Scholarship Recipients

Monica Cook,
Australia

Chiddie Anyasodo, United Kingdom + Nigeria

Anna Cirronis, California USA

Tahereh Matejko, Germany

Shanell Wyche, Maryland USA

Maria-Raluca Marinescu, Romania

Leslyette Chevez, Washington USA

Aleena Sunny, Canada

Domenique Harrison, California USA

Luana Rose, Canada

Thyra Marleau, Canada

Veronica Yang, USA, Taiwan + Ecuador

Relational Life Foundation offers RLT training scholarship opportunities to practitioners who share our vision of providing everyone access to mental health resources.

We advocate for practitioners who have dreams of bringing relational wellness into under-resourced populations. Together with these passionate individuals, we increase our social impact, building the potential for marginalized communities to cultivate thriving relationships and live more connected lives.

"Thank you so much for the scholarship! I am truly beyond grateful. I enrolled in the program and can't wait to get the ball rolling. There's something special about this community and Terry's body of work. I'm humbled and eager to share it with my community."
-Luana Rose, Scholarship Recipient

Here are a few of our talented Scholarship Recipients!

Learn more about Dan:
https://www.queerwell.com/dan-cimo

Dan Cimo

Virginia, United States

"I am a Licensed Master’s Social Worker in Virginia, dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ clients and allies, with a particular focus on male-identifying individuals. As a queer male, I am passionate about helping my clients feel empowered and connected within their relationships. My training in Emotionally Focused Therapy, Brainspotting, and AEDP has provided me with a strong foundation, and I am excited to integrate Relational Life Therapy (RLT) into my work to address power dynamics and foster relational healing. I believe RLT will allow me to better serve my clients by equipping them with practical tools for navigating relational challenges."

Sheena Simpson

California, USA

"As an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) with a Master’s degree, I’m passionate about supporting couples, especially those in underserved communities, where external stressors often strain relationships. I aim to guide these couples toward healthier dynamics, creating positive changes that extend to their families. I’m particularly committed to working with Japanese and Asian couples, given the lack of representation in my area. With my trauma-focused training in EMDR, somatic therapy, and the Gottman Method, I plan to integrate Relational Life Therapy (RLT) to help couples navigate trauma together and strengthen their relationships."

Owner of The Racial Equity Therapist ™
Learn more about Domenique at:
https://theracialequitytherapist.com/

Domenique Harrison, LMFT, LPCC

Los Angeles, California

"I consider myself a race and relationships therapist and I know becoming trained in RLT and incorporating my own knowledge about race and racial dynamics across our multicultural community will only impact our community for greater. I hope to be able to use what I learn to impact those in multiracial or monoracial partnerships, friendships, and families for the better."

Learn more about Thyra at:
www.ChangeForLifeWellness.com

Thyra Marleau

Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

"My personal mission is to make family counseling available to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status. To accomplish this, I am working with several community supports such as FCSS, D & I Committee, School Board, Adult Learning Agency, and others to bring awareness to the need and facilitate workshops and programs to bring counseling programs to families in need and without financial coverage for it."

Learn more about Monica at:
www.reconceived.com.au

Monica Cook

Sydney, Australia

"I’m hoping this training allows me:

The capacity to adapt RLT specifically for sex therapy (including working with LGBTIQ+ communities).
To be able to continue working with couples from conservative and multicultural backgrounds (often migrants and refugees) that are struggling to adjust to a new country and what it means to be in an intimate relationship.
To eventually train the trainer and be able to promote RLT here in Australia and help other therapists access and adopt RLT as a framework – particularly as it relates to sexology."

Maria-Raluca Marinescu

Bucharest, Romania

"I plan to launch informational campaigns to broaden societal awareness. The campaigns will emphasize the multi-faceted nature of humanity and highlight the evolving norms within society. By encouraging acceptance and understanding, I hope to change the view that we have to be 'perfectly' normal. That’s too high a standard for everyone to achieve.

My objective is to provide the necessary tools and support to every individual, regardless of their circumstances or background. By doing so, I hope to empower them to recognize their worth, embrace their unique identity, and live a fulfilling life."

Learn more about Luana at: https://thegoodhumanacademy.com/

Luana Rose

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

"In my practice I offer accessible sessions to single mothers, new immigrants and adoptive families. Ultimately I plan on:

Creating Trauma-Informed Workshops for Single Parents
Continuing to Support Interracial Adoptive Families: to create wholeness and harmony within blended families, transcending racial, cultural and global divides.
Empowering Newly Immigrated Couples and Singles: RLT offers a transformative path towards healthy connections and familial dynamics."

Learn more about Leslyette at: www.heartfeltcounseling.net

Leslyette Chevez

Tacoma, Washington

"As a bilingual therapist, I strive to provide the best care to marginalized families by serving families in various settings: community clinics, intensive family preservation services, private practice, and community care at my local church."

Leïla Cougouilles

Algarve, Portugal

"My intention is to bring the tools that I would learn with RLT to communities of people who are intentionally creating alternatives for living, stepping out of the more capitalistic paths to offer something meaningful and healing to the world. I observe in these fields a deep trust in human co-creation, and a need for effective community, but that the main obstacle is a lack of education in terms of trauma awareness and how it plays out in relationships."

Learn more about Jonathan at: www.jonathanbowertherapy.com

Jonathan Bower

Anchorage, Alaska

"I currently live and work as a Licensed Clinical Therapist in Anchorage, Alaska, on the land of the Den’aina people. In the twenty years I’ve lived and worked here, I have been employed in a number of organizations and non-profits serving individuals, couples, children, and families identifying as Native Alaskans.

There is in our time a growing understanding of the far-reaching impacts of colonization on the Native tribes throughout the state and the generational trauma Native Alaskans continue to live with and strive to confront and process. My intention is to continue providing support for these communities."

Ofer Fuchs

Portland, OR

"A large part of my focus is on working with marginalized populations and people who haven't traditionally been allowed to have as much of a voice in our culture such as queer people, BIPOC, and others. I want to help them find their voice and their grounding, and find healing in a culture that doesn't always allow them to be present in an equal way."

Learn more about Steph at: www.stephdawsoncosser.com

Steph Dawson-Cosser

Gauteng, South Africa

"I work across all races in South Africa and where needed with translators. I focus on supporting relationships through building bridges of connection, communication and collaboration. Each person is hard wired to to need to be seen , heard and understood. I believe the RLT program will deepen my skill set to achieve this with my clients."

Learn more about Gwendolyn at www.biggleswadetherapy.co.uk

Gwendolyn Jones

Bedfordshire, United Kingdom

"I primarily serve marginalized communities. I work in Gender, sex and relationship diversity (GSRD) quite a bit. 90% of my clients are neurodiverse. I believe that many therapeutic techniques work at the exclusion of these populations serving heteronormative and neurotypical clients. I believe RLT can broaden the impact of relationship work and use the process to serve the clients rather than trying to bend the clients to fit a process."

Chiddie Anyasodo

United Kingdom & Nigeria

"I have been providing support to African couples and singles, both in Africa and those who have newly immigrated to different parts of the world, who are facing relationship challenges.

I am Nigerian African and my experience has been that majority of the psychological researches on marriage that I study, the indigenous African communities are not represented. Also we do not have adequate number of western trained marriage therapist that are equipped to handle marriages from the indigenous African community and our cultural nuances. This prompted me to go into this field."

Aleena Sunny

Ontario, Canada

"Given my background and experiences, I am committed to bringing RLT (Relational Life Therapy) to under-resourced populations within the South Asian minority community in Canada.

My intended impact is to provide culturally sensitive therapeutic support that addresses deep-rooted familial and relational issues, ultimately fostering healing and resilience."

Yi-Hsin Hung

Oregon, USA

"As a licensed marriage and family therapist and a Taiwanese immigrant, my work with immigrant and Asian communities has given me insight into the unique challenges these groups face, including cultural stigma around mental health and minority stressors due to acculturation. I aim to provide culturally sensitive care, using Relational Life Therapy (RLT) to help couples navigate relational dynamics while maintaining their cultural identities. By incorporating RLT's techniques, I strive to empower individuals and couples to overcome their challenges together, fostering resilience and deeper connection."

Learn more about Yi-Hsin: https://cindyhung1202.wixsite.com/alohamentalhealth

Mansi Poddar

India

"I have a Masters in Counselling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University, a diploma in Compassionate Inquiry, and I am currently training in Somatic Experiencing (SE). I am passionate about supporting couples, particularly from a trauma-informed lens, in a country where well-trained couples counselors are scarce. I plan to integrate Relational Life Therapy (RLT) into my practice to help couples and individuals navigate relational challenges. My goal is to bring high-quality care to underserved communities, applying relational principles to both couples and individual work."

Learn more about Mansi: https://www.mansitherapy.com/

Simal Saujani

Ontario, Canada

"I identify as a brown, cis male, heterosexual, disabled, middle class, fit, and highly educated individual. Growing up in a family of political refugees, I’ve experienced the complexities of navigating multiple identities, from being a man in a patriarchal society to being brown in a predominantly white culture. As a relationship practitioner, I am committed to supporting BIPOC and disabled communities, offering them a space where their unique challenges are recognized and validated. I plan to use Relational Life Therapy (RLT) in my practice to help individuals and couples heal relational wounds, particularly addressing the often-overlooked experiences of racial and disability-related trauma."

Learn more about Simal: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/simal-saujani-toronto-on/1241164

Loretta Laurin

Vancouver, Canada

"I am passionate about supporting BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and non-monogamous/poly communities in their healing journeys. As a queer, multi-racial person with lived experience in diverse relationship styles, I deeply understand the unique challenges faced by marginalized groups. I am currently completing my Masters in Counselling Psychology, working toward becoming a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia. In my work, I draw from the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and Internal Family Systems, and I plan to integrate Relational Life Therapy (RLT) to help couples foster deeper, more connected relationships. I remain deeply connected to my multi-racial heritage and the Indigenous communities of the land I grew up on, which continues to inform my practice."

Learn more about Loretta: https://counselling-vancouver.com/about-us/low-cost-counselling/lo-loretta-laurin/

Malaïka Bittar-Piekutowski

Quebec

"I am a licensed psychotherapist in Quebec, affiliated with both the Ordre of Psychoeducators and the Ordre of Psychologists. The communities I focus on are multicultural couples from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and disparities in their privileges. I am passionate about the transformative power of relationships, driven by my personal experiences in both my marriage and family. I plan to integrate Relational Life Therapy (RLT) into my practice because I believe it is highly effective for couples navigating challenges. "I am excited to get my RLT certification in the coming months and make this powerful model more accessible in Quebec."

Learn more about Malaïka: https://www.psychotherapiehorizons.com/

Veronica Yang

Citizen of the US and Taiwan, and resident of Ecuador

"I am dedicated to serving Asian and Hispanic communities, with a special focus on helping immigrant populations navigate complex relational challenges stemming from interfaith, intercultural, and interethnic dynamics. With a master’s degree in social service and training in IFS, intimate partner violence, suicide prevention, compassionate inquiry, and post-betrayal transformation, I am committed to fostering connection without compromising individuality.

My long-term vision includes incorporating Relational Life Therapy into my offerings in order to help my clients cultivate deeper connections. I also plan to create a physical space where marginalized individuals can find community, healing, and support."

Learn more about Veronica: http://bigpicture.consulting

Anna Cirronis

California, USA

"With a Master’s in Transformational Psychology and certifications in Expressive Arts Therapy and Integral Life Coaching, I focus on training educators to support children, especially those with learning disabilities. Becoming RLT certified will enhance my ability to foster deeper connections and bring relational healing into my work, both in Nepal and in my broader practice. I also contribute to BlinkNow’s Women’s Center, empowering women with skills to combat social inequality and achieve economic independence.

Born in Sardinia, Italy, and raised in Switzerland, my diverse cultural and familial background has greatly shaped my identity."

Tahereh Matejko

Germany

Pallavi Barnwal

India

"I am a single mom with a trauma history that has impacted my work and relationships to a large extent. Relationship coaching is my second career at the age of 37. I am the lone bread earner for my family in that I support my child and my aging parents.

I come from a dysfunctional family, with co-dependency patterns. I am aware of these patterns and working on healing from them. This training will help me first understand my own past relationship failures, as well as how I will use this knowledge to better my coaching practice."

Learn more about Pallavi at https://getintimacy.com/

Shanell Wyche

Maryland, United States

"I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a Master's in Community Counseling. I have been a therapist for about 15 years initially working with victims of sexual abuse and assault. I am currently looking for something more dynamic to help me with couples work. I have trained in EMDR and use this method to work on childhood trauma and attachment work.

I identify with the African American or Black American community which has been marginalized for a long time. I am excited to see more Black therapists and representation among the clients that I serve. I enjoy working with a diverse population from all walks of life."