credentials & education
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - California #3334
Licensed Professional Counselor - Colorado #0018232
Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Washington #LH61133379
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor - Illinois #180.009215
Certified Group Psychotherapist - 2017 - current - Qualified CGP Supervisor
Certified Coercive Control Specialist - 2025 - current
MA in Clinical Psychology - Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago (Argosy University-Chicago) - 2010
BS in Performance Studies & Gender Studies - Northwestern University - Evanston, IL - 2001
current positions
2025-current
SpringSource Psychological Center - Chicago & Northbrook, IL
Clinical Advisor
Director of Outpatient & Specialty Services
2016-current
Ride The Wave Recovery: Professional Clinical Counselor PC - Greater Santa Cruz, CA via Telehealth
Owner, Consultant, Trainer, Individual, Family & Group Therapist
Title from 2018-2022: Executive & Clinical Director
2020-current
American Group Psychotherapy Association - United States/International
2023-current
Director - Core Principles Course for Group Psychotherapists - Training Program for Certification - International Board for the Certification of Group Psychotherapists
2021-2025
Tri-Chair - LGBTQQIA Special Interest Group
2020-2023
e-Learning Committee Member
publications
Archer, C., Kelly, R., Strauss, G. & Triest, J. (eds) (2023). The Ecosystems of Group Relations: Culture, Gender and Identity in Groups and Organizations. Oxfordshire: Routledge.
Zwick, K. & Harkins, S. Book chapter. At home at work and vice versa: exploring the dynamics of dual/special relationships in group relations conferences and organizational life.
Guest Columnist Concerning Gender Affirming Group Therapy - Group Circle - Fall 2021
recent lectures & presentations
Faculty: The Ethical Group Psychotherapist Live Webinar - Core Principles Course Part I - American Group Psychotherapy Association - February 2026 - Online
Director: Core Principles Course Part I - 5 Sundays, 10 Courses - January/February 2026 - Live Webinar Series - American Group Psychotherapy Association - Online
Faculty: Director & Large Group Experiential Leader - Full-Day Workshop - Core Principles Course in Group Psychotherapy Part II - American Group Psychotherapy Association’s Connect Annual Conference - March 2025 - San Francisco, CA
Faculty: Stages of Group Development Live Webinar - Core Principles Course Part I - American Group Psychotherapy Association - February 2025 - Online
Faculty: Group Structures & Dynamics Live Webinar - Core Principles Course Part I - American Group Psychotherapy Association - January 2025 - Online
Director: Core Principles Course Part I - 5 Sundays, 10 Courses - January/February 2025 - Live Webinar Series - American Group Psychotherapy Association - Online
Faculty/Co-Director/Experiential Large Group & Small Group Leader - Full-Day Workshop - Core Principles Course in Group Psychotherapy Part II - American Group Psychotherapy Association’s Annual Connect Conference - March 2024 - National Harbor, MD
Faculty/Panelist: Beyond the Gender Binary: Working with Gender Expansive Clients in Groups - American Group Psychotherapy Association’s Annual Connect Conference - March 2023- New York, NY
Faculty: The Ethical Group Psychotherapist - Core Principles Course Part I - American Group Psychotherapy Association - February 2023 - Online
Faculty: The Ethical Group Psychotherapist - Core Principles Course Part I - American Group Psychotherapy Association - February 2022 - Online
Faculty: Queer With Queries: Therapist Self-disclosure Around Sexual and/or Gender Identities - Co-Presenters: Sarah Tyerman & Joe Wise - November 2021 - Online
Faculty: The Ethical Group Psychotherapist - Core Principles Course Part I - American Group Psychotherapy Association - February 2021 - Online
Presenter: Eating Disorders In-Service Presentations For Faculty - Kirby School Faculty & Parents - October 2019 - Santa Cruz, CA
Presenter: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Interventions for Youth in Crisis - Edgewood Center - February 2019 - San Francisco, CA
Presenter: At Home At Work and Vice Versa: Exploring the dynamics of dual/special relationships in group relations conferences and organizational life - Belgirate VI Group Relations Conference - November 2018 - Belgirate, Italy
Presenter: Advanced Group Psychotherapy - CAMFT CEU Lecture - April 2018 - Santa Cruz, CA
Presenter: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Interventions for Youth in Crisis - Edgewood Center - March 2018 - San Francisco, CA
Presenter: DBT Mindfulness Intensive - All Staff Training - The Lotus Collaborative Staff Retreat - October 2016 - Santa Cruz, CA
Presenter: With Memory & Desire? Inquiring into the unexplored dynamics of dual/special relationships in conference and organizational life in the 21st century - A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems' "Dialogues III" Conference - September 2016 - Chicago, IL
Presenter: Principles of DBT - CAMFT CEU Lecture - The Lotus Collaborative - September 2016 - Santa Cruz, CA
Presenter: The ABCs of Working With EDs: Identifying and Intervening with EDs in A Variety of Treatment Settings - Edgewood Center - July 2016 - San Francisco, CA
Faculty: Playing Alone and Together: Practicing DBT Principles through Improvisation - American Group Psychotherapy Association's Annual Meeting - February 2016 - New York, NY
Presenter: Advanced Group Psychotherapy - CAMFT CEU Lecture - January 2016 - Santa Cruz, CA
Presenter: "As if' we are strangers: Exploring this basic assumption - GREX Annual Membership Meeting - December 2015 - Los Angeles, CA
Presenter: Advanced Group Psychotherapy - All Staff Training - The Lotus Collaborative Staff Retreat - October 2015 - Santa Cruz, CA
Faculty: Playing Oneself to Play Together: Applying Improv Principles to Attachment and Codependency in Groups - American Group Psychotherapy Association's Annual Meeting - February 2015 - San Francisco, CA
select formal trainings attended
April 2026
Cognitive Processing Therapy for Trauma - 11 Hour CE Course - Medical University of South Carolina - Online (in progress)
Working With Cult Survivors: A Basic Certification Course for Mental Health Clinicians - 8 Hour CE Course - Dr. Janja Lalich & Dr. Natalie Fabert - Lalich Center on Cults & Coercion - Online
Healthy and Safer Support Groups for Former Cult Members - Rachel Bernstein, LMFT, MsEd - Online
July 2025
Abuse of Power Dynamics in Relationships: Coercive Control Specialist Certification Training - Dr. Tommy Black and Ms. Gina Loretti - Justitia Foundation & Thriving Together - Online
March 2025
American Group Psychotherapy Association Annual Connect Conference - San Francisco, CA
March 2024
American Group Psychotherapy Association Annual Connect Conference - Oxford, MD
March 2023
American Group Psychotherapy Association Annual Connect Conference - New York, NY
July 2022
International Cultic Studies Association Annual Conference - Online
March 2022
When the individual therapist is also the group leader: The challenges and benefits of combined treatment - Half-day open session for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA’s Annual Connect Conference Faculty: Maryetta Andrews-Sachs, Aaron E. Black, Justin Hecht, Kenji Kuramitsu, Annie Weiss, Ellen Wright
Microaggressions Under the Microscope: Identifying, Unmasking, and Exploring Implicit Bias in Group Psychotherapy - Half-day workshop for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA’s Annual Connect Conference Faculty: Shemika M. Brooks, Natasha Hahn, Shelby Weltz
Confronting Aggressive Scapegoating in Group Therapy and Society: An Ethical Obligation of Mental Health Clinicians - Full-day workshop for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA’s Annual Connect Conference Faculty: Bill Roller, Yong Xu
November 2021
World Professional Association for Transgender Health: GEI Advanced Mental Health Course - Online training
October 2021
Belgirate VII: A Selfie: Portraying Our Identity, Theory, & Practice 4-day Conference for Group Relations Practitioners. Sponsored by The A K Rice Institute, OFEK & The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations
June - July 2021
Virtual Small Study Group Consultancy 7-Week Training Program in the Group Relations Tradition - Director: Sarah Rosenbaum, PhD; Administrator: Alan Ruiz, MFA; Faculty: Michael Speer, PhD & Jonathan Rust, PhD. Sponsored by Group Relations International.
May 2021
Group Relations Conference: White Supremacy, Systemic Racism, Fascism and Power: An Experiential Learning Event. Director: David Luna, JD. Associate Director: Kimberly A. Turner, PhD; Director of Technology and Administration: John Weng, MA. Sponsored by Washington-Baltimore Center, Group Relations International, and A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems.
March 2021
Group Relations Conference: Intersectionality Online: Race and Belonging - Director: Evangeline Sarda Associate Director: Laura Dorsey-Elson Assistant Director for Administration: Annysa Polanco Associate Director of Technology: Robert Hsiung Associate Director of Research: Seth Harkins
February 2021
Groups as Cultures of Resilience: A Psychodynamically Oriented Decolonizing Approach to Treating Addiction and Trauma - Day-Long Workshop for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA's Annual Connect 2021 Conference - Faculty: Marcia Nickow and Joe Whitlock
Restorative Circles: Utilizing Restorative Circles to Explore Barriers to Inclusion and Authenticity in Organizations - Day-Long Workshop for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA's Annual Connect 2021 Conference - Faculty: Nina Harris, Duke Fisher, Kuong Chan, Deborah Sharp, Amy Wolfgang, Brelynn Thomas
Social Identities, Power and Privilege: How Difference is Essential for Group Cohesion - Two-Day Special Institute for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA's Annual Connect 2021 Conference - Faculty: Paul Gitterman
July 2020
Gender Spectrum Professionals’ Symposium Online
May 2020
Black Authority: Psychodynamic Impact and Implications of COVID-19 - Presented by The Nonprofit Institute, School of Leadership and Education Series, University of San Diego - Panelists: Diane Forbes Berthoud, Zachary Green, Laura Dorsey-Elson, and Candice Crawford-Zakian
March 2020
Social Identities, Power and Privilege: How Difference is Essential for Group Cohesion - Two-Day Special Institute for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA's Annual Connect 2020 Conference - Faculty: Paul Gitterman
February 2020
Group Relations Conference on Black Authority in the Post-Obama Era: History, Complexity & Identity - Presented by RISE San Diego, University of San Diego, and Group Relations International - Director: Diane Forbes Berthoud Associate Director: Beverly Malone Assistant Director for Administration: Candice Crawford-Zakian
DBT-PTSD Intensive Training - Presented by Marsha Linehan's Behavioral Tech - Faculty: Martin Bohus
June 2019
Pediatric Gender Care: Discussing Puberty Blockers and Gender Affirming Hormone Care in a Mental Health Setting - Presented by UCSF Child and Adolescent Gender Center - Faculty: Stephanie Hernandez & Ben Geilhufe
May 2019
Discussion on Gender Affirming Surgery and Beyond - Presented by World Professional Association for Transgender Health - Attended 3-Day Conference
February 2019
Social Identities, Power and Privilege: How Difference is Essential for Group Cohesion - Two-Day Special Institute for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA's Annual Connect 2019 Conference - Faculty: Paul Gitterman
November 2018
Belgirate VI: The Place Where We Live: The Space For Group Relations - A conference for group relations practitioners in Europe - Attended & Presented at 4-Day Conference
November 2017
National Transgender Health Summit - Presented by University of California San Francisco's Center of Excellence for Transgender Health - Attended 2-Day Conference
February 2017 - November 2017
Internal Family Systems - Level 1 Certification Training - Presented by the Center for Self Leadership - Completed through "Unburdening Exiles" training weekend.
October 2016
Dialogues III - Presented by A.K. Rice Institute for the Study of Social Systems in Chicago, IL - Attended & Presented at 3-Day Conference
Binge Eating Disorder Association Conference - Attended 1 Day of Conference - Keynote Address by Desiree Adaway and Ericka Hines
February 2016
Introduction to Psychodrama - Workshop at AGPA's Annual Conference - Faculty: Shelley Firestone (nee Korshak)
Jungian Group Psychotherapy - Two-Day Special Institute for Group Psychotherapists at AGPA's Annual Conference - Faculty: Justin Hecht
February 2015
Parallel Process Group Supervision Training - Day-Long Workshop Training at AGPA's Annual Conference
staff roles at select group relations event
2022
May
Race and Power: Keeping It Real Amid The Mess - Small Group Co-Consultant - Director: David Luna/mak wemuk - Washington Baltimore Center - Online
2015
March
“Taste of Tavi” - Small Group Co-Consultant - Director: Barney Straus - Loyola University Graduate School: Social Work - Chicago IL
January-February
Undergraduate Group Relations Conference - Small Group Co-Consultant - Director: Tom Golebiewski; Observed & Trained by Dr. Vicki Seglin - Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
2014
April
Graduate Tavistock Conference - Large Group Observer/Trainee - Director/Large Group Trainer: Dr. Sonny Cyrtynbaum - The Family Institute of Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
January
GRC on Authority & Leadership in Recovery From Addiction - Admin Team Member/Mentor to Incoming Admin Director - Director: Dr. Leigh Estabrook - AKRI - Loyola University - Chicago, IL
2013
January-February
“Taste of Tavi” - Small Group Co-Consultant - Director: Barney Straus - Loyola University Graduate School: Social Work - Chicago, IL
April
Graduate Tavistock Conference - Small Group Observer/Trainee - Director: Sonny Cytrynbaum; Trainer: Dr. Vicki Seglin - The Family Institute of Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
2012
January-February
Undergraduate Group Relations Conference - Small Group Co-Consultant - Co-Directors: Tom Golebiewski & Observed & Trained by Dr. Vicki Seglin - Northwestern University - Evanston, IL
2010
April
“Taste of Tavi” - Small Group Co-Consultant - Director: Barney Straus - Loyola University Graduate School: Social Work - Chicago, IL
2009
December
Large Group Event - Director of Administration - Director: Dr. Mark Kiel - Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago - AKRI/CCSGO - Chicago, IL
September-December
Group Psychotherapy Graduate Course - Teaching Assistant & Co-Consultant - Professor: Dr. Mark Kiel - Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago - Chicago, IL
May
GRC: The Challenges of Joining Across Generations - Admin Team Member - Director: Tom Butler - AKRI/CCSGO - The Cenacle - Chicago, IL
2007-2008
September-May
Personal & Professional Development Graduate Course for First Year Students -Small Group in The Tavistock Tradition - Teaching Assistant/Co-Consultant - Professor/Co-Consultant: Dr. Seth Harkins - Illinois School of Professional Psychology-Chicago - Chicago, IL
current professional memberships
International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) - Heartland Chapter
American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA)
International Cultic Studies Association
California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Gaylesta