Connie Hornyak, MSW, ACSW, LCSW has a BA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA. She earned her MSW at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social work in Denver, Colorado. In treating children with Attachment Disorder and adoption issues Connie has trained with leading professionals. She has worked with children in therapeutic settings since 1976, using an eclectic treatment approach which includes cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Insight Oriented Psychotherapy and Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Connie is one of ATTACh's registered therapists, has served on the Board of ATTACh since 2000, and is currently a member of the Executive Committee. She chaired the 2002 ATTACh conference and currently chairs the ethics and parent manual committee. She is also the adoptive parent of two biracial children and the birth grandparent of a special needs child in an open adoption.

Rick MacMahon, MSW, LCSW, has worked in a therapeutic setting since 1977. His clinical experience includes working with children, adults, and families. He has worked extensively with children who have Attachment Disorder, ADD or ADHD. Since 1991 Rick has used Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients deal with severe trauma and loss. He is able to help clients process and then release disturbing images, body sensations and debilitating emotions which are trapped in the body and mind.

Laurie Fair-Brodeske, PhD, is the Institute for Child and Family Development's Parent Educator. She teaches the class, "Creating a Therapeutic Home Environment So Your Child Can Heal." Dr. Brodeske has had extensive experience working with children who have special needs and their caregivers. She worked for many years in a residential treatment facility for children who were victims of abuse and neglect, and dependents of the Court. She has also worked as a behavior specialist with a multi-disciplinary staff in a clinic-based program for children with developmental delays. She has taught parenting classes for several years, and has assisted caregivers with designing and implementing behavior plans for children with a variety of diagnoses, including: Complex Trauma, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Karen A. Polek, HHP, NCTMB, is a Nationally Certified Holistic Bodyworker who has had a private healing practice in Laguna Beach, CA, since 1989, where she specializes in CranioSacral Therapy (CST), SomatoEmotional Release (SER), Sound/Vibration Healing and Reconnective Healing^TM. Karen works with all age groups, from infants to the elderly, with an emphasis on children. She received her cranial training at The Upledger Institute, where she still continues her studies. In addition, Karen facilitates CST I and CST II Study Groups in Orange County and is also a Teacher Assistant for the Institute. Karen is also a graduate of IPSB College of San Diego (International Professional School of Bodywork). Prior to starting her holistic healing practice, Karen spent over twenty years in the new Homes Building Industry in Connecticut as well as California specializing in Market Research, Development and Consulting. She received her BS Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach.

Susan Green is the founder and director of The Success Center, which provides Academic coaching to students of all ages. The goal of academic coaching is to improve the achievement of challenged students by providing them with basic educational strategies. Ms. Green brings a wealth of experience to The Success Center. After practicing law for fourteen years, she returned to school and earned her teaching credential. As a high school teacher, she observed many students who lacked basic study skills and organizational/planning abilities, and many who were unwilling to take a responsible role in their own education. While she firmly believes that all students can improve their academic and personal success, she found these issues difficult to address in a standards-based educational system. It is this gap in the educational system that inspired Ms. Green to launch The Success Center.