Courtney Anne Konecny recently joined the Headstrong team as Director of Care Coordination, bringing over 17 years of experience grounded in trauma-informed treatment and evidence-based practices. Prior to joining Headstrong, Courtney co-founded and directed a grassroots NFP program providing trauma-informed mindfulness, meditation, yoga and creative arts therapy to inner-city youth and educators in the Rochester City School District. In 2019, Courtney co-founded Elevate Community Foundation, Inc. Leading this organization, she focused 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. In 2020, Courtney co-developed and implemented the CoCreate Urban Garden project, a healing natural space in the city of Rochester, dedicated to sustainable living, education, wellness and connecting community, including 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 Veteran’s Outreach Center in Rochester, NY, Courtney has proudly, and humbly served this community in various roles, including trauma-focused therapy, assessment & evaluation for service connection, family systems therapy and art therapy studio support for veteran’s utilizing the creative process to heal from the wounds of war. Additionally, Courtney has maintained a small private therapy & wellness practice since 2007, where she specializes in focused and adjunctive trauma treatment with at-risk youth, women and veterans.
Courtney earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Studio Art from SUNY College at Brockport in 2002, and a Masters of Science 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.
In her off time, Courtney is an avid mixed-media artist and painter, practices yoga & meditation, loves to cook, be in nature and spending time with friends, her amazing daughter, and her dog Sophia Snowflake. She grounds herself in a philosophy of compassion & humanness both personally and professionally.
