaching firm Transformative Leadership Strategies. She brings over 30 years of leadership development experience in the fields of holistic healthcare, social services and behavioral health non-profits, insurance, engineering and corporate settings. She creates dynamic coaching and teambuilding experiences for leaders at all levels of an organization that address challenges such as organizational culture, team alignment, change management, communication and high stress. Alicia offers a unique Core Energy™ coaching approach to individuals, executives, teams and boards who are looking to achieve exceptional results.

Alicia Feller, LCSW, specializes in holistic stress management which compliments her 25+ years of experience as a clinical social worker in the behavioral health field. She enjoys working with people to help them develop a mastery over their well-being utilizing empathy, empowerment and mind-body-spirit connection as cornerstones of her approach. Alicia has a masters degree in integrated health and healing, is a certified hypnotherapist, holistic stress management instructor, and Acudetox specialist. Alicia lives her practice and relishes the time she spends with family and friends. She believes that one grows the most when they step outside of their comfort zone.

Lisa McKnight is an advocate for social justice (education, employment), safe and affordable housing, food insecurity, and healthcare reform. Lisa’s goal is to educate, bring awareness, and reverse the negative impact of systemic racism with open and honest discussions that create change and resolution. Her self-proclaimed biggest achievement is understanding the power of her voice and her ability to help others understand the power of their voice to create positive change. As a mother and a grandmother, Lisa wants to change society from a culture of why race matters to one of why race shouldn’t matter.

Tracey Meyers, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in neuropsychological assessment, psychotherapy including traumainformed therapies, and positive behavioral planning. In addition, Tracey has extensive training in integrative medicine modalities to support optimal mental health. She is an advanced yoga instructor and yoga therapist. She is certified to teach MBSR, iRest, and BreathBody-Mind. She lectures across the country and internationally on different integrative medicine topics for healing. She authored several publications and book chapters around holistic behavioral treatment for mental health conditions. She recently wrote a book called, Yin Yoga Therapy and Mental Health, which describes how yoga can be an important part of the recovery journey for people with mental health and traumatic brain injuries. Tracey is on staff at Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, a legal assistance program for lawyers, judges, and law students providing mental health support and wellbeing coaching. She is a senior facilitator for Studio Be and is party of the faculty at Maryland University of Integrative Health, and the Center for Integrative Yoga Studies.

Anthony Nave, MA, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who holds master’s degrees in Educational Psychology and Clinical Social Work. He is advanced certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is an EMDR Consultant. He is also experienced in medication-assisted treatment, co-occurring disorders, and adolescent programming. Prior to joining Mountainside, he taught in an alternative therapeutic school, helping youth with mental health and cognitive disorders. At Mountainside, he currently directs outpatient locations in the New England area and telehealth services, designs curriculums for clinical programming, and incorporates interpersonal neurobiology and a trauma-responsive framework into treatment and supervision. At home, Anthony enjoys pretending to be superheroes with his sons and rooting for the Red Sox and Patriots.

Erin O’Neil, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who holds a master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on Community Organizing, Planning and Development. She is advanced certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is an EMDR Consultant in Training. Erin is experienced in addiction, trauma, grief, and co-occurring disorders. In her current role at Mountainside Treatment Center, she manages an outpatient program, creates and delivers trainings, and provides supervision and professional development for other clinicians. In her clinical practice, she incorporates attachment and trauma lenses to help facilitate healing. Outside of work, Erin enjoys family (and alone) time, reading and anything to do with being outdoors.

Shannon Perkins, LMSW, is the Director of Programs at the Connecticut Women’s Consortium (CWC) and former President for the National Association of Social Worker’s - Connecticut Chapter. She is a macro social worker who received her master’s degree from the University of Connecticut. Shannon is passionate about cultivating equitable behavioral health systems through education and empowerment. She has extensive knowledge in adverse childhood experiences, gender equality, and trauma.

M. Reim Ifrach, MAAT, CEDCAT-S, REAT, ATR-BC, LPC, NCC, RMT, is a trans/non-binary art therapist, fat activist and artist whose work focuses on body justice, intersectional social justice and eating disorder treatment equity access. They are the Director for Walden Behavioral Care’s Rainbow Road, the country’s first virtual Eating Disorder 2slgbtqia+ IOP & PHP, which is proud to announce having over 90% Queer Staffing (as of February 2022). They also co-own and operate Rainbow Recovery where they support people through the gender affirmation process, complex trauma recovery, eating disorder recovery and body image issues. M is committed to the mission that all bodies deserve recovery and that marginalized bodies need to be amplified in the eating disorder landscape to eradicate the stereotypes surrounding eating disorders and gender. To that end M had the honor to participate in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Artful Practices for Well-being, presented at national and international conferences on the use of HAES, Intuitive Eating and Intersectional Social Justice in mental health care and teaches multicultural and diversity practice in Master’s Level Art Therapy programs. They also serve on the Board of Project HEAL, a nonprofit whose mission is to create treatment equity access in the eating disorder field and Anchor Health Initiative, a CT non-profit queer medical center focused on gender affirming medicine and those affect by HIV/Aids.

DonScherling, PsyD, is a Senior Clinical Consultant, Health Educator, Behavioral Health Wellness Coach, assistant in the Care for Caregivers Yoga program, & a Clinical Faculty member in the Berkshire Medical Center - Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences in Pittsfield, Massachussetts . He is a QPR and SPRC certified trainer and a Senior Clinical Consultant and Trainer with SAMHSA/CSAT, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, and other regional and statewide agencies in the Northeast.

Raymond Chip Tafrate, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University. He is on the advisory board of the forensic special interest group for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, a diplomate of the National Anger Management Association, the editorial board for Criminal Justice and Behavior, a Fellow and Supervisor at the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City, and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers. Dr. Tafrate frequently consults with criminal justice agencies and programs, community mental health centers, and private practices and has trained thousands of professionals to work more effectively with adolescents and adults with difficult-to-change problems such as anger dysregulation and criminal behavior. He has presented his research throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

David F. Tolin, PhD, ABPP, is the Founder and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Institute of Living, and an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine. He is the PastPresident of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, the Past-President of the Clinical Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association, and a principal investigator for the National Institutes of Health. He received the Award for Lifetime Contribution to Psychology from the Connecticut Psychological Association. Dr. Tolin is the author of over 200 scientific journal articles, as well as the several books including Doing CBT: A Comprehensive Guide to Working with Behaviors, Thoughts, and Emotions and Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding. Dr. Tolin has been featured on the reality TV series Hoarders and The OCD Project, and has been a recurrent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. “ — Margaret Mead

Peter Tolisano, PsyD, ABPP,is a board-certified clinical psychologist. He has been the statewide Director of Psychological Services, Office of the Commissioner, for the Connecticut Department of Developmental Services, since 2013. His various responsibilities include overseeing the mental health and behavioral needs of individuals served by his agency. He interfaces with national entities and other state agencies (i.e., DCF, DMHAS, SDE, DSS, and OCA) in his consultations, which often relate to positive behavioral supports. Dr. Tolisano also maintains a private practice in the Greater Hartford area that focuses on the provision of psychodynamic psychotherapy and EMDR for trauma recovery.

Viana Turcios-Cotto, PhD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, with subspecialties in child and adolescent psychology and health psychology. She currently maintains a private practice in West Hartford of highly diverse clients from early childhood through the elderly years. Dr. Turcios-Cotto also consults and presents on implementing trauma-informed practices in schools and mental health settings, as well as cultural competency in clinical work.

Kay Warchol, MSW (they/them), graduated with a Master of Social Work from Fordham University in May 2022. They received their Bachelor of Art in Social Work from Central Connecticut State University in May 2020. They currently serve as a Project Coordinator at the CT Women’s Consortium. Kay is most passionate about education and advocacy around the LGBTQ+ community. In the future, they hope to continue to provide new and improved ways to advocate and transform the behavioral health field concerning underrepresented populations and communities

Stacie Watson, CPC, is a Certified Professional Coach, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an owner/partner in Transformative Leadership Strategies, a firm that specializes in supporting management transformation through coaching and experiential learning. Stacie brings three decades of experience supporting leaders in a behavioral health, Employee Assistance Programs, and medical health insurance organizations. In her various roles, Stacie has been responsible for working with leaders and teams as they navigate significant change – focusing on issues such as organizational design, aligning culture, effective communication, and sustainable results. She also works closely with organizations who wish to address and improve culture and employee engagement.