David Chamberlain was a psychologist, author, and editor who lectured on birth psychology in 20 countries. In 1974 he began using hypnotherapy to discover and resolve traumas arising in the womb and at birth. In landmark research with mother and child pairs in 1980, he demonstrated that birth memories were reliable memories. Dr. Chamberlain was a founding member of APPPAH and was APPPAH’s second President. His books, Babies Remember Birth (1988), The Mind of Your Newborn Baby (1998), and Windows to the Womb: Revealing the Whole Baby from Conception to Birth (2014) have changed our thinking about babies before and after birth. Although Dr. Chamberlain died in May 2014, his legacy lives on in his writing and in the hearts and minds of all who knew him.

Barbara Findeisen was a founding member of APPPAH and a past President.  She also founded Pocket Sanctuary and was the creator and Clinical Director of STAR workshops. Barbara was a practicing psychotherapist for four decades and did birth therapy since 1983. She was the narrator and producer of two documentary films, Journey to Be Born and the Psychology of Birth. She was also a guest on numerous radio and television talk shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show.

William Emerson is a psychologist, workshop leader, writer, lecturer, and pioneer in the field of pre and perinatal psychology and is a past President of APPPAH.  He was among the first in the world to develop prenatal and perinatal treatment methods for infants and children, is a renowned expert in treatment methods for adults, and is recognized worldwide for his contributions. Dr. Emerson practiced psychotherapy for 25 years, specializing in regression therapy, and lectured nationally and internationally on these topics.  He continues to write and hold training workshops.

Sandra Bardsley is a nurse midwife with over 40 years of experience in the field of Maternal Child Health with a master’s in Psychology and Cultural Anthropology focused on Hispanic cultural beliefs and cultural influences concerning pregnancy, birth, and early parenting.  Sandra was a founding member of APPPAH and is a past President.  She is the co-author of Creating A Joyful Birth Experience: Developing a Partnership with Your Unborn Child for Healthy Pregnancy, Labor and Early Pregnancy (1994), and worked for many years with clients using her workbook, Create A Joyful Birth: Relax, Connect, Prepare.

Wendy Ann McCarty is a leader in optimizing human potential and relationships from the beginning of life and has been serving families for over 40 years utilizing groundbreaking consciousness-based early development theory, consciousness studies, and energy psychology healing modalities. She is an international presenter, educator, and consultant to families, professionals, and organizations – bridging theory, principles, and practice. Dr. McCarty was a c-founding chair and associate faculty at Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, which was the first program to offer a graduate degree in prenatal and perinatal psychology, and is the author of Welcoming Consciousness: Supporting Babies’ Wholeness at the Beginning of Life–An Integrated Model of Early Development.

Raymond Castellino, DC (retired), RPP, RPE, RCST®, was a pioneer in the field of Prenatal and Perinatal therapy for over 45 years. He used energetic and somatic approaches to facilitate attachment and bonding with babies and adults. His contribution to this field is immeasurable.

He developed numerous integrated somatic/psychological approaches for discovering how all beings implicitly remember early pre- and perinatal experiences. He conducted ongoing research on the manifestation of “sequential behavioral patterns” that originate from “sequential imprinting” from ancestral, conception, gestation, and birth experiences.

He co-founded the Building & Enhancing Bonding & Attachment (BEBA) research clinic, the About Connections Parenting Program, and the Womb Surround Process Workshops, as well as many professional trainings. In 2015, he was honored with APPPAH’s Clinical Practice Award for his exceptional work in advancing clinical philosophies and practices in birth. 

Marti Glenn is Co-Director of the STAR Foundation, offering intensive retreats for healing early trauma. She is also Co-Founder and Clinical Director of Ryzio Institute.

She was the founding President of Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, the first program to offer graduate degrees in pre- and perinatal and somatic psychology.  A pioneering psychotherapist and trainer for over 30 years, she integrates affective neuroscience with attachment, early development, and trauma. Dr. Glenn served on APPPAH’s Board of Directors and chaired several APPPAH conferences. She co-produced the documentary, Trauma, Brain, and Relationship: Helping Children Heal and has appeared in the film What Babies Want; What Babies Know; Reducing Infant Mortality and Improving the Health of Babies.  She conducts training programs and speaks at conferences worldwide.