Program Director & Educator
Kalila is the founder and program director of the Embodied Neurobiology Training Program, which began in 2010. Kalila teaches and supervises at the graduate and postgraduate level in dance therapy and expressive arts therapy, alongside an active clinical practice in Austin, Texas. Her thirty years of clinical experience includes program development and implementation in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment, public schools, community resources, and private practice.
With a specialized focus in how DMT impacts the brain, Kalila published articles and chapters on the topic of dance/movement therapy and neurobiology, and developed courses and workshops on this subject which have been presented nationally and internationally, including courses at Drexel and Antioch Universities.
Kalila is passionate about preparing and empowering dance/movement therapy students to embark on successful, innovative, and rewarding careers. She received the 2018 Excellence in Education Recognition Award from the ADTA Board of Directors in recognition of her specific and significant contribution to education in the field of dance/movement therapy.
Kalila teaches 15 credits of specialized courses in various content areas including Embodied Neurobiology, Moving through the Cycles of Life, Movement Observation and Assessment, and Professional Identity.
Program Educator
Amber is a pioneer in the use of Dance Movement Therapy with survivors of trauma, particularly torture, war and human rights abuses; and in disaster and complex humanitarian emergencies. Dr. Gray is an ADTA Outstanding Achievement Award recipient; a recent nominee for The Barbara Chester Human Rights award, and featured expert on torture treatment through Tulane University’s Institute of Traumatology. She has championed embodied approaches to staff care globally, and her expertise is represented in many published articles, chapters, keynote addresses, professional collaborations and presentations around the world.
Amber originated a resiliency-based framework and trauma-informed clinical approach (Restorative Movement Psychotherapy) for DMT – integrated with somatic, mindfulness, movement and arts-based therapies – for survivors of trauma in cross cultural, low resource contexts. Her Polyvagal-informed DMT is a product of 20+ years period of collegial and generous idea-sharing and collaborative teaching with Dr. Porges.
Amber is the program director of Restorative Resources, which collaborates with Embodied Neurobiology to offer a 6 credit series on trauma informed approaches in dance/movement therapy. Visit Amber’s website here.
Program Educator
Jacelyn is part of the Embodied Neurobiology teaching faculty. She has presented nationally and internationally on dance therapy and schizophrenia, de-escalation and violence prevention, artistic inquiry, and arts-based research practice.
Her research, clinical work, and life experiences have piqued her interest in the concepts of community, intimacy, and belonging, particularly as they relate to communities that are often underrepresented and dehumanized.
She graduated with her BFA from California Institute of the Arts with a dual major in dance and photography, her MA from Drexel University in Dance/Movement Therapy, and her PhD in Creative Arts in Therapy at Drexel University. She is a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Creative Arts Therapies at Drexel University and a temporary core faculty at Lesley University.
Guest Educator
Abijan has a BA in English from Dillard University and an MA in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling from Columbia College in Chicago.
A specialist in working with homelessness, Abijan is passionate about early childhood development and currently is working as a Behavioral Interventionist in an early childhood center that serves families with a history of homelessness.
Abijan occasionally assists with Embodied Neurobiology courses and is available as a supportive listening ear and networking resource for students.
Program Advisor
Beth received her MA in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO) and is an alternate route graduate. In her private practice (Affective Movement Counseling), she works primarily with neurodiverse adults working through trauma, life transitions, grief, and identity challenges. She has experience facilitating DMT in eating disorders treatment at the residential, PHP, and IOP levels of care with children, adolescents, and adults, both in individual and group therapy. She has the pleasure of supervising DMT students towards their R-DMTs and BC-DMTs, and is excited to add the option of being an advisor. Beth is committed to serving the field of DMT through her work with the ADTA and supporting current and future dance therapists, while continuing to expand her own knowledge and understanding of this valuable and needed work.
Beth is the academic advisor for the Embodied Neurobiology program and is a resource for internship planning, support, and mentorship for students throughout the program.
Program Coordinator & Teaching Assistant
Kelsey has been supporting Embodied Neurobiology as Program Coordinator since 2017. In addition to a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she is a graduate of the 2020 program cohort and obtained her R-DMT through Alternate Route. As an emerging educator, she also supports the program as a Teaching Assistant and continues to deepen her learning through ongoing training.
Outside of her work with the program, Kelsey maintains a vibrant clinical practice in Austin, TX. She enjoys creating spaces for others to engage with their own curiosities and experience their bodies as a resource for healing, inspiration, and growth. She presents at universities, conferences, and mental health agencies, and facilitates ongoing groups and workshops for therapists that focus on embodied self-care.
You can learn more about her practice and offerings on her website.
Remembrance
It is with great sadness that we share the news of Nanine Ewing’s sudden passing on May 5, 2021. It is a deep loss- Nanine’s bright mind, quick wit, and creative spirit have been a vital part of the Embodied Neurobiology Dance/Movement Therapy Training Program for many years. Our working collaboration began in 1998 at the Beyond Words Dance/Movement Therapy Training Program in the Jung Center in Houston. Nanine’s unique professional training and highly developed understanding of Modern Analytic Group Process, Jungian Theory, and Dance/Movement Therapy richly contributed to new courses that were created and taught through the Embodied Neurobiology Training Program in Austin. Nanine’s students were continually challenged and nourished by her dynamic, enlivened and inspired teaching.
She will be deeply missed and always remembered by all of us.