Dr. Gray Otis, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Diplomate & Clinical Mental Health Specialist – Trauma Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and Leadership development & strategic planning consultant Gray specializes in trauma recovery, substance use, compulsive behaviors, and anxiety related disorders. He resolves the underlying core issues of disorders to achieve lasting, evidence-based outcomes. His approach promotes a positive self-belief identity, enhanced relationships, and enriched mental well-being. In collaboration with other mental health therapists, Gray is executive director of the National Board of Trauma Specialists to qualify mental health clinicians in the treatment of trauma and associated comorbid disorders. Along with his colleague, Sandi Williams, LMFT, he is the author of “Key Core Beliefs, Unlocking the HEART of Happiness and Health,” and “Key Core Beliefs Trauma Care: The Clinician’s Guide to Core-Focused Treatment.” Together, they developed the university course, “Constructing the Core, Key Skills for Life.” Gray is a past president of the American Mental Health Counselors Association and currently serves on the Utah State Mental Health Advisory Council. He frequently presents on trauma recovery, mental and emotional fitness, relationship effectiveness, applied ethics, and integrated behavioral health.

Sandi Williams is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice as well as a full-time faculty member at Utah Valley University and a presenter at local and national conferences. She has published various articles and is coauthor of “Key Core Beliefs: Unlocking the HEART of Happiness and Health” and “Key Core Beliefs Trauma Care: The Clinician’s Guide to Core-Focused Treatment.”

Dr. Dan Kaufmann is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Utah’s Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology. With a Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutics from the University of Jerusalem, Dr. Kaufmann has significantly contributed to the design and synthesis of novel drugs for treating epilepsy and neuropathic pain. He developed SPD, a novel anticonvulsant and migraine preventive compound. This patented compound has demonstrated great promise in pre-clinical models for epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and migraine. In recent years, Dr. Kaufmann’s research has focused on the modulation of migraine by sex, stress, and affect. He has broadened his scope to include musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. His current work within the Division of Rheumatology explores the intersection of psychological treatments and rheumatic diseases, reflecting his growing interest in the emotional aspects of chronic pain. Driven by a desire to integrate both pharmacological and psychological approaches to pain management, Dr. Kaufmann is on track to become a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. He trained extensively in cognitive behavioral hypnotherapy, neurolinguistic programming (NLP), biofeedback, autogenic training, the Unified Protocol, and Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET). Currently Dr. Kaufmann is also a board member of the “National Board of Trauma Specialists”. Dr. Kaufmann has just completed a study evaluating the effects of EAET on migraine endpoints and the crucial role of trauma in migraine sufferers' emotional experiences. The study showed significant potential for EAET’s unique therapeutic approach in migraine. His long-term goal is to combine his expertise in pharmacology, physiology, and behavior to develop innovative treatments for various pain conditions, including migraine and rheumatology-related pain, ultimately improving the lives of patients dealing with these complex diseases.