Nationally regarded expert trainers, consultants and speakers on the topics of Trauma-Informed and Resilience practices, Bowman Consulting Group is known for their content solidly anchored in the most current neuroscience and coherence research, and translating these into actionable practices for educators and mental health professionals serving children and adults with trauma impacts.
In addition to providing training, consultation and coaching for schools, treatment facilities, and a variety of other agencies, Bowman Consulting also provides “Facilitated IEP/FBA/BSP Support” for students with trauma impacts, neurodiversity, or behavioral challenges of any type. This facilitation involves bringing resources, strategies, tools and expertise to the table to enable families and schools to join forces as allies for the optimal growth and progress of the child needing an effective Individual Education Plan (IEP), Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) or Behavior Support Plan (BSP) that will produce social, emotional, behavioral and academic outcomes.
Find out more about what Bowman Consulting Group can offer you at:
Rick Bowman
Rick Bowman, M.A., Clinical Psychology
Rick brings a broad background that includes leadership positions in the United States military, business, mental health and education.
Rick has functioned as a clinical consultant for mental health clinics and human service agencies, as well as large companies/organizations such as the National Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Alyeska Pipeline Corporation (made up of companies such as Exxon-Mobile and British Petroleum). Rick has also provided teaching and consultation internationally in countries such as Russia, Cuba, and Jamaica.
Rick has been employed in positions such as Clinical Psychologist, Program Director, Community College Professor, Assistant Principal, Alternative School Director, Student Services Director, and Assistant Executive Director of a non-profit organization providing educational services to students with the most severe behavioral and emotional challenges.
Rick & Doris Bowman helped us with our initial roll-out of Collaborative Problem Solving in 2017 and we have been privileged to partner with them since that time. Their expertise and willingness to think and act in innovative ways has produced successful outcomes for our employees and the adults and children that we support daily. I can honestly say that the Bowmans provide much more than a transfer of information, their hands-on approach to CPS trainings comes with their sincere desire to mentor each participant and to help produce an ongoing behavioral growth mindset. They have provided the essential feedback and support we have needed to move toward developing our training infrastructure as Collaborative Problem Solving becomes a primary focus of our engagement when individuals are experiencing crisis. In a nutshell…CPS works! And Rick and Doris have been at the forefront showing us the way to incorporate it and provide support to those who have the greatest need!
Doris Bowman
Doris Bowman, M.S. Education/Special Education
Doris has taught, trained, coached and volunteered with organizations in Cuba, Jamaica and Guatemala. Doris spent a decade as a private business owner of a commercial fishing business in Alaska, and has since run programs for children and youth with chronic significantly challenging behavior, as well as those with a variety of mental health diagnoses. She has worked as a Behavior Consultant, Trainer and Coach in the areas of Trauma-Informed Practices, Resilience Practices for adults and youth, Behavior Intervention, and the Collaborative Problem Solving Approach.
Doris has had the pleasure of co-authoring the second in a series of children’s books with her daughter, Maritsa, entitled Going to School is Easy Now, which followed the first in the series, Going to Bed is Easy Now, available in English and Spanish. The EASY NOW Series™ is designed to meet the needs of typically developing children, as well as those with ADD/ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities. Future books in the Easy Now Series™ will address tangible challenges such as Sharing with Friends is Easy Now, and not-so-tangible challenges such as Solving Problems is Easy Now and Changing Plans is Easy Now. (www.easynowbooks.com)
I have had the opportunity to work with Rick and Doris Bowman in the field of education for the last three years, and over those three years I have witnessed the amazing change that their empathetic and knowledgeable approach brings to individuals, educators, families, and systems. Their genuine, kind, and very knowledgeable approach, have done so much for our schools, as well as for our community, that back in 2017-2018 I embarked on a journey to become a Certified Practitioner in Collaborative Problem Solving. Their commitment, determination, and continuous efforts to bring healing to our schools and community are both effective, and inspirational. They not only demonstrate these qualities through their training, but also do it through the development of Trauma-Informed and Trauma Responsive educational plans, and other school related documents, and through their professional and personal interactions with staff and community members.
Founding Members of the Resilience Coalition
Bowman Consulting Group is proud to have been selected as one of the founding members of the Resilience Coalition led by the Resilient Educator. Bowman Consulting Group, along with 11 other members of the coalition, are serving in an advisory and partnership capacity with Resilient Educator, as well as with fellow coalition partners which include:
- The Urban Assembly
- Columbia College, South Carolina
- The Zamperini Foundation
- Attachment and Trauma Network
- Case Western University
- Jim Sporleder, former Principal, Lincoln HS
- Thriving Schools, Kaiser Permanente
- Jody Johnson, Associate Professor, ECE
- Creighton University
- Alliant University International
- Northcentral University
Debra Ann Afarian
Debra Ann Afarian, Certified Practitioner: Collaborative Problem Solving
Debra Ann Afarian is a Certified Think:Kids Practitioner who has used an approach called Collaborative Problem Solving, since 2003. The approach is defined in the book “Changeable” by Stuart Ablon, PhD. Debra Ann works independently under the direction and supervision of Dr. Ablon, the director of the Think:Kids Program in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (www.thinkkids.org).
As the founder of the non-profit Helping the Behaviorally Challenging Child (HBCC), she has made it her mission to make sure that adult/child power struggles are understood in a whole new way, to break the cycle of misunderstanding challenging and difficult-to-manage behaviors. Married since 1989, she is the parent of two adult children, the older of the two being a “formerly” challenging child. In addition, having been a challenging child herself, she has first-hand experience of how challenging behaviors are treated by most. She has developed strength and hope to break that cycle and focus on helping people understand that challenging behaviors are a learning disability.
Her life experiences give her unique insight into behaviorally challenging children. She shares her story in the hope that, if you are also misunderstood or have a misunderstood child, you will know you are not alone. Finding your tribe can be helpful and give you a sense of community and maximize your family’s potential to meet the demands of life, school and work.
A special message from Debra Ann:
“If sticker charts, rewards & punishments are not helping with low-frustration tolerance, flexibility, impulsivity, risk-taking behaviors and problem solving, you will want to explore this website more! Collaborative Problem Solving helps ALL children, especially those frequent-flyers who are put on time-outs, don’t respond well to consequences, have a hard time earning rewards, seem unaffected by punishments, are sent out of class, get detentions, suspensions, expulsions, restrictions, restraints, seclusion, self-medication or are at-risk for out-of-home placement.
Stop chasing compliance and start building skills!
Learn how to Regulate, Relate and Reason.”
Hope International University
Hope International University hosts and partners with Bowman Consulting Group to present Introductory trainings to the Southern California region on a regular basis, and supports the shift from operant/contingency-based practices to trauma-informed, nervous system-aligned practices.
Hope International University is a private Christian university founded in 1928. HIU’s mission is to empower students through Christian higher education to serve the Church and impact the world for Christ. HIU is regionally accredited and offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, certificate programs, and credential programs to more than 2,000 students world-wide.
Dr. Diane Lew
Dr. Diane Lew, M.S. Educational Administration/PhD in Education: Special Education Advocate
Since 1999, Dr. Diane Lew has supported students with disabilities as a general education teacher, a special education teacher, a district-level special education program coordinator, and a school principal. Through her background and experience, she has gained a thorough knowledge of K-12 standards and curriculum; assessment and data analysis; effective classroom management strategies and positive behavior support strategies; development of individualized education plans (IEPs) and 504 accommodations plans; design, management, and revision of behavior support plans; design, procedures and legal aspects of special education; and, conflict resolution strategies.
Dr. Lew possesses a Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a Level II Education Specialist Instruction Specialist Credential with Autism Authorization, and an Administrative Services Credential. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, she has also earned a master’s degree in educational administration and doctoral degree in education.
Olive Crest Academy
Olive Crest Academy was established in 1993 as a unique educational program devoted to helping all students feel safe, accepted, and empowered to thrive. From the very beginning, we have provided a proven, proactive approach to education while continually expanding in new and innovative ways. Today, Olive Crest Academy remains dedicated to our founding mission to meet the academic, emotional, and behavioral needs of exceptional students, while helping them grow in all areas of life.
As a program of Olive Crest, our mission is rooted in a commitment to the healing power of family that spans nearly 50 years. Olive Crest Academy partners with the whole family to engage in each student’s success and we encourage family involvement that supports students’ goals, both at home and at school.
Our campuses in Orange and Garden Grove, CA, serve students grades K-12+ from throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties and the Inland Empire.
As parents of a 15 year old daughter that struggles with ADD confounded by poor working memory, executive function and binge-eating disorder, we came out of a 24 week intensive outpatient treatment program discouraged by the outcome. Two weeks later we found ourselves in the Bowman’s CPS training. Not only did it validate our intentional parenting but it gave us a pathway toward helping our daughter discover her intrinsic motivation for pressing on toward health and education despite her obstacles. It took almost 11 months of practice but we started seeing progress in the right direction and are forever grateful to the Bowmans!
Organizational Members of the Attachment and Trauma Network
