WHO WE ARE

WHO WE Are — The Heart Behind the Retreat

At We Understand You, who we are goes far beyond a name — it’s a reflection of every person who’s ever longed to feel seen, heard, and safe enough to heal.

We are survivors, educators, artists, coaches, therapists, parents, and friends — each carrying a story, a purpose, and a passion to help others rise. Together, we form a compassionate community that believes understanding can change everything.

We are the bridge between pain and purpose — and we understand you.

You Belong Here

Our Mission

To create a trauma-informed, faith-grounded space where individuals can reconnect with themselves and others through creative, educational, and embodied experiences that foster understanding, resilience, and renewal.

Our Vision

A world where understanding replaces judgment, connection replaces isolation, and healing becomes a shared experience.
We envision communities where people carry wisdom from their wounds — and where transformation begins with compassion.

You are amazing

Why We Do This

Because we’ve been there.
We’ve felt the ache of silence, the confusion of survival, and the hunger for peace.
We know that education brings awareness, wisdom brings clarity, and healing happens when you are understood.

This retreat was created to help others experience what we’ve lived — the moment when understanding becomes freedom and connection becomes restoration.

come be transformed

Meet the Team

Each of us carries a story, a purpose, and a passion for helping others heal. Together, we are the heart behind the We Understand You Weekend Retreat Summit.

Gina Fox - Certified Therapeutic Art Specialist and Certified Neuro Transformative Specialist. Nervous System and Somatic Practitioner - Instructor Level (coming soon)

Founder, Art of Transformation™ , Creator of NeuroSomatic Art™ , Creator of Nervous System and Somatic Practitioner™ , and Founder of Rise Up From Trauma: We Understand You.

As a childhood trauma survivor turned educator and trauma-informed creative healing practitioner, Gina is dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their emotions, regulate their nervous systems, and rediscover inner peace through expressive art, somatic practices, and neuroscience-aligned therapeutic frameworks. Her work blends lived experience with advanced training in trauma recovery, nervous system education, and creative expression—allowing her to deliver guidance that is both deeply empathetic and evidence-informed.

Dr. Judith Belton Ph D.

Dr. Judith Belton is a Neuro-Aesthetic Strategist and creator of Integrys® Therapeutic Art, specializing in nervous system reset and integration for individuals who serve under high pressure. She supports military personnel, veterans, first responders, educators, medical professionals, and leaders in restoring internal stability so they can thrive beyond survival mode. Through a unique blend of visual insight practices and talk-based integration, she helps people return to a system that feels like home.

Shelly Moorman - Author, Safety Advocate, and Purpose-Driven Protector

Jeremiah Fulmer - Certified Adolescent and Family Support Specialist - Supervisor and Certified Trauma Care Practitioner

Amy Pagett, TICC, ACC, BEd, BScH (Psychology)

Dustin Cover and Camille Freking-Cover

Paula Wiese - Certified Trauma Care Practitioner, Adolescent and Family Support Specialist, and Supervisor

Gabby Hull - CTSS

Kristina Martin - Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

Abigail Akyeampong FNP-C

Tesha Banks

Shelly is the dynamic author of the book, Don't Be A Target: A Movement for Women, and a highly respected Safety Advocate dedicated to building confidence and fostering practical self-protection.

With a powerful, purpose-driven message, Shelly provides critical tools to navigate an unpredictable world. Her practical approach empowers attendees to set clear boundaries, heighten their situational awareness ("keep their head on a swivel"), and strengthen their ability to trust their gut and "read the room."

Whether speaking to young people or adults, Shelly creates an engaging and actionable experience. She believes that self-protection starts with self-trust, equipping every attendee—especially trauma survivors and their families—with the skills to move forward safely, confidently, and powerfully.

Founder, Growing Unstuck LLC

A trauma-informed mental and emotional wellness coach who helps adolescents and parents move from emotional overwhelm and relational distance into clarity, confidence, and connection. As a survivor of childhood trauma, addiction, depression, and suicide loss, he brings a rare blend of lived experience, compassion, and well-educated, neuroscience-based insight to every space he facilitates. Jeremiah is dedicated to helping families heal the roots of their pain so they can build emotionally safe communication, deeper connection in their relationships, and greater confidence within themselves.

Founder, Aim True Coaching

Somatic Practitioner, and Reiki Master with more than 25 years of experience as an elementary educator.

Amy empowers individuals to strengthen their resilience, expand their capacity, develop somatic awareness, and deepen their ability to self-resource. With a gentle and intuitive approach, she guides clients in discovering their authentic selves—helping them “Aim True, One Breath at a Time."

Founder, Sheathed

As a child, Gabby wrestled with grasps of poverty, unimaginable abuse, neglect, and drug addiction - which led her into the foster system. As an adult, Gabby has experienced the aftereffects of trauma.

Today, she serves her community by fostering hope, healing, connection, and growth to trauma survivors. Sheathed, Inc, is a 501(c)(3) initative which provides free or reduced expressive art modalities and healthy living activities to those struggling.

Founder The Sibling Coach

With over thirty years of experience in Special Education, Paula combines her professional expertise with personal insight as a sibling of a brother with disabilities. She is dedicated to supporting siblings of children with disabilities and their families, specializing in trauma-informed care to help them heal and build resilience. Paula is a sought-after speaker, leading workshops and community groups to share practical strategies and recovery pathways for siblings facing unique challenges.

Founder, Stepping Stones Recreational Therapy Services, LLC

Kristina is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) of 17 years. The journey to become a recreational therapist initially began by accident. Today, Kristina shares that her vocation to educate and empower individuals on the importance of leisure time is only the beginning. Her passion to serve others began at a young age and matured in to promoting overall wellness. Her purpose is to serve individuals seeking behavioral health support and advocating recreational pursuits as far more important than “just having fun.” Kristina is the founder of Stepping Stones Recreational Therapy Services, LLC which provides individual and group recreational therapy services to clients of all ages.

Joseph Reid - Executive Director

Tesha—best known in her community as LadyRedd—is a dynamic health and wellness specialist committed to making movement fun, accessible, and uplifting through cardio drumming and wellness programming. With 10 years of experience as a program director at a nonprofit community center, she developed impactful programs, strengthened community outreach, and became a recognizable voice as an emcee for major community events and private functions. Now thriving as an independent contractor, Tesha continues to spread the joy of movement and connection wherever she goes. As a Women in Business speaker, she has empowered more than 200 women through inspiring wellness-based workshops that blend motivation, movement, and mindset.

Founder Broken People Peer Support

Joseph Reid is a national mental health speaker and author of Broken Like Me, An Insider's Toolkit For Mending Broken People, known for creating practical tools such as the Mental Health Scale and the Four Words to Move Forward framework. As founder of Broken People, he advocates for stigma reduction and community-based support. His workshops use lived experience and evidence-informed strategies to help people move toward recovery with clarity and connection.

Founder, MannaCare Health and Wellness and MannaMental Addiction and Recovery Clinic

Abigail is an accomplished clinician, healthcare entrepreneur, and founder of multiple Ohio-based wellness and behavior health organizations. Known for her dynamic leadership and holistic approach to patient care, Abigail integrates medical, mental health, community outreach services to expand access, improve outcomes, and strengthen families. She continues to drive innovative programs that support addiction recovery, men's health, women's wellness, youth empowerment and sustainable community development.

Founder Soldiers of Honor

Veronica McLaurine is a gifted speaker, worship leader, and community leader with a heart for youth and families. She is a devoted wife and mother of three children—two daughters and one son. Minister Veronica serves as a radio host on WTGN, where she hosts WTGN’s Afternoon Praise, sharing the message of hope and faith with the community. She servers as an assistant coach, mentor, and administrator.

Aaron M. McLaurine is a member of the Lima Rotary Club, and a board member of the Allen County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services, an Associate Pastor at In Faith Ministries, and the Co-Founder/ Director /Coach of Soldiers of Honor whose “mission is to encourage the discouraged mentally, emotionally, physically, or spiritually through the disciple of boxing.”

Aaron opened New Look Fitness Center in 2000 and became a Chaplain with Marketplace Chaplains, USA in 2010. The individuals whom Aaron has impacted include those with special needs, medical diagnosis such as Parkinson’s Disease and at-risk youth. He said, “I feel that I have given individuals hope. I strive to be the best example to these individuals to never give up, face your fears, and always pursue your dreams.”

Together, Veronica and Aaron, a retired professionally ranked boxer, co-founded Soldiers of Honor Boxing, a nonprofit organization in downtown Lima dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth from broken homes. The program offers boxing boot camps that use boxing techniques and training to instill discipline, focus, and self-control.

Aaron & Veronica McLaurine

Founder and Co-Founder of Healing Strings Music Therapy

“To heal the soul through music and community.” To keep it short and sweet, we use music and community as a form of recreational therapy for mental, emotional, and even spiritual healing.

Dustin went into the US Marines in 2011, and served as a rifleman in a ship to shore raid specialty unit during two combat tours within the Pacific Ocean and Middle East. While deployed, Dustin was injured, yet chose to continue. As a result, he now endures physical and mental challenges that are fought daily.

Healing Strings was created by Dustin to help him in recovery. Music soothes the soul and calms the mind.

Our Venue

A sweet, quiet reserved place where we will join together for community, connection, and hope.