Dr. Dan Allender is a pioneer of a unique and innovative approach to trauma and abuse therapy. After receiving his master of divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary, Dan earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Michigan State University. Dan previously served on faculty at the Biblical Counseling Department of Grace Theological Seminary (1983-1989) and Colorado Christian University (1989-1997). In 1997, Dan and a cadre of others founded the Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. Dan served as president of the Seattle School from 2002-2009. In 2011, The Allender Center was founded to cultivate healing and train leaders and mental health professionals to courageously engage others’ stories of harm. Dan continues to serve as professor of counseling psychology at the Seattle School.

Cathy Loerzel is cofounder of the Allender Center. Combining her background in organizational leadership and development with an MA in counseling psychology, she is a respected leader, instructor, and speaker. Over the past decade, she has also helped to develop the groundbreaking Trauma Informed Narrative Theory. She and her husband live in Seattle with their two children, two dogs, and a flock of chickens. Visit her at cathyloerzel.com and on Instagram at @cathy.loerzel.