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Courtney Anne Konecny recently joined the Headstrong team as Director of Care Coordination, bringing over 17 years of experience grounded in trauma-informed treatment and evidence-based practices. Prior to joining Headstrong, Courtney co-founded and directed a grassroots NFP program providing trauma-informed mindfulness, meditation, yoga and creative arts therapy to inner-city youth and educators in the Rochester City School District. In 2019, Courtney co-founded Elevate Community Foundation, Inc. Leading this organization, she focused on program development, building community relationships and administrative leadership to bridge accessibility to low/no-cost alternative therapies & wellness practices for people & communities living in poverty. In 2020, Courtney co-developed and implemented the CoCreate Urban Garden project, a healing natural space in the city of Rochester, dedicated to sustainable living, education, wellness and connecting community, including women healing from domestic violence and veterans seeking a supplemental outlet for their wellness.

Courtney earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Studio Art from SUNY College at Brockport in 2002, and a Masters of Science in Creative Arts Therapy from Nazareth College in 2004. Courtney is a nationally registered, board-certified and NYS licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) and is clinically trained in trauma treatment and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Additionally, Courtney is a certified yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a trained mindfulness meditation instructor, with intentional service in these roles to the Black Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC) community and at-risk urban youth. Courtney is a seasoned presenter on the effects of trauma on the brain, art therapy in the treatment of trauma & abuse and utilizing mindfulness, yoga, meditation and holistic wellness practices as a tool for “rewiring the brain” and improving emotion regulation in trauma treatment.