The Healing and Treating Trauma, Addictions and Related Mental Health Disorders Conference

John Arden, Ph.D, ABPP is the author of 15 books, including his most recent, Mind-Brain-Gene: Toward Psychotherapy Integration.   His other books include: Brain2Brain, The Brain Bible, as well as Rewire Your Brain 2.0, and Brain-Based Therapy with Adults and Brain-Based Therapy with Children and Adolescents. He previously served as Director of Training in Mental Health for Kaiser Permanente in the Northern California region where now over 300 postdoctoral residents and interns are trained each year in 24 medical centers. He has presented seminars in over 30 countries and in all US States.

Carissa Muth, Psy.D. is a registered psychologist in Alberta and British Columbia and the Clinical Director at the Sunshine Coast Health Centre and Georgia Strait Women’s Clinic.  She holds Doctorate of Psychology, Master of Arts in Counselling, and Bachelor of Social Work degrees and ran a private practice in Alberta for the last ten years. With over fifteen years of experiences in the mental health field, Dr. Muth has provided psychological assessments, therapeutic treatments and conducted research in the field of substance addictions and co-morbid psychological disorders. With both a passion for learning and teaching, Dr. Muth has presented her research and expertise across the country at a variety of mental health conferences.

Caroline Buzanko, Ph.D., R. Psych, is a psychologist. Mother. Professor. International Speaker. Yoda of Anxiety. ADHD Superhero. And Changer of Lives. With nearly three decades of experience, she is a recognized expert in resilience and the social, emotional, and behavioural well-being of children and teens. In 2024, Dr. Caroline was honoured as Alberta’s Psychologist of the Year for her exceptional contributions to the field.

Known for her dynamic, engaging style, Dr. Caroline has a knack for simplifying complex challenges and equipping professionals with practical tools that make a real difference. Her workshops go beyond theory, providing strategies that educators, caregivers, and mental health professionals can use immediately to support children and teens facing any challenge.

Through her work at Koru Family Psychology and research at Athabasca University, Dr. Caroline’s mission is clear: to help every child unlock their potential, build confidence, and embrace resilience. When you train with Dr. Caroline, expect to be inspired, empowered, and ready to create a world where everyone thrives.

Jeff Riggenbach, Ph.D. is a best-selling and award winning author who has earned a reputation as an international expert in CBT and personality disorders. Over the past 20 years he has developed and overseen CBT-based treatment programs for Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, addictive behaviour disorders and Personality Disorders at two different psychiatric hospitals and clinics serving over 3,000 clients at multiple levels of care. Dr. Riggenbach trained at the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia, is a Diplomat of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and a certified cognitive therapist. He has trained over 20,000 professionals worldwide including audiences in all 50 United States, Canada, Mexico, the UK, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Riggenbach is the author of six publications including his most recent release The CBT Toolbox (2nd ed): A Workbook for Clients, Clinicians and Coaches.

Jeff is known for bridging the gap between academia, research findings and day-to-day clinical practice, and his work has earned him the reputation for being. “The practical tools guy.” His seminars on CBT, DBT, and Schema-Focused Cognitive Therapy routinely receive the highest evaluations from conference participants in terms of clinical utility as well as entertainment value.

Dr. Johann Blignaut is a family physician with a certificate of added competence in addiction medicine from the College of Family Physicians of Canada. He obtained his medical degree in South Africa. He worked as a rural family physician in Southern Manitoba for 22 years. He has worked at Homewood Ravensview in North Saanich, BC, since 2020. He has an interest in treating complex patients with a combination of a mental health disorder, substance use disorder and chronic physical pain. He believes in holistic and trauma-informed care.

Craig Extine is the Manager of Clinical Operations at Ravensview. He holds a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University Los Angeles and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. He is an experienced inpatient treatment therapist who specializes in trauma, addiction, depression and anxiety.  Craig is committed to evidence-based practices and has a strong theoretical background in depth psychology, attachment theory and cognitive behavioural therapy. He is a certified provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD and has specialized training in DBT, childhood trauma, and PTSD treatment for military and first responders. He appreciates collaborating as part of an interdisciplinary team, providing clinical supervision and is passionate about ongoing research and learning

Varleisha D. Lyons Ph.D, OTD, OTR/L is a renowned occupational therapist, author, and speaker who is deeply passionate about promoting culturally intelligent and spiritually centered mental health care. As a woman of African American and Native American heritage, with ancestral ties to the Haliwa-Saponi tribe through her grandmother, Dr. Lyons is dedicated to integrating Indigenous spiritual practices into modern therapeutic frameworks.

Her work is rooted in a commitment to honoring diverse traditions and creating holistic approaches that address the mind, body, and spirit. She draws inspiration from practices such as storytelling, nature-based rituals, and ancestral healing, advocating for their inclusion in contemporary mental health systems.

Dr. Lyons is a tireless advocate for mental health parity and equity, particularly for underserved communities of Indigenous and African descent. Her mission is to bridge traditional healing practices with modern therapeutic methods, fostering understanding and respect for cultural identity and spiritual connection.

As a highly sought-after speaker and author, Dr. Lyons empowers audiences worldwide to embrace diversity, advocate for systemic change, and celebrate the intersection of heritage and healing in occupational therapy and beyond.

Daphne Fatter, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist, international speaker and consultant in private practice in Dallas, Texas. Having trained under the direct supervision of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, MD., international pioneer in research on traumatic stress, Dr. Fatter is gifted at translating meaning from research to clinical utility to support best practices for effective trauma treatment.

J.D. Vanderkooy, MD, BSc, FRCPC, is a psychiatrist and medical director of the Eating Disorders Program at Homewood Health Centre in Guelph, Ontario. He has spent over 20 years involved in the treatment of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and emergency psychiatry. He is a graduate of McMaster and Queen’s Universities, and has participated in research on antidepressant side effects and adolescent self-harm.

Sara Klinkhamer, M.A.brings a background of working on the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver for more than 10 years, which has given her much experience working with addiction and mental health issues, particularly trauma. Sara has also worked in both residential and outpatient settings as a concurrent disorders counsellor. Her strong belief in the worth of each individual, optimism in the face of adversity, as well as respect for autonomy and dignity, has served her well in this work. Sara completed her BA in psychology at Simon Fraser University in 2005 and her Masters of Counselling Psychology at Adler University in 2008. In 2009, Sara started a post-graduate program in Existential Analysis and in 2013 became a founding board member of the Existential Analysis Society of Canada. Sara joined the Sunshine Coast clinical team in 2016.