Featured Stress Management Coaches Experts

I’m a stress management expert, speaker, and 6-time Amazon #1 bestselling author who helps professionals move from burnout and survival mode into clarity, confidence, and meaningful impact. I’m the creator of the CALM Process, a practical framework for regulating stress and healing old patterns, and I also work with leaders and aspiring authors to turn lived experience into powerful stories, books, and messages that inspire others. My work has been featured in over 200 media appearances.

April Likins is a board-certified health coach and nationally recognized stress and burnout expert, triple-trained through Duke Integrative Medicine, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and Precision Nutrition. Her insights and personal story have been featured in Fast Company, Introvert Dear, Mantra Wellness, Better Humans, Wellbeing Magazine, Authority Magazine, and on 50+ podcasts worldwide. After hitting burnout and experiencing a total health collapse following her father’s death, April turned her pain into purpose. Now, she’s fiercely committed to helping leaders and high-achieving professionals move from burnout and survival mode to clarity, resilience, and vibrant well-being. Learn more at www.aprillikins.com

Seema Sharma, SEP, LMFT, PhD is one of the most distinctively credentialed trauma clinicians working today — a former Fortune 500 executive turned trauma therapist, researcher, and founder whose career spans the neuroscience of healing, the psychology of high achievement, and the lived complexity of BIPOC identity in America. Seema is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, AASECT-Certified Sex Therapist, Gottman Level 3-trained couples therapist, and holds a doctorate in Psychology. She holds an MBA, a Master's in Counseling Psychology, and has trained directly under field-defining voices including Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing), Gabor Maté (Compassionate Inquiry), and Dan Siegel (Interpersonal Neurobiology). Before entering clinical practice, Seema spent over 25 years in senior leadership across Fortune 500 companies, global organizations, and startups — leading international teams, navigating high-stakes corporate environments, and experiencing firsthand the invisible toll that sustained performance pressure places on the nervous system. That rare dual fluency — in both boardroom dynamics and trauma neuroscience — makes her an exceptionally credible and sought-after expert for journalists, editors, and producers covering the intersection of mental health and the modern workplace. As Founder of Holistic Trauma Therapy (Pasadena, Newport Beach, and Claremont, CA), Seema specializes in complex PTSD, developmental and childhood trauma, attachment wounds, religious and organizational abuse, sexual trauma, corporate burnout, and the mental health of high-achieving professionals. Her approach goes beyond traditional talk therapy — integrating Somatic Experiencing, Holistic EMDR, depth psychology, IFS, sensorimotor therapy, energy psychology, and transpersonal healing to address trauma as it lives in the body, not just the mind. Seema is one of the few trauma experts in the country who can speak credibly to how unprocessed trauma manifests in leadership behavior, executive dysfunction, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and high-functioning anxiety. She also holds deep clinical expertise in Asian-American mental health — including intergenerational trauma, cultural shame, the immigrant experience, and the identity pressures facing first- and second-generation Asian-Americans navigating Western professional culture. She has been featured in Canvas Rebel, Voyage LA, and Good, presents at conferences, and publishes countless research studies on trauma accessible via ResearchGate. She is a professor, board member, and lifelong student of holistic healing across traditions — having traveled globally to study indigenous, Eastern, African, and Latin healing practices alongside Western clinical models. Seema is available to comment on: trauma and the nervous system, somatic therapy, EMDR, complex PTSD, executive mental health and burnout, the psychology of high achievement, perfectionism and high-functioning anxiety, workplace trauma and organizational abuse, religious trauma, sexual trauma and healing, psychedelic integration, Asian-American mental health, intergenerational trauma, consciousness and the neuroscience of healing, and loneliness as a clinical phenomenon. Media inquiries: holistictraumatherapy.com | Pasadena, CA

Erwin van den Burg, PhD, is a neuroscientist and founder of Stressinsight, a science-based platform that helps professionals and organizations understand and manage stress more effectively. His research focuses on the brain mechanisms of stress, motivation, and resilience, and how workplace conditions like control, workload, and culture shape chronic stress responses. Erwin combines academic expertise with practical guidance for reducing workplace stress and preventing burnout. He contributes to international research collaborations and regularly shares insights on stress management, mental health, and productivity.

Carol Ann Small, Corporate Trainer, Keynote Speaker, is founder of Laughter with a Lesson works with organizations to banish burnout, stress less and create a bette work life balance. Carol Ann teaches "SMALL" SHIFTS NOW FOR BIG IMPACT LATER! She has been educating, engaging and enlightening audiences on screen and off for over 20 years. She currently speaks to Fortune 500 companies, corporate, healthcare, dental, and association audiences. BSSP Speech Communication and Performing Arts, DISC Behavioral Facilitation. Other careers: Court Reporter, Higher Education, Commonwealth of MA, Event Planner. HAPPY EMPLOYEES ARE PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYEES. AREAS OF EXPERTISE:* Work/Life Balance* Banish Burnout* De-Stress and Get Motivated* Corporate Wellness Programs * Science of Happiness * Create a Positive Work Environment * Convention speaker, keynote. Breakout sessions, Virtual workshops* High energy keynote and breakout speaker carolann@smallspeak.comwww.carolannsmall.com 781-662-2078 ENGAGE, ENERGIZE AND ENLIGHTEN.

My practice focuses on understanding stress in daily life and its impact on our relationships with self and others. Stress is a normal part of life but it can become overwhelming if it becomes chronic. I work to understand the source of my patient's stress and guide them to identify triggers and develop effective coping strategies for resilience and self- control. I am trained in clinical social work, psychoanalysis, breathing practices and mindfulness and offer multiple strategies for understanding and treating stress in my patients personal and professional lives.

Sujit Shetty is the founder of MentalHealthNest.com, a mental health and wellness platform focused on anxiety awareness, emotional wellbeing, burnout recovery, mindfulness, meditation, and holistic self-care. He creates educational content for global audiences through blogs, digital media, and wellness-focused storytelling. His work focuses on making mental health conversations more accessible and practical, especially for people dealing with stress, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and modern digital overwhelm. Sujit regularly writes about meditation practices, workplace burnout, emotional resilience, sleep health, and mental wellness trends. Through MentalHealthNest.com and wellness content initiatives, he aims to spread awareness, reduce stigma around mental health, and encourage healthier daily habits for emotional wellbeing.

Anil Bammi is one of the UK's leading mindset and mental wellbeing experts. A certified hypnotherapist and Reiki master with over 30 years of clinical practice, he has been featured on BBC media and has spoken at major events across the UK and India on stress, resilience, and AI's intersection with human wellbeing. He is the founder of MindHaven (mindhaven.app) — a professional wellbeing app built specifically for overwhelmed UK professionals, combining clinical hypnotherapy, Reiki-inspired sound healing, and daily mindset tools. With a background spanning five industries as a serial entrepreneur, Anil brings rare dual authority: deep clinical expertise in the mind, and first-hand understanding of the pressures facing business leaders and high-performers. Anil is available for broadcast, print, podcast, and online media comment on: workplace stress and burnout, work anxiety, hypnotherapy, mindset and performance, mental resilience, holistic wellbeing, AI and mental health, entrepreneur mental health, and wellbeing technology.

Dr. Dana K. Prophet is a researcher, author, speaker and empowerment coach specializing in the psychology of personality, mindset, and human potential. Her work focuses on how personality patterns, emotional awareness, and purpose-driven goals influence career success, relationships, health, and life satisfaction. She frequently provides expert commentary on personality types, emotional intelligence, motivation, resilience, and personal transformation. Dr. Prophet integrates multiple psychological frameworks including MBTI personality types, the Enneagram, and Big Five personality traits to help individuals better understand their behavioral patterns and unlock meaningful personal growth. She is the creator of the 8 Simple Steps personal transformation framework, and her personal development courses and programs have reached students in over 90 countries. Dr. Prophet has worked with world-renowned speakers Tony Robbins and Dr. John Demartini and serves as President Emeritus of the American Society of South Africa. Journalists frequently contact her for insights on: Personality psychology and personality typing systems (MBTI, Enneagram, Big 5) Why people struggle to change habits or achieve goals Emotional patterns that affect health, illness and stress Motivation, resilience, and personal transformation Women’s empowerment and leadership psychology The science behind purpose, meaning, and fulfillment Symbolism in Art, History and Life Archetypes in Art, History and Life Website: www.drdanaprophet.com

Dr. Julie Donley helps leaders stay calm under pressure, reduce workplace stress, and lead more effectively by understanding human behavior. With more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health, executive nursing leadership, and developing leaders who know how to engage, influence, and get results through people, she brings a rare depth of insight into why people behave the way they do, and what great leaders can do about it. Her career began in psychiatric nursing, where she worked with people in emotional crisis. There she learned that human behavior isn’t logical; it’s emotional. And emotional reactions, unmanaged, are what cause conflict, miscommunication, disengagement, and toxic work environments. Later, as a Director of Nursing in behavioral health, she led teams through rapid change, staffing challenges, and organizational restructuring—real-world pressure that tested every leadership principle she thought she knew. It was there she developed her belief that leadership isn’t about authority; it’s about emotional mastery and relationship intelligence. Today, Dr. Donley coaches executives and leadership teams across industries, helping them lead with emotional intelligence, build healthy team dynamics, and eliminate the friction that slows performance and damages culture. She is also a dynamic keynote speaker known for delivering content with clarity, energy, and substance, blending real stories with practical strategies leaders can use immediately. She is the author of the bestselling book Does Change Have to Be So Hard? and Leading at the Speed of People, a Global Book Award finalist. She is also the creator of the CARE Leadership Model™, a practical framework based on Communication, Appreciation, Respect, and Empathy. Her insights have been featured in Business Insider, MSN, PR News, Authority Magazine, Minority Business Entrepreneur, HR Revolution and other media outlets. Known for her clarity and real-world wisdom, Dr. Donley offers expert commentary on emotional intelligence at work, leadership mindset, psychological safety, change leadership, conflict resolution, communication, and stress in leadership. Speaking topics and signature programs are available upon request and at drjuliedonley.com. For interviews, expert commentary, or speaking invitations: 📩 info@drjuliedonley.com 🌐 drjuliedonley.com

Dr. Justine Grosso is a Licensed Psychologist, media contributor, and wellness speaker. She specializes in the intersection of the mind-body connection, trauma, and relationships and founded Mindbody Therapy & Wellness, which provides trauma-informed psychotherapy to residents of NC and NY. She is particularly passionate about helping people reduce shame through cutting-edge research and education on the neurobiology of stress and trauma. Dr. Grosso received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Baylor University and completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Duke Academic Medical Center, specializing in trauma and women’s health. Dr. Grosso is a sought after media expert and has been featured in dozens of publications including Vogue, Newsweek, MindBodyGreen, Bustle, and Elle. Dr. Grosso enjoys research, training, and speaking on topics related to mind-body approaches for stress management and building psychological resilience at universities, conferences, and academic journals across the U.S. Dr. Grosso’s Instagram @heydrjustine, has amassed a community of over 75,000 in two years and her educational use of social media has been covered by Spectrum News and USA Today .

Nicola Richardson is a UK-based author and commentator exploring human behaviour, power dynamics, and cultural systems. With a background in learning and development, she writes and speaks on leadership, institutional trust, midlife reinvention, and grounded spiritual development. She offers balanced, psychologically informed insight on purpose, identity, and modern societal shifts.

Psychologist & Yoga Expert | Public Health Leader | SBCC Specialist Driving systemic change in mental health through a behavior-first, body-mind approach. I combine 23+ years of clinical and public health expertise (UNICEF, KPMG, Sangath) with a deep mastery of Yoga as a therapeutic intervention. I am a published researcher (15+ publications) and an IIM-certified strategist dedicated to integrating evidence-based interventions to scale mental healthcare access across India.

One of the key reasons I joined Sensate as CEO was my focus on transformational technologies that have strong commercial viability and potential for large-scale global impact. By developing innovative technology like Sensate, we mobilize cutting-edge science and technology, and we combine that with wisdom drawn from old traditions and practices to solve the current-day mental health and stress crises. During 15+ years of experience in exponential technologies, I’ve served as turnaround CEO, VP of Product and in interim executive roles. Apart from a new paradigm for business leadership, I am deeply passionate about the intersection between personal + human potential and the leaps of opportunities offered by fast evolving technology as well as new, expansive fields of science. I love strategy, believe in constant evolution, and I truly try to walk the walk both in a professional context and as a human. At the core of what I do, I endeavour to stick to my values. I strive to convey decency and humanity, champion equal rights and a culture thriving from diversity, empower people to be effective and performing in their roles, and encourage behaviours that help us grow professionally as well as personally. It’s extremely exciting to work with a hardware+subscription product that is extremely effective and therefore will have a life-changing impact for the masses of people struggling with anxiety and stress. Getting to build a thriving team and a scalable business in this sector are all of my passions, experience and personal drivers coming together. Areas of Expertise: * Strategy & Execution * Visionary leadership * Scale-up stage * Big Data & Analytics * VP Product / CPO * Plc Board experience * CEO & Director * Turnaround strategies * Health & wellness tech * B2B & B2C

I am a Clinical Psychologist, Personal Strategist, and Founder of Caelion, a private advisory practice for high-capacity individuals—CEOs, founders, federal leaders, and members of legacy wealth families—who carry quiet burdens behind positions of power, responsibility, and visibility. My work exists where traditional therapy ends and executive consulting cannot reach: the internal life of people who are expected to hold everything together. For many years, I’ve worked with individuals in high-pressure environments—federal service, entrepreneurship, intergenerational family businesses, and high-net-worth families—helping them navigate burnout, leadership anxiety, moral injury, betrayal, identity collapse, hidden trauma, and the emotional cost of success. My approach blends psychodynamic depth, trauma science, narrative identity work, and strategic decision-making frameworks. The goal is not just performance—it is internal alignment, resilience, and the ability to lead without self-erasure. I am also the Founder and Clinical Director of Elysian Psychological Services, a multi-state behavioral health practice providing therapy, assessment, and clinician supervision. My clinical foundation—rooted in trauma, personality dynamics, and complex relational systems—distinguishes my work from executive coaching. I don’t optimize spreadsheets or leadership metrics; I work with the human being behind the role—the part that struggles at 2 a.m. when strategy, legacy, and loyalty collide. My clients are often the people no one worries about—the leaders, protectors, or heirs who have resources but no safe place to unravel. They come not because they’re weak, but because they’re tired of being unbreakable. In private, we address the real battles: imposter fears, silent marital breakdowns, grief, wealth guilt, perfectionism, loss of faith or meaning, and the terror of being irrelevant once they stop achieving. Areas of commentary and expertise include: • Executive resilience & leadership under pressure • Psychology of wealth, legacy families, and public influence • Burnout, moral injury, and identity loss in high performers • Trauma, betrayal, and emotional isolation in leadership • Why success often isolates more than it rewards I provide clear, clinical, and non-performative insight for media, always protecting client confidentiality while revealing the human truth behind power and performance.

John Cordray, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (National Board Certified) and the host of The Mental Health Today Show, a weekly podcast focused on practical strategies for burnout prevention, overthinking relief, and mental wellness for busy professionals and high achievers. With 20 years of clinical experience, John specializes in helping individuals break free from anxiety loops, cognitive distortions, and chronic stress using evidence-based tools drawn from CBT and real-world counseling. John’s work has helped listeners replace overwhelm with clarity and resilience. He offers journalists clear, actionable insights, expert commentary, and listener-backed examples on topics including workplace burnout, imposter syndrome, catastrophizing, and building emotional resilience. Available for quick quotes, interviews, or deeper discussions.

Erena DiGonis, LCSW-R is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Health Coach, and Certified Clinical Anxiety and Trauma Treatment Professional. She is also certified in Brainspotting and trained in EMDR. Erena has twenty-one years of practical and professional experience as an active clinician, teacher, and supervisor. She has worked in a variety of community, psychiatric, in-home, and private practice settings with hundreds of complex cases. Erena is a sought-after writer, speaker, and consultant and has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Psychology Today, Reader’s Digest, Women's Health, and MEL magazine. She has reviewed book proposals for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and is an Advisory Board Member for the CPTSD Foundation. Erena serves as the Founder and Continuing Education Director of EngagedMinds, a national Continuing Education business providing training for Counselors, Social Workers, and Therapists.

I hold a B.S. in Life Science and a Doctorate in Chiropractic, and my passion for mental wellness took a personal turn after a close loved one faced a suicide crisis. This experience fueled my drive to find practical, impactful solutions for mental wellness that can be integrated into everyday life and business environments. As a Mental Wellness Integration Architect, I specialize in helping businesses incorporate mental wellness strategies into their operations to support clients and employees. My work involves designing and implementing tailored mental wellness frameworks that improve stress management, reduce burnout, and foster resilience—while also generating new revenue streams through product recommendations and wellness conversations. My approach empowers businesses to make a difference without needing prior expertise in mental health, creating long-term impact and profitability.

Pam Aks is a Certified Neuroscience‑Informed Mindset Coach and founder of What’s Within U, LLC. She blends neuroscience geekery with innovative mindset coaching so entrepreneurs can clear the cognitive traffic jams that leave them stuck, stalled out, and stressed out. With more than two decades of coaching and teaching experience, Pam is known for translating complex brain science into grounded, relatable insights that support people in understanding their own brain wiring and why they keep telling the crappy stories that trap their goals on paper. She’s also known for her signature method that supports people in updating outdated cognitive patterns and creating sustainable, brain‑aligned momentum. Pam serves as Director of Training for the Executive Coach Training Program at the University of Texas at Dallas and is the author of “Developing a Confident, Resilient Mindset” and the upcoming book “Move On If You Can’t Take the Fullness of Who I Am.” Her work has been recognized by Influence Digest, which named her one of the Top 20 Business Coaches in Phoenix, and Life Coach Magazine, where she was featured in an in‑depth interview and named a Top 10 Coach for Executives. Pam’s insights have also appeared in publications such as Tiny Buddha, Lifehack, HuffPost, Thrive Global, and Bustle.