Our Instructors
Information on the instructors of our video courses with accessible links to their courses.
Allison Broennimann, PhD
Dr. Allison Broennimann is a licensed clinical psychologist and rehabilitation neuropsychologist, specializing in relationships, attachment patterns, and post traumatic growth. In 2013 she received congressional recognition for her work with Veterans at the San Francisco VA. Her private practice is in San Francisco and Novato. She is currently writing a book on trauma and intimacy.
Amanda Petrik-Gardner, LCPC
Amanda Petrik-Gardner is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Kansas. She specializes in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors and anxiety disorders in her private practice in Topeka, KS. Amanda completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Kansas State University and her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kansas. Amanda is a member of the International OCD Foundation where she completed the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute. She is a member of the TLC Foundation for BFRBs where she completed the Virtual Professional Training Institute. Amanda is also a board member of OCD Kansas, an affiliate of the International OCD Foundation. www.amandalcpc.com
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Amittia Parker, LMSW, MPA
Amittia Parker, LMSW, MPA has worked for a decade as a mental health consultant across a variety of settings in Kansas City, including home-based services, childcare centers, school-based services, and health clinics. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Kansas, School of Social Welfare and engaged in research, teaching, and service. Her research agenda is focused on promoting minority mental health, with a particular interest in Black and Latinx families with young children. Her current research projects focus on mental health among Black mothers and social work students, natural helping spaces, and behavioral health service availability and delivery. Amittia promotes racially sensitive practice both within the courses she teaches and in guest lectures. Amittia also provides training and consultation services focused on racial equity and mental health. She serves in leadership roles in local, state, and national venues focused on infant and early childhood, the African American community, and Black social workers.
Ashley Garrison, LCSW
Ashley Garrison, LCSW, is the founder and owner of Hope & Healing, LLC. She currently contracts with an outpatient practice to perform and deliver an adherent DBT program model, and participates in a DBT consultation team that meets weekly to ensure DBT adherence. While Ashley uses a wide variety of evidence-based therapy models, she specializes in the use of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and has expertise in performing both stage I and stage II DBT treatment. Ashley conducts individual, group, and couples therapy, and brings nearly 10 years of experience as a social worker working with adults, children, and adolescents in a variety of settings. Additionally, she has trained and supervised several graduate students in their work with clients experiencing psychiatric and behavioral health needs.
Carol Kershaw, Ph.D.
Carol Kershaw, Ph.D. is Co-Director of the Milton H. Erickson Institute of Houston. She is an international trainer, author and psychotherapist running her private practice in Houston, Texas, USA. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, and an Approved Consultant for the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. Dr. Kershaw is board certified with the status of Fellow in EEG Biofeedback and the author of The Couple’s Hypnotic Dance and co-author of Brain Change Therapy: Clinical Interventions for Self- Transformation published by WW Norton and The Worry-Free Mind published by Career Press. She has been invited to speak for NASA, and she also presented in Saudi Arabia, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Canada, Italy as well as in the United States and in Australia.
Clifton Mitchell, Ph.D.
Clifton Mitchell Ph.D., is an international clinical trainer and keynote speaker who has a love for teaching and over 23 years of training experience. He delivers practical information in a uniquely entertaining, fast-paced style that is filled with humor and examples from his experience in mental health. For over 15 years, he has studied and presented seminars on methods for dealing with resistance in therapy. In his book, Effective Techniques for Dealing with Highly Resistant Clients, he presents cutting-edge approaches for managing psychological resistance. He has trained thousands of mental health professionals in the management of difficult, perplexing legal and ethical issues and his latest training is in an exciting, dynamic game show format. He has also been the keynote speaker at conventions and taught hundreds of mental health organizations, businesses, leadership groups, and civic organizations effective techniques for improving communications and for creating change through the precise use of language. He is a contributing author in therapy books and published in numerous professional journals including the Psychotherapy Networker, Psychotherapy in Australia, Journal of Personality Assessment, Perceptual and Motor Skills, Psychologists’ Desk Reference, Case In Point: Advanced Care Coordination, Favorite Counseling and Therapy Techniques, Psychology and Education, Journal of Psychological Type, The Professional School Counselor, Vistas, and The Advocate. His research includes investigations of therapeutic resistance, legal and ethical issues, subliminal message tapes, stress and coping, and personality types. Dr. Mitchell is currently a professor of counseling at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he received the Teacher of the Year award in 2002.
Crystal Rozelle–Bennett, LMSW
Crystal Rozelle – Bennett, LMSW has been working with youth and families for nearly 20 years. She is committed to empowering, engaging, educating and advocating in order to implement trauma-informed strategies for individuals and communities. Mrs. Bennett earned a Bachelor’s in Arts in Psychology from Wells College and went on to complete her Masters in Social Work from Florida State University. During her career, Ms. Bennett has demonstrated a passion in sharing her personal and professional experiences with others to serve marginalized individuals and prevent re-traumatization. Ms. Bennett is a life longer learner and has provided education and support to foster families, facilitated psychoeducation programs for youth, responded to crisis hotline calls for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and trained behavioral healthcare professionals in the areas of Human Trafficking, Suicide Prevention, Child Trauma/Maltreatment, Motivational Interviewing, Racial Trauma, Cultural Competency and serving LGBT youth.
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Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D.
Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, international speaker, and award winning author. He has been specializing in the treatment and assessment of individuals with personality disorders for over 15 years in the state and federal prison system, universities, and in private practice. He is the author of The Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Personality Disorders and the award winning Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic and Histrionic Workbook: Treatment Strategies for Cluster B Personality Disorders. He has published several articles in these areas. Dr. Fox has been teaching and supervising students for over 15 years at various universities across the United States, some of which include West Virginia University, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, Sam Houston State University, and Florida State University. He is currently a staff psychologist in the federal prison system, Adjunct Assistant Professor at University of Houston, as well as maintaining a private practice that specializes in the assessment and treatment of individuals with complex psychopathology and personality disorders. Dr. Fox has given numerous workshops and seminars on ethics and personality disorders, personality disorders and crime, treatment solutions for treating clients along the antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality spectrum, emotional intelligence, managing mental health within the prison system, and others. Dr. Fox maintains a website of various treatment interventions focused on working with and attenuating the symptomatology related to individuals along the antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, and histrionic personality spectrum.
Eric Gentry, Ph.D.
Eric Gentry, Ph.D., is an internationally-recognized leader in the study and treatment of compassion fatigue. Under Prof. Charles Figley’s direction, Gentry developed the Accelerated Recovery Program for Compassion Fatigue with Anna Baranowsky, Ph.D., and Kathleen Dunning. In 1998, Gentry and Baranowsky introduced the Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist Training and have trained thousands of professionals towards this designation since that time. Gentry has worked with hundreds of practitioners following their work with disaster survivors. Dr. Gentry draws equally from his scientific study and from his rich history of 24 years as a professional therapist to provide this training. His commitment to his mission to assist professionals, helping them to become more effective with minimal symptoms is evident throughout this training. Dr. Gentry was one of the original faculty members of the Traumatology Institute and later became the co-director of the International Traumatology Institute at the University of South Florida. He is the co-author of Trauma Practice: Tools for Stabilization and Recovery. He has a private clinical and consulting practice in Sarasota, Florida, USA, and is adjunct faculty at many universities.
Jeff Riggenbach, Ph.D.
Dr Jeff Riggenbach is one of the most sought-after trainers in North America in the area of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and personality functioning. Jeff has devoted the last 17 years of his life to working with clients with various kinds of complex needs. He has developed and overseen Mood Disorder, Anxiety Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder treatment programs at two different psychiatric hospitals serving over 3000 clients at multiple levels of care. Dr Riggenbach did post-doctoral training at the Beck Institute of Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia, is a Diplomat of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, and has presented in all 50 United States, Mexico, and Canada on topics related to CBT, DBT, and Schema Focused Therapy and Personality Dysfunction. He is on faculty of educational institutes in the US, Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Dr Riggenbach has authored three books. His best-seller, The CBT Toolbox: A Workbook for Clients and Clinicians, was recently named one of the 30 best self- help books for depression. His recently published BPD Toolbox: A Practical Evidence-Based Guide to Regulating Intense Emotions won two Benjamin Franklin awards for being among the best books in the categories of psychology and self-help. His third book, The Personality Disorder Toolbox, was released in November 2018. Jeff is known for bridging the gap between academia, research findings and day-to-day practical application and his seminars receive the highest evaluations in terms of quality of information as well as entertainment value.
Jennifer Sweeton, PsyD, MS, MA
Dr. Jennifer Sweeton is a licensed clinical psychologist, best-selling author, and internationally-recognized expert on anxiety and trauma, and the neuroscience of mental health. She completed her doctoral training at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (now Palo Alto University), and the National Center for PTSD. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in affective neuroscience from Stanford University, and studied behavioral genetics at Harvard University. Dr. Sweeton resides in the greater Kansas City area, where she owns a group private practice, Kansas City Mental Health Associates (trade name for Mind Works Consulting and Psychological Services, PLLC). She formerly served as the President of the Oklahoma Psychological Association, and holds adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She is the current President of the Greater Kansas City Psychological Association. Dr. Sweeton offers psychological services services to clients in Oklahoma, Kansas, and internationally, and is a sought-after trauma and neuroscience expert who has trained more than 10,000 mental health professionals in her workshops.
Courses
- EMDR for Anxiety: Basic EMDR Skills and Anxiety Modifications
- Neuroscience Implications and Intensive Treatment for Complex Trauma
- Advanced EMDR Skills for Complex Trauma
- Neuroscience of Addiction
- Neuroscience of God and Faith: It’s Not Just in Your Head
- Neuroscience of Complex Trauma – Treatment Tools
- EMDR Skills for Trauma Treatment
- Neuroscience of Grounding Techniques
- Neuroscience for Clinicians
- Brain-Based Trauma Treatment
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Jenny Helms, LMFT
Jenny Helms is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist whose practice is exclusively devoted to treating Eating Disorders and healing trauma. Since she moved to Kansas in 2014, she has worked with clients in coaching, therapy, and hospital settings. Jenny has a passion for helping those struggling with eating issues and the issues that usually coincide with EDs including: self-esteem, lack of confidence, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and relationship problems. She also believes in FULL recovery for those struggling with Eating Disorders. In addition to her therapy work, she is an advocate for eating disorders and trauma education in the Wichita community, speaking and engaging with local organizations around town. Helms frequently presents on the topic of eating disorder treatment and prevention as well as trauma-informed treatments that incorporate both bottom-up and top-down therapy modalities to treat trauma. She created Soma Recovery to address the unmet needs of those looking for true transformation in Wichita, and has a passion for advocacy.
Jessica Bergstrom, Psy.D.
Dr. Jessica Bergstrom, Psy.D., is a licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in in the treatment of anxiety, depression, health psychology, insomnia, trauma, and general applications to psychotherapy. She completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the PGSP-Stanford Psy.D. Consortium in Palo Alto, California. She received both her clinical and research training at Stanford University School of Medicine and Palo Alto University. She has worked and trained in a variety of clinical settings including Department of Veterans Affairs, Stanford Medical Center, and a mental health clinic through one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health plans. Dr. Bergstrom specializes in working with individuals across the lifespan to overcome insomnia, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression, and facilitates psychoeducational classes and support groups.
Jonah Paquette, PsyD
Jonah Paquette, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, international speaker, and author. He is the author of Real Happiness (PESI Publishing, 2015), a self-help book in which he distills the key findings in the field of happiness research, and offers user-friendly tools to achieve lasting well-being. His second book, The Happiness Toolbox (PESI Publishing, 2018), a research-based self-help workbook, provides easy-to-use handouts and worksheets designed to increase happiness and life satisfaction. His forthcoming book, Awestruck (Shambhala Publications, 2020), will explore the science of awe, and how moments of wonder benefit our physical and emotional health. Dr. Paquette is a psychologist at Kaiser Permanente in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he serves as the Assistant Regional Director of Mental Health Training. Spanning 20 medical centers and consisting of nearly 200 mental health trainees, it is the largest non-governmental training program in the United States. In addition to his clinical work and writing, Dr. Paquette offers training and consultation to therapists and organizations on the promotion of happiness and conducts professional workshops around the country and internationally. He is also a frequent media contributor, having been featured regularly in print, online, and radio outlets. Dr. Paquette’s clinical experiences have spanned a broad range of settings, including Veterans hospitals, community mental health clinics, college counseling centers, and his current work at Kaiser Permanente. For more information about Jonah and his work, please visit www.jonahpaquette.com.
Kate Cohen-Posey, LMHC, LMFT
Kate Cohen-Posey, LMHC, LMFT is the director of Psychiatric & Psychological Services in Lakeland, FL, and has 40 years of clinical experience. She was certified in EMDR in 1999 and has completed brainspotting, level IV. She is the creator of two psychotherapy tools: The Handy Brain Model and Brain Change Cards. Her book, Empowering Dialogues Within, contains an extensive review of ego state therapies, including Internal Family Systems (IFS). She has presented internationally and throughout the US. Her popular workshop, Brain Switch, is offered through PESI. Her Facebook group, "Picture Gazing for your Brain," is a platform to discuss integrating art with psychotherapy. Check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-swX-YbeUvOwoQNii_63Gg
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Katrina Jones, MS, LCMFT, RPT
Katrina Jones is a Licensed Clinical Marriage & Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. She owns a private practice, Hope for Healing, LLC, in Beloit, Kansas, providing therapy to clients throughout rural North Central Kansas. As a play therapist, Katrina uses self-regulation interventions in her work with young clients almost every day who present with a variety of issues including trauma, anxiety, reactive-attachment and challenges in family systems. She believes strongly in the power of the therapist’s own self-regulation in the therapy room as the basis for this work. In addition to her specialization in play therapy, Katrina is also trained in EMDR. Katrina serves on several steering committee’s and advisory boards in her community, and is currently the secretary for the Kansas Association for Play Therapy Board.
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Lea Vincent, MA, PLPC, NCC
Lea Vincent is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. She attended high school at Notre Dame de Sion and went on to the University of Missouri- Columbia where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She worked in the social services field for 9 years before pursuing her Masters degree in Counseling. She graduated in May 2019 from MidAmerica Nazarene University and is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor (PLPC), Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and a member of Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society. She has experience in several psychotherapy modalities including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Attachment Based Family Therapy (ABFT). She currently works for St. Luke’s Healthcare System as an Intensive In-Home Therapist, and provides individual and couples counseling in private practice part-time. Lea is a consultant, workshop leader, and guest speaker within the mental health community, highlighting issues of mental health stigma in faith-based and underserved communities. Lea is a proud wife of nearly 11 years and mother of three beautiful children and one fur baby! As a Black woman, Lea has a lived experience of the effects of systemic racism and oppression that have shaped her ability to recognize its impact. She has done her own work to develop her cultural identity, and has taken the opportunity to educate and assist others in that process by teaching on the subject in Multicultural classes and personal interviews. Lea believes that being well-rounded is an important part of personal development, and manages to balance pursuits in ministry, family, professional career, and education. She believes that the energy put into personal development will prove to be the most important aspect of one's professional career and personal life. Lea understands that “the person of the therapist” consists of several facets, including personal identity, cultural identity, spiritual identity, and professional identity. She believes the interweaving of these identities make up the counselor as a whole, and Lea is passionate about recognizing how those may show up in the counseling room. Lea feels that being a therapist is not only a profession, but a ministry and personal calling. She takes pride in aiding in the healing process and creating safe spaces for emotional expression and speaking one's truth. Lea has a conviction to break the stigma around mental health within the faith-based community with the motto, “See your doctor/therapist, take your meds, and PRAY!”
Linda Graham, MFT
Linda Graham, MFT, is a clinical psychologist with Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She’s an experienced psychotherapist and mindful self-compassion teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, USA. Linda is the author of the award-winning Bouncing Back: Rewiring Your Brain for Maximum Resilience and Well-Being, and the new book, Resilience: Powerful Practices for Bouncing Back from Disappointment, Difficulty, and Even Disaster. Since the publication of Bouncing Back, she has trained thousands of practitioners in clinical trainings and workshops, online courses and in meditation centers through the United States and in Canada, Australia, Europe and the Middle East. Her workshops are always well attended and full of practical exercises. Linda integrates modern neuroscience, mindfulness, and relational psychology in her national and international trainings. She regularly writes for national publications in the USA such as The Psychotherapy Networker, Mindful, Wise Brain Bulletin, and the Greater Good Science Center newsletters.
Nathan Croy, MA, LCMFT
Nathan D. Croy is a clinically licensed marriage and family therapist, practicing systemic existential psychotherapy. He manages a group practice in Overland Park, KS and is trained in Parent Management Training, Trauma Systems Therapy, and EMDR. Nathan has given presentations at schools, churches, foster parent organizations, and businesses on a variety of subjects to address frustration, fear, trauma, and attachment in order to increase healthy interactions and relationships. At Bethel Seminary in San Diego, Nathan earned his masters in marriage and family therapy while providing therapy at the San Diego Rescue Mission for families, children, and individual on an inpatient and outpatient basis. In 2012, he moved to Kansas where he initially worked at KVC in foster care as a Family Service Coordinator before transferring to Prairie Ridge Psychiatric Hospital. Then, in 2014, he was offered a therapy position at The University of Kansas Hospital, Marrilac Campus. While there, the need for families to therapeutically treat existential concerns became very clear, and in response to that need, Existential Family Therapy was created. When not providing therapy, Nathan enjoys spending time with his wife of 14 years and 2 wonderful daughters. His family also has a wonderful dog named Luna (because she barks at the moon).
Ragan Snyder-Smith, LSCSW, RPT-S
Ragan Snyder-Smith, LSCSW, RPT-S graduated from Wichita State University in Wichita, KS with her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Social Work. She also holds a Master's degree in Education from Newman University. She hold a certificate in Play Therapy and is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor. Ragan has worked in addictions, foster care and adoptions, private practice, medical social work and psychiatric social work. Currently, Ragan works as a behavior specialist in the school setting. She supervises LMSWs working towards their clinical licensure and clinical therapists working towards their Registered Play Therapist credential through the Association for Play Therapy. She has been a field practicum instructor for Wichita State University since 2007 and is an adjunct professor for the Social Work Department at Newman University. Ragan is passionate about school mental health, play therapy and social justice. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, mindfulness, reading, running, yoga & healthy living.
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Robert Cox, LPC
Robert Cox is an LPC in the state of Missouri and the president-elect of the American Counseling Association of Missouri. He owns a mental health practice, Life Recovery Consulting, with offices in Richmond and Liberty, MO. Robert is the author of the book, “The Life Recovery Method: Autism Treatment From a Trauma Perspective” and he specializes in Trauma with focuses in addiction and autism. Robert lectures frequently on regional and national levels about the issues of trauma, attachment and connection.
Courses
- Personality and Dissociative Disorders: Trauma, Coping and Repair
- Early Trauma, Attachment, and Repair
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Ronald Potter-Efron, Ph.D., CADCIII, LICSW
Ronald Potter-Efron, Ph.D., CADCIII, LICSW, is a clinical psychotherapist, Director of the Anger Management Program at First Things First Counseling and Consulting Center in Altoona, WI, and a internationally recognized anger expert. He has more than 30 years of clinical experience and in his private practice, he specializes in the treatment of individuals with severe aggression and domestic violence concerns. Dr. Potter-Efron is also author of 15 books, including Handbook of Anger Management (for professional readers); Angry All the Time; Letting Go of Anger and Letting Go of Shame (both with Patricia Potter-Efron), and his newest release Healing The Angry Brain (New Harbinger, 2012), a self-help book intended for chronically angry and aggressive persons. Dr. Potter-Efron is also Diplomate of the National Anger Management Association. Dr. Potter-Efron currently facilitates a 50 session domestic violence prevention program that utilizes the principles of neuroplastic change (long-term potentiation) to help clients devise and implement individualized brain-based behavioral change plans. He has trained thousands in professional seminars internationally. He is known for his ability to make difficult material easier to understand and utilize, as well as for his good sense of humor and practical orientation toward therapeutic change.
Taryn Hodison, MA, LPC
Taryn Hodison, MA, LPC, provides sound, evidence-based, trauma-sensitive therapy with an emphasis on the unique mental health concerns of African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQIA individuals. Taryn has a master’s degree in Counseling and Guidance from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. She has more than ten years of experience in a variety of mental health settings including hospitals, youth care centers, and community mental health. Taryn specializes in trauma-focused care, paying special attention to how trauma affects our ability to function in the world. She helps clients develop healthy coping skills and create a renewed sense of personal safety. Taryn has worked with clients from all walks of life. Therefore, it’s a priority to acknowledge and affirm the role a client's cultural background plays in the therapeutic process. It is also important to recognize the affect trauma has on people. Taryn strives to promote healing from traumatic experiences, accomplished by collaborating with clients because Ms. Hodison believes they are the true experts in themselves. Her treatment approach is eclectic in nature as she utilizes methods from multiple treatment modalities including CBT, DBT, person-centered and brief, solutions-focused therapy.
Tim Cassidy, MBA, CTACC
Tim is the founder and CEO of Mind Works Professional Education, Inc., the parent company to Online CE Credits. He is also the Operations Director of Kansas City Mental Health Associates. He has an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a results-oriented leader, manager, and business owner. He has over 5 years of online marketing experience developing the marketing platform for Online CE Credits and managing the marketing efforts of sister company Kansas City Mental Health Associates.
Tonya Miles, PsyD
Dr. Tonya Miles is a licensed psychologist working in private practice in Overland Park. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from University of Missouri-Columbia, she completed a Master of Science in Guidance & Counseling from Missouri State and earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Forest Institute in 2004. She completed her doctoral internship at the VA Hospital in Leavenworth, KS. In addition to her degrees, she has additional clinical training in treating perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, ADHD in children and adults, substance abuse, and trauma. Dr. Miles is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner since 2016 for healing trauma. Prior to private practice, Dr. Miles was an Assistant Professor at Johnson County Community College teaching psychology and development and has experience in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. She lives in Overland Park with her husband and 3 sons.
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