Meet Our Trainers...
John Sanders, LCSW, LCAS, CCS
John is the organizer and host of this training program. He has been organizing and presenting continuing education events since 2014. John earned his MSW from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is a Program Director at FIRST at Blue Ridge, which is the largest residential addiction recovery program in western NC.
Additionally, John has taught college courses for Western Carolina University's School of Social Work and AB Tech's Human Services Technology Department. John does service work in the community and has served as a board member of the North Carolina Addiction Specialists Professionals Practice Board (NCASPPB), and has participated on the Social Work Advisory Board of Eastern Tennessee State University (ETSU) and the Social Work Advisory Board of Warren Wilson College.
To contact John, email him -- johnsanders@addictionprofessionals.training -- or call/text: (828) 989-8823
Additionally, John has taught college courses for Western Carolina University's School of Social Work and AB Tech's Human Services Technology Department. John does service work in the community and has served as a board member of the North Carolina Addiction Specialists Professionals Practice Board (NCASPPB), and has participated on the Social Work Advisory Board of Eastern Tennessee State University (ETSU) and the Social Work Advisory Board of Warren Wilson College.
To contact John, email him -- johnsanders@addictionprofessionals.training -- or call/text: (828) 989-8823
"John Sanders facilitates professionalism and warmth within the same space - a rare combination. He is a talented trainer and gifted facilitator. I highly recommend his trainings. They are a productive "working" break from the challenges of human services."
-- Deborah Van Wieren, LCMHC, LCAS
Dr. Shannon South, “The Joy Doctor”
Shannon is the source for people who are ready to experience more joy and empowerment in their lives. She is an award winning Transpersonal Therapist, a bestselling author of three books, an inspirational speaker and an expert in the field of mind-body-spirit healing and healing trauma for over 20 years.
Her passion is helping people "heal the split" associated with trauma so that wholeness and joy can occur naturally. Transforming patterns that are not who we really are and living from our most authentic self takes work, and Dr. South knows how to assist people in giving themselves these valuable life-changing gifts.
She is also an avid meditator, having completed her doctorate studying meditation and its effects on depression, anxiety, dopamine and other neurotransmitters.
For more information about Dr. South, visit her website: https://drshannonsouth.com/
Her passion is helping people "heal the split" associated with trauma so that wholeness and joy can occur naturally. Transforming patterns that are not who we really are and living from our most authentic self takes work, and Dr. South knows how to assist people in giving themselves these valuable life-changing gifts.
She is also an avid meditator, having completed her doctorate studying meditation and its effects on depression, anxiety, dopamine and other neurotransmitters.
For more information about Dr. South, visit her website: https://drshannonsouth.com/
"Dr. Shannon South is an expert who knows how to guide people on the path to greater joy. Her personal healing story of moving from anxiety and debilitating panic to happiness and well-being is a great inspiration. I highly recommend her 3-step process!"
-- Marci Shimoff, #1 NY Times Bestselling Author of Happy for No Reason, Love For No Reason, Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul.
Barrie Barton, MA - Educator & Facilitator
Barrie Barton is the founder and lead facilitator of Stand and Deliver, a presentation and communication skills coaching firm for corporate professionals and teams. Stand and Deliver Asheville combines Ms. Barton’s decades of experience as a facilitator, educator, director and performer to uniquely develop the art and skill of dynamic presentations and effective communication for all who participate.
Her teaching style combines her highly developed and insightful perspectives of body language, presentation mastery and adult learning methods with her talent and passion to motivate and encourage her clients to reach their finest potential. As a lifelong educator, Ms. Barton’s finely tuned capacity to organize learning, results in an embodied experience of success and lasting results.
For more information about Barrie, visit her website: https://standanddeliverasheville.com/
Her teaching style combines her highly developed and insightful perspectives of body language, presentation mastery and adult learning methods with her talent and passion to motivate and encourage her clients to reach their finest potential. As a lifelong educator, Ms. Barton’s finely tuned capacity to organize learning, results in an embodied experience of success and lasting results.
For more information about Barrie, visit her website: https://standanddeliverasheville.com/
"Barrie's hands-on workshop provided tools to craft my message the right way and provided physical and mindset practices to prepare how to show up with confidence. I was anxious to enroll in her course but quickly found a safe place surrounded with positivity and encouragement. I highly recommend Barrie's workshops."
-- Julie Ball, Founder of Spark, Hustle, Grow
Alison Rhyne Allen, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, CEDS-S
Alison has been working in the mental health field since 2005. She worked as a frontline staff member at a Residential Eating Disorders facility for two years, and in the intake department for four years. This experience solidified her decision to earn an MSW. She graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with her MSW in 2013. For the next 5 years, she worked as an Eating Disorders and Addictions therapist at a program with residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of care.
For the last three years, Alison has worked at the outpatient level of care. Her private practice is in Apex, NC and Durham, NC where she specializes in Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating, and Substance Use Disorders. She also has a passion for providing clinical supervision and has been focusing on building this part of her practice. Alison can provide supervision to LCSW-As, LCAS-As and individuals wanting to become Certified Eating Disorder Specialists. She serves as the Certification Chair for the North Carolina IAEDP (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals) NC Chapter and helped to create a scholarship for certification; which was presented for this first time in October 2020 and awarded to a social worker.
For more information about Alison, visit her website: https://innerwisdomtherapypllc.com/
For the last three years, Alison has worked at the outpatient level of care. Her private practice is in Apex, NC and Durham, NC where she specializes in Eating Disorders/Disordered Eating, and Substance Use Disorders. She also has a passion for providing clinical supervision and has been focusing on building this part of her practice. Alison can provide supervision to LCSW-As, LCAS-As and individuals wanting to become Certified Eating Disorder Specialists. She serves as the Certification Chair for the North Carolina IAEDP (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals) NC Chapter and helped to create a scholarship for certification; which was presented for this first time in October 2020 and awarded to a social worker.
For more information about Alison, visit her website: https://innerwisdomtherapypllc.com/
"We recently had Alison Rhyne Allen, MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CCS, CEDS-S speak at the NASW Wake County Local Program Unit. Her energy and enthusiasm were amazing. She easily engaged the audience with her knowledge and expertise in the area of Eating disorders. All in a virtual setting!! We would love to have her back per audience member request and positive feedback. She is a pleasure to work with."
Nehal Outlaw, LCSW
Wake LPU Chair
Mindful Mind and Body Associates
