ABOUT THE PRESENTERS *For additional information about speakers visit our website at www.traumainformedcareproject.org*
Jim Harris, MSW, Ed.D. is the Director of Marshall University’s Interdisciplinary Behavioral Health Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work. He is also the founder of Opportunities Consulting Services. Dr. Harris brings a diverse background in health and human services, having served as an early interventionist, parent educator, educational consultant, university instructor, and behavioral health therapist.
A TEDx speaker whose talk was selected as an Editor’s Choice video, Dr. Harris has delivered presentations at conferences ranging from local gatherings to international venues on topics such as behavioral intervention, parenting, positive behavior support, trauma-informed practices, and organizational change. Dr. Harris has partnered with both public and private organizations, including the Fred Rogers Company, the U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Known for his practical and engaging approach to complex topics, Dr. Harris helps audiences better understand human behavior—both their own and that of the people they support.
Jacob Priest, PhD, LMFT is a Clinical Associate Professor in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa, where he provides psychotherapy in the Weight Management Clinic and in the LGBTQ clinic. A licensed marriage and family therapist and AAMFT Approved Supervisor, his scholarship focuses on family systems theory, trauma, close relationships, and health, with an extensive record of books, peer‑reviewed publications, and national and international presentations. Dr. Priest is also an award‑winning educator, recognized with the John W. Clancy Award for Outstanding Psychotherapy Didactic Teaching and the Patient’s Choice Award for being among the top 10% of provider across the country.
Georgie Wisen-Vincent, PhD, LMFT, RPT-S, ECMHS is a nationally recognized play therapy expert and co-author (with Dr. Tina Payne Bryson) of the new book -- THE WAY OF PLAY (Penguin Random House, January 2025). Georgie is the Founder/Director of The Play Strong Institute, a center devoted to the study, research, and practice of play therapy through a neurodevelopment lens, along with Dr. Bryson, the Founder/Executive Director of The Center for Connection, a multidisciplinary clinical practice in Southern California. Georgie is also a child, adolescent, and family psychotherapist and maintains a private practice at The Center for Connection. The Play Strong Institute offers the Certificate in Play Therapy with a Neurorelational Emphasis, an educational pathway toward becoming a credentialed play therapist. Through the Institute, the Play Strong approach was developed using child-led, adult scaffolded connection and play to help parents, therapists, educators, and care providers augment intervention aimed at the social, emotional, developmental, and learning needs of children from infancy to early adolescence. Play Strong Parenting (a component of Neurofilial Therapy) has been validated by empirical research and is currently being studied with non-parental caregivers and early childhood educators, among other research investigations currently underway.
Neurofilial Therapy (NFT) is a more recent expansion on the well-established research behind Filial Therapy, a model that nurtures the parent-child relationship and places parents and caregivers in the role of therapeutic changemaker for their children. Georgie has gathered an advisory group of clinicians, knowledgeable in dyadic practice, to further develop the model and advance training in family therapy informed by Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB). A graduate professor at Santa Clara University and active researcher in childhood play, attachment science, and mental health, Georgie has been commissioned as a consultant, program designer, and lead trainer for several major organizations and frequently presents to educators, parents, and clinical professionals on play therapy, trauma resilience, and the power of play-driven learning. She completed advanced study in play therapy at the University of Roehampton, London. Georgie gained specialist endorsement in early childhood mental health after completing the UC Davis Napa Infant Mental Health Fellowship. She has recently completed her doctoral program, a PhD in Infant and Early Child Development, focused on neurodiversity and parent-child attachment relationships.
Susan Green OTR/L is a highly respected pediatric occupational therapist with more than 35 years of clinical experience dedicated to improving outcomes for children and families. She specializes in motor development, feeding disorders, and sensory integration, and is widely recognized for her depth of expertise in complex pediatric developmental needs. Susan has pursued extensive advanced training in feeding therapy, sensory integration, and developmental treatment approaches, allowing her to provide comprehensive, evidence-informed intervention across a broad range of childhood diagnoses. Her clinical work reflects a strong commitment to functional, family-centered care and early intervention. For over 25 years, she owned and operated in partnership with her husband, Chautauqua Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology in Jamestown, New York. Under her leadership, the practice expanded to three outpatient clinics serving families throughout Chautauqua County. Most recently, she launched a specialized sensory gym for children ages 0–8, designed to provide developmentally rich, play-based therapeutic experiences for children with a wide variety of developmental, sensory, and motor challenges with The Chautauqua Center, Inc. In addition to her clinical leadership, Susan is a dedicated educator and mentor. She provides continuing education opportunities within the community and to local schools and colleges and collaborates nationally through the NTI Upstream education team, sharing best practices in pediatric therapy, feeding, and sensory integration. Her presentations are known for blending deep clinical expertise with practical strategies, making her a sought-after speaker for professionals seeking to elevate pediatric therapy services and outcomes. |
