Ncazelo Ncube-Mlilo is an internationally-renowned narrative therapist and psychosocial specialist,
based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has worked extensively with children, youth, women and
families, and communities in the context of HIV and AIDS, poverty and conflict. Ncazelo’s crucial
work began when she felt challenged by the increase of violent crimes committed by children in
South Africa; severe incidences of bullying in schools, sometimes resulting in student deaths; and the
increase of teenage pregnancies and violence against women and girls.
Holding a degree in Psychology from the University of Zimbabwe, and a master’s degree in Narrative
Therapy & Community Work and from the University of Melbourne, Ncazelo has spent most of her
career focusing on developing culturally appropriate mental health interventions. Her inspirational
work includes the evolution of a leading psychotherapeutic approach known as ‘The Tree of Life’
(ToL), which is based on Narrative Therapy principles and was co-developed by Ncazelo and David
Denborough in 2006. Culturally sensitive and using the tree as a metaphor, it empowers people with
mental health needs to reconnect with their roots, skills, hopes, dreams and relationships. It ensures
that children and others who have experienced significant trauma are emotionally safe when they
relate stories about their lives. The methodology creates an opportunity for people to take a break
from dominant, negative stories, and ‘step into’ stories that help them to identify their strengths.
Tree of life is used in over 30 countries around the world including the UK, Australia, India, Brazil,
Canada, Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Norway, Russia, Turkey
and across Africa.
Now firmly embedded within academic and practitioner literature, ToL can be adapted by different
communities to incorporate religious and cultural aspects of wellbeing and recovery, and is used in
counselling work with older adults, people with learning disabilities, parents, children and young
people, adults living with HIV, people living with cancer, refugees, and ethnic minority groups. It has
been further evolved by Ncazelo into targeted approaches, such as COURRAGE and Narratives in the
Suitcase, and more recently O.U.T.T.R.A.G.E.D. for working with men and boys for the prevention of
Gender based violence (GBV) .
In 2015 Ncazelo established PHOLA, an organisation dedicated to providing culturally-sensitive
therapies to those affected by trauma, violence and abuse – especially children, youth, women and
their families, and communities. PHOLA’s objectives include promoting healthy mental and
emotional development; providing mobile mental health and trauma counselling services to
children, women and girls through schools and other community structures; training and building
the capacity of mental health and psychosocial practitioners, drawing from indigenous knowledges
and skills; and establishing a respite home/safe house for women and children experiencing
significant abuse. At the heart of the organisation’s work is the commitment to facilitating healing
and recovery, assisting those affected to live the lives they want, and enabling them to both claim
their rights and become agents of social change, within their own lives, their families, and their
communities. Under Ncazelo’s dynamic leadership, PHOLA continues to exponentially transform the
lives of children, adults, and whole communities dealing with severe trauma and deprivation.
Ncazelo also runs an international training program in which she trains mental health and
psychosocial practitioners around the world in her home-grown culturally sensitive mental health
methodologies. She trains Clinical Psychologists, Psychotherapists, Social workers, Community
mental health practitioners, Psychiatric nurses, Educational Psychologists, Professors, Counselling
Psychologists, School mental health teams, occupational therapists, teachers, lay counsellors etc.
Ncazelo trains between 750-1000 mental health and psychosocial practitioners annually.

Ncazelo’s training work has been acknowledged by institutions such as the British Psychological
Association (BPA), Tavistock, The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN) in the UK,
Annually she trains under graduate and post graduate university students internationally and has
worked with some of the following institutions:
• University College of London (UK)
• University of Hertfordshire (UK)
• University of Melbourne (Australia)
• University of Calgary (Canada)
• Royal Holloway University of London (UK)
• WITS university (South Africa)
• The Anna Freud Centre (UK
• Bangor University
Ncazelo has also been part of several supervision teams for several Masters and PHD students who
have conducted research on her methodologies. She is part of the faculties/teaching teams for
Dulwich Centre (Australia) and the Narrative Therapy Initiative (NTI) in the USA. Ncazelo has been
invited to be a keynote speaker in several international conferences including the Global mental
health and psychosocial conference in the UK 2018, the community Psychology Conference (UK)
2019, National Tree of life Conference 2017 (UK), Narrative Therapy and Community Work
Conference in Rwanda, 2022.

BIOGRAPHY ANGELA NEAL-BARNETT, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences, Director Program for Research on
Anxiety Disorders among African Americans College of Arts and Sciences, Kent State
University

Angela Neal-Barnett, Ph.D., is a leading expert in Black mental health, emphasizing
anxiety disorders among Black women and girls. Her latest efforts center around
expectant mothers— Black women in particular—who may be suffering from PTSD or
other stressors that can lead to increased pre-term births, infant mortality, and mother
morbidity. Through her Spirit of Motherhood program, pregnant women and their
preschool children receive a multi-level intervention for PTSD.
Dr. Neal-Barnett founded and directs the Program for Research on Anxiety
Disorders among African Americans (PRADAA) Lab, which currently receives
funding from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, American
Psychological Association, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, and the
Women’s Endowment Fund of the Akron Community Foundation. Previously she
has received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health, National Science
Foundation and the State of Ohio.
In addition to her widely cited research publications, Dr. Neal-Barnett has been
featured in Selena Gomez’s Wondermind, O the Oprah Magazine, Essence, Fortune,
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review and has
appeared on NPR, MSNBC, BET, CNN, and ABC. She is also the author of the New
York Times reviewed Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman’s Guide to
Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic, and Fear (Simon & Schuster)

Dr. Neal-Barnett serves as the mental health expert and in-pod therapist for the
award-winning podcast Living for We (Evergreen/ideastream NPR). An Apple New
and Noteworthy selection, the podcast series has received two Davey Gold awards as
well as a W3 Gold award. She is a two-time contributor to the Harvard Business
Review’s Guide to Better Mental Health at Work (2022) and serves as content expert
for the New York Times and the Harvard Business Review.

Dr. Neal-Barnett received her B.A. in Psychology from Mount Union College
(University of Mount Union) and her M.A .and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from
DePaul University. She is a founding member of the Arlington Church of God’s
Wellness Team and an associate member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Dr. Neal-
Barnett is the mother of an adult daughter.
Dr. Neal-Barnett describes her work in the following way. “Whether it is designing
intervention studies, disseminating research results, mentoring, encouraging and advising current BIPOC students and early career faculty, or sharing about Black
Americans and anxiety disorders on multiple national platforms (print, television,
streaming, podcasts), throughout my career, my purpose has never wavered:
Ensuring that Black Americans understand what anxiety is, how it is manifested, and
that no matter what, they can reclaim their lives.”
Awards:
1. Athena International Greater Akron Chapter Athena Leadership Award
2. 2022 Kent State University’s President’s Faculty Excellence Award
3. 2021 Elected Fellow American Psychological Association (APA)
4. 2020 Jerilyn Ross Clinician Advocate Award from the Anxiety and Depression
Association of America (ADAA)
5. 2020 Kent State University Outstanding Researcher and Scholar Award
6. 2008 Top 10 Finalist Kent State University Outstanding Teacher Award
7. 2000 American Psychological Association’s Kenneth and Mamie Clark Award

Websites: drangelanealbarnett.com https://sites.google.com/view/pradaalab
Social Media: Blue Sky, X, Facebook, Instagram: @KSUPRADAA
Personal Social Media: @dranjela

In the Media
Living for We Podcast Season 1 (March-July 2023). In-Pod Therapist and Mental Health Expert
(July 28, 2022). What psychologists want today’s young people to know
New York Times ) December 16, 2021.) Worry burnout is real
Monitor on Psychology (October 2022). Focusing on maternity and postpartum care for Black
mothers leads to better
( November 2021). Effective therapy with Black women
( June 2020) How organizations can support the mental health of their Black employees
(November 2020) Black women are facing an overwhelming mental health crisis
Akron Beacon Journal: Spirit of Motherhood Black Maternal Mental Health

David Archer is a registered social worker, couple and family therapist, anti-racist psychotherapist and
father of a little toddler. He is an EMDRIA certified Approved Consultant from Montreal, Canada
(Tiohtià:ke) who specializes in treating complex PTSD and complex racial trauma using memory
reconsolidation-based approaches.
Archer is the developer of an integrative therapeutic approach called Rhythm and Processing (RAP)
Strategies. He provides both individual and group consultations to support other therapists.
Additionally, he is the author of the following books:

• • Anti-Racist Psychotherapy (https://amzn.to/3pSBfZX)
  • Black Meditation (https://amzn.to/3JEnhm7)
  • Racial Trauma Recovery (https://amzn.to/3C8HY89)
  • Black Mountain (http://amzn.to/3qhKTYP)
  • Transforming Complex Trauma (https://amzn.to/48Wff3r).

Mr. Archer has been a keynote presenter for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr symposium at the University
of Michigan, a plenary presenter for the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation,
as well as a plenary presenter for the EMDR International Association. His written contributions are part
of the required reading for EMDR therapist trainees.
He also provides consulting to organizations, group practices, and corporations internationally. Special
areas of interest relate to complex PTSD, racial trauma, addictions, mindfulness, and vicarious growth.
Mr. Archer seeks to increase the number of Black EMDR therapists, anti-racist therapists of all
backgrounds, and revolutionary therapists in all disciplines.

Special interest: Criminal justice involvement (PAR and MARC programs), personality disorders, anxiety and depression, navigating the legal system and addictions support.

Hello!! my name is Duane Wiafe. I have been practicing as a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers for 15 years. I have been working primarily as a forensic Social Worker in the Canadian correctional system for much of my practice. I am excited to be joining the Journey Well Health & Wellness team.
My recent work while completing my MSW schooling has included the integration of Africentric Theory and Adinkra Symbols into practice. I work from an anti-oppressive decolonizing lens. I have experience using the following modalities. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Rational emotive behavioural therapy (REBT). I use various approaches, all which center around listening carefully, supporting you in personal awareness, management of self, awareness of other, and effective communication. I am also a canFit Pro certified fitness instructor and I make efforts to incorporate physical fitness as a strategy to assist with managing stress and mental health symptoms.
I am passionate about supporting people who may going through a difficult time. If you are coping with depression and or anxiety, family or financial stress I am here to help you begin to find some balance and relief from the potential stressors.

I have experience providing individual and group support in the following areas:
- The partner Assault Support Program (PAR)
- Anger Management
- Stress Management
- Caring Dads
- Dialectical Behavioural Therapy Skills

When I’m not working, I can be found teaching fitness classes and engaging with the community through sports. I am a firm believer that movement and mind body connection through exercise is an essential part of overall wellness.

Ibukun Ogunsina is the owner of New Beginnings Barrie Psychotherapy and Counselling Practice. She is a Registered Psychotherapist and Christian Counsellor. She is also a member in good standing with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) and Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals (OAMHP).

Ibukun obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology, she also obtained a Master’s Degree in Information Technology and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours in Computer Science/Economics. Ibukun has obtained certification in Theology and also in Couples and Family Counselling. She is a referral counsellor for Focus on the Family Canada.

Ibukun is a supervisor for practitioners in psychotherapy and practicum students studying toward their Master’s degrees in counselling and psychotherapy programs. She is also a non-council member of the ICRC committee of CRPO. Ibukun works for Humana Care and Health Canada providing individual, couples, and family counselling.

Her empathetic view and warmness stem from varied experience which includes a combination of work in Psychotherapy, Counselling and Information Technology. She is passionate about helping people regain their foothold back in life and collaboratively work along with clients from a strength-based approach.

Ibukun has extensive training in Spiritual Care and will be glad to incorporate Christian counselling into treatment if the client so desires. However, she works with clients of all faiths and spiritualities.

Besides being a prolific writer of articles on various topics, Ibukun is also skilled in public speaking. She gets energised when she speaks about relationships and has been invited to conferences as a main speaker or co-speaker in several cities and countries.

Her previous publications include two Christian motivational books, The Joy of being Married, and The Joy of Being You, as well as two Christian fiction books, entitled Joy’s Blessings and A borrowed Love. All her books are available on Amazon.com.

She is married with children and resides with her family in Ontario.

Shayla ‘s passion for decolonizing mental health, decentering Eurocentrism hegemony, rehumanizing and re-centering the mental wellness needs and well- being of people with minoritized and marginalized identities using Ubuntu, anti- oppressive lenses led her into extensively learning and relearning beyond mainstream methodologies. Her culturally responsive trainings include: Advanced Tree of life, Advanced COURRAGE, Narratives in the Suitcase, Indigenous Anti- racism & Cultural Safety, Indigenous Narrative Therapy, Integrative Cultural Somatics, EMDR in color, Kniffley Racial Trauma Therapy and Queer Narrative Therapy.

Shayla takes pride in being part of the SANKOFA village that prioritizes cultural safety, conscious togetherness, and equitable co- existence, which ultimately leads to collective healing and community wellness because we are always better together, and we only heal where we can show up as our authentic selves without code- switching.