Speakers

Dr. Alison Cook is a psychologist and writer who empowers people to heal from past wounds, develop a strong sense of self, forge healthy rela­tionships with others, and experience a loving God who is for them. Her popular blog and The Best of You podcast reach more than 70,000 people  each week. She specializes in bringing faith and psychology together to create real change in people's lives.

 

Dr. Alison is the author of two books, including her new book, The Best of You (Thomas Nelson 2022) and Boundaries for Your Soul (Thomas Nelson, 2018).

 

Originally from Wyoming, Alison trained at Dartmouth College (BA), Denver Seminary (MA), and the University of Denver (PhD). Alison's doctoral dissertation centered on the relationship between religion and prejudice. 

Sajan has spent almost three decades in Canada, Australia and the US, helping society value the beauty of lives broken and unvalued, due to a crisis or trauma. After college, he began this mission with Arthur Andersen, where he turned around establishments ranging from finance to trucking to greyhound racing. 

 

He was a Managing Director with Alvarez and Marsal helping rebuild lives by restoring failing school districts in NYC, St. Louis and New Orleans. He founded Matchbook Learning in 2011, a school turnaround organization, which recovers dreams and hopes of both parents and children in the unseen bottom 5% of the population. 

 

He founded the Polk Group in 2019 to create job opportunities for those affected by crisis or trauma. By shining light on the unseen, Sajan desires to share their beauty with the world. Sajan, originally from Canada, has lived in Adelaide, Australia, Atlanta, NYC and presently in Indianapolis with his wife, 3 kids and third dog (after vowing to have none).
 

Anne Halley is friend, interpreter, intercessor and advocate for children and the child of the adult. She believes that spiritual, emotional and neurobiological formation begins in the womb and continues throughout life with the personal and experiential awareness of God’s ever-present and loving awareness.  

Anne has spent over 35 years “being with” those whose awareness of God and of God’s awareness of them has been damaged and unrepaired.

 

She lives in Ashland Ohio with her husband David, a retired orthopedic hip and knee replacement surgeon.  They have two sons, two granddaughters and a large assortment of rescued dogs and cats.

Curt weaves together an understanding of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) and a Christian view of what it means to be human — to educate and encourage others as they seek to fulfill their intrinsic desire to feel known, valued and connected. He understands that deep, authentic relationships are essential to experiencing a healthier, more purposeful life — but the only way to realize this is to begin telling our stories more truly.

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Through his workshops, speaking engagements, books, organizational consulting, private clinical practice and other platforms, he helps people process their longings, grief, identity, purpose, perspective of God and perspective of humanity, inviting them to engage more authentically with their own stories and their relationships. Only then can they can feel truly known and connected and live into the meaningful reality they desire 
to create.

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Curt and his wife, Phyllis, live outside of Washington DC and have two adult children.
 

Terry Wardle is Emeritus Professor of Practical Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary and Founder/President of Healing Care LLC. He has extensive experience in pastoral and formational counseling ministries and served for three decades as a seminary educator.

 

He is the former executive director of Alliance Theological Seminary, as well as former chairman of the graduate department of Simpson University. For over 25 years Terry has conducted seminars on emotional healing and leadership renewal for counselors, pastors, therapists, physicians, and other Christian caregivers.

 

He has authored numerous books including From Broken to Beloved, and Some Kind of Crazy. He is also the podcaster of Slingstones in which he discusses insights for the Christian journey. Terry and his wife Cheryl have three adult children and six grandchildren.