Retreat Leaders (Page 4)

Retreat Leaders (Page 4)

HOM Retreat Leader
Picture of Cathy Harrington

Cathy Harrington

Rev. Dr. Cathy Harrington’s transformative experience at a Healing of Memories workshop with Father Michael Lapsley in 2013 led her to become a lead facilitator with IHOM. She currently serves as the Interim Lead Minister in a congregation in Buffalo, NY. Cathy earned her MDiv at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, CA, and later earned a DMin focusing on Restorative Justice. Cathy’s experience as a volunteer police chaplain and victim outreach specialist and her 20-year career in parish…
Retreat Leader

Mary Delaney, PhD

Mary Delaney, Ph.D. is a licensed Psychologist with over 30 years of experience as a Psychotherapist in private practice. She is a practical intuitive specializing in teaching clients how to listen to and apply their intuition and inner guidance. Mary has taught graduate classes at Arizona State University, been published in the Journal of Psychotherapy, and lectured nationally on a variety of topics which focus on healing the body, mind and spirit. She is co-author of the children’s book “Moose,…
Retreat Leader

Elaine Averitt

Elaine Averitt’s education background includes a BS in Botany and Master’s degree in Environmental Planning. Her experience ranges from working at the Desert Botanical Garden (Phoenix), Arizona State Parks, and landscape architecture and planning firms. Moving to northern Arizona in 2005 provided an opportunity to work as a planner for the City of Flagstaff (retired 2020). She helped implement the city’s plans to create walkable, safe and visually appealing commercial and residential development, including preserving forest resources. A love of…
HOM Retreat Leader
Picture of Audrey Lukasak

Audrey Lukasak

Rev. Audrey Lukasak first learned about Healing of Memories while studying the culture context of leadership in South Africa. She returned the following year for facilitator training at HOM after leaving a toxic ministry. She knew the importance to heal before entering a new ministry in order not to hurt others. Pastor Audrey earned her MDiv from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). As a retired ordained Lutheran pastor (ELCA) and an emeritus board-certified chaplain for over 30 years, she…
Founder of Healing of Memories

Fr. Michael Lapsley SSM

Father Michael Lapsley is an Anglican missionary priest who was active in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. In 1990, after being ejected from South Africa, he suffered the loss of his hands and the sight in one eye from a letter-bomb that was sent to him in Zimbabwe by a supporter of the pro-apartheid government in South Africa. After a long recovery from the bombing, Father Lapsley decided to dedicate his life to helping victims of emotional, psychological, and…
Retreat Leader

Phyllis Strupp

Phyllis T. Strupp, MBA, is an award-winning author and brain training expert who lives in Carefree, AZ. Her passion is to educate audiences on how brains and lives can get better with age through the power of neuroplasticity. She earned a “Brain Research in Education” Certificate from the University of Washington in Seattle in 2009. She served on the faculty of the Episcopal Church’s CREDO Clergy Wellness Program from 2005-2011. Her background includes an MBA in finance from Columbia University and a 30-year…
Retreat Leader

Tonja Snyder

Tonja Snyder, PhD began Tai Chi and a soft style martial art in 2009 to help her balance and coordination negatively impacted by Multiple Sclerosis. She earned a 1st degree Black Belt and Instructor Certification in Kajukenbo Tum Pai – a soft style kung fu that emphasizes internal energy development. She taught Tai Chi and KJKB Tum Pai before COVID.  She has studied and practiced Qigong since 2017 and is a certified instructor in Wuji Hundun Qigong. Tonja has a Master…
Lead Facilitator, Healing of Memories

Sheila Laughton

Sheila Laughton (USAF, Ret.) was a career Intelligence and Force Management officer who served from the Vietnam Era to 2000. She deployed to Saudi Arabia for the first Gulf War. After her military retirement, Sheila founded Welcome Home for veterans of all eras and their families, at the Loyola Spirituality Center in Minnesota. This unique program addressed challenging reintegration issues such as trauma, moral injury, life purpose, from a spiritual perspective. She has worked with men and women who have experienced or witnessed trauma…
Lead Facilitator, Healing of Memories
Lori Rubenstein is retreat leader for Healing of Memories at Spirit in the Desert

Lori Rubenstein

After starting her career as a successful family law attorney, Lori Rubenstein, JD, PCC, came to the understanding that the well-being of divorced families was clearly not the task of the legal system. She realized that she was like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole as a divorce attorney. Instead, she chose to follow her own mission – empowering people to heal from their relationship wounds, eventually becoming a certified coach. While seeking that goal, she learned…
Retreat Leader

Jim Hanson

Everyone’s faith journey is different. Each journey is unique to one’s own history and experience. Sharing that journey with someone else can be a powerful experience. In the speaking and in the sharing one can clarify and bring into focus where one has come from and open oneself to what lies ahead. For nearly 7 years, Jim Hanson served as Spirit’s “Faith Mentor.” The dictionary defines a mentor as ‘an experienced and trusted advisor’. Jim has worked with churches and…
Spiritual Companion, Retreat Leader

Sue Palmer

Sue is a Spiritual Companion/Director, trained and certified through John Carroll University’s Ignatian Spirituality Institute, where she also received training in leading Silent Retreats. She has an MS in Mental Health & Wellness with an emphasis in Grief & Bereavement and has a heart for those experiencing the many griefs and losses that a life well-lived brings. Sue has experience as a Stephen Minister, a hospital Spiritual Care Aid, a divorce support group leader, and a hospice volunteer. Her passions…