Our Presenters

Our educational program allows us to access the expertise of the senior psychodramatists and sociometrists in our field, while highlighting our culture of generosity in our community. Our talented practitioners welcome the opportunity offer their expertise as part of their legacy. Our presenters include:

Karen Carnabucci, LCSW, TEP

Karen has been integrating the psychodrama of J.L. Moreno and Zerka T. Moreno with the newer Family Constellations of Bert Hellinger for more than 20 years. During those years, she has collaborated with the late Ronald Anderson to produce the book “Integrating Psychodrama and Systemic Constellations Work: New Directions for Action Methods, Mind-Body Therapies and Energy Healing.” She contributed the article “The Challenge and Promise for Psychodrama and Family and Systemic Constellations” to the Spring 2018-2019 issue of the journal of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama and has other print and online articles about the value of the ancestry healing process of Family Constellations and its cousin, Systemic Constellations. This program offers three online psychodrama hours and CE credits for social workers, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors.

Nancy Kirsner, PhD, TEP, LMFT, OTR

Nancy has been in practice, teaching, or consulting for 45 years.  Nancy loves to teach using Action Explorations with different populations such as financial planners, lawyers, and members of churches/ temples. She is a TEP - trainer, educator and practitioner of Psychodrama, Sociometry, and group psychotherapy. She facilitates Bibliodrama (stories from the Bible) at both temples/churches. Nancy has taught Positive Psychology as applied to Jewish Fundamentals and she works as a forensic consultant with attorneys. She has been a frequent presenter during Covid at the Jewish Community Center of Manhattan speaking about resiliency and gratitude. Nancy has been honored to provide over 300 lunch and learn open groups through Temple Beth Or and these are ongoing.

Nancy began her career in helping others as an occupational therapist in a VA hospital during the Vietnam War. Over the last 40 years, she has worked as a Gestalt art therapist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, university professor, and trainer and practitioner of psychodrama and group psychotherapy. With a PhD in Counseling Psychology, Nancy has worked as a forensic consultant with attorneys, and she facilitates Bibliodrama (stories from the Bible) at temples and churches. Nancy is co-author (with Phoebe Atkinson of Positive Psychology and Psychodrama, a chapter in Action Explorations: Using Psychodramatic Methods in Non-Therapeutic Setting (edited by Adam Blatner,2019). Currently Nancy is co-authoring with Dr. Raina Murnak, Positive  Psychology for Music Professionals: Character Strengths to be released in 2023. More important than any or all of these credentials, Nancy cares about people and is a person of the heart. She offers the words of Chris Peterson, Other People Matter.

Shelley Firestone, M.D., FAGPA-F, CGP, PAT

Shelley is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist for 39 years and lecturer at the University of Chicago Department of Psychiatry, with Board Certification, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine; S/P Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Member, Certified Group Psychotherapist, and Fellow, American Group Psychotherapy Association; Member and Editorial Consultant, and Recipient of the Zerka Moreno Award (2016) of the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP) and Certified Practitioner (CP) and Practitioner and Trainer (PAT) of the American Board of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy; Medical Director, Psychotherapist and Psychiatrist, Chicago Center for Psychotherapy and Psychiatry; 312-671-3110 and firestone49@juno.com.

Nan Nally-Seif, LCSW, TEP

Nan has been a licensed clinical social worker for more than 40 years. She is a certified Trainer, Educator, and Practitioner in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy. She works with individuals, couples and groups dealing with trauma, relationship issues, addictions, eating disorders, anxiety, depression and women's issues. Among the topics she explores with clients are dealing with uncomfortable feelings, issues of trust, shame and intimacy. She also specializes in supervision, training and consultation. Nan has both personal growth and training groups in psychodrama, sociometry and group psychotherapy, including winter and summer intensive workshops.

Nan received her MSW from Columbia University School of Social Work. In addition, she worked in foster care, adoption, a residence for teenage mothers and their children, substance abuse and alcohol rehabilitation.

Currently, Nan has a private practice in New York City. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Fordham University School of Professional and Continuing Studies. She is also co-director of the Psychodrama Training Institute, a division of the Sociometric Institute New York, and Director of the Continuing Education Program at the Sociometric Institute, Inc.

Guy Taylor, Ph.D., LPCC, LICDC

Guy is a psychotherapist and Clinical Director at Common Bond Counseling in Logan, OH, and a Fellow and Life Member of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP) since 1990. Guy completed his training at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, DC in 1981, and regularly provides training in experiential, Group, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections; the Addiction Studies Institute sponsored by The Ohio State University; and the Academy of Sciences in Moscow, Russia and other national organizations.

Catherine D. Nugent

Catherine D. Nugent, Executive Director & Principal Trainer with Laurel Psychodrama Training Institute (LPTI), is a licensed clinical professional counselor and Board-certified psychodrama trainer. In her psychotherapy practice, Cathy offers holistic, integrative, and experiential approaches to help individuals, couples, and groups heal from trauma and move toward posttraumatic growth. Beyond her 40+ years of experience as a psychodramatist and group facilitator, Cathy’s clinical practice and teaching are informed by her training in sensorimotor psychotherapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, mindfulness and self-compassion practices, and hatha yoga.

In addition to her role with LPTI, Cathy pursued a successful 20-year career with the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). At SAMHSA, Cathy was a thought leader in promoting the recovery-oriented approach to substance use disorders treatment and mental health services. From 2013-2019, Cathy also taught in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Johns Hopkins University. She has received many awards and accolades for her work, including the ASGPP’s 2019 J.L. Moreno Award for Lifetime Achievement in Psychodrama, and more recently the 2024 Ann Hale Sociometry Award.