Michael Hollifield, M.D.

Founder, President & CEO

Dr. Hollifield founded WSI in 2016, with the goal to help war survivors heal, to develop projects that will promote healing connections to foster peace and understanding and to train a new generation of students in the practices of WSI. Dr. Hollifield developed The Path to Whole Health© seminar series for war survivors, which is the core program for survivors and for students’ learning. Dr Hollifield has established programs in the U.S. and abroad for warriors and civilians, and has conducted research about the effects of was and unique interventions, such as imagery, acupuncture, and aspirational healing.

Location: Long Beach, CA and Albuquerque, NM

Valerie Wada, R.N.

Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer

Valerie is a nurse, an artist, and the sole proprietor of VWada enterprises. She has provided administrative and clinical services in many contexts, including for Veterans. She provides critical leadership support providing programmatic options for Veteran and Civilian services, and will lead outreach efforts.

Location: Long Beach, CA

Susan Rhema, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.

Vice-President WSI Kentucky, Trauma Therapist

Dr. Rhema’s early career included work as a community developer in Kenya, Peru and Mexico. Her current work includes mental health consultant for the Kentucky Office for War Survivors, assistant professor at the Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville, and Clinical Director of the Survivor of Torture Recovery Center.

As a therapist, Dr. Rhema utilized trauma-informed practices that adhere to mind-body integrative practices. She is trained in cognitive behavior therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Narrative Exposure Therapy, and Expressive Therapies.

Location: Louisville, KY

Andrea Gory Munoz, Psy.D.

Volunteer & Therapist

Andrea received her Psy.D. degree from Azusa Pacific University. She works primarily with Veteran war survivors. Her clinical and research interests include trauma, trauma recovery, and Veterans.

Location: Long Beach, CA

Amber Elizabeth Gray, Ph.D.

Vice-President WSI New Mexico, Human Rights Psychotherapist

Amber is an internationally recognized expert in war survivors mental health and torture treatment. A pioneer in the application and integration of somatic, movement and creative arts therapies into clinical work with survivors of torture, she is the originator of Restorative Movement Psychotherapy, a Mindfulness-based Somatic and Creative Arts approach, and co-developed Polyvagal Informed Dance Movement Therapy for Trauma.

Amber is the 2010 recipient of The American Dance Therapy Associations “Outstanding Achievement Award” for her work in complex humanitarian emergencies with survivors of war and torture.

Location: Santa Fe, NM

Heather Harter, M.S.

Development Director, Corporate Sponsors Relations

Heather is a marketing and communications professional with significant experience in social media marketing, developing strategic communication and marketing programs, and public/media relations. Development expertise includes fund development, grant administration, event planning, major donor relations, sponsor solicitation, volunteer management, and marketing.

Heather has experience in providing strategic direction to help organizations improve their mission effectiveness and financial stability through marketing and communication initiatives and innovative fund development plans.

Location: Louisville, KY

Sasha Verbillis-Kolp, L.C.S.W, M.S.W.

Senior Consultant: Strategy and Innovation

Sasha is a clinical social worker and health and human services consultant with more than two decades managing and developing programs making meaningful impacts in the lives of individuals and families. Sasha supports programs and projects from visioning, development, funding, to oversight and reporting. She has experience in nurturing external partnerships with community stakeholders, elected officials, government agencies, donors, and foundations.  She also provides therapeutic and healing support to survivors. For WSI, Sasha supports national program strategy, innovation, branding, partnerships and more! She leads efforts in Portland, Oregon to spread WSI transformational healing mission serving both Veterans and civilians.

Location: Portland, OR