Our TEAM
Founders and Trainers
Erika Neil is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the greater Washington DC metropolitan area focusing on trauma treatment and strengthening resilience. She is a Havening trainer and is also trained in EMDR (Eye–Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), Reiki, Quantum Touch, Emotional Freedom Technique, Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, the Flash Technique, Brainspotting, and Trauma Tapping. She attended Harvard University, Columbia University Law School, and Catholic University School of Social Service.
Erika has done relief work on several continents with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charities and Humanitarian Havening. Prior to becoming a social worker, Erika was a lawyer for abused and neglected children in Washington, DC. She was also a school social worker for fifteen years in Northern Virginia before becoming a full-time therapist. Havening techniques have brought about dramatic change and growth in her clients and in herself. Erika's style is collaborative, warm, and solution-focused. She was trained by Havening’s founder Dr. Ron Ruden and is the first certified Havening practitioner in the Washington, DC area. Erika is passionate about spreading awareness of Havening and its benefits.
Erika has done relief work on several continents with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charities and Humanitarian Havening. Prior to becoming a social worker, Erika was a lawyer for abused and neglected children in Washington, DC. She was also a school social worker for fifteen years in Northern Virginia before becoming a full-time therapist. Havening techniques have brought about dramatic change and growth in her clients and in herself. Erika's style is collaborative, warm, and solution-focused. She was trained by Havening’s founder Dr. Ron Ruden and is the first certified Havening practitioner in the Washington, DC area. Erika is passionate about spreading awareness of Havening and its benefits.
Irene Hajisava, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been in private practice over thirty years with expertise in families, addictions, trauma, grief, emergency response and CISM. She volunteered at the World Trade Center for months after the events of September 11th and has worked extensively with September 11th responders and survivors in New York and the Pentagon. She has treated first responders and survivors impacted by natural disasters and terrorist events both in emergency settings and in on going treatment. She is also on the counseling support staff for Concerns of Police Survivors, providing grief and trauma counseling for families and coworkers of police officers killed in the line of duty.
She has advanced training in Disaster Mental health as well as EMDR. She is the first mental health clinician trained in the Havening Techniques , a neuroscience based intervention to reduce or eliminate phobias and trauma as well as provide self care. by helping calm the emotional center of the brain. She is a certified Havening Techniques Trainer and has taught these techniques to vulnerable populations both domestically and abroad, including refugee camps.
She has advanced training in Disaster Mental health as well as EMDR. She is the first mental health clinician trained in the Havening Techniques , a neuroscience based intervention to reduce or eliminate phobias and trauma as well as provide self care. by helping calm the emotional center of the brain. She is a certified Havening Techniques Trainer and has taught these techniques to vulnerable populations both domestically and abroad, including refugee camps.
Eugenia Karahlias
Eugenia is currently engaged in a private practice specializing in the treatment of trauma utilizing a myriad of treatment modalities, both traditional and contemporary. In addition, she has expertise in treating addictions, anxiety, bereavement, depression, pain management, performance improvement, PTSD, phobias, relaxation & stress management from the following disciplines: NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy, EMDR Level II Practitioner (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), FLASH Level II Practitioner, Certified International Havening Techniques® Trainer and Practitioner, NLP® Practitioner. Eugenia is trained in Individual & Group Crisis Intervention and Critical Incident Stress Management. She is a trained Spiritual and Psychological Mental Health First Responder with the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) organization whose role is to respond to domestic critical incidents such as natural disasters, terrorist events, and man-made disasters.
Eugenia served as a trauma responder and facilitated de-briefings to first responders in Greece, to islanders, international volunteers and refugees impacted by the humanitarian crisis due to mass exodus out of the Middle East. She also provided training to the above-mentioned groups on how to regulate stress utilizing the Havening Techniques related to the on-going crisis. Eugenia served as a Mental Health responder to those impacted by superstorm Sandy. She worked in conjunction with The Long Island EMDR TRN and in private practice. She worked extensively with 9/11 first responders and survivors and surviving families through The American Red Cross, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and in private practice. Initially Eugenia participated in triage, assessment, psychological first aid, crisis intervention and stabilization. At a later point treatment shifted to individual and family therapy on-going. Eugenia is a certified Havening Techniques Trainer.
Eugenia is currently engaged in a private practice specializing in the treatment of trauma utilizing a myriad of treatment modalities, both traditional and contemporary. In addition, she has expertise in treating addictions, anxiety, bereavement, depression, pain management, performance improvement, PTSD, phobias, relaxation & stress management from the following disciplines: NYS Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Credentialed Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Counselor, Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy, EMDR Level II Practitioner (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), FLASH Level II Practitioner, Certified International Havening Techniques® Trainer and Practitioner, NLP® Practitioner. Eugenia is trained in Individual & Group Crisis Intervention and Critical Incident Stress Management. She is a trained Spiritual and Psychological Mental Health First Responder with the International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) organization whose role is to respond to domestic critical incidents such as natural disasters, terrorist events, and man-made disasters.
Eugenia served as a trauma responder and facilitated de-briefings to first responders in Greece, to islanders, international volunteers and refugees impacted by the humanitarian crisis due to mass exodus out of the Middle East. She also provided training to the above-mentioned groups on how to regulate stress utilizing the Havening Techniques related to the on-going crisis. Eugenia served as a Mental Health responder to those impacted by superstorm Sandy. She worked in conjunction with The Long Island EMDR TRN and in private practice. She worked extensively with 9/11 first responders and survivors and surviving families through The American Red Cross, Brookdale Hospital Medical Center and in private practice. Initially Eugenia participated in triage, assessment, psychological first aid, crisis intervention and stabilization. At a later point treatment shifted to individual and family therapy on-going. Eugenia is a certified Havening Techniques Trainer.
Advisor
Tony Burgess was Head of Trainer Training for Havening Techniques® for 10 years, until he passed the baton in February 2024. He was one of the very first people to be approved as a Certified Havening Techniques® Practitioner and also one of the first to become a Certified Havening Techniques® Trainer. He was also Head of UK and Europe for Havening Techniques® from September 2014 to April 2017. Tony has also personally trained around 40 of the Certified Havening Techniques® Trainers that together form the global training team. He has shared Havening in 10 different countries in person since 2013. Tony is an author, speaker, trainer, coach and therapist. Along with Julie French, his partner in business and in life, he is a founding Director of Academy of High Achievers Ltd based in the UK. Together Tony and Julie have spent many years delivering training in NLP, DiSC behavioural profiling, Pink Bucket Thinking® and other mindset, personal development and communication programmes.
Tony has a passion for life and for making a difference in the world. He is committed to helping people wake up to their true greatness. He has been involved in research into Havening. Tony works from his base in Stafford (UK) for much of the year and for about 11 weeks over the Winter season he also stays in Southern Spain.
Tony has a passion for life and for making a difference in the world. He is committed to helping people wake up to their true greatness. He has been involved in research into Havening. Tony works from his base in Stafford (UK) for much of the year and for about 11 weeks over the Winter season he also stays in Southern Spain.
Project Support
Liz Naik was born in the UK and lives in Switzerland. She is a certified Stress Management Consultant and holds an ICF-accredited certificate in Digital Wellbeing Coaching. Liz is also a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, NLP and HaveningTechniques® Practitioner. Liz is the founder of Focus & Freedom Quality Coaching, where she helps people to re-connect with themselves and the environment. Liz has been supporting projects bringing Havening to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.
Liz has almost 20 years of experience working in the UK Biotechnology sector, as well as over 7 years experience as a coach and practitioner. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biochemisty. She is a member of the International Association of Councelors & Therapists, and the American Institute of Stress (AIS). Liz is passionate about equality, education and anything to do with football. For further information: www.focus-and-freedom.com and [email protected]
Liz has almost 20 years of experience working in the UK Biotechnology sector, as well as over 7 years experience as a coach and practitioner. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biochemisty. She is a member of the International Association of Councelors & Therapists, and the American Institute of Stress (AIS). Liz is passionate about equality, education and anything to do with football. For further information: www.focus-and-freedom.com and [email protected]