Mark Nickerson, LICSW Mark has conducted an individual & family psychotherapy practice in Amherst MA for 25 years.  Within the EMDR community, he is the Regional Coordinator of Western MA, an EMDRIA approved consultant, a HAP facilitator and traumatology trainer.  He has also trained EMDR clinicians nationally & internationally on the topic of EMDR Treatment for Problematic Anger & Violent Behavior.   In the broader local community, he is Chair of the Board of the Men's Resource Center of Western MA and Director of Parent Education for the Hampshire County Courts.  (markinickerson.com)

Jane Laskey, LICSW Since getting her MSW from Smith SSW in 1978, Jane has been working at outpatient mental health clinics (Hampden District Mental Health Clinic in Springfield for 17 years, and Holyoke Medical Center Outpatient for over 15 years, and counting), mostly doing individual psychotherapy. She completed EMDR Level I and II training in 2000, and has been using EMDR extensively in her practice since then. She is very pleased with the good results from using EMDR in combination with insight-oriented psychotherapy (including use of understandings of the therapy relationship), CBT, DBT, relaxation and mindfulness, and supportive therapy. She has also been enjoying being part of this committee since 2009.

Sheryl Knopf, MSW, LICSW Sheryl received her MSW from Boston College in 1983, She worked in outpatient mental health settings in the Boston area until moving to Western Mass in 1986. Since that time she has established a now long standing private practice with two offices, in West Springfield and Greenfield. These two offices allow for great diversity in her clientele. She does individual and couples psychotherapy. She completed EMDR Level I and II training in 2002. She finds EMDR to be extremely helpful to her clients. EMDR successfully assists clients with being able to resolve traumas and anxiety. Sheryl provides clients with a ' bag of tools' to help them improve their lives. These tools include EMDR, of course, as well as ego strength psychotherapy, behavioral therapy approaches, relaxation techniques, supportive therapy , and Life Coaching. Sheryl is pleased to have joined the EMDR Network of Western Mass Steering committee as of 9/10.

Nancy Simons, LMHC Nancy received her degree in Counseling Psychology from Antioch University, Keene, NH in 1990. She completed her Level I and Level II training from HAP in 2004 and became EMDR Certified in 2008. Nancy was the Clinical Director of DIAL/SELF in Greenfield, MA, a Psychotherapist at Child & Family Services in Greenfield and since 2004 maintains a full-time private practice in Amherst, MA. Nancy specializes in treating children and adolescents and also works with adults. Nancy incorporates Mindfulness-based practices and Internal Family Systems theory with her EMDR.

Jason Rose-Langston, LICSW Jason became a psychotherapist after receiving his MSW from Smith in 2001. Since then he has worked Child and Family Services in West Springfield until 2005, and now has a private practice in Easthampton Mass. He received his Level 1 and 2 training form HAP in 2004, became certified in 2008 and is now training to become a Certified EMDR Consultant. He has been a proud member of the steering committee since 2006. Jason specializes in working with adolescents, adults, and couples with a concentration in trauma, performance enhancement, and working with transgender clients.

Jim Helling, LICSW serves as a staff psychotherapist in the Athletic Department at UMass, Amherst and maintains a private practice in Amherst specializing in trauma and dissociative disorders. He trained under Bessell van der Kolk, MD at the Trauma Center in Boston and was affiliated with The Center for Post-Trauma Therapy and Education in Helsinki, Finland where he trained in the Structural Dissociation model under Onno van der Hart, PhD. While practicing in Europe, he completed Level I and Level II EMDR training and has also completed the second level of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy training. He is enthusiastic about the ways that advances in neuroscience are informing psychotherapeutic practice and enjoys using EMDR to enhance the integration of body, mind and spirit in clinical practice.

Maury Abrams LICSW, LADC-I Since getting his MSW from Boston University in 1999, Maury has worked as a psychotherapist for Health and Education Services, Brightside Counseling Associates/Providence Hospital Outpatient Services, and Holyoke Medical Center. Currently, Maury has a full-time private practice in Northampton and also provides clinical supervision to Providence Hospital Outpatient clinicians one day per week. Maury works with individuals, couples, and families and draws upon his training in EMDR, CBT, ACT, psychodynamic therapy, and MBSR for adult and adolescent clients with adjustment and relationship issues, anxiety, trauma / PTSD, depression, dual diagnosis recovery, and grief. Maury also has trained in IMAGO couples work. Maury has been part of this committee since 2009.

Jane Porter LMHC has worked in Private Practice with adults and couples for 29 years in Amherst. She was graduated from Antioch University in 1979 with an MACP, and received an advanced certificate in Individual Psychotherapy from Smith College School for Social Work in 1986. A former Peace Corps volunteer who served for three years in Malaysia, Jane was graduated from Oberlin College in 1966. She is certified in EMDR. Her special clinical interests include women's issues, Gay and lesbian issues across the life span, spirituality, social justice, dreamwork and creativity.