Healing and Treating Trauma Conference | Day One

John Arden, PhD, 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.

Dr. Carissa Muth 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