Meet the Trainers
Donna Martin
Donna lives in Oliver, BC, Canada and is semi-retired. She has many years of experience as a yoga and meditation teacher, stress management specialist, somatic therapist and addictions counsellor. Donna was an international Hakomi trainer for more than thirty years who worked closely with Ron Kurtz, creator of the Hakomi method. She co-authored with him the Practice of Loving Presence which has been translated into several languages. She also wrote Embodied Mindfulness: the Hakomi Way, Seeing Your Life through New Eyes, Your Heart’s Path to Partnering, and several other books. Donna has led trainings, workshops and retreats throughout Canada and the United States, Hawaii, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, Indonesia, South America, and Mexico. She has developed an original somatic approach she calls “psoma” which she has written about in two books: Psoma and Psoma Yoga Therapy.
Susan Dempsey
Hakomi practitioner and trainer in Victoria and Vancouver, BC, Canada and she is associated with Vancouver Hakomi Education Network.
Susan Dempsey became a certified Hakomi practitioner in 2014 after studying for 5 years in Vancouver, Salt Spring Island, Ashland, Hawaii, and Mexico with brilliant teachers and trainers. She holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Counselling Psychology, and is a Certified Canadian Counsellor.
Susan has worked in the counseling and psychotherapy field for over 25 years, in community and post-secondary settings. She brings a strong intuitive and elective approach to her work, incorporating the compassion and wisdom of Hakomi into her practice.
Roland Bérard
Hakomi practitioner and trainer
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Roland is a certified Hakomi Therapist and Trainer. He has been studying with Donna Martin, Ron Kurtz and Greg Johanson, since 2002. In 2003, in collaboration with Donna Martin, he introduced Hakomi to the Montreal area and has assisted Donna and served as organizer of these bilingual trainings for the last 6 years. He continues to support the Hakomi community in the area.
Roland is also a graduate of Barbara Brennan School of Healing practitioner and teacher training programs, a graduate of Core Energetics, a Reiki Master/Teacher, Fasciatherapist (Danis Bois’ Method) and a practitioner of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Roland worked as an engineer and project manager for over 25 years before making the career change to therapist and healing practitioner in 2001.
Roland is totally bilingual and has a private practice in Montreal, Québec, Canada. His passion for healing and his unique way of combining these different approaches help his clients move towards health and well-being.