Advisory Board

Richard Olds, MD

Dr. Richard Olds is the Founding Dean of the University of California School of Medicine at Riverside where he helped raise $100MM to develop programs for minority and diverse populations. A renowned educator, administrator and physician, he has served as Professor of Medicine, Molecular, Cell and Development Biology at Brown University, Chairman of Medicine at the MetroHealth Campus of Case Western Reserve University, and Chair of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Olds is also an international authority on infectious diseases, one of the country’s first Geographic Medicine Fellows, and was featured by National Geographic in a series on tropical diseases. He is currently the President of St. George’s University.

James Maynard, MD

Dr. James Maynard’s distinguished career of over 30 years has included supervising residents and local psychiatrists, treating a myriad of complex cases, and volunteering his time and expertise to many local non-profits, including being on the Board of the Austin Child Guidance Center, an organization dedicated to providing therapy for children of low-income families. Dr. Maynard’s exemplary care of couples, families, and children provide them the tools to successfully navigate difficulties, traumas, and transitions to realize the best possible outcome for their lives. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas, and has additional training in Marriage and Family Therapy certified by the Menninger Clinic. He is the former Medical Director of Substance Abuse Programs at St. David’s and CPC Hospitals. Currently he maintains a private practice, provides supervision for therapists, enjoys cycling, exploring new scientific discoveries, quantum physics, and spirituality.

Gioconda Parker, E-RYT, SEP

Gioconda has been practicing yoga for 20 years and teaching for 19. She is a ERYT-500 level instructor and one of the leaders of Austin’s vibrant yoga scene. She is also a noted spiritual teacher with a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology who has studied yogic philosophy, Ayurveda and meditation. She conducts international yoga retreats that focus on helping individuals be fully present with themselves. Gioconda is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, having completed the three-year training program in 2016. Somatic Experiencing is one of the leading approaches to trauma healing in the field of psychology. In 2008, Gioconda initiated and co-founded the Austin based community movement “Changing the World, One Om at a Time,” a project designed to unite yoga communities in practice and service. She believes passionately in yoga’s ability to create unity at an individual, community and global level.

Sue Marriott, LCSW, CGP

Sue Marriott is a therapist in private practice for over 25 years, a licensed social worker and a Certified Group Psychotherapist. She links research to real-world application, training other therapists and the public nationally. She is a co-founder of Austin IN Connection, the largest local organization of therapists studying attachment and neuroscience, and the co-host of the top-rated podcast Therapist Uncensored. She has served on the Board of Directors of GAINS, the Global Association of Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies, and a is current emeritus Board member of the nationally-based Family Equality Council. She is the proud mother of 3 incredible young adults and loves her mini-zoo of animals.

Ian Crooks, MD

Dr. Ian Crooks is a caring, detail-oriented psychiatrist who completed his fellowship at Harvard’s Mass General hospital and offers world-class psychiatry in Austin, TX. He is a board-certified psychiatrist, a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, and was recognized as a Texas Top Doc 2018 (https://txtopdocs.com/march-2018/). Ian is affiliated with the Dell/Seton Medical School, Seton Healthcare, and is the former psychiatrist for the UT football team and UT Athletics.

Gene Myers, PhD

Dr. Gene Myers is one of the world’s pre-eminent genetic scientists and a key member of the team that sequenced the human genome. In 1990, Dr. Myers published the BLAST algorithm at the National Institutes of Health, one of the most cited scientific papers ever. The human genome was sequenced at Celera Genomics using the BLAST algorithm and the whole genome shotgun technique advocated by Myers in 1996. Dr. Myers is a former professor of Molecular & Cell Biology at the University of Arizona, Vice President of Informatics Research at Celera Genomics, and professor of Computer Science and Molecular Biology at UC Berkeley. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2003, and is currently a Director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics where he leads a center for systems biology.

Tori Olds, PhD

Tori Olds, PhD, is a psychologist in private practice in Austin, Texas. She is a co-owner of Deep Eddy Psychotherapy, a counseling center housing over twenty clinicians. She specializes in working with trauma, particularly attachment trauma, and utilizing mindfulness and self-compassion as a resource for personal growth. She has extensive training in AEDP, PACT and Somatic Experiencing. Alongside her clinical work, she has a passion for training therapists in experiential ways of working, integrative models, and is the author of the Minding the Heart training for therapists. She leads a number of study groups and has developed online courses focused on helping clinicians develop experiential skills, as well as understand human development from an evolutionary, neurobiological, and attachment lens.

Dave Drum, PhD

David Drum is a Professor of Counseling Psychology in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, where he has also served as Associate Vice-President for Student Affairs and Director of the Counseling and Mental Health Services. His esteemed career has included serving as President of The American Board of Professional Psychology, President of the American Psychological Association (APA) Group Psychotherapy Division, and President of the Board of Directors of the National Register for Health Service Providers. He is the author of numerous books and published research articles. Dave is the recipient of Academy of Counseling Psychology Distinguished Service and Outstanding Contributions to the Profession of Psychology Award (1997) and the Outstanding Contribution to Education Award by the Texas Psychological Association (2006). His specializations include group therapy process, college student suicidality, and health psychology, where he works towards integrative health care and improving access to mental health services in hospitals.

Candyce-Ossefort-Russell, LPC-S

Candyce is the originator of DEEP (Dynamic Enriched Experiential Psychotherapy), an approach to depth psychology based in AEDP, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and Developmental Somatic Psychotherapy. She has trained and worked with Hospice Austin and earned a certificate in spiritual formation from the Seton Cove, an interfaith spirituality center. This certificate program teaches the integration of spiritual and emotional growth to encourage an authentic life, and exploration of the idea that the inward life leads back to community. As a licensed clinical supervisor, Candyce trains many local therapists and runs training groups to help therapists deepen their presence and craft.

Jev Sikes, PhD

Dr. Sikes is one of Austin’s leading psychologists for over 30 years and a Founder of the Austin Group Psychotherapy Society, a professional organization that brings the top group therapists from around the world to conduct trainings in Austin. Jev uses a psychodynamic approach to help explore his client’s unconscious and subconscious. He supervises and teaches clinicians and medical residents, including at the Dell Seton Medical School, and sees patients in his private practice, which has a strong group focus.

Ferny Barceló, LPC, RYT-500

Ferny Barceló is a psychotherapist and much-loved yoga teacher based in Austin, TX. She was one of the first to begin teaching SUP paddleboard yoga in Austin. Ferny believes counseling creates a space to connect, be fully heard, and a chance to dig into your inner landscape. In yoga, Ferny is drawn to the fluid practice of connecting breath with the body in order to tap into healing benefits that extend way past the physical, bringing peace to an anxious mind and cultivating more self-acceptance and awareness. Ferny is the Founder of Mind Body Peace, her counseling practice that combines therapy, self-compassion work, mindfulness, and yoga. She has a Masters in Counseling and is a certified RYT-500 level yoga teacher teaching at Wanderlust Yoga Austin.

Michael Cox, LPC

Michael is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Level II Restoration Therapist and a Master Trainer in Mental Health First Aid for the National Council for Behavioral Health, a program that seeks to reduce stigma and increase awareness around the topic of Mental Health. Michael travels nationally to train instructors that will then lead their respective communities. He has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and their families, individuals and couples. Together with his wife, Coloma, they take a wellness-approach to mental health, conduct marriage seminars and coach couples in preparation for marriage. Areas of specialization include suicidal ideation, parent and child relationships, youth development, and working with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, sexual identity, faith and mental health.

Jerry Vandel, MD

Dr. Jerry Vandel is a graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. He did his Internal Medicine residency at Harlem Hospital in New York City, and then worked in the Indian Health Service in New Mexico on the Navajo Reservation for 2 years. Following that, while living in San Antonio, he founded Health By Design, a fitness/wellness program which offered individualized testing and recommendations in the areas of exercise, nutrition, and stress management. After moving to Austin, he served as the Medical Director at The Hills (in Westlake), one of Austin’s first wellness centers, which incorporated exercise, body work, biofeedback, nutrition counseling, and stress management into its Wellness program.  He then established a private practice in Internal Medicine in Austin, which he continued for 30 years, becoming one of Austin’s most highly regarded internal medicine docs. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and was voted a Top Doctor by Texas Monthly for 15 consecutive years. He stays active, runs regularly, works at the Volunteer Clinic, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Pittman McGehee, PhD

Pittman McGehee, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Austin, Texas. He received his doctorate from The University of Texas, Austin, focusing his research on the connection between psychological health and the concepts of mindfulness and self-compassion. Dr. McGehee works closely with Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Chris Germer, the world’s leading experts on self-compassion. Dr. McGehee is a certified Mindful Self-Compassion teacher-trainer through the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. He is currently adjunct faculty at Seton Cove Spirituality Center, Austin, Texas, and has held faculty appointments in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas. In 2017, Dr. McGehee co-wrote a chapter on Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) with Dr. Kristin Neff and Dr. Chris Germer for the book Practitioner’s Guide to Ethics and Mindfulness-Based Interventions. www.mcgeheephd.com

Richla Davis, M.Ed., LCPC

Richla Davis, M.Ed., LCPC, is a psychotherapist and a social justice advocate. She began advocacy work ten years ago while educating college students as well as fundraising for cis and trans women survivors of sexual violence. Richla’s passion for queer advocacy strengthened while providing mental health services for LGBTQ2IA populations at a local nonprofit. Currently, Richla provides individual psychotherapy primarily for people of color and LGBTQ2IA populations whose mental health issues are often rooted in systemic oppression. As a consultant, Richla trains organizations in implementing Anti Oppressive policies and practices. Richla also trains mental health professionals on ways to engage in Anti Racism work through a therapeutic framework. She has a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in American Sign Language from DePaul University and a M.Ed in Community Counseling from DePaul University. Richla offers classes and trainings at RichlaDavis.com.

Ellyn Bader, PhD

Dr. Ellyn Bader is the founder of modern couples therapy and through The Couples Institute and the Developmental Model, has been helping couples have stronger relationships for over 30 years and helping therapists learn the refined art of couples therapy. Her approach, developed in conjunction with her husband Dr. Peter Pearson, helps couples overcome difficulties and evolve as a couple and as a team. Their approach is known for its practical applications that help couples create enduring love.

Peter and Ellyn are authors of two books, In Quest of the Mythical Mate and Tell Me No Lies. Drs. Bader and Pearson have been featured on over 80 radio and television programs including The Today Show, Good Morning America and CBS Early Morning News, and they have been quoted in countless publications including The New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and Cosmopolitan. Ellyn trains therapists worldwide and has presented at workshops throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australia. She conducts online training programs and has had participants from 33 countries. Learn more about her work at
Couplesinstitute.com.

John Welbourn

John Welbourn is a 9-year veteran of the National Football League and CEO of Power Athlete, an educational and training company that educates elite fitness trainers and trains professional athletes. John played for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003, appearing in 3 NFC Championship games, played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007 and he played for the New England Patriots in 2008. He is a UC Berkley graduate where he majored in rhetoric.

John has competed in the CrossFit games, and is a certified Level 2 Crossfit coach. In, 2009, John developed Crossfit Football, the only approved sport-specific training system in the CrossFit community. Since retiring from the NFL, John has consulted and trained athletes in MLB, NHL, NFL, CrossFit and the Olympics. He has also worked in the same capacity for Naval Special Warfare, teaching performance and training for Navy SEALs. He works as a consultant for fitness tech companies like Train Heroic and PowerDot helping them to develop best practices for performance based athletes. John travels the world lecturing on performance and nutrition and as an expert on food for performance.

Kazique Prince, PhD

Dr. Kazique Prince is Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at NI (National Instruments), and formerly the Founder and CEO of Jelani Consulting, LLC. He provides leadership in cultural competency for organizations in business, education, healthcare, and government. He received his PhD in Counseling Psychology from The University of Georgia at Athens and is a Board-Certified Diplomat in African Centered/Black Psychology through The Association of Black Psychologists. Dr. Prince serves as a Senior Policy Advisor & Education Coordinator for Austin Mayor Steve Adler. He is a former professor at The University of Texas at Austin in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Education, and served as UT’s Lead Coordinator of its Alcohol & Drug Education Program. He has been a staff Psychologist at St. Edwards University where he was also the Director of the Alcohol & Drug Education Program and a Professor in the Masters of Arts in Counseling Program. Dr. Prince embraces the mission of educating the broader community to achieve greater fairness and equity for all people.

Gloria Chan

Gloria Chan is the owner of Recalibrate, a leading provider of corporate mindfulness and mental wellness, using a uniquely modern and science-based approach to empower go-getters with busy lives. Gloria opened Recalibrate after an unexpected medical battle amidst an established career in management consulting that ultimately led her to discover the gap in everyday mental wellness. Since opening in mid-2018, Recalibrate has worked with employers like Atlassian, Cloudera, Humana, McKinsey & Co, Outdoor Voices, and more to transform their workplace mindfulness offerings. Prior to opening Recalibrate, Gloria led an established career in management consulting as an executive leader with consulting firm Sense Corp, working directly with Fortune 500 client CXOs in strategic, operational, and technical capacities. Gloria holds a Mindfulness Teaching Certificate from The Mindfulness Center in Washington, D.C., has completed Coherence Therapy training with Deep Eddy Psychotherapy, has completed Executive Education in Corporate Strategy from Columbia Business School, and holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas Austin.

Cindy Carlson, PhD

Dr. Cindy Carlson is the former Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She has served as a Professor in the Department as well as at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. She received her PhD in Educational Psychology from Indiana University and is Board Certified in Couples and Family Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is the co-author of two books in the field of Psychology and countless peer-reviewed research articles. Dr. Carlson received the Family Psychologist of the Year award in 2018 from the Society for Couple and Family Psychology. She has also been elected to the Council of Representatives of the American Psychological Association (APA), where she served as President of the Family Psychology Division of the APA.

Dr. Carlson has served as an Associate Editor of Couple & Family Psychology Research & Practice, a Journal of the American Psychological Association, and received a Distinguished Service Award in Family Psychology from the APA in 2005. She also secured for UT the first Graduate Psychology Education Program award from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to train psychologists to work in integrated care alongside physicians.