Speaker Lineup
Mike Headrick — Emcee
Born and raised in northeastern Ohio, this is the third time Mike has called Utah home — and he’s here to stay! Mike co-anchors KSL 5 News with amazing talent. When away from the anchor desk, he is one of the KSL Investigators, reporting on in-depth and investigative stories. Mike has agreed to emcee the conference. We are so grateful he decided to lend us his face, voice and support to the cause.
Kimberli Raya Koen
- Understanding the Reality of Ritualistic Abuse (RA)
- Understanding and Working with Dissociative Identity Disorder Resulting From RA
Kimberli Raya Koen is a Survivor, Founder of The Healing Center For Complex Trauma, Educator, Advocate, Speaker, Mother and Grandmother. Because of her own experience in human trafficking, satanic ritual abuse, domestic violence, torture, and the extreme difficulty of trying to heal due to lack of adequate and comprehensive services, Kimberli is determined to make the healing journey for survivors possible, accessible and sustainable. Healing from trauma is a human right and should be available for everyone.
Jared Powell
- Recovering and Thriving After Vicarious and Secondary Trauma
- Chill-Skills for Trauma Practitioners: Techniques for Warming Up the Nervous system or Slowing It Down in Phase I and Phase II Trauma Work
Jared Powell, LCSW, MSW, JD, is presently a psychotherapist and program manager. His clinical focus is primarily on trauma and attachment dynamics in the healing process for patients and their clinicians or caregivers. He volunteers as a clinical advisor for the Healing Center for Complex Trauma (HCCT) and contracts with Comprehensive Psychological Services as a therapist in private practice, while running a clinical liaison program for First Step House in partnership with a local homeless services organization.
Del Bircher
- Best Practice with Complex Trauma and Trauma Informed Care
Del has nearly 30 years experience working in mental health. He received his BS in Social Work from Utah State. He earned a MSW from the University of Utah and his MBA from the University of Phoenix. He is currently a practitioner at Acadian Counseling and periodically an adjunct professor at the University of Utah School of Social Work. He has specialized training in depression, anxiety and addiction. He has additional certification in addressing complex trauma.
Tonia Tewell
- How Ritual and Spiritual Abuse Appears in the World of Polygamy
Tonia Tewell is Founder and Executive Director of Holding Out HELP (HOH). She holds a BS in Business Management from the University of Nebraska. Her work includes providing direct service to clients & survivors of abuse coming from a polygamist culture. HOH, along with local partners, provide clients with wrap around services including food, clothing, shelter, education, medical and legal services.
Cheryl Merrell
Cheryl is an Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor with a MA in Mental Health Counseling (from the Townsend Institute) and works with Holding Out HELP (HOH) clients. She specializes in issues related to complex trauma, emotional and physical abuse, sexual abuse, and grief, using EMDR and Neurofeedback, among other trauma modalities. Cheryl has used her skills to help those coming from a polygamous culture who have experienced ritual abuse.
Heidi Clark
- Understanding the Impacts of Vicarious and Intergenerational Trauma on the Family
Heidi earned a BS in Family Studies from Brigham Young University and recently became certified as a Life and Health Coach with the intention of expanding options for trauma informed care. Her education in complex trauma began early in life as a witness to its impact on a close family member and its intergenerational reverberations. Her passion for understanding trauma and creating sources of hope for those suffering led her to a volunteer position with HCCT.
Event & Support Staff
Dr. Annie Fukushima
Dr. Annie Isabel Fukushima is Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, and Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies in the School for Cultural & Social Transformation at the University of Utah. She is the author of the award-winning book, Migrant Crossings: Witnessing Human Trafficking in the US (Stanford University Press, 2019). She also serves as the Co-Principal Investigator and Founder of the University of Utah Gender-Based Violence Consortium.
Barb Henderson
Barb has worked in the non-profit sector as well as in caregiving for over 20 years. Recent work in anti-human trafficking and survivor support introduced her to HCCT and she brings her administrative skills as a volunteer for the Restoring Freedom Summit. Walking alongside survivors and warriors for years, Barb is ever eager to see others walk in freedom, with hope toward ongoing healing.
Cindy Metcalf
Cindy is a certified victim advocate specializing in ritual abuse. She has worked with RA survivors for 5 years gathering their stories and information to bring about awareness. Cindy has also worked with law enforcement, counselors, and media to support survivors in their pursuit of justice. She has a MBA from Southern Illinois University and specializes in marketing and advertising. She is employed by Holding Out HELP (HOH).
Jim Greene
Jim Greene graduated with a BS in both Spanish and Business Management from BYU and an MBA from Penn State. Jim worked for IBM for 10 years in New York and Salt Lake City. He then spent 10 years with Novell before joining FamilySearch to work on the Family Tree of Mankind project. Now, after 20 years at FamilySearch, Jim will be retiring just 5 days before the Summit. He was introduced to the issues the Summit addresses through his association with Kimberli Raya Koen.
