Shelly Dimitrijevic

Shelly Dimitrijevic’s professional and philanthropic activities have always focused on improving the lives of others. She began her nursing career at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis and went on to become a LifeFlight nurse specializing in neonatal, pediatric, and cardiovascular intensive care.

Shelly has been involved with numerous charities focusing on children and education including the Charlee and the Chocolate Factory gala, The Venus Orbit, Design For A Cure, Jackson Memorial, and Impact Oasis. In 2010 she founded the Lotus program, a program that focused on educating parents on the nutritional needs of children and basic child development. Shelly also served on the Frost Science Museum gala committee for 7 years before Co-Chairing the event in 2015.

After a diagnosis of Celiac disease and subsequently receiving Certification as a Nutritional Consultant, Shelly recognized that topically applied products have an effect on her Celiac Disease and overall health. She turned her focus to developing skincare that was free of toxic and hormone-disrupting ingredients.

Since she lost her only sibling in 2012 Shelly has been determined to find a way to contribute to the recovery community in a way that can make a great impact and ensure that others have the resources necessary when they are struggling.

Shelly’s substantial contributions to SHE RECOVERS of both time and resources have been instrumental and deeply appreciated.

Kirsten Newquist

As a result of being introduced to SHE RECOVERS through retreats and meet-ups, Kirsten will be starting her yoga teacher training in the fall. These retreats also led her to become more deeply involved with SHE RECOVERS in a volunteer capacity. Kirsten was instrumental in setting up some of the Foundation’s grassroots groups and currently volunteers her time helping SHE RECOVERS Foundation to design and implement the Volunteer Chapter Network.

Kirsten and her husband recently moved from Southern California to Roswell, Georgia to be closer to Kirsten’s sister and two young nieces. When she isn’t spending time being an aunt, you can find Kirsten hanging out with their rescue Labrador or exploring their new state.

Mary Beth O’Connor, BA, JD

BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE
she / her

In addition to being a board member, Mary Beth is a founding member of SHE RECOVERS Support for Legal Professionals and is active at the local level with SHE RECOVERS in the Bay Area. Mary Beth has been living a sober life in recovery since 1994. She has a history of trauma and abuse, from which she’s worked hard to recover as well. Six years into her recovery, Mary Beth attended Berkeley Law. She worked at a large firm in Silicon Valley, then litigated class actions for the federal government. In 2014 Mary Beth was appointed an Administrative Law Judge, from which she retired in 2020.

Mary Beth’s award-winning memoir, From Junkie to Judge: One Woman’s Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction, was published in 2023. She also writes opinion pieces, such as I Beat Addiction without God for the Wall Street Journal and I was a federal judge, and I support Safehouse. Here’s why for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Mary Beth advocates about multiple topics related to trauma, substance use disorder, and recovery. She has appeared on television, radio, and podcasts; speaks at conferences and other events; and trains judges, attorneys, and medical professionals.

Taryn Strong, RYT, CPRC

FOUNDER AND BOARD VICE-CHAIR
she / her

Taryn Strong is co-founder of the SHE RECOVERS® Foundation and a Certified Recovery Coach, Somatic Coach, and Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher. Her work is grounded in the belief that healing must include the body.

Through somatic practices, Taryn supports others in reconnecting with their bodies, releasing patterns shaped by trauma and survival, and expanding their capacity to feel embodied, present, and alive. This approach is deeply personal, rooted in her own recovery and reconnection after years of disconnection.

She is also a Certified Aromatherapist, AromaPsychologist, Botanical Perfumer, and Community Herbalist, with a deep respect for the emotional and psychological power of scent.

Teaching yoga since 2007, Taryn has hosted over 60 women’s recovery retreats, presented internationally, and co-taught with leading voices in the field of behavioral health. She currently leads the SHE RECOVERS Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor Certification, SHE RECOVERS Embodiment Studio, and SHE RECOVERS Podcast.

Susan Carter

CEO
she / her

I am recovering from:
Alcohol use disorder, codependency, disordered eating.

The Identity-based group I belong to:
Chronic pain & auto-immune disorder, healthcare & allied professionals.

My personal definition of recovery:
My personal definition of recovery is the continual process of expanding my awareness to grow spiritually, mentally, and physically enhancing my life-long journey to wholeness.

What led me to SHE RECOVERS:
A desire to give back what I have been so graciously given that has led to an amazing life of sustained recovery and spiritual growth. I truly believe that every moment in my life has led me here. One of my favorite stories to share is how I came to find SHE RECOVERS – or rather, how they found me. In short, it involves a spark of curiosity over coffee and a remarkable moment at a SHE RECOVERS Conference that changed the trajectory of my life both professionally and spiritually. You can hear all about it here.

Why I love being a part of this team:
It brings me immense joy to work alongside such smart, passionate and committed colleagues and volunteers. I learn so much from them. Not a day goes by where I am not deeply inspired by this team and community.

Those that know me best might describe me as:
Tenacious, resourceful, and loving.

How these qualities show up in my everyday life:
Love is the foundation for all my thoughts and actions, I am resourceful when confronted with a challenge, and I am tenacious like a “dog with a bone” – I’ll never stop chasing the dream.

Something unique you may not already know about me:
I have four kidneys and a double bladder. I have vitiligo, an auto-immune disease that destroys or suppresses pigment producing cells on the skin.

Something I am most proud of is…
Launching a global nonprofit for women in or seeking recovery from all things.

Radical self-care look for me looks like:
Being mindful of ease and learning to pause. And, pampering myself with modalities that foster a healthy body, a clear mind, a pure spirit, and service to others.

What I wanted to be when I grew up:
An artist.

Something that is inspiring me right now:
Supporting people to find, create, and nurture a relationship with the God / Creator / Higher Power of their understanding.

The SHE RECOVERS Intention & Guiding Principle resonating the most with me right now is…
Connection is our sole (soul) purpose. We’re stronger together.

My favorite SHE RECOVERS resource is…
The SHE RECOVERS Together Online Group where connection, support, and empowerment is available 24 / 7.

SRF Blogs I’ve authored:
sherecovers.org/a-peek-behind-the-curtain/

Dawn Nickel, PhD, CPRC, SRCD

ACTING CEO, CO-FOUNDER & BOARD CHAIR

she / her

I am recovering from:
Substance use, trauma including sexual assault, intimate partner violence, codependency, anxiety, and workaholism.

The identity-based group(s) I am a part of:
Healthcare & allied professional, cancer survivor, mature woman.

My personal definition of recovery:
It changes often, but these days my definition of recovery is simply that recovery is a lifelong journey of healing. I think that not having a solid, static definition is a good thing. It opens the door to empower us all to create individualized and diverse definitions for our own recovery, and it’s a reminder that recovery differs across populations, cultures, and settings.

What led me to SHE RECOVERS:
Taryn and I talk about SHE RECOVERS being our ‘accidental movement.’ So not sure what led me here other than a true desire to create a connective, supportive, and empowering space for women to think / talk about and experience recovery.

Why I love being a part of this team:
I want to leave behind a legacy of hope for women in or seeking recovery.

Those that know me best might describe me as:
Grateful, curious, and a survivor.

How these qualities show up in my everyday life:
I believe that I pass recovery on to express my gratitude, and I call upon my curiosity to figure out what else I can do to support women in recovery. Oh, and I have survived a few near death experiences including surviving cancer.

Something unique you may not already know about me:
I really dislike cilantro.

Something I am most proud of:
My daughters, more than anything.

Radical self-care look for me looks like:
Rest, hanging with other women in recovery, walking in fresh air, reading novels, long hot baths, and sweet, milky tea.

What I wanted to be when I grew up:
An actress.

Something that is inspiring me right now:
The women working or volunteering to help grow SRF.

The SHE RECOVERS Intention & Guiding Principle resonating the most with me right now is…
We are all recovering from something. It all started there!

My favorite SHE RECOVERS resource is…
Definitely the SHE RECOVERS Together Online Gatherings – they are such an amazing display of everything that we are about. Volunteerism and support, vulnerability, celebration, and information.

A few of the SRF Blogs I’ve authored:
https://sherecovers.org/recovering-from-intimate-partner-violence/
https://sherecovers.org/dear-women-in-twelve-step-programs/
https://sherecovers.org/we-are-all-recovering-from-something/
https://sherecovers.org/when-your-mother-dies/
https://sherecovers.org/do-you-know-what-workaholism-looks-like/

SHE RECOVERS Trauma Informed Dance signature image with a variety of women dancing at home

A playful, embodied movement practice for holistic recovery.

SHE RECOVERS Dance is a playful healing modality that invites women and non-binary folks in or seeking holistic recovery to reconnect with their body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

It is an embodied movement experience guided by certified facilitators, featuring curated music, invitational cues, and intentional markers grounded in embodiment, mindfulness, and energetic movement.

“If you don’t do your dance, who will?” — Gabrielle Roth

SHE RECOVERS Dance is not a regular dance class with choreographed steps — it’s a trauma-informed, somatic exploration of intuitive movement in recovery.

It’s a practice that acknowledges how trauma, substance use, mental health issues, and other life experiences can leave imprints in the body, and invites movement with and through them.

There are no rules, no right or wrong moves; the dance floor is yours.

SHE RECOVERS Dance invites whimsy and expression, and celebrates presence over perfection.

ATTEND A DANCE SESSION

READ OUR GATHERING GUIDELINES & AGREEMENTS

SHE RECOVERS Dance Practice

Every Sunday, participants are invited to do their own dances in an inspiring, fun, and judgment-free space.

The collective co-creates a healing circle that promotes self-discovery, body liberation, freedom, joy, and empowerment.

The 5 foundational pillars of SHE RECOVERS Dance are:
Willingness • Curiosity & self-inquiry • Acceptance • Joy • Freedom

In practice, these pillars come to life as participants showing up authentically with an inclination to move.

Being inquisitive and introspective throughout the practice, tapping into intuition and asking questions like:

“How can I move in a way that works for me?” and “What kind of dancing do I enjoy?”

The pillars manifest as practicing awareness, non-judgment, and attention during action — surrendering to whatever comes up in the present moment.

They are embodied when dance is done with delight — because joy is foundational in recovery.

And, finally, when we move with merriment, we find liberation, and our soul dances!

Each session is designed to be accessible, choice-based, and welcoming to all bodies and abilities.

WHat To Expect

These online sessions are led by certified SHE RECOVERS Dance Facilitators who understand the healing nature of conscious dance in holistic recovery.

SHE RECOVERS Dance aligns with current trauma-informed best practices and is rooted in collaboration, compassion, trust, consent, and personal agency.

All offerings are suggestions. You may participate as much or as little as you choose — including simply listening, resting, or sharing space.

No experience or equipment is necessary. You’re invited to participate in a way that honors your comfort, capacity, and needs.

WHEN SESSIONS ARE OFFERED

Weekly on Sundays @ 10:00 AM PT. Sessions run for an hour directly after our SHE RECOVERS Together Online early gathering, simply stay on the line.

HOW TO JOIN

Online registration is required. If you have already registered for SHE RECOVERS Together Online Gatherings, the link is the same.

Once you sign up here, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the access link and session details.

What Participants Say

“That was FUN! I only lasted the first half hour, but that’s the most moving I’ve done. I so appreciate that we’re allowed to just do our own thing. I think that’s why, even though I LOVE dancing, I’ve always had some reluctance about the more exercisey classes. Thanks for giving me a place to move my body freely to the music without feeling judged and just feeling the joy of still being able to move it!”

“Thank you for the dance session! I almost didn’t go because of work, but work was better after dancing. Everything is better after dancing. Something told me the dance space would be healing, and I’m grateful I went. Dance really allows me to release the emotions I’m feeling, and movement allows me to be in the now. I’m finding my individual joy and happiness. Thanks for this gift.”

“I have been joining dance now for a month or so, and it is hands down my favourite hour of the week. Thank you! It absolutely helps me and my recovery, and sometimes it makes me cry, so it is definitely moving some things around that need to be moved.”

Vision & Origins

SHE RECOVERS Dance was created by conscious dance facilitator, trauma-informed yoga teacher, life and recovery coach, and SHE RECOVERS Foundation Team Lead for Retreats, Payton Kennedy.

Payton understood the nuance and individuality of recovery; that we all get to create our own pathways and patchworks. And, she knew we really needed to dance. She was determined to introduce a bodyful movement modality that people could approach in their own unique way. Payton knew movement = medicine.

SHE RECOVERS Dance is rooted in finding freedom in present moment awareness and moving in a way that feels nourishing. It is a tool that builds recovery capital, self-trust, self-worth, and personal agency. As a guided movement experience and somatic healing practice, it promotes self-awareness, body liberation, joy, and empowerment.

Since its introduction at SHE RECOVERS at Kripalu in 2018, Payton has led groups of all sizes both in person and online. In 2020, SHE RECOVERS Dance became a regular addition to the SHE RECOVERS Together Online roster. And, in 2022, Payton trained and onboarded a cohort of seven additional SHE RECOVERS Dance Facilitators.

Designed to support women and non-binary individuals seeking holistic recovery, SHE RECOVERS Dance honors the interconnectedness of body, mind, emotions, and spirit. It integrates trauma awareness with invitational movement and choice-based language, creating space for participants to reconnect with themselves and have fun!

With Deep Gratitude For Our Volunteers

These SHE RECOVERS Dance sessions would not be possible without the support of our dedicated volunteers, including our dance facilitators, hosts, and guardians.

Move your recovery.

Come home to your body—at your own pace, in your own space.

If you’re looking to expand your embodied movement practice, the SHE RECOVERS Embodiment Studio offers SHE RECOVERS Trauma-Informed Yoga and Dance to support your healing—anytime, anywhere.

30+ classes. Monthly LIVE sessions. A membership that gives back. Embody your recovery.

START YOUR FREE TRIAL

Shelly Dimitrijevic

Kirsten Newquist