Courtney Konecny has served as Director of Care Coordination since 2021, bringing almost 20 years of experience in trauma-informed care and program development. Prior to joining The Headstrong Project, Courtney co-founded and directed two grassroots not-for-profit programs including The Hearing Silence Program, providing trauma-informed mindfulness, meditation, yoga and creative arts therapy to inner-city youth and educators in the Rochester City School District; and Elevate Community Foundation, focusing on program development, building community relationships and administrative leadership to bridge accessibility to low/no-cost alternative therapies & wellness practices for people & communities living in poverty. Courtney also co-developed and implemented the CoCreate Urban Garden Project, a healing natural space in the city of Rochester, dedicated to sustainable living, eco-education, and creating community connection for women healing from domestic violence and veterans seeking a supplemental outlet for their wellness. As a clinician and service provider of the veteran community for many years, including her work at Veterans Outreach Center in Rochester, NY, Courtney has proudly and humbly served this community since 2011 through trauma-focused therapy, assessment & evaluation for service connection and art therapy studio support for veterans utilizing the creative process to heal from the wounds of war.
Courtney earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology & studio art from SUNY College at Brockport in 2002, and an M.S. in Creative Arts Therapy from Nazareth College in 2004. Courtney is a nationally registered, board-certified and NYS licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) and is clinically trained in trauma treatment and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Additionally, Courtney is a certified yoga teacher (RYT-200) and a trained mindfulness meditation instructor, with intentional service in these roles to the Black Indigenous & People of Color (BIPOC) community and at-risk urban youth. Courtney is a seasoned presenter on the effects of trauma on the brain, art therapy in the treatment of trauma & abuse and utilizing mindfulness, yoga, meditation and holistic wellness practices as a tool for “rewiring the brain” and improving emotion regulation in trauma treatment.
Courtney resides in New York and In her off time, she is an avid mixed-media artist and painter, practices yoga & meditation, loves to cook, be in nature and spending time with her amazing daughter, family and friends. She grounds herself in a philosophy of compassion & humanness both personally and professionally.
