Meet the Team
Board of Directors
Amanda Edwards she/her
President, Co-Founder
Amanda was born into the world of music, dance, and theatre thanks to parents in the performing arts. Having spent most of her childhood in the studios of New Jersey Ballet, her parents’ decision to relocate to Colorado inspired new love of musical theatre and unconventional venues (Shakespeare Festivals on 16th Street Mall, anyone?). Amanda studied dance, theater, choreography and education while appearing onstage at the Oriental Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. While in college, Amanda pursued mental healthcare, obtaining a Masters of Science degree in Counseling and becoming a Certified Yoga and Meditation Teacher specializing in Somatic and Attachment healing with attunement to the Autonomic Nervous System. In 2020, Amanda decided to unite her love of acting and choreography with her expertise in trauma, somatic awareness, the body and its boundaries, and client advocacy to embrace the new role of Intimacy Coordinator and then pioneering and defining the role of Mental Health Coordinator for film. Amanda’s training in Mental Health and Intimacy Coordination is international, including certification through Intimacy Professionals Association, and she’s learned from some of the most highly regarded pioneers in the field. Her passion for the work has her collaborating with productions across all genres, platforms, and budgets as she believes firmly that every production which requires Mental Health or Intimacy Coordination absolutely deserves to have that support. She still serves clients with trauma and other mental health conditions in her private practice located in Parker, Colorado in between productions on-location across the country. https://www.amandamedwards.com/
Cutter Ray Palacios they/them
Treasurer
Cutter is a certified Intimacy Coordinator (IPA 2024), Intimacy Choreographer for Live Performance (IPA 2024), and an Mental Health Coordinator (2024). In addition to serving as the AMHC’s Treasurer and Board Member, they serve as SAG-AFTRA LA Local’s Sexual Harassment Prevention’s Mental Health Initiative Chair, an IATSE Local 80 First Aid Working Group Leader, a steering committee member of IATSE Local 80’s Women’s Committee and as a sex-positive community leader in Los Angeles. They are an active member of SAG-AFTRA, IATSE Local 80, MPTF Next Gen Performers, New Filmmakers LA, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women. Additionally, they host monthly gatherings for Intimacy and Mental Health Professionals in the Entertainment Industry. Cutter’s background includes over a decade of TV and Film experience in front and behind the camera. Additionally, they have an Emergency Medical Services background as a licensed EMT in the state of California with a Wilderness First Responder certification. They are currently pursuing an Associates in Labor Studies from Los Angeles Trade-Technical college to further support their Union advocacy work. While Cutter has a resume that includes studio works like Marvel’s Agents of Shield, Amazon’s With Love, Ryan Murphy’s Politician, American Horror Story, American Crime Story, HBO’s Euphoria, and much more, they have a passion for working with the next generation of filmmakers through various film schools in and around LA, including AFI, UCLA, NYFA, and Dodge College. You can usually find Cutter organizing, be it communities, Unions, bookshelves, papers, anything really. When they aren’t putting out fires (literally or figuratively), they enjoy the outdoors - but like really intensely. They are currently working on their goal of doing a through-hike of the 3 major trails in the US - Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide, and the Appalachian Trail.
Jacq Starrett they/she
Secretary
Human connection and healing drives everything that Jacq does. They are especially passionate about sexual violence prevention and intervention, and believes media can be a powerful tool to show healthy relationships and help survivors heal. In addition to their work with AMHC, they are currently the COO of Project Contrast, a non-profit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of LGBTQ+ youth in rural areas. They also moonlight for Peace Over Violence, working for the 24-hour Rape and Battery emergency hotline to help survivors of domestic and sexual abuse find the support, resources, and healing they need. While earning their psychology degree, Jacq was actively involved in campus-wide sexual prevention initiatives and worked for CAPSA, a trauma-shelter for survivors of abuse, sexual trauma, and trafficking. They are pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in order to better serve those who survived the unimaginable. Jacq is involved in a number of trauma prevention and intervention research studies, and her most recent publication explores ways culture and popular media can positively or negatively influence people’s perception of healthy, enthusiastic, consensual sex. Jacq’s passion for people and empathetic story-telling carries over from psychology into their acting. They care about connecting with the pain, healing, hope, and joy of their characters, with the goal of giving others permission to do the same in their own lives. Like a forest fire, Jacq hopes to portray the optimistic beauty of rising from ashes. A trauma survivor herself, she believes in growth from pain and that “We are all connected by our broken pieces.” Their empathetic, trauma-informed approach has resulted in numerous award-winning films, including Nine Days (Sundance 2020) and Get Away (Academy Award Qualifying 2023) where they won numerous "Best Film" and "Best Actress" awards, and stars in To Die Alone and I Really Love My Husband, which premier Fall 2024. In their free time, you can find Jacq baking, rock climbing, surfing, reading, stopping to smell the roses (literally), and petting neighborhood dogs.
Our Story
The Association of Mental Health Coordinators was founded in 2021 by Amanda Edwards and Bridget McCarthy. In that year, AMHC began offering training to expand and bring structure to the community of creative professionals seeking mental health tools to support their work. Numerous participants have worked through various stages of pre-certification training, with our first official cohort of professionally trained Mental Health Coordinators certifying in 2024.
Staff and Leadership
Sarah Corbyn Woolf she/her
Director of Communications
Sarah is a theater maker with a special focus in Shakespeare, movement, and artistic mental health. Based in Western MA, she has worked with companies throughout the Northeast, including Shakespeare Theatre Company, Shakespeare & Company, and New York Classical Theater. She has co-founded and been co-artistic director for two companies, including The Woolgatherers Theater Group, with whom she played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet in 2019. In 2020, she received her MFA from the Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy and currently holds the positions of Treasurer and Human Resources Designee on the Board of Trustees at Advice To The Players in New Hampshire, where she is also an actor and director. SarahCorbynWoolf.com
Cameryn Richardson she/her
Director of Education
Cameryn is a teaching artist, arts administration professional, actor, director, choreographer and synergy-fairy. The through line in her work is a passion for inquisitive, kind, and thoughtful spaces that uphold the beauty of our art forms and take care of the equally beautiful creators within them. Cameryn has worked in both non and for-profit arts education and learning spaces including the Atlanta History Center, the Atlanta Shakespeare Company (Shakespeare Tavern), Eclectic Music, the Atlanta Artist Relief Fund, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and more in the past 9 years she's lived in the Atlanta area. Her hobbies include learning many things at once very slowly, hosting friends for any occasion possible, and singing to her partner's pet turtle.
Kristina Arjona she/they
Director of Research and Resource Development
Kristina is a director, mental health coordinator, former actor, and SAG-AFTRA-accredited intimacy coordinator certified through the Intimacy Professionals Association. They have worked on both sides of the lens in the southeastern film industry for over 12 years. She was one of the first certified intimacy coordinators in Atlanta and has offered intimacy support to both union and nonunion productions in need since 2017. Proudly queer and Latina, Kristina is particularly passionate about working with material involving queer stories, BIPOC characters, empowering younger individuals, and trauma-informed care in sexual violence-related scenes. Kristina received their BFA in Acting and BA in Theatrical Design & Production from Elon University, and is the owner of the film production company, Jump Cut Collective. She has spoken about set safety strategies involving intimacy work at universities and panels including the Savannah School of Art and Design, Atlanta Film Festival, Women in Film, Out on Film Festival, Actor Empowerment Summit, and the Women in Production Summit. As an intimacy coordinator, she has worked with studios including Netflix, Showtime, Amazon Prime, Paramount Plus, New Line Cinema, Lionsgate, and 20th Century. Recent mental health coordinator credits include P-Valley on STARZ, ABC/Disney’s Reasonable Doubt, and Showtime’s George & Tammy. www.KristinaArjona.com
Amanda Salazar Morish she/her
Chair of Culture and Ethics
Amanda is a a certified Mental Health Coordinator, educator and actor living bi-coastally between New York and San Diego. A champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Amanda is passionate about partnering with organizations to help build inclusive and positive work cultures that center mental health and wellness. Amanda has worked in the DEI space for over a decade, specializing in working with law firms, large banking institutions and in theatrical spaces. Past clients include: White & Case, Pfizer, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and Citi Bank. Amanda holds her MFA from the University of Texas and is currently the Director of Inclusion and Belonging and resident MHC for Great River Shakespeare Festival. www.theamandasalazar.com
Carrie Pozdol she/her
Chair of Education
Carrie Pozdol is an actor, director, intimacy choreographer, and mental health coordinator based in eastern Iowa. Carrie has her BA in theatre from Simpson college, and spent a decade living and working in Chicago, IL. While there, she collaborated with Red Tape, Tinfish, MidTangent, Gorilla Tango, Pyewacket, and Appetite Theatres, as well as completing additional training with Annoyance Theatre and Acting Studio Chicago. Since moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 2016, Carrie has been seen onstage with Theatre Cedar Rapids, Riverside, Mirrorbox, and City Circle Theatres, as well as the University of Iowa. Carrie also has screen experience in both independent film and industrial film. In 2020, she began her training as an intimacy choreographer and coordinator with Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) and Intimacy Directors and Coordinators (IDC), and has since done intimacy direction/choreography for 54 shows (and counting) at the community, collegiate, and professional levels. She has recently achieved the title of certified Mental Health Coordinator through the Association of Mental Health Coordinators. Carrie is dedicated to creating grounded, human characters and building collaborative, trauma informed working environments where artists can thrive. https://carriepozdol.com/
Bessie Zolno she/her
Faculty Member
Bessie is a violence, intimacy choreographer and newly certified Artistic Mental Health Practitioner. Originally a performer from the San Francisco Bay Area, Bessie has performed in over 35 productions across the Bay and won a Best Leading Actress award from SFBWW. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in musical theater and a minor in stage combat. While attending CCC she began choreographing, and has helped created physicality for heightened moments for over 30 projects. Additionally, she has taught boundary work and communication work to improv troupes, opera singers, teens, and theater collectives. She is currently based in Tel Aviv where she is helping to create collaborative and consent driven spaces. BessieZolno.com
Bridget McCarthy she/they
Co-Founder
Bridget is an artist, advocate, and a mental health coordinator for theatre, TV and Film. She is a Trauma and Resilience Trainer (CTRT), a Certified Trauma Support Specialist (CTSS) with Trauma Institute International, a Certified Mental Health First Aid instructor with the National Council for Behavioral Health, and is currently training with the North American Drama Therapy Association as a Drama Therapist candidate, as well as pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at New England College. Her solo work has centered around programming that amplifies under-heard voices, including time spent as a staff member and facilitator with Shakespeare Behind Bars. As an actor, Bridget is an artistic associate of Stage Door Theatre, and is seen frequently on stages around her beloved chosen home of Atlanta, GA.
acknowledgement
While AMHC was founded in 2021, people have been doing this work for a long time without acknowledgement, recognition, appreciation, or fancy certifications. We are grateful to those who do this work and those who have come before to start the conversation. We humbly honor you and your teachings and will always welcome your feedback.