Team

Alexander is a Clinical Psychologist, who did his master’s degree scientific work at Odessa National State University, and is also candidate for a PHD in Clinical Sociology.
Since March 2016, he has been working for Sailors’ Society as Regional Crisis Response and Wellness Programme Co-ordinator. Alexander is trained and experienced in organising and providing support for trauma survivors, helping seafarers affected by piracy and their family members. He has a Maritime Lloyd’s Academy Diploma in Crew Management and is a March on Stress associate. Alexander is qualified in Trauma Risk Management (TRiM Practitioner/Manager) and previously worked as Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) Regional Director in Eastern Europe.
Alexander is co-author and trainer of Three Layer Psychosocial support system for trauma survivors which has been utilized as a basic training model for non-psychologists in Ukraine.

Although I was born in Madrid, Spain's capital city in the middle of the country, my entire working life has been connected with the sea and with ships. My innate talent for exploration and for getting involved in multicultural environments led me to develop my entire professional career in the maritime sector (6 years as an officer on board ships and 9 years in shipping companies on land). Life at sea was, undoubtedly, an adventure and a life-changing experience that meant a before and after for me. Since then, my passion has become my profession, and I devote my life to accompanying other seafarers in finding their balance on board and getting the most out of everything that shipboard life can offer.

Atul Kumar Mehra is an author, international speaker and registered psychotherapist in Ontario, Canada. He participated in panel discussions with Dr. John Gray, spoken at an international event headlined by Dr. Deepak Chopra and a guest speaker on hundreds of TV & Radio shows.

He published his International Best-Selling book on Amazon, "The Unseen Wisdom of the Unborn," and the second one is under editing "The Need for Disease." He is currently working on two others, "Addiction is Survival and not Guilt" and "My Unconscious Self," to share his experience and wisdom from more than 20 years of working with the unconscious mind. Since childhood, he was intrigued by the mind's power, which led him to start meditating at the age of four years with guidance from his father.

Having studied psychology in Australia, Ben is an alumnus of the University of Melbourne, the University of Queensland, and James Cook University. His professional training is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council. In addition to receiving his honours degree in psychology, he furthered his knowledge of Clinical psychology completing his masters in Singapore. Having lived in three multicultural cities, Ben works well with individuals of different backgrounds and his biggest passion is to help people live more fulfilling lives, both on individual and corporate levels. Ben has run educational programmes for employees, doctors, and university students. He has also been commended for his service to various portfolios under the Singapore Psychological Society and received multiple awards for his research in the field.

His main areas of specialisation include the following:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Behavioural Activation, Schema Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR), Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT).

Carmen graduated with a master’s degree (with distinction) in Psychology and a certificate in Organizational Development after having studied at the University of Konstanz, Germany and Humboldt State University, USA. She is a published author in the International Journal of Training and Development and spent years contributing to academic research, in different therapeutic settings, at The Gottman Institute and at a management-consulting firm before joining Lufthansa Airlines as a manager. Carmen is a Design Thinking Coach and has a strong interest in workplace culture, organizational psychology and leadership development. She is a people person though and through and eager to help people make the most of life.

Jonathan is a psychotherapist, CBT practitioner, life coach, and mediator who specialises in trauma and bereavement. His Bachelor’s degree in 1980 introduced him to the study of Psychology (University of Northampton). This was followed by a Master’s degree in 2007 (University of Wales). Trained at the Emergency Planning College Easingwold Jonathan is experienced at deploying within 30 minutes notice to respond to death, bereavement, and kin forming duties.
Jonathan has worked with seafarers for twenty years, both in the Royal and Merchant Navy, boarding a thousand or so ships to assist the crews of container, cruise, bulk, tanker, cargo ships and Ro-Ro’s. Jonathan was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board for his service to the welfare of seafarers.
Apart from his work in the maritime sector Jonathan has piloted new initiatives to improve wellbeing among patients attending GP surgeries, and amongst those living with mental health challenges seeking to return to the workplace.

Karen started her career in the mental health service in 2007 as an assistant psychologist focusing more on assessment and diagnosis. She is a licensed psychologist and psychometrician and is currently affiliated with a local government university in the Philippines as an Assistant Professor. She is also an academic officer since 2012 at Careerline Courses Ltd., an online education provider in Australia.

Born in Birmingham, Great Britain, Lucy is a HCPC registered Forensic Psychologist with a deep interest in organisational and systemic wellbeing and functioning and in therapeutic work supporting those with complex needs. Over the last twenty years, Lucy has worked in a range of settings including prisons, secure mental health services, community substance misuse services and criminal justice systems. Her work has deepened her commitment to supporting the development and growth of policies and systems that enable healthy functioning and performance in workplaces and organisations where high stress, challenge and trauma are inherent parts of day to day work life.
Outside of work, Lucy has a keen interest in writing and in music.

Ming graduated in Applied Psychology. Her expertise lies in understanding the pathology and psychological treatment of depression as well as bipolar disorders, which she has been studying in patients for 11 years. Additionally she completed the Psychological First Aid Training from Johns Hopkins University, as well as Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) training from the Associations for Psychological Therapies (ATP).

Born in 1995 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Munavvar graduated from the Middlesex University London with the degree in Counselling Psychology (BSc Honours). She also graduated with the degree in Business Psychology (MSc Honours) from the Heriot-Watt University. She also obtained certificates from the Professional Therapeutic league of Russia. At the same time, she took part in different psychological conferences, workshops and trainings that focused on Business Psychology, Coaching, Counselling skills, Neuro Linguistic Programming, General Psychotherapy and EMDR Psychotherapy. She has since worked as a counselling psychologist and conducted Psychotherapeutic sessions with adults to improve their psychological well-being. Her main area of interest is to provide psychological first aid in a cross-cultural setting to individuals who need mental health support. She is constantly learning and practicing new psychological methods to maximize the positive effect of emergency psychological counselling on seafarers.

Born in Beverly, UK to a father that worked as a naval surveyor for Lloyds Register of Shipping, my early memories are of visiting the bridges, engine rooms and launches of impressive ships. It was no real surprise that in 2000 I set off on a 62m private motor yacht going to Southern Chile from Europe. I then worked in the yachting industry as a chef for the next 18 years. Working on a variety of sized yachts, sail, and motor, usually with a world-wide itinerary. I have worked with many crews as a chef supporting and nurturing them with my food. Since 2018 I’ve been shore based offering practical and emotional support to Yacht Chefs. I’ve spent the last year learning to be an Integral Coach so that I have a robust method that helps bring about change and gives people tools to support them mentally for the rest of their lives.

Having spent over a decade studying, living and working in multiple multicultural cities overseas in Europe and North America, Shar’s journey to develop her own sense of self has played a significant role in her desire to help adolescents and adults navigate their unique issues around cultural identity, adjustment, assimilation, and multicultural families and relationships.
Shar earned a dual Masters in Psychological Counseling from Teachers College, Columbia University and her primary clinical experience has been treating a range of conditions including but not limited to anxiety disorders, depression, Autism, ADHD, body image, relationship concerns and multicultural issues.
For her impactful work, she earned the title Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of New York after several years of inpatient and outpatient work with children, adolescents and adults from diverse backgrounds.
Shar is also passionate about social justice, and believes that the therapeutic process is a unique, powerful, collaborative and professional relationship that has the potential to help foster awareness, change, and growth. She is hoping that her practices will have a positive impact on those in maritime industry who need help.

Toon is on a regular base working as first mate in the inland shipping. He was sailing pastor from 2000 till 2012 for the Dutch Dredging Industry, providing counseling and first emergency response. From 2009 till 2014 he was assisting programme director of the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme. He has trained 300 trainers in Pre Departure Piracy Awareness worldwide. He studied Theology and edited a 13th century Manuscript about a philosophical topic. He finished his university-study "cum laude''. In the context of Mental Health Support Solutions, he wants to distinguish different types of assisting people after disruptive events based on the continuum of care, while maintaining their specific characteristics. For example, a social worker is not a psychologist, and a psychologist not a legal expert… They should not overstep the limits of their profession.