2023 Conference Program Book

Marianela Medrano, PhD, LPC, CPT Psychotherapist and Author

Marianela Medrano, PhD, LPC, CPT is the Owner at Palabra Counseling & Training Center and a bilingual (English/Spanish) psychotherapist providing counseling for individual, family, and group treatment. Dr. Medrano specializes in integral psychotherapy including transpersonal therapy, mindfulness, and acceptance and commitment therapy to achieve positive results. In addition, Dr. Medrano offers comprehensive Poetry Therapy training that leads to certification with the National Federation for Biblio/Poetry Therapy as well as personal development for professional individuals and groups. Medrano was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and has lived in Connecticut, USA since 1990. A poet and a writer of nonfiction and fiction, she holds a PhD in psychology. Her literary work has appeared in anthologies and magazines in Latin America, Europe and the United States. Her poetry has been translated into Italian and French. She is a faculty mentor for the PhD program in Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership at SouthWestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. Sabrina N’Diaye began her career as a Social Worker in the New York City foster care system, where she served as a therapist in a residential treatment/educational facility. Over the years, she has served underserved populations in public schools, community mental health, and addictions programs. She is currently an integrative psychotherapist and founder of the Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing in Baltimore, Maryland. There, she lovingly serves women, couples, other healers, and small groups. Her approach to healing is a blend of wisdom, science, and ancient spiritual practices. Sabrina received her PhD in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University, where she studied the use of complementary and alternative interventions for physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. Her dissertation study focused on the use of guided imagery as a healing tool for African-American women with chronic STIs. Since completing her doctorate, she has developed curriculum and served as adjunct faculty for the Maryland University of Integrative Health and Saybrook University. She is a proud senior faculty member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, where she teaches the art of self-care to healthcare professionals and community leaders around the globe. As Center faculty, she has responded to community trauma in Las Vegas, Houston, the Pine Ridge Reservation, New York City, and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. She is currently serving the Center as a teacher and guide for healthcare professionals in Indianapolis, Central Asia, East Africa, and the US Capitol Police. She, along with two of her colleagues from the Center, recently launched, Embracing Buffalo, a project specifically designed to address the aftermath of the May 14th massacre in East Buffalo. In 2012, she became a student of Sidi Muhammad al-Jamal, a healer and peacebuilder from Jerusalem. Sabrina has committed her live to continuing the sacred Sufi teachings of peace, love, justice, mercy, and freedom. Dr. Sabrina is a highly-respected member of the treatment community, and frequently lectures on oppression, spirituality, stress management, self-care for healers, addictions, and the “magic” of connection. 36 Sabrina N'Diaye Integrative Psychotherapist and Founder of the Heart Nest Center for Peace and Healing