Celebrating Our 2025 Volunteer Recognition Award Recipients
During the 2026 HAP® Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, we had the honor of recognizing volunteers as well as community leaders whose service, leadership, and dedication continue to strengthen Trauma Recovery/HAP and the EMDR community. Each recipient reflects the spirit of service and community that makes Trauma Recovery/HAP’s work possible.
Please join us in congratulating the 2025 Volunteer Award recipients!
Janelle Nimer
2025 Facilitator of the Year
Janelle Nimer was recognized as Facilitator of the Year for the way she consistently goes above and beyond to support HAP trainings. A volunteer facilitator, consultant, and mentor, Janelle draws on more than 19 years of experience treating trauma. Between the 2025 and 2026 conferences, she volunteered at 15 EMDR basic training events, generously sharing her time and expertise in support of Trauma Recovery/HAP’s mission and the EMDR community.
Katy Murray
2025 Trainer of the Year
Katy Murray was named Trainer of the Year for her commitment to high quality EMDR training and fidelity to the protocol. Participants describe her as knowledgeable, approachable, and clear in explaining the training material. Facilitators value her detailed notes, kind coaching, and the supportive environment she creates. Katy continues to give her time and expertise to train new EMDR clinicians and to help keep Trauma Recovery/HAP’s training materials current.
Tara May
2025 Volunteer of the Year
Tara May received the Volunteer of the Year Award for her exceptional commitment to Trauma Recovery/HAP’s mission and her willingness to support trainings, mentor participants, and help strengthen our programs. Since becoming a Facilitator-in-Training (FiT) in 2020, she has volunteered at 28 Basic EMDR Therapy and R-TEP/G-TEP training events and is among the first Trainer Candidates in our new R-TEP/G-TEP faculty training program. Her continued service, from serving on the HAP Conference Clinical Committee to volunteering as a training faculty member, reflects a relentless commitment to helping the EMDR community grow.
Atlanta Trauma Recovery Network®
2025 TRN® of the Year
The Atlanta TRN was named TRN of the Year for its exceptional teamwork, leadership, and community response. Its members have championed education on early intervention, shared resources with other TRN associations, and worked together to respond following a recent school shooting. Their coordinated approach brought together individual and group support, community outreach, and strong local partnerships, showcasing a powerful example of how TRN associations can respond during times of tragedy.
Their commitment, leadership and teamwork have made a lasting impact on the communities they serve and on our broader Trauma Recovery Network.
*A special thank you to Neurotek who generously sponsored this year’s TRN of the Year award and donated EMDR equipment to support the work of the Atlanta TRN.
Tia Wilcek
2025 TRN® Leader of the Year
Tia Wilcek, coordinator of the Minnesota TRN, received the TRN Leader of the Year Award for her leadership and work to revitalize the Minnesota TRN. Tia helped bring this group back together after a period of inactivity by coordinating with local therapists, building local partnerships, and connecting TRN volunteers with opportunities to serve. Members of the Minnesota TRN describe her as an inspiration, a community builder, and someone who consistently goes above and beyond. She continuously looks for opportunities to learn, contribute, and strengthen the TRN community.
Tia is someone who deeply believes in the healing power of EMDR therapy, and she demonstrates that regularly through her leadership of the Minnesota TRN.
Dr. April Minjarez
Snyker Award
Dr. April Minjarez received the Snyker Award for her generous service and longstanding commitment to Trauma Recovery/HAP’s mission. Since joining Trauma Recovery/HAP in 2010, she has served as a facilitator, senior trainer, clinical consultant, and Trainer of Trainers, supporting participants and fellow volunteers across the organization. She has been an invaluable leader, educator, and advocate since day one.
As a Lead Trainer and Clinical Consultant, April consistently goes above and beyond in support of training participants, volunteers, and our mission. She brings not only exceptional expertise, but also an unwavering commitment to empowering others. Perhaps most importantly, April leads with humility, compassion, and a genuine spirit of service. Her dedication to others and her steadfast commitment to Trauma Recovery/HAP exemplify the values this award was created to honor.
Elan Shapiro
International World Changer Award
Elan Shapiro received the International World Changer Award for his global contributions to trauma recovery and the advancement of EMDR therapy. Involved in EMDR since its earliest years, Elan is a founding member of EMDR Europe and EMDR Israel. He developed the Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) and the Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP), which help clinicians support individuals and groups experiencing recent trauma, ongoing trauma, and crisis situations. These approaches have been taught in more than 20 countries, extending the reach of his work around the world. It’s an honor to recognize Elan for his lasting impact on the EMDR community and his commitment to helping others heal.
Dr. Barbara Hensley
Shapiro Effect Award
Dr. Barbara Hensley was nominated and selected to receive the Shapiro Effect Award for her work honoring and preserving the legacy of Dr. Francine Shapiro. For 30 years, Barbara has documented Dr. Shapiro’s work through the Francine Shapiro Library. It is her mission to have this resource available not only to EMDR therapists and researchers, but to anyone who wants to be informed about EMDR therapy, its history, and impact. This amazing digital archive preserves Francine’s remarkable work, providing open access to her publications, interviews, training materials, and historical resources that trace the evolution of EMDR therapy from its inception to its global impact.
Barbara has been deeply involved in the EMDR community, serving on the Board of Directors at EMDRIA, the Board of Directors at the EMDR Research Foundation, and serving for many years as a Facilitator and Logistician for the EMDR Institute providing training throughout the United States and Japan. She has also authored several books on EMDR therapy.
The ripple effect of her actions and contributions continues to be felt around the world. It’s an honor to name Dr. Barbara Hensley as this year’s Shapiro Effect award recipient.
Volunteerism gets to the heart of Trauma Recovery/HAP, and also the heart of the Shapiro effect. Our volunteers give countless hours in service to the mission of Trauma Recovery/HAP. The impact of their work reaches far beyond what any of us can see, changing lives and promoting healing every day.
We are wholeheartedly grateful to this year’s award recipients and to every volunteer who continues to show up for HAP and the communities we serve. THANK YOU!