Faculty and Organizers

Stacy Ellis, PsyD

Founder & Lead Facilitator, Liberation Workshops

Dr. Stacy Ellis is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Liberation Workshops. Her work is grounded in a deep commitment to helping adults better understand themselves, their emotional patterns, and the ways early life experiences shape adult relationships, resilience, and well-being.

Dr. Ellis brings over fifteen years of clinical experience and more than a decade of facilitating ongoing groups and immersive educational programs. She has led workshops and delivered public education internationally for over eight years, with a focus on trauma-informed education, emotional regulation, and relational skill-building.

Trained as a Doctor of Psychology, Dr. Ellis integrates evidence-based psychological frameworks with experiential and somatic learning approaches. Her work emphasizes nervous system literacy, emotional awareness, and the practical integration of insight into daily life. She is particularly interested in helping participants move beyond intellectual understanding into embodied awareness, while maintaining clear ethical boundaries and educational intent.

Dr. Ellis has completed advanced training in EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic therapies, TRE, EFT, NLP, breathwork, and sound-based practices. Her professional background includes specialties in trauma, attachment and inner-child frameworks, addiction medicine, pain management, forensic psychology, LGBTQIA+ affirming care, alternative relationship structures, and nervous system health.

As a lifelong learner and educator, Dr. Ellis is committed to creating structured, supportive environments that foster self-reflection, emotional literacy, and responsible personal growth. Liberation Workshops reflect her dedication to accessible, trauma-informed education that supports adults in developing greater self-awareness, relational capacity, and integration over time.

Aya Kamānakai

Aya Kamānakai is a somatic educator and facilitator who supports individuals in developing deeper awareness of the body as a source of insight, regulation, and creative expression.

Her work integrates embodied movement, somatic exploration, and vocal practices to support self-awareness, emotional expression, and connection to internal experience. Aya’s facilitation emphasizes presence, curiosity, and respectful engagement with the body’s natural intelligence.

Aya has completed advanced training in somatic and embodiment-based approaches, including a Womb Awakening apprenticeship with Dr. Azra and Seren Bertrand, and she is a VITA-certified coach. She has facilitated retreats, workshops, and educational programs both in person and online, supporting participants in exploring embodiment through a grounded and trauma-aware lens.

Within Liberation Workshops, Aya contributes experiential learning components that complement the educational curriculum, offering participants opportunities to engage movement, voice, and somatic awareness in ways that support integration and personal insight.

Blake Zealear

Blake Zealear is a relationship educator, group facilitator, and guide whose work focuses on personal development, relational skill-building, and embodied self-awareness. His multidisciplinary approach integrates psychological frameworks, somatic practices, and experiential learning to support individuals in developing greater clarity, responsibility, and capacity in their relationships with themselves and others.

Blake has studied and trained in a range of modalities, including Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Radical Honesty, trauma-informed developmental psychology, yogic embodiment practices, breathwork, polarity dynamics, non-traditional relationship design, shadow work, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Spiral Dynamics. His work emphasizes communication, emotional literacy, self-reflection, and conscious relational choice.

He has served as a group facilitator for programs including the Re/MEN/ber Brotherhood Journey and the Extraordinary Lovers experience, where he supports participants in exploring identity, intimacy, boundaries, and relational patterns within structured group learning environments.

Blake is committed to fostering greater emotional maturity, relational integrity, and personal responsibility through education and experiential group work.

Usha Rose

Usha Rose supports individuals in developing greater confidence, embodiment, and relational capacity so they can engage more fully in their lives, work, and relationships. Her approach emphasizes emotional awareness, somatic presence, and personal responsibility as foundations for sustainable growth.

She specializes in trauma-informed, somatic-based practices that support nervous system regulation, embodied self-expression, and healthy relational dynamics. Usha is a VITA™-certified Empowerment and Conscious Relationship Coach and brings a strong grounding in experiential education and body-based learning.

With over fifteen years of professional training and experience in massage therapy, yoga, meditation, conscious movement, and holistic wellness practices, Usha integrates movement and somatic awareness into her facilitation in a way that is accessible, ethical, and participant-centered.

In addition to her facilitation work, Usha is a dancer, hiker, nature enthusiast, and community organizer. She has experience producing and supporting retreats and group learning environments that prioritize safety, embodiment, and meaningful integration.

Aaron Mandelbaum

Aaron Mandelbaum has spent over two decades studying and working at the intersection of philosophy, leadership, and experiential education. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a concentration in ontology, as well as a Master’s degree in business strategy.

Aaron has designed and facilitated educational experiences, programs, and trainings internationally, supporting individuals, groups, and organizations in developing clarity, responsibility, and effective action. His work draws on philosophical inquiry, systems thinking, and applied strategy to help participants examine assumptions, patterns, and decision-making processes in both personal and professional contexts.

In addition to his educational work, Aaron has coached individuals, teams, and businesses on leadership development, communication, and organizational effectiveness.

Briana Cribeyer

Briana Cribeyer is a facilitator and relationship and intimacy educator with over fifteen years of experience supporting individuals and groups in personal development, communication, and relational awareness. She brings a multidisciplinary background that integrates social sciences, education, and embodied learning practices.

Raised in the Midwest and later living and working across Colorado, New Hampshire, Washington, Japan, and South America, Briana has worked within diverse cultural and community contexts. These experiences inform her grounded, inclusive approach to facilitation and group leadership.

Briana began her professional career in social services and education, later moving into nonprofit management and program leadership. Throughout her work, she has focused on supporting individuals and groups in developing greater self-awareness, responsibility, and relational capacity. She views facilitation as a practice of helping people access their own agency and capacity for change.

She holds academic training in Sociology with a focus on Race, Culture, and Power, as well as Sexual Behavior, and a minor in Natural Resources with an emphasis on sustainability. This background supports her ability to work thoughtfully across social, cultural, and relational dynamics in both educational and professional settings.

Briana has facilitated retreats, workshops, and group programs in a wide range of environments, including community settings, organizational contexts, and private group work. She is known for her engaged, warm facilitation style and her ability to create learning environments that balance structure, curiosity, and care.

She believes that cultivating self-responsibility, emotional awareness, and relational integrity is essential to individual well-being and collective social health.

Issac Palman

Isaac Palman is a teacher and facilitator dedicated to exploring human connection at the intersection of emotional awareness, spirituality, and relationship to the natural world. With a background spanning science, yoga, and twelve-step recovery communities, his work integrates personal development with embodied and nature-based learning.

Isaac brings extensive experience as a teacher, guide, and coach, creating grounded, supportive environments for both individuals and groups. His approach is informed by nature-based education, somatic awareness, and reflective practices that support personal insight, emotional regulation, and authentic connection.

At the core of his work is the belief that humans are deeply interconnected with the natural world and that meaningful growth emerges through presence, responsibility, and self-awareness. He founded Laughing Tree Life as an expression of his commitment to offering learning experiences that emphasize joy, curiosity, and grounded connection.

Isaac has served as faculty, facilitator, and guide with organizations including The Somatic Center, Earthworks Wilderness School, ISEE, The Audubon Society, and The Association of Nature and Forest Therapy.

Philippe Lewis (Northern California/ Hawaii) – Organizer and Technical Support

Philippe Lewis is an organizer, educator, and technical support lead who supports educational programs focused on communication, consent, and relational awareness. He brings experience in coordinating events, managing digital platforms, and supporting participants and faculty through clear systems and thoughtful organization.

Philippe is the founder of Exquisite Love, an educational initiative dedicated to helping individuals make informed, values-aligned choices in their relationships through learning, self-reflection, and skill development. His work is informed by attachment theory and emphasizes communication skills, emotional responsibility, consent, and trust.

In addition to his educational background, Philippe has contributed to the development and support of several learning communities centered on personal growth and relational education. His role has included organizing events, supporting online platforms, and fostering environments where participants can engage thoughtfully with educational material.

Rachael Rickards (Sweden)

Rachael Rickards is an international facilitator, educator, and trainer specializing in group facilitation, embodied learning, and relational intelligence. She is the co-founder of Embodied Intimacy and the founder of The Field Facilitator Training, a professional training program that supports facilitators in developing ethical, grounded, and skillful group leadership.

With decades of experience working with individuals and groups across Europe and internationally, Rachael’s work focuses on presence-based facilitation, nervous system awareness, and the dynamics of group coherence. She is known for her ability to create clear, structured learning environments that support personal insight, emotional regulation, and relational awareness.

In 2024, Rachael launched In Presence We Trust: The Facilitation Podcast, a weekly show exploring best practices in group facilitation, leadership, and embodied education. Through conversations and teaching episodes, the podcast examines how facilitators can cultivate safety, integrity, and depth in group settings.

Rachael’s work emphasizes responsibility, consent, and attunement, and is grounded in years of applied experience supporting facilitators, educators, and leaders in diverse contexts.

Learn more at:
www.The-Field.com
www.RachelRickards.com

Julia Vieau (Austin, TX)

Julia Vieau is an embodiment-focused coach and event organizer who supports individuals in developing greater emotional awareness, self-expression, and relational presence. Her work emphasizes grounded self-connection, mindful communication, and practices that foster nervous system regulation and personal insight.

In addition to her one-on-one coaching work, Julia serves as an organizer for educational workshops in Austin, coordinating logistics and participant experience to support safe, intentional learning environments. She brings a thoughtful, detail-oriented approach to event production and values creating spaces that encourage reflection, curiosity, and authentic connection.

Julia is also a trained Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) practitioner. She was introduced to EFT at a young age and has continued to integrate it into her professional work as a supportive tool for emotional regulation and self-inquiry. Her approach is compassionate and attuned, helping individuals reduce emotional stress, increase self-awareness, and engage more fully with their internal experience.

Amara Karuna (Washington, Oregon, Hawaii)

Amara Karuna is an experienced organizer, educator, and community leader with many years of involvement in intentional community development and adult personal growth programs. She currently serves as Director of a long-standing winter educational program in Hawaii and has extensive experience supporting immersive, multi-day learning environments.

Amara lives between Oregon and the Big Island of Hawaii, where she is part of an established permaculture-based community focused on sustainable living, cooperative systems, and conscious community practices. Her work centers on fostering safe, structured environments that support emotional awareness, interpersonal skill-building, and personal responsibility.

She is the developer of Heartbeat Nurturing Therapy, an approach focused on addressing early developmental experiences through guided support, attunement practices, and emotional regulation techniques. She is the author of Heartbeat Nurturing Therapy: Healing Our Hearts Together.

In addition, Amara has developed a model of peer-based support known as Holistic Peer Counseling, which integrates reflective listening, meditation practices, breath awareness, and body-centered techniques. She has published a training manual outlining these methods and has facilitated educational programming for adults for several decades.

Amara brings a grounded, compassionate presence to her organizing and facilitation work, with a focus on ethical boundaries, consent, and participant well-being.

Gabriel Cournoyer (Quebec, Canada)

Gabriel Cournoyer is a facilitator and community leader dedicated to supporting personal responsibility, emotional awareness, and healthy human connection. His work is grounded in a deep respect for the human experience and a commitment to helping individuals develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and relational capacity.

Based in Montréal, Gabriel has worked for over ten years as a professional firefighter and first responder in Canada. His background in emergency response informs his calm presence, emphasis on safety, and capacity to support individuals and groups under stress.

In addition to his professional work, Gabriel facilitates men’s groups and educational workshops focused on embodiment, emotional literacy, and personal development. His approach emphasizes accountability, grounded self-reflection, and the cultivation of healthy interpersonal dynamics within a group setting.

Lily Hoffman (San Diego)

Lily Hoffman is an organizer, community builder, and communications professional with experience supporting the promotion and coordination of educational events and programs. She brings a strong background in marketing, outreach, and relationship-based engagement, helping organizations communicate their mission clearly and connect with participants in meaningful ways.

With an eye for both structure and creativity, Lily supports the logistical and promotional aspects of workshops, including event coordination, participant communication, and community engagement. She is skilled at translating complex or experiential offerings into accessible language that invites understanding, trust, and participation.

Lily approaches her work with curiosity, integrity, and a deep respect for human connection. She is committed to creating environments that are welcoming, thoughtful, and aligned with the organization’s values, supporting learning, personal insight, and a sense of belonging within educational communities.