Meet the Team
- Anne Schanz, Ph.D., President
- Susan R. Byrd, M.A., Vice President
- Robert Ivancic, M.S. Licensed Professional Counselor
- Robert Oberst, CBP, Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, Office Manager
- Thom Allen, M.Ed., Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Yoga Instructor
- Stephen M. Galik, LMT, Ayvervedic Medicine
Anne Schanz, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CBP, TFTdx, CHT, ParBP
How she began using energy treatments:
Dr. Schanz received her Ph.D. in counseling from the University of North Texas. She began her private practice in North Dallas in 1994 where she offered traditional psychotherapy treatment in individual, couple and group therapy formats. She has always been determined to offer the most effective treatments available. Until recently that was a combination of traditional cognitive/behavioral methods and prescription medications, as needed. However, she was deeply dissatisfied with the results that many clients were experiencing. Often, the best traditional therapies could offer was learning to tolerate the pain, not a cure.
Dr. Schanz found the answers she was missing when, in 2003, she experienced her own health crisis. She was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy (an incurable, degenerative kidney disease) which would eventually destroy her kidneys. She tried an energy treatment called BodyTalk®. Within three months her lab results had improved to almost normal ranges. Within six months her lab work was not only within NORMAL ranges, it was almost exactly what would be expected for a healthy woman of her age!
After this miraculous result, she began to study BodyTalk and energy healing so she would be able to provide the same healing to her clients. During her studies of energy treatments, she discovered another invaluable tool called Thought Field Therapy. Astoundingly, this modality had been around for twenty years! It was 'miraculously' effective for treating psychological problems (80% of the time), yet had she never heard of it! Of course, she added this to her specialties.
Now Dr. Schanz offers traditional psychotherapy, with TFT®, to all her counseling clients. For those clients who want healing at all levels of the mind, body and spirit she offers the most effective, quickest and safest treatments available. She provides a combination of BodyTalk®, TFT®, hypnosis and traditional psychotherapies.
Susan R. Byrd, MA, LPC, CBP, TFTdx, CHT
Susan R. Byrd is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a, certified BodyTalk Practitioner, a Thought Field Therapy® Diagnostician and a Certified Hypnotherapist. After receiving her Master's degree (MA) in Counseling Psychology in 1994, she joined the Dallas County Juvenile Department where she worked as a therapist with abused teens and their parents. In 1998, she began her private practice which includes anger management group seminars for adults and teens, hypnosis, biofeedback, divorce mediation, TFT, and BodyTalk® in conjunction with individual, group and couples counseling for adults and adolescents.
Ms. Byrd's strong belief in the need for a holistic approach to physical and mental health led her to join forces with Anne Schanz in developing Connections of BodyMind, PA. Her wide experience and varied skills offer many treatment possibilities for clients seeking optimum health through safe and effective treatment combinations.
How Ms. Byrd began using energy treatments:
After many years of suffering with constant pain due to sciatic nerve damage and two herniated discs, Ms. Byrd reluctantly agreed to a BodyTalk session. In two session her sciatic pain had completely disappeared. She remains free of any sciatic and lower back pain. BodyTalk® had such a remarkable results for her that she completed Practitioner training and has become a Certified BodyTalk® Practitioner in 2005. In her practice, clients have experienced similar outstanding improvements in their mental and physical well-being.
Thom Allen, MED, LPC, CYT, RYT
Thom is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Registered Yoga Teacher with the internationally recognized Yoga Alliance. He graduated with a Bachelor degree in Psychology (1990) and then a Masters of Education degree in Counseling from the University of North Texas (1993). Thom began clinical work as a psychotherapist with a Dallas agency specializing in helping clients and families dealing with terminal illnesses. He later became the Executive Director for a Dallas hospice agency while developing a private counseling practice that would promote his passion for wellness. He is a noted public speaker and trainer in the field of holistic health and has been featured in the Dallas Morning News as well as appearances on KDFW Fox 4 and KDAF 33 News.
The Yoga Factor
Thom began his yoga journey in 1987 while researching holistic approaches for reducing stress and improving mental health. He began studying Zen meditation, biofeedback, relaxation training, and Hatha yoga. “It was truly synchronicities that lead me to the yoga mat during that point in my life” says Thom, referring to the influence of a psychology professor and personal mentor that inspired and encouraged his interests.
Thom expanded his personal yoga and meditation practice by joining a local Kundalini yoga group. Later as his yoga practice evolved, Thom began studying Power Vinyasa Yoga, which instantly became his passion. After certification training with Beth Shaw of YogaFit International in California, he began teaching classes in both Power Yoga as well as a gentler approach which he calls Bliss Yoga. He has trained with such inspiring teachers as Bryan Kest, Cyndi Lee, Beryl Bender Birch, Baron Baptiste, Manju Jois, Seane Corn, and Rod Stryker. He is trained and experienced in working with special populations such as prenatal women, children, and those with life threatening and chronic illnesses.
As part of his counseling therapy, Thom often incorporates yoga techniques as well as relaxation training to treat conditions such as anxiety, phobias, and depression. As a psychotherapist, Thom strongly believes in creating wellness in the mind, body, and spirit.
Robert M. Ivancic, LPC
I received my undergraduate degree in psychology and my Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. I have been working in the helping profession since 1991 and have been a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice since 1995. I received my LPC Supervisor certification in 1999.
My formal training was in Systems Theory which considers the system (family) from which the individual was raised as well as the one in which the individual currently functions. My early career focused on troubled adolescents and their families, with the belief that the adolescents’ behaviors were a function of the family and had a definite purpose. I have counseled through employment and contract work in various settings, such as residential treatment, psychiatric hospitals, emergency shelters and the juvenile probation department.
As my practice grew to include more adults and couples my training and theory shifted to more of a focus on cognitive behavioral techniques as well as reality-based theory. This led me to examine clients’ beliefs that guide their lives. I have found that these approaches allowed for change much more quickly. As the beliefs shift, so do behaviors, perceptions and goals.
I co-founded Youth First Texas in 1999 on which I currently serve on the board and as Social Services Director. I also provide professional training on various topics including youth issues, relationship skills, communication skills and gay/lesbian issues.
Robert Oberst, CBP
My name is Robert Oberst, CBP, and I am a Certified BodyTalk Practitioner, my goal is to help you feel better, enjoy a balanced life, attract healthy life experiences and make a difference in the world by living to your potential. The scientific basis and thorough, yet flexible, protocol gives enormous breadth and depth to BodyTalk therapy.
How Mr. Oberst began using energy treatments:
I first became aware of BodyTalk when my sister was diagnosed with a progressive kidney disease. She was told they could treat it but not cure it and it would steadily get worse. She came across a BodyTalk brochure and decided to check it out. She had a session and noticed an immediate change. She had several more sessions and when it came time for her next appointment for her kidney problem the tests were negative and have been so since then. Still being somewhat skeptical, I started having sessions. I had dramatic improvement on several problems I was having. It changed my life enough that I decided I wanted to become a practitioner.
Stephen M. Galik, LMT, Ayvervedic Medicine
Stephen has a great natural intuitive touch where he combines his talents of Swedish (relaxation), Myofascial Release and deep tissue to create a truly unique session. He is a graduate from Sterling Health Center in Addison in the year of 2000 and has advanced knowledge in the massaging arts of CranioSacral, Lymphatic Drainage, Thai Massage, Sports Massage, Raindrop Technique, Essalan, Reiki Master, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Trigger Point, Shiatsu, Hot Stone, Carpal Tunnel, and Pre and Post Natal Massage.
Stephen has also traveled to Kerala, India and has studied Ayurvedic Medicine and was certified by Samajam Hospital as an Ayurvedic Technician. Stephen whole heartily believes that the power to heal comes from within to balance mind, body and spirit.
His professional background includes being a veteran of the U.S. Navy, employed at Raytheon as an SMT Tech for defense systems, worked as an Operating Room Pharmacy Tech mixing anesthesia admixtures and retail experience. He is currently pursuing an education to become a registered nurse at Texas Woman's Univ. and advancing to Nurse Practitioner in natural medicine.
Stephen believes in the art of holistic healing through the power of touch. By aligning the meridians of the body, through the healing touch will, promote personal wellness. Through individual attention creates individual satisfaction.
Stephen is available for appointments at Connections of Body Mind on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.